EU/Macao Agreement: air services

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Dieter-Lebrecht KOCH (EPP, DE) on the draft Council decision on conclusion of the Agreement on certain aspects of air services between the European Union and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

The committee proposed that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

To recall, the Commission negotiated the Agreement that replaces certain provisions in the existing 15 bilateral air services agreements concluded between EU Member States and Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

The main aspects of the Agreement signed on 23 November 2013 are as follows:

• designation clause: Article 2 of the Agreement replaces the traditional designation clauses with an EU designation clause, permitting all EU carriers to benefit from the right of establishment;
• safety: Article 3 ensures that safety provisions in bilateral agreements are applicable to situations when regulatory control over an air carrier is exercised by Member State other than Member State that designated that air carrier;
• taxation: Article 4 deals with the taxation of aviation fuel, a matter which has been harmonised by Council Directive 2003/96/EC restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity, and in particular Article 14 (2) thereof. 
• compatibility with competition rules: Article 5 prohibits anti-competitive practices.