Armenia may soon sign Common Aviation Area Agreement with EU

ArmInfo. EU Common Aviation Area  may soon be opened for Armenia, on 1 December 2016 the Council  adopted a mandate that will allow the Commission to start  negotiations on a comprehensive air transport agreement with Armenia.

According to the EU statement received by ArmInfo, comprehensive  EU-level aviation agreements aim to increase Europe's international  connectivity, ensure a high-quality service and more choice for the  passengers, and boost the international competitiveness of the EU's  aviation industry.

The agreement with Armenia will take the form of a Common Aviation  Area Agreement, since Armenia is one of the countries with which the  EU is creating closer ties under its neighbourhood policy.

"Nowadays, we can hardly imagine travel without aviation. Aviation  agreements are great means to enable Europe to tap into the growth  markets elsewhere and to connect the EU directly to other regions. I  warmly welcome the Council?s green light today to open negotiations  with Armenia.  Once negotiated, the agreement will promote a vibrant  exchange of travellers, lower prices and ensure new business  opportunities for our companies. It will be a great example of  cooperation between the EU and Armenia in the context of the Eastern  Partnership," Arpad Ersek, Slovak Minister for Transport,  Construction and Regional Development and Chair of the Council  stated. 

The Commission will carry out these negotiations on behalf of the EU  and its member states.

To note Europe's safe and stable air zone was remaining close for  Armenia for a long time. The dates for Armenia's joining "Common  Aviation Zone" have been postponed several times. In December 2015  Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia during the  meeting with Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European  Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that Armenia is  ready to sign Common Aviation Area Agreement with the EU. Within the  recent months Yerevan has repeatedly stressed its interest in soonest  launch of negotiations.  

According to the procedure as soon as the European Commission  receives mandate it will be authorized to start negotiations with  Yerevan, Armenia will be given the draft agreement, which will be the  basis of the negotiations.   According to the officials in Armenia  the negotiations will not last long, as there already exists the  model format of cooperation with all the countries. 

The document will lift the restrictions on the flights of foreign  airline to Armenia and the Armenian ones to the EU countries. This  will help offering conditions that are more attractive to European  companies in Armenia and in the Armenian town of Gyumri. In addition,  liberalization will ensure fair competition at the international  level, through state support and regulation of standards. From  Eastern Partnership countries Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine have  jointed the common European aviation area.  By joining European  Common Aviation Area Armenia will receive an opportunity to integrate  into European aviation market, and become an important transit  country in air transport.