Indo-EU aviation pact likely

Raichak: The European Union plans to boost cooperation in business and technology and sign a civil aviation pact with India. The EU has set its sights on giving the USA a run for its money in the field of trade relations with India. A Horizontal Aviation Agreement is likely to be signed by India and the EU at an EU-India summit to be held in September in France.
“I hope that the EU and India will sign the agreement during the summit,” said Ms Daniele Smadja, ambassador and head of a delegation of European Commission to India, Nepal and Bhutan. Ms Smadja was speaking on the sidelines of an interaction with media representatives during a seminar held here on Wednesday.
Once the pact is signed, all other bilateral pacts on the subject signed between India and individual EU members, will become obsolete. Most of the existing bilateral air service agreements between EU member states and India are old, and no longer legally sustainable.
The modalities of the agreement are being worked out with Indian authorities, an EU official said. The agreement will bring several provisions in the 26 bilateral air services agreements between EU member states and India in line with EU law.
02/05/08 Kajari Bhattacharya/The Statesman

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Categories: Foreign May 2008, Indian Aviation- In General May 2008, New May 2008