Follow-up on the EU-US ‘Open Skies’ Air Transport Agreement

16.11.2017

Question for written answer E-007077-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Marie-Christine Arnautu (ENF)

The EU-US Open Skies Air Transport Agreement has now been in force for 10 years. It has turned out, on balance, to be less beneficial than expected. Jacques Barrot, Commissioner for Transport during the negotiation of the agreement, said that the EU would have more weight than single Member States when contending with the United States.

One of the Commission’s objectives was to liberalise the US’s rules on ownership of its airlines. By law, foreigners can own no more than 25% of American companies’ shares with voting rights, therefore control of American carriers remains within US interests. In the EU, the equivalent maximum is 49.9%. European carriers are also at a disadvantage when it comes to foreign investment.

How will the Commission put an end to the above problems?

American companies can fly between two Member States (intra-Community cabotage), but European companies may not offer domestic flights in the US. Does the Commission intend to call for reciprocity?

Will the arrival of the new US Administration and its clearly protectionist programme affect the application of the Agreement and relations between the competent EU and US authorities?