PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement on certain aspects of air services between the European Union and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
LEGAL BASIS: Article 100(2), 218(6) (a) and (8) of the TFEU. The proposal is entirely based on the "horizontal mandate" granted by the Council taking into account the issues covered by the law of the Union and bilateral air services agreements.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.
BACKGROUND: following the judgements of the Court of Justice in the so-called "Open Skies" cases, on 5 June 2003 the Council granted the Commission a mandate to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing agreements with an agreement at Union level1 (the "horizontal mandate"). The objectives of such agreements are to give all European Union air carriers non-discriminatory access to routes between the European Union and third countries, and to bring bilateral air service agreements between Member States and third countries in line with the law of the Union.
CONTENT: in accordance with the mechanisms and directives in the Annex to the "horizontal mandate", the Commission has negotiated an agreement with the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka that replaces certain provisions in the existing bilateral air services agreements between Member States and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
In accordance with the standard procedure for the signature and conclusion of International agreements, the Council is asked to approve the decisions on the signature and on the conclusion of the Agreement on certain aspects of air services between the European Union and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and to designate the persons authorised to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Union.
BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: there are no implications for the EU budget.