Brussels, 26/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - As we announced in yesterday's EUROPE, p.8, the European Commission adopted, on Wednesday, several measures aimed at establishing a clear legal framework for bilateral relations between the EU and third countries in the field of air transport and for the sharing of competence between the Community and the Member States as far as air transport is concerned. These measures come in addition to those that the Commission had already requested: denunciation of the Open Skies agreements and granting of a mandate by the Council to negotiate with the United States for a common transatlantic air space (see EUROPE of 20 November, p.13). The new measures are: (1) a request for an overall mandate allowing the Commission to negotiate with third countries (other than the United States) regarding Community agreements including standard clauses for all Community air carriers in order to prevent discrimination; (2) a proposal of regulation making it compulsory for a Member State to inform the Commission and the other States regarding the unfolding and the result of negotiations undertaken with a third country in order to ensure these agreements are compatible with Community law. Pending the adoption of these measures by the Council and Parliament, the Commission also adopted a declaration calling on Member States to respect the principles set out in the Court of Justice ruling on Open Skies agreements (see EUROPE of 6 November, p.13) and above all not to promote their national companies to the detriment of the others during negotiations with third countries. Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio welcomed this decision, considering that it allows the Council to reach agreement on opening negotiations between the EU and the United States. Her colleague responsible for competition, Mario Monti, was pleased with the extension of Community powers regarding air agreements (see below).