Air transport: rules of competition to undertakings on the lines Community - Third countries

In adopting the report by Mr Michel SCARBONCHI (ARE, F) Parliament approved the Commission proposal seeking to extend its powers allowing it to apply the rules on competition between the Community and third countries. Parliament called for the regulation to apply to air transport from or to one or more Community airports. It asked to be consulted on any agreement between the Union and a third country before it was presented to the Council for approval. It proposed that where agreements with third countries needed to be negotiated, the Commission should make recommendations to the Council which would authorize the Commission to open the necessary negotiations. The Commission would conduct these negotiations within the framework of such directives as the Council might issue to it. Parliament also stressed the need: - to give priority to a high level of safety when Community rules on competition were applied to this sector; - to consider air transport services as services of general interest especially in the outermost regions where they were vital to guarantee the linkage with the rest of the Community; - not to underestimate, in the light of the changes under way and still to come, the importance of the commercial activities and services offered on board and at airports. �