EU/ US: The European Commission should reject the United States' latest offer to open up the transatlantic aviation market and hold out for better access for European airlines to American airports and markets, EU transport ministers concluded after a discussion in Brussels yesterday.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, who chaired yesterday's meeting, said agreement on a full open aviation area between the EU and US would be impossible to achieve this year. But both he and the European Commissioner for Transport, Ms Loyola de Palacio, said an initial agreement that went part-way to open up the market might yet be possible.
The ministers instructed the commission to continue negotiations on an initial agreement but set conditions. They said the US would have to improve the terms on offer for European airlines, and the initial agreement would have to include a commitment to further negotiations, with a start and finish date, to conclude a full open aviation area.
Ms de Palacio was asked to report back to the transport council in June, which will come just a fortnight before an EU-US summit.
European airlines currently face restrictions on flying within the American domestic market and on the amount they can invest in US carriers.