REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of Protocols amending the Agreements on certain aspects of air services between the European Community and- the Government of Georgia- the Republic of Lebanon- the Republic of Maldives- the Republic of Moldova- the Government of the Republic of Singapore and- the Oriental Republic of Uruguayto take account of the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Romania

23.11.2007 - (COM(2007)0366 – C6‑0265/2007 – 2007/0125(CNS)) - *

Committee on Transport and Tourism
Rapporteur: Paolo Costa
(Simplified procedure - Rule 43(1) of the Rules of Procedure)

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of Protocols amending the Agreements on certain aspects of air services between the European Community and the Government of Georgia, the Republic of Lebanon, the Republic of Maldives, the Republic of Moldova, the Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay to take account of the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Romania

(COM(2007)0366 – C6‑0265/2007 – 2007/0125(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the proposal for a Council decision (COM(2007)0366),

–   having regard to Articles 80(2) and 300(2), first subparagraph, first sentence, of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Article 300(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6‑0265/2007),

–   having regard to Rules 51, 83(7) and 43(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A6‑0456/2007),

1.  Approves the conclusion of the Protocol;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Government of Georgia, the Republic of Lebanon, the Republic of Maldives, the Republic of Moldova, the Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

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 a Community agreement[1] (the “horizontal mandate”). The objectives of such agreements are to give all EU air carriers non-discriminatory access to routes between the Community and third countries, and to bring bilateral air service agreements between Member States and third countries in line with Community law.
The European Community signed a horizontal aviation agreement with Georgia on 3 May 2006, with Lebanon on 7 July 2006, with the Maldives on 21 September 2006, with Moldova on 11 April 2006, with Singapore on 9 June 2006, and with Uruguay on 3 November 2006. These agreements bring existing bilateral air services agreements between the third countries and EU Member States in line with Community law. The Protocol ensures the necessary replacements for the bilateral air services agreements between third countries and Bulgaria and Romania following their accession to the EU on 1 January 2007. The relevant provisions will be added to the Annex of each of the horizontal agreements between Georgia, Lebanon, the Maldives, Moldova, Singapore, Uruguay and the European Community.

• [1]  Council Decision 11323/03 of 5 June 2003 (restricted document).

PROCEDURE

Title	Amendment of the Agreements on air services with Georgia, Lebanon, Maldives, Moldova, Singapore and Uruguay to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania
References	COM(2007)0366 - C6-0265/2007 - 2007/0125(CNS)
Date of consulting Parliament	31.8.2007
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	TRAN 24.9.2007
Rapporteur(s)        Date appointed	Paolo Costa 27.8.2007
Simplified procedure - date of decision	27.8.2007
Date adopted	21.11.2007