MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU expands civil aviation cooperation with Latinamerica

EU Vice-President Siim Kallas: looking ahead to one of the most promising air transport markets

The European Union agreed Tuesday on cooperation understandings in civil aviation with the Latinamerican Civil Aviation Commission, CLAC, and with Brazil to promote closer coordination in technical and safety issues.

The memorandum of understanding was signed during the joint EU–Latin America Civil Aviation Summit held in Rio de Janeiro this week. EU Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport also signed the agreements with Brazil.

“Given the steady growth and common challenges facing our aviation sectors, I am extremely pleased with the prospect of enhancing cooperation in civil aviation with Latin America. Cooperation will create opportunities for companies in both the EU and Latin America and result in more and safer flights to the benefit of our citizens” said Vice president Kallas.

The Latin American air transport market is forecast to be among the fastest growing in the world over the next 20 years and therefore of increasing strategic importance to the EU and its industry.

In his opening speech at the joint EU–Latin America Civil Aviation Summit, Vice-President Kallas invited Latin America to cooperate more closely with the EU on civil aviation, including improving aviation safety and reducing the impact of flying on the environment.

Kallas welcomed the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC) which will enhance aviation cooperation between Latin America and the EU. The two sides agreed to develop a joint action plan before the end of 2010 setting out the concrete actions of cooperation.

Kallas together with Brazil's Minister of Defence, Nelson Jobim, and José Blanco, Transport Minister of Spain, also welcomed the successful finalization of two important documents between Brazil and the EU referred to the so-called ‘horizontal agreement’ and on aviation safety.

The horizontal agreement modernises the legal framework and establishes full legal certainty for all air carriers operating flights between Brazil and the EU. In practical terms this also means that Brazil can negotiate with the EU as a unit avoiding the need for bilateral agreements with members.

The aviation safety agreement will expand cooperation and reciprocity in all areas of safety facilitating trade in aeronautical products and services, reducing costs and simplifying administrative procedures for authorities and industries.

The two agreements are expected to be signed at the EU–Brazil Summit in Brasilia on 14 July 2010.

On 5 May 2010, the European Commission proposed to open negotiations with Brazil on a comprehensive air services agreement which could generate significant economic benefits to both sides through a combination of market opening and closer regulatory cooperation.
The EU–Latin America Aviation Summit brought together more than 300 leading representatives of the Latin American and EU aviation sectors, government officials plus representatives from airlines, airports, aerospace industries and service providers.

Clac is made up of Argentina, Aruba, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.