EU seeks to form Common Aviation Area with Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Commission adopted Monday, December 7, an ambitious package of proposals to negotiate EU-level comprehensive aviation agreements with key partner countries, EC website reports.

They include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) States, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, Turkey, China, Mexico and Armenia.

In parallel, authorizations to negotiate dedicated aviation safety agreements with China and Japan are also being sought and arrangements for One Stop Security with Canada and Montenegro are being established.

The aim is to boost the international competitiveness of the EU's aviation industry and ensure high quality services for the passengers. Once signed, nearly 75% of all passengers flying in and out of the EU, or more than 240 million passengers per year, would be covered by EU-level aviation agreements. These agreements will strengthen the global positioning of the EU, which is a core priority of President Jean-Claude Juncker.

In 2014 some 230.000 passengers travelled between the EU and Armenia. To further enhance direct connections based on common rules, the European Commission proposes negotiating a Common Aviation Area Agreement. A parallel process of reciprocal market access and regulatory convergence towards full implementation of the EU aviation acquis is foreseen.

The agreement would complement the Common Aviation Area which the EU is developing with neighboring countries.