The Commission briefed ministers on the results of the first three rounds of negotiations on a comprehensive air transport agreement with Brazil, aimed at a gradual opening of market access and enhanced regulatory cooperation. Significant progress has already been made in the negotiations, which were held on the basis of the mandate given by the transport Council at its previous meeting in October. A fourth round is scheduled for 7-9 December in Rio de Janeiro.
Recently the EU has successfully negotiated two other aviation agreements with Brazil: one on cooperation in the field of civil aviation safety, which provides in particular for the mutual recognition of certification findings and standards regarding airworthiness, maintenance and environmental requirements; and, secondly, an "agreement on certain aspects of air services", which brings a number of provisions of the bilateral air services agreements between Brazil and EU member states into line with EU legislation so as to ensure non-discriminatory treatment of all EU airlines established in the Member States concerned.