Tuesday, January 31 2017 18:00

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.