EU/Moldova Common Aviation Area Agreement: accession of Croatia to the EU. Protocol

The European Parliament adopted by 655 votes to 9, with 24 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Moldova, to take account of the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Croatia.

In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Transport and Tourism, the European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.

The Protocol amending the Agreement on the establishment of a common aviation area between the European Union, its Member States and the Republic of Moldova is intended to take account of Croatia's accession to the EU on 1 July 2013. The Agreement establishes a common aviation area between the European Union and Moldova within the framework of the Eastern Partnership and the wider neighbourhood policy of the European Union.

The Agreement on the establishment of a common aviation area was negotiated by the Commission and was signed on 26 June 2012, subject to its conclusion at a later date. Following the accession of Croatia to the European Union, the Protocol of Accession of the Republic of Croatia to that Agreement was signed on 22 July 2015.

The Protocol takes account of Croatia's accession to the Union and does not make any substantial amendments to the Agreement itself. The Agreement provides for gradual market opening in terms of access to routes and capacity on a reciprocal basis, ensures level playing field for economic operators based on the EU principles and provides for alignment of the Moldavian aviation legislation with EU legislation on issues such as safety, security and air traffic management.