Air transport between the Community and third countries: negotiation and implementation of air service agreements

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Ingo SCHMITT (EPP-ED, D) approving the Council's common position subject to a drafting amendment. Parliament took the view that, when negotiating agreements on an open aviation area, it should be ensured that direct and indirect subsidies to air carriers are made inadmissible, as the market would otherwise be distorted to the detriment of Member State or Community carriers, and that bilateral air service agreements should not be replaced by Community agreements unless the third country concerned has a liberalised market or a Community agreement with a third country would result in added value for the Member States.�