13/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 7 February, the civil aviation authority of Panama and the Commission concluded a horizontal air transport agreement. Negotiated by the Commission on behalf of member states, this agreement is part of a process to align existing bilateral agreements with Community rules; or, in other words, to extend the single European aviation market. Under the terms of the agreement, all European air companies will be able to operate flights between Panama and each of the member states where they have a representation, on condition that the member states in question had concluded previously a bilateral agreement with Panama. This is the 25th horizontal air agreement concluded by the EU since 2003. Most of these agreements have been with Latin American states. The last was signed in January 2007 with Uruguay. (aby)