Brussels, 07/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 6 February in Washington, Vice-President of the Commission with responsibility for transport Jacques Barrot, the German presidency of the EU represented by Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, and American Transport Secretary Mary Peters relaunched the talks aiming to conclude an “Open Skies” agreement and create a real transatlantic air space. As the lightning visit of American Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation John Byerly to Brussels in January (EUROPE 9340) showed, the talks will be tough because although both parties wish to conclude the negotiations, which have been in progress for more than four years. This desire seems to be the only thing which unites them. “I know that there are difficult themes to be resolved this week. But I stress again that the status quo is not an option and neither is failure”, Mr Barrot said as the talks opened.
This new round of negotiations is the first since the Americans rejected the EU's main demand in December last year - that is, a modification to the American rules on the property and control of US airlines, with the aim of strengthening participation of European companies on the American aviation market. But this is not the only bone of contention. Washington is also opposed to the European Commission's proposal which is designed to integrate air transport into the European emissions trading system (EUROPE 9332). This proposal, if approved by member states, “would violate” the Chicago Convention on international civil aviation, says Washington. It would prefer that “an overall solution” were found “within the ICAO”, the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Although the Commission is very attached to its emissions proposal, Mr Barrot has been rather conciliatory towards Washington on this issue. “At this stage emissions trading for aviation is still just a proposal”, he explained on Tuesday. “And when the member states and the European Parliament discuss the legislation in this area, Europe will of course take into consideration the discussions on emissions trading taking place under the authority of the ICAO. At the end of the day, we would prefer to see an international framework and we will work on this objective with the rest of the world”. Referring to the three major priorities of air transport policy, which are “security, sustainability and competitiveness”, Mr Barrot confirmed that Europe was prepared to open up its market to US airlines. “We are happy to allow American airlines to operate within the internal market of the European Union”, he said, before however going on to specify that this would become effective “only when the American market gives equivalent opportunities to European airlines. To be clear, this is what is lacking at the moment”. (ab)