Res Communis

COUNCIL DECISION of 30 November 2009 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on certain aspects of air services
(2009/947/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2) in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ( 1 ),

Whereas:
(1) On 5 June 2003, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community agreement;
(2) On behalf of the Community, the Commission has negotiated an Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on certain aspects of air services ( 2 ) (the Agreement) in accordance with the mechanisms and directives in the Annex to the Council Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community agreement;
(3) The Agreement has been signed on behalf of the Community on 7 July 2009 subject to its conclusion at a later date, in conformity with Council Decision 2009/741/EC ( 3 );
(4) The Agreement should be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1
The Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on certain aspects of air services is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

Article 2
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to make the notification provided in Article 8(1) of the Agreement.

Done at Brussels, 30 November 2009.
For the Council
The President
B. ASK

DOT 196-09
Friday, December 11, 2009
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces U.S.-Japan Agreement on Open Skies

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced that the United States and Japan reached agreement on the text of a landmark Open-Skies aviation agreement, liberalizing U.S.-Japan air services for the carriers of both countries. The agreement was reached after five rounds of negotiations focusing on Open Skies, beginning in May of this year.

“Achieving Open Skies with Japan, a major U.S. transportation and trade partner, has been a long-standing U.S. goal and is good news for air travelers and businesses on both sides of the Pacific,” said Secretary LaHood. “Once this agreement takes effect, American and Japanese consumers, airlines and economies will enjoy the benefits of competitive pricing and more convenient service.”

Under the new agreement, airlines from both countries would be allowed to select routes and destinations based on consumer demand for both passenger and cargo services, without limitations on the number of U.S. or Japanese carriers that can fly between the two countries or the number of flights they can operate. It would remove restrictions on capacity and pricing, and provide unlimited opportunities for cooperative marketing arrangements, including code-sharing, between U.S. and Japanese carriers.

The agreement also would provide opportunities for growth of U.S. carrier operations at Tokyo’s Narita Airport and ensure fair competition regarding the new opportunities at Tokyo’s close-in Haneda Airport.

Although the 1952 U.S.-Japan aviation agreement was greatly expanded in 1998, many U.S. carriers serving Japan were still subject to restrictions on capacity, routing, pricing, and code-sharing.

Once the agreement is finalized, Japan will become the 95th U.S. Open-Skies partner. Both the United States and Japan must affirmatively act in order to put the agreement into effect.

Hearing Information

Hearing on: Protecting Employees in Airline Bankruptcies

Wednesday 12/16/2009 – 3:00 2:30 P.M.

2141 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law

By Direction of the Chairman

U.S.-Japan Open Skies Meetings

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC

Question Taken at the December 10, 2009 Daily Press Briefing
December 10, 2009

QUESTION: Please provide a readout of the Open Skies meetings between the U.S. and Japan? What is the U.S. position? Are there any issues of contention?

ANSWER: Open Skies negotiations with the Japanese are ongoing. We started this round of negotiations on Monday, December 7. The talks continued today. A number of issues remain to be resolved.