Germans tout open-skies deal

The German presidency is to make a concerted effort at a meeting next week (22 March) to convince transport ministers from the other EU states that they should sign up to an ‘open skies’ deal with the US.

The UK yesterday (14 March) confirmed its opposition to the deal at a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels.

The UK’s opposition could place the deal, tentatively agreed by EU and US negotiators a fortnight ago (2 March), in danger.

Unanimous agreement among member states is needed ahead of the EU-US summit (30 April), where leaders are meant to give the deal their blessing.

UK Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander had previously suggested that the UK would oppose the deal in its current form because it does not give European carriers the right to fly between US cities and because strict limits on EU ownership of US airlines remain in place.

Critics of the deal claim that the EU has given too much away without getting enough back.

"There is clearly a need to do it in two phases. But we must make sure the US comes back for a second phase," said a UK diplomat.

Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot sought to appease critics on Tuesday (13 March), indicating that the deal could be suspended if Washington fails to open its domestic market by 2010.

The German government would like to see a deal before the end of its presidency. "We’ll do our best," said a German diplomat. "We’ll talk to everyone concerned until next week."

The German presidency is to make a concerted effort at a meeting next week (22 March) to convince transport ministers from the other EU states that they should sign up to an ‘open skies’ deal with the US.