Ivan Yates
Question:149 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he will outline current EC policy on the liberalisation of international scheduled aviation services.
Written Answers. - EC Policy on Air Services.
Current policy on the liberalisation of air services within the EC is being pursued in the context of creating a Single Market in air transport. The aim of the policy is to gradually replace existing bilateral arrangements by a Community wide framework which will give consumers a wide choice of services at as low a cost as possible, consistent with maintaining satisfactory safety standards, and will allow air carriers to operate in a sound financial environment by a reduction in operating costs and an increase in productivity.
The principal measures adopted so far to give effect to this policy have involved the opening up of greater opportunities for access to the market by air carriers, including fifth freedom rights; the gradual abolition of capacity sharing restrictions between member states; the phased introduction of a system of double disapproval of air fares; and the application of the competition rules of the EC Treaty to the air transport sector.
The foregoing measures are contained in the following regulations: (i) Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2342/90 of 24 July 1990 on fares for scheduled air services; (ii) County Regulation (EEC) No. 2343/90 of 24 July 1990 on market access and capacity sharing on scheduled air services between member states; (iii) Council Regulation (EEC) No. 294/91 on the operation of air cargo services between member states; (iv) Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3975/87 of 14 December, 1987 laying down the procedure for the application of the rules on competition to air transport; and (v) Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3976/87 of 14 December 1987, as amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2344/90, on the exemption of certain categories of inter-airline agreements, decisions and concerted practices from the application of the competition rules of the Treaty. I am arranging for copies of the regulations to be sent to the Deputy.
In the context of completing the Single Market in air transport, the Council is to decide on the revision of regulations (i) and (ii) above by 30 June 1992, at the latest, on the basis of a Commission proposal to be submitted by 31 May 1991. The regulation at (v) above is to be revised by 31 December 1992, at the latest, on the basis of a Commission proposal to be submitted by 1 July 1992.