Brussels, 27/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has doubts as to the conformity of the public service obligations (PSOs), imposed by Italy on 2 May 2006 on sixteen air routes between three Sardinian airports and important airports on the Italian mainland, with current Community legislation, and, on 26 July, decided to open a formal enquiry. The third air package, which the Commission has just proposed to strengthen (see EUROPE 9234), completed the liberalisation of air transport in the EU resulting in the liberalisation of cabotage (the possibility for an airline from one Member State to use a route within another Member State), while allowing for safety measures, such as the definition of PSOs, to enable public authorities to maintain services which they deem to be essential for the economic development of a region. To this end, for a given air route, the State publishes the PSOs which will be imposed on the carrier in terms of capacity, frequency of flights and fares. If no carrier applies to operate the route in accordance with the terms set out, the Member State may restrict access to that route to only one carrier. The Commission's preliminary examination revealed “elements which raise serious doubts” as to the conformity of the obligations imposed by Italy with European legislation, says a press release, which adds that a number of complaints had been received and that first indications were that real economic damage was being suffered as a result of the obligations imposed. The Commission will, therefore, check: - if the routes covered are vital to the economic development of Sardinia and if the obligations imposed do not close unduly the whole market; - the conformity with existing Community legislation of the requirement imposed by Italy on candidate carriers for two sets of routes; - the legality of the share of routes between three operators (AIR ONE, ALITALIA and MERIDIANA); - the proportionality of the requirement that reduced fares must not be applied to passengers born in Sardinia even if they are not resident on the island. Italy will have two months to respond from receipt of the Commission's opinion.