Initial talks in Washington about a new Open skies agreement between the US and the EU ended without any dates for the resumption of formal discussions on the controversial topic.
In a joint statement US transportation secretary Norman Mineta and EC transport commissioner Jacques Barrot said they had “asked their negotiators to review further the possible elements of a US-EU air services agreement with the goal of establishing a solid basis on which formal negotiations can be resumed.”
Both said they would continue to work towards a “comprehensive aviation accord that will expand opportunities not only for airlines, but also for airports, tourism, business links and cargo transport.”
Mr Barrot is now planning to meet transport ministers from EC countries at the end of April
to see if there was any value in an EU-US aviation summit.
The approval of EC member states to any EU-US Open Skies agreement is crucial to both its acceptance and success.
The last round of talks broke down in 2004 after EC ember states indicated their dislike of some proposals in the planned deal.
Britain, for example, is reluctant to grant access to more US carriers into Heathrow without in return getting approval for substantial access to the US domestic market.
* In their joint statement, Mr Mineta and Mr Barrot also welcomed the new talks between the EC and the Us Federal Aviation Administration on air traffic management.