The European Parliament adopted by 653 to 10, with 25 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part.
In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Transport and Tourism, the European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.
The Council signed the Agreement on 2 December 2010. On 15 November 2011, Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement. In order to take account of the legal consequences of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and of the 2015 judgment of the Court of Justice, the Council decided to consult Parliament again to obtain its consent.
The Agreement is aimed at regulating aviation relations between the European Union, its Member States and Georgia. Its purpose is to create a common aviation area between the EU and Georgia. It aims to extend to Georgia all the legislation and the rules governing the EU single market in air transport and create a level playing field between all air carriers in the European Union and Georgia.
The application of the existing rules on aviation safety and security and air traffic management to Georgia shall lead to a reciprocal market opening and enable all economic stakeholders to participate in the common aviation area on a non-discriminatory basis. This means that in future all aviation undertakings in the EU and Georgia shall be able to offer their services from anywhere in the EU to anywhere in Georgia.