The European Commission is seeking to open talks with Canada with a view to signing an open skiesagreement that could create several thousand jobs.
Canada’s existing bilateral aviation agreements with 17 EU countries no longer conform withEU law, said the Commission yesterday, and air traffic since 2000 has doubled between the NorthAmerican country and the 27-nation European bloc.
“Canada is a key partner of the European Union. This agreement will facilitate the travel ofpeople and goods between the EU and Canada and will establish a high level of regulatory standards,in particular in the fields of safety and security,” commented Commission Vice-President JacquesBarrot, in charge of transport.
An open aviation area between the EU and Canada could create 3,700 jobs in the first yearalone, the Commission said, and would lay the basis for connections between all member states andthe Canada.
The Commission already has a mandate to forge an open skies agreement with the US and acommon airspace with Ukraine. It has recently signed deals bringing Morocco and western Balkancountries into the European aviation area, and with Russia over Siberian overflights.
