For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 25, 2003
Aviation Agreement Fact Sheet
U.S.-EU Summit
US-EU Aviation Agreement
On June 25, 2003, the United States and the European Union announced
agreement to begin comprehensive air service negotiations in early
autumn 2003.
Air services between the United States and the European Union are
currently conducted under bilateral aviation agreements with each of
the European Union Member States.
On June 5, the European Transport Council granted the European
Commission a mandate to negotiate an aviation agreement with the United
States on behalf of all the European Union Member States.
A comprehensive U.S.-EU aviation agreement would further
liberalize international aviation markets between the United
States and the countries of the European Union, providing airlines,
consumers, shippers, and national economies the enormous benefits of a
market-based approach to international civil aviation.
We look forward to extending the benefits of liberalization to the
transatlantic market and building on the foundation established by the
open skies agreements we have already concluded with eleven European
Union Member States.
Such an agreement would minimize government intervention and
facilitate meaningful airline competition across a broader array of
markets.
The agreement would also enhance economic opportunities, including
expanded scope for enriching cooperative marketing arrangements, while
ensuring implementation of the highest standards of international
aviation safety and security.
# # #
|