Brussels, 02/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - During talks this week, European and American negotiators made decisive headway toward concluding an Open Skies agreement. “I am delighted with the progress that has been made this week by the European and American negotiating teams. It is my intention to submit this draft agreement to the Transport Council at its next meeting on 22/23 March”, said Jacques Barrot, Deputy Chairman of the Transport Committee, on Friday.
The draft agreement above all allows any Community air carrier to fly between any point in the EU to any point in the US, without any restrictions on pricing or capacity. Both parties also agreed on the possibility of operating flights beyond the European Union and the United States towards third countries (“5th freedom”). The negotiators agreed on an additional protocol on ownership, investment and control, which grants Europeans the right to invest in American companies, while providing the possibility for Europeans to limit American investment in European companies. Europeans also obtained a unilateral guarantee from the Americans that their companies may operate flights to certain non-EU European countries, from the United States (“7th freedom rights for passengers”). EUROPE will come back to the draft agreement in greater detail in a later edition. (aby)