Brussels, 24/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - In second reading on Thursday 23 October 2008, the European Parliament adopted a report by German PES MEP Ulrich Stockmann on airport charges by a wide majority (549 to 12 with 24 abstentions), paving the way for the introduction of an EU airport charges system. The Council is expected to adopt the draft directive without debate at an upcoming meeting. In line with recent recommendations adopted earlier this month by the European Parliament's Transport Committee, the directive will apply to all EU airports carrying more than 5 million passengers a year, and also to each Member States' biggest airport. It introduces airport user consultation mechanisms and a dispute settlement mechanism for airport users, along with a greater degree of transparency over airport charges (see EUROPE 9757). The directive covers 60 European airports at the moment, but the Airport Council International (ACI) said that the number of airports carrying more than 5 million passengers will increase by 77 by the time the directive comes into force in 2010. (A.By trans fl)