Brussels, 11/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - By giving its approval, on Thursday 11 October, to the report by Saïd El Khadraoui (PES, Belgium), the European Parliament has given the go-ahead to the “open skies” deal liberalising air traffic between the EU and US (EUROPE 9418 and 9392). The report was adopted by a very large majority: 513 votes for, 15 against, with 35 abstentions. In compliance with the Council of Ministers' agreement (22 March), this agreement will enter into force on 30 March 2008.
This effectively involves the first stage of the two-stage deal. The EU and US will soon have to begin negotiations on more controversial subjects, namely, property ownership rules and further opening of the transatlantic market. The EP is in fact only reiterating what was contained in its resolution adopted last March (EUROPE 9385). The agreement, concluded by the US and European delegations on 2 March, is being supported but it will now be necessary for the parties to seal a more comprehensive agreement covering cabotage, reduction of negative environmental effects, expansion of access to the US market and air security. The long term aim is to set up one-stop security. According to the EP, these issues are expected to be tackled during negotiations in the second stage of the agreement, which will begin soon.
During the debate Jacques Barrot, the Commission vice president, responsible for transport, said: “Your priorities are also mine”. He was delighted with the parts given EP support: the importance of a second stage in the agreement towards access to the European market, the importance of convergence in standards (particularly on security), the importance of the environmental dimension (particularly the CO2 emissions trading).
Reinhardt Rack from Austria, speaking on behalf of the EPP-ED group said that the agreement is, “a good intermediate result”. He also criticised some air security standards defended by the European Commission, such as restrictions imposed on the transport of liquids in hand luggage (EUROPE 9495). Speaking for the PES group, Brian Simpson from Britain compared this agreement to “an arranged marriage” in which the American bride does not find the European groom very attractive. He said that he would not be surprised if negotiations on the second phase of the agreement got stuck because of the American attitude. He exclaimed that the US and EU were not on the same wavelength on security, rules or property rights. Sarah Ludford (ALDE, United Kingdom) was also sceptical. She claimed that opening up the transatlantic aviation market would have advantages but only if security measures applied after a precise risk assessment. Georg Jarzembowski (EPP, Germany) summed up, explaining that this was a balanced agreement that improved things.
In conclusion, Jacques Barrrot added: “There are opportunities today that European companies should seize. This agreement allows greater choice of services, reduced prices, creates jobs and already enables us to begin coordination for measures that risk affecting passengers” (security, safety, the environment). On the subject of climate change, Barrot pointed out that since the end of September the EU had defended the CO2 emissions trading quotas system at the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which appears “to be the most effective solution”. The commissioner explained that for the moment they are clashing with “the refusal from the US and certain Asian countries. Nonetheless, we think that this will not prevent cooperation”. In connection with the second phase of the agreement, there is an obligation to begin negotiations 60 days after provisional application (first phase). Barrot indicated that the Europeans had retained “retaliatory measures. We cannot go backwards on some of the concessions if the second phase does not satisfy European interests. This is, all the same, a major point”. Mr Barrot explained that the Commission had already launched a debate with member states as part of the special negotiations committee for defining the second phase negotiation strategy. He said that obviously, “I have the intention of getting Parliament involved, so that we can really negotiate with an optimum of efficiency”. (aby)