Commission proposes to open aviation negotiations with New Zealand
The European Commission proposed today to open aviation negotiations with New Zealand. These negotiations will seek
further opening of the respective air markets and enhanced regulatory cooperation. Vice-President Jacques Barrot, in
charge of transport, said: “The single aviation market in the EU with open market access and high regulatory standards
has created huge benefits for the EU aviation industry and consumers. I believe that this success can be repeated in our
aviation relations with New Zealand”.
New Zealand, which has already signed a “horizontal agreement” with the EU, is among the most advanced nations with
regard to the regulatory framework for aviation and market liberalisation. New Zealand largely shares the EU’s
market-driven and consumer-oriented approach to aviation policy. This proposal follows similar proposals earlier this
week for Australia, Chile and India.
The Commission has already received a mandate for the creation of a transatlantic Open Aviation Area with the United
States, and it has requested negotiation mandates with Russia and China. Vice-President Barrot attended recently the
EU-China Aviation Summit in Beijing which was very successful in fostering closer co-operation between China and the EU
in civil aviation. Furthermore, the Commission has started negotiations on an agreement on a European Common Aviation
Area with the Western Balkan countries and an ambitious aviation agreement with Morocco.
EU Transport Ministers welcomed in their June Council the Commission’s success with the initialling of a growing number
of “horizontal” aviation agreements to remove nationality restrictions in bilateral agreements between Member States and
third countries. These nationality restrictions had been found incompatible with EC law by the European Court of
Justice. With 17 initialled “horizontal” agreements the Commission has brought more than 270 bilateral air services
agreements in line with European law. New Zealand was among the first countries to conclude this first step.
Further to the need to correct the legal problems, the recent Commission Communication on external aviation policy
underlined the benefits of “comprehensive” aviation negotiations with selected countries. By opening up markets, new
economic opportunities would be created for the EU industry. At the same time, a competitive level playing field needs
to be ensured by fostering regulatory co-operation with these countries. EU Transport Ministers welcomed this approach
in June 2005 and noted with interest the Commission’s priority of candidates for such comprehensive aviation
negotiations including New Zealand.
More information can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/international/index_en.htm