Remarks from Signing Ceremony for U.S.-European Union Air Transportation Agreement with U.S. Transportation Secretary
Mary Peters, European Commission Vice President and Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot, and German Federal Minister
of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee
Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
April 30, 2007
(2:15 p.m. EST)
SECRETARY RICE: Well, we managed to choreograph all of that. (Laughter.)
I'd like to welcome German Transport Minister Tiefensee, European Commission Vice-President Barrot, Secretary of
Transportation, my colleague Mary Peters, our FAA Administrator Mr. Blakey, and distinguished guests from both sides of
the Atlantic. I'd also like to thank the U.S. negotiator John Byerly and EU negotiator Daniel Calleja for their efforts.
We are here to mark an extraordinary achievement: a comprehensive, first stage, U.S.-EU Air Transportation Agreement. We
embarked on this journey four years ago, when President Bush and European leaders at the 2003 U.S.-EU Summit launched
negotiations that have now culminated in this pro-growth, pro-competitive, pro-consumer agreement.
Now every U.S. carrier can fly to every city in the European Union and every EU carrier can fly to every city in the
United States. This agreement ushers in an era of unprecedented liberalization for an area that encompasses 60 percent
of global civil aviation traffic.
The journey has assuredly not been easy. I am told that negotiators traveled through 11 rounds and I'm sure much
turbulence. Yet they persevered. I want to extend my congratulations to the two negotiating teams for the commitment and
hard work that they have demonstrated. The agreement that has been achieved here will not only benefit our airlines,
communities, workers and travelers, but it also symbolizes our shared values and our historical cooperation.
This ceremony marks both an end and a beginning, as we have agreed to commence negotiations on further aviation
liberalization starting in the spring of 2008. I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes for smooth and for
open skies in our future endeavors. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
MINISTER TIEFENSEE: Madame Secretary Rice, Madame Secretary Peters, dear Vice President Jacques Barrot, dear colleague
Mr. Steinmeier, ladies and gentlemen: It's a great pleasure for me to sign today together with Vice President Barrot for
the European Community the first comprehensive air transport agreement between the European Community and its
member-states and the United States of America. Today's signing is a historic start on the path towards a new
transatlantic partnership and it was a hard work but now we are successful.
The agreement brings the two leading aviation markets in the world closer together. In future, European airlines can fly
from every EU member-state to the USA. In the other direction, U.S. airlines can select their destination airport in the
EU more freely. Transatlantic air traffic is thus based on a modern and reliable set of regulations. This entails
facilitations for all European airlines and consumers. This was an important concern for those EU member-states who did
not have an open skies agreement with the USA up to now.
With today's signing, we have made a first and decisive step towards an open and completely liberalized transatlantic
aviation market. This now has to be followed as quickly as possible by continued negotiations for the realization of the
more comprehensive vision which we are pursuing together. That is the open aviation area.
The further liberalization of the traffic rights and additional possibilities of investments abroad have already been
included in this agenda. This means additional opportunities and fair competition for our airlines. It's a great day.
Thank you very much for all who made these negotiations and I hope for a good second step in our negotiations. I am sure
we will be successful. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
Commissioner Barrot: Madame Secretary Rice, Madame Secretary Peters, dear Wolfgang Tiefensee, President of the Council,
the signature of this agreement is historic. It sets once and for all the recognition of the European Union as a global
player in aviation. It will allow air routes from our member-states to U.S. to be serviced by any European airline.
Let us be clear. This agreement will bring many concrete benefits and it will bring change. Even before signature,
different players in the European industry have been staking out their position in preparation of a new era. Partners on
different sides of the Atlantic are considering how to develop further their cooperation.
Let me thank, in particular, Secretary Rice, Secretary Peters, and her predecessor, Norman Mineta. Your vision and
support has been essential. I would also like to mention the wonderful efforts of two negotiating teams led by Daniel
Calleja and John Byerly. To my American friends, I want to say the following. You have now recognized the European Union
as a partner for aviation and we will live up to your expectation as an open and constructive friend.
This partnership will be important because we face many, many challenges. First and foremost, we have now completed our
liberalization process, not only airlines, but also our financial institutions are looking for more progress. They want
to ensure that aviation has the same investment and trading opportunities as other industry. So we need to press and
weave the second stage.
Secondly, we face the major challenge of climate change and how to address emissions from air transport. Europe will
work with you on green technology, on better air traffic control, dear Marion Blakey, and yes, we must talk about
financial mechanisms for emission as well.
Finally, we must also now work together more closely than ever on safety and security. We need to protect our citizens
when they fly, but we must not make their journey unbearable with uncoordinated security measures. So there is a lot of
work to do, but with this deal we are giving ourselves an excellent basis for future work. Aviation is essential to
transatlantic trade, and with this agreement aviation takes its place as an example of what the European Union and
United States can achieve together. Now we must press on with our work to ensure that aviation continues to lead the
way. Thank you.
(Applause.)
SECRETARY PETERS: Secretary Rice, Commissioner Tiefensee, Vice President Barrot, colleagues and friends, thank you so
much. I think it is altogether fitting that on this beautiful day in Washington where the skies are clear, we are
celebrating this Open Skies Agreement between the United States and the European community. I also thank our
negotiators, John Byerly and Daniel Calleja who did an incredible job with an incredible team behind each of you who
made this possible today. All of those efforts have worked together to make this wonderful, this historic day a reality.
Today's signing of the agreement is the result of years of diligent efforts and is truly a cause for celebration. This
historic agreement will spur more convenient and affordable air travel for both American and European consumers and
promote greater access to U.S. and Europeans' market and further increase healthy competition among the EU and the
United States. With this agreement, the honeymoon in Paris, the business trip to Dublin or the family reunion in Naples
will all be cheaper, easier and within the reach of more Americans and Europeans than ever before. And people from every
side and every single of the EU country will enjoy these same benefits when they buy air travel to the United States,
that trip to Disneyland or Washington, D.C.
The promise of opening skies between the U.S. and the European Union's cities has already spurred excitement and
anticipation around the world. Several airline mergers are eager to take advantage of these new opportunities and have
undertaken a flurry of activity to expand flights and services. While this accord will undoubtedly create new prospects
for business and consumers, it also serves a greater purpose. It will enhance the freedom that comes from international
travel in communities across the globe. It will give American and European people greater freedom to choose where and
when they want to travel and it will serve as a catalyst for greater transportation freedom in the future.
The freedom to travel is often underestimated, but it is a value that lies at the core of democracy. It allows our
companies to compete around the world, gives individuals and families the ability to live and work where they choose,
provides consumers the products that they want and offers all of us a greater choice to get on a plane and fly somewhere
else. It is a value that is treasured by our democracy and one which we should always protect, promote and preserve.
With this historic U.S.-EU air transport agreement, we do just that. This agreement embraces the principles that are
essential to our democracy and expands transportation freedom for millions of people who live oceans apart. Because of
this we can look forward to new and strengthened relationship between our two continents for years to come. And as we
all know in our world today, these friendships are more important than ever.
Thank you all so much. Congratulations on this monumental, this historic agreement and I look forward to the second
phase and our continued success. Thank you so much.
(Applause.)
2007/347
Released on April 30, 2007
ENDS