EU SIGNS AGREEMENT TO BOOST AIR SERVICES WITH JAPAN
On 20 February, the Swedish Presidency of the Council, on behalf of the EU, signed an aviation agreement with Japan. The agreement will give all EU air carriers non-discriminatory access to routes between the EU and Japan, thereby promoting open and fair competition. The agreement will create a level playing field for EU carriers and a sound legal basis for further development of air services with Japan. Moreover, together with the EU-Japan aviation safety agreement that entered into force in 2021, this agreement will further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the parties in the field of aviation.
The agreement, which was negotiated by the Commission after receiving authorisation from the Council, will replace 13 provisions in existing bilateral air services agreements between Member States and Japan, which will permit all EU carriers to benefit from the right of establishment. Swedish minister for infrastructure and housing Andreas Carlson welcomed it, indicating that ‘’this [agreement] will further develop EU's cooperation with one of our key partners in the region’’.
Source: Council of the EU