No. H002/07
For release January 9, 2007

CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT WELCOMES EUROPEAN COMMISSION INTEREST IN AIR AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS

OTTAWA — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today welcomed the European Commission's decision to present a negotiating mandate to its Council of Ministers for approval.

"I am pleased that the European Commission is eager to negotiate an air agreement with Canada," said Minister Cannon. "The announcement made by the European Commission today is a positive development and is consistent with this government's recently announced Blue Sky policy, which commits to actively pursue the negotiation of open agreements when it is in Canada's overall interest."

The European Commission is the driving force in the European Union's institutional system. Its main roles are to propose legislation, to administer and implement Community policies, to enforce Community law and to negotiate international agreements, mainly those relating to trade and cooperation.

Transport Canada has recently consulted stakeholders on the general theme of a comprehensive agreement with the European Union. The analysis of comments received is underway, and specific consultations on technical matters are also planned.

Officials from the Government of Canada and the European Commission are scheduled to meet at the end of February to hold preliminary discussions.

Transport Canada is committed to the development of a healthy and viable air transportation industry through, among other things, the expansion of international air services markets.

Canada currently has individual agreements with 17 of the 27 European Union Member States. Under a Canada-European Union agreement, as envisaged by the government, Canada's air transport relations with European Union Member States would be governed by a single regime.

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