ArmInfo. By Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan's decree Armenia-EU working group has been established, which will start official negotiations on the text of Common Aviation Area Agreement. Head of General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia Sergey Avetisyan has been appointed as head of the negotiations group, e-gov.am informs.
To recall, on 1 December 2016 the EU Council on Transport, Telecommunications and Energy 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 neighborhood policy.
Sergey Avetisyan, the Head of General Department of Civil Aviation stated at the resulting press conference on December 20 that after two years of work Armenia obtained an opportunity to start negotiations on joining the Agreement. According to Avetisyan, in the sector of aviation Armenia has been building the relations with Europe based on intergovernmental agreements. In the result of joining this Agreement, a more liberal flights regime will come effective between Armenia and 28 countries of Europe. Armenia will bear also a number of obligations in respect to regulatory changes and implementation of European standards in national regulatory framework.
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.
