Reaching for the European sky
Reaching for the European sky

Summary/Abstract: After finishing the process of liberalization of air transport, the European Union has realized what benefits its air transport sector,carriers and economy could have if it would only spread its common aviation rules outside the borders of the EU. In the first decade of the 21st century the EU has undergone a systematic revision of bilateral agreements which Member States have concluded with third countries in the air transport sector, but it has also made an interesting twist in its policy towards neighbouring countries. The idea of a common European sky, encompassing much more than the EU itself was incorporated in the 2006 European Common Aviation Area Agreement. The European Union (with its 27 Member States) and another eleven European non-EU countries have signed the agreement, obliging themselves to create a common aviation area based on mutual market access to the air transport markets of all contracting parties and on respect to the same rules in the areas of safety, security, air traffic management, social harmonization and environment. Today, five years later, the Agreement is still not in force and in spite of that the non-EU parties are eagerly harmonizing their laws with the EU acquis and pushing their way forward to become a part of the European Common Aviation Area.

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