Tue, Dec 06, 2005
One Step Up, Two Steps Back?
Just when it appeared things were maybe getting better between
the European Union and the United States over the issue of unfair
government subsidies of its aircraft manufacturers, comes word out
of Brussels that no agreement can be reached with the US until the
questions surrounding foreign ownership of US airlines is
clarified.
"Until everything is agreed, there is no agreement. Make no
mistake about that," British Transport Secretary Alistair Darling
told reporters, according to Reuters.
EU states have been generally supportive of the progress in the
ongoing "open skies" talks between the two entities, and a tentative agreement reached last
month between the EU and US was met with relief on both sides of
the Atlantic.
However, Britain said no agreement would be final until the EU
concerns were addressed.
"Until everything is agreed, there is no agreement. Make no
mistake about that," British Transport Secretary Alistair Darling
told reporters. Britain currently holds the rotating EU
presidency.
The EU may have motivation to reach a deal soon with the US,
however, as EU transport ministers also declined to give the
executive body the power to negotiate an aviation deal with China
-- an emerging powerhouse in the global aviation market -- for the
full bloc of EU nations.
"The Commission is
engaged very heavily with the United States at the moment," Darling
said. "To move to a formal mandate to negotiate something (with
China) at this stage we all agreed was premature."
The EU governing body expects to try again with negotiations on
the China deal next year... hopefully, after issues with the US are
resolved.
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