PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Community and Singapore on certain aspects of air services.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2008/194/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on certain aspects of air services.
CONTENT: the Council authorised the Commission in June 2003 to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community agreement. The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Community an agreement with Singapore on certain aspects of air services in accordance with the mechanisms and Directives in the Annex to the Council’s decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community agreement.
Article 2 of the Agreement replaces the traditional designation clauses with a Community designation clause, permitting all Community carriers to benefit from the right of establishment. Articles 4 and 5 of the Agreement address two types of clauses concerning matters of Community competence. Article 4 deals with the taxation of aviation fuel, a matter which has been harmonised by Council Directive 2003/96/EC restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity, particularly Article 14 paragraph 2 thereof. Article 5 (Pricing) resolves conflicts between the existing bilateral air services agreements and Council Regulation 2409/92/EC on fares and rates for air services which prohibits third country carriers from being price leaders on air services for carriage wholly within the Community.