The European Commission has proposed to open negotiations with Ukraine to develop a common aviation…
The European Commission has proposed to open negotiations with Ukraine to develop a common aviation area. The aim is to further deepen aviation relations with Ukraine following the negotiation of a so-called horizontal air agreement in June. Vice-President Jacques Barrot, in charge of transport, said: By sharing the benefits of the single aviation market, both Ukraine and the EU will improve their relationship and create benefits for aviation industries and consumers.
The proposal follows the conclusions of the Transport Council of 27 June 2005 concerning the EU`s external aviation policy, in which EU Transport Ministers welcomed a wider European Common Aviation Area with our neighbours. This common area aims at opening markets and at creating a competitive level playing field that will ensure and foster regulatory co-operation.
The proposed agreement would be an important step towards strengthening aviation relations between EU and Ukraine. Both aviation markets are closely connected and air traffic between them is growing. In 2004, 1.5 million passengers travelled between the EU and Ukraine by air transport, 25% more than in 2003. Ukraine has bilateral air services agreements with all 25 EU Member States.
Ukraine is considered a priority country in the European Neighbourhood Policy. In February 2005, both sides endorsed a joint EU-Ukraine Action Plan to support Ukraine`s objective to further integrate into the European economic structures. Increased cooperation in the field of civil aviation, including on safety and security issues, is one of the concrete priorities outlined in the Action Plan. Ukraine and the EU have recently expanded their bilateral cooperation through the initialling of a horizontal air services agreement and an agreement on Ukraine`s participation in Europe`s satellite radio-navigation programme GALILEO (IP/05/666).
The Commission has already received a mandate for the creation of a transatlantic Open Aviation Area with the United States, and it has requested negotiation mandates with Russia and China and other important third countries such as Australia, India, New Zealand and Chile. Furthermore, the Commission has started negotiations on an agreement on a European Common Aviation Area with the Western Balkan countries and an aviation agreement with Morocco.
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