The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Francisco ASSIS (S&D, PT) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union and its Member States, of a Protocol amending the Agreement on Air Transport between Canada and the European Community and its Member States, to take account of the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Croatia.
The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the protocol.
The EU-Canada Air Transport Agreement was initialled on 30 November 2008, endorsed by the EU-Canada Summit on 6 May 2009 and signed on 17-18 December 2009, subject to its conclusion at a later date.
This comprehensive agreement provides for the gradual phasing-in of traffic rights and investment opportunities as well as far-reaching cooperation in several areas, including safety, security, social issues, consumer interests, environment, air traffic management, state aid and competition.
The purpose of the Protocol is to enable Croatia to become a Party to the Agreement on Air Transport between Canada, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, and to provide for the necessary ensuing linguistic adaptations made to the Agreement due to Croatia's accession. The Protocol makes no substantial amendments to the Agreement between the European Union and Canada.