The new aviation agreement between Europe and China will ensure “to enhance EU-China aviation relationship and generate growth for European business.”, according to the European Commission.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told: “In an increasingly unsettled world, Europe’s partnership with China is more important than ever before. The EU firmly believes that nations working together makes the world a stronger, safer and more prosperous place for all. Today we took a first big step in this direction by signing two aviation agreements with China that will create jobs, boost growth and bring our continents and peoples closer together. Today’s agreements show the potential of our partnership and we should continue on this path of cooperation. For it will always be in unity that we find strength.”
Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc explained: “China is one of the European Union’s most important strategic partners and we attach a lot of importance to our excellent relations on transport matters. We are mutually interested in better connecting Europe and Asia and making it easier to move goods, services and people between Europe and China. That applies to aviation, too. Today’s agreements will boost the European Union’s trade in aircraft and related products, and ensure the highest levels of air safety.”
‘The main objective of the agreement is to increase the global trade in aviation-related products. The arrangement would also make sure that unnecessary duplication of aeronautical products evaluation and certification activities by the civil aviation authorities, thereby reducing costs for the aeronautical sector.’
This was not the first time that Europe signed an agreement with another non-European country. Back in March, Qatar and the EU negotiated and signed a similar agreement.
Next to that, another agreement was signed too today: ‘the horizontal agreement: According to this contract, European airlines will be able to fly to China from any EU Member State with a bilateral air services agreement to China under which unused traffic rights are available.’ This looks quite weird, but up until now, only airlines owned by the Member State were able to fly between the State and China.
