Brussels, 26/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - The forthcoming Transport Council (11 June) is expected to give the Commission a negotiation mandate to conclude a global aviation agreement with Georgia, which will allow the country to become fully integrated in the European single aviation transport market. The agreement, which was recommended by the European Commission in January 2009 in its communication on the development of a single aviation space with Georgia, is understood to be similar to those already signed with the countries of the Western Balkans and Morocco (EUROPE 9326), and those currently being negotiated with Ukraine, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Tunisia. It also corresponds to the objectives laid down for itself by the Commission to create a common aviation space by 2010, with its neighbours both from the South (Euro-Mediterranean partnership) and from the east (neighbourhood policy, eastern partnership). At this stage, Georgia is the second country in the region after Ukraine which has proven ready to open negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement of this type. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Moldova have all finalised horizontal aviation agreements, which bring all bilateral agreements in existence between these republics and the member states of the EU into line with European legislation.
The agreement aims to bring about a reciprocal opening-up of markets (in terms of air traffic and investments) and the inclusion of Georgia within the aviation structures of the EU. In return, Georgia will effect a full regulatory convergence with EU legislation, particularly in the fields of aviation security, the safety of air traffic, protection of the environment and the application of the rules on state aid and competition. Georgia's inclusion in the single aviation transport market would be of political, rather than economic, significance (in 2007, the number of passengers between Georgia and the EU was 210,000, a relatively low figure), but would help to boost the Georgian aviation sector as it is moving further away from the Russian aviation market - which has long been its main partner - in favour of Turkish, Ukrainian and European airports. According to the figures quoted in the communication adopted by the Commission, in 2008, Istanbul airport became the main international destination of flights from Tbilissi (more than 7000 seats a month), beating the Moscow Domodedovo airport into second place. The Commission added that recent years have seen a steady increase in aviation links between Georgia and the member states of the EU. In 2007, 36% of international flights were run by Georgian airlines (especially the national carrier Air Zena) and 64% by foreign airlines, with a total of 590,000 passengers. Of the countries of the EU, Georgia's number one partner remains Germany (39% of the EU/Georgia market), followed by Austria (17%), Latvia (14%) and the Netherlands (9%). In 2007, countries signed an "open skies" agreement with the United States. The Commission states that it is too early to draw definitive conclusions regarding the impact of Georgia's integration in the common aviation space. However, experts believe that the first year of functioning of the EU-Georgia common aviation space will increase the number of passengers by 25,000 and yield profits of at least €9 million, as long as the country continues its political and economic reforms and the situation on the market remains stable. (A.By./transl.fl)