The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Roberts ZELE (ECR, LV) on the draft Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Multilateral Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Republic of Iceland, the Republic of Montenegro, the Kingdom of Norway, Romania, the Republic of Serbia and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo on the establishment of a European Common Aviation Area (ECAA).
The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.
As a reminder, the aim of this agreement is the creation of a European Common Aviation Area (ECAA), integrating the EU’s neighbours in South-East Europe in the EU's internal aviation market which consists of EU Member States as well as Norway and Iceland. It should deliver substantial economic benefits for air travellers and the aviation industry, covering 36 countries and more than 500 million people.
At the same time, the agreement offers the same high standards in term of safety and security across Europe, through the uniform application of rules.
The ECAA agreement was signed on 9 June 2006, subject to its conclusion at a later date. Parliament had then approved the conclusion of the agreement. The ratification process was completed by all Member States on 23 January 2014.
The Commission then presented on 23 November 2015 an amended proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement in order to take into account the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and the accession of Bulgaria, Croatia and from Romania to the Union.