EU and Canada reach air safety agreement

2011-06-23 20:28:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union (EU) on Thursday announced that an air safety agreement with Canada had been approved by its Parliament.

The agreement will allow smoother procedures between both parties as duplicate checks or certification procedures will be eliminated since the deal provides mutual recognition of technical aviation and aircraft standards. In addition, it foresees joint inspections, investigations, exchange of aviation safety data and increased regulatory cooperation.

Furthermore, the deal is expected to enhance aviation safety by reducing red tape and facilitating trade between the two parties. The agreement also enhances certainty as to the law in EU-Canada relations, by recognizing the principles of the EU internal aviation market and the status of a "Community carrier."

The air safety agreement, which is the EU's farthest-reaching with a third country, was signed in May 2009 but was waiting the Parliament's consent as required under the Lisbon Treaty.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-23

This should reduce airline's costs. Maybe it won't reduce the price of a ticket but it should control one of the items that pressures airfares.