Vol. 508 No. 4
116 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her understanding of the EU Commission's and the Transport Council of Ministers' stance and policy in relation to open skies deregulation as proposed by the US authorities; and the position she has set out at any relevant debates at EU level on behalf of the Government. [19337/99]
The European Commission has put forward proposals for a Council decision on negotiating directives which, together with directives approved by the Transport Council in June 1996, would form the basis for negotiations with the United States on all aspects of an EU-US common aviation area. A common aviation area, as envisaged by the Commission, is an area where air carriers on both sides could freely provide air services in the European Union and the United States on the basis of commercial principles, ensuring for airlines the possibility to compete on a fair and equal basis and equivalent regulatory conditions. No decision has been taken by the Council on the Commission proposals.
