EU–Qatar agreement on air transport

KEY POINTS

Common rules

• Almost all Member States had already granted full market access through bilateral air services agreements with Qatar prior to the signing of this agreement.
• However, these bilateral agreements did not include adequate rules to prevent abuse of a liberalised market such as fair competition, transparency or social matters.

The agreement covers three main areas of cooperation.

1. Economic cooperation

   The agreement sets out rules on governing the air transport market between the EU and Qatar, including:

   • traffic rights – providing for the unlimited right to fly passengers and cargo between the EU and Qatar, after a transitional phase-in period for services to Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands;
   • rules to ensure fair competition by prohibiting discrimination, unfair practices and subsidies which adversely affect the fair and equal opportunity to compete;
   • rules to ensure the highest standards of financial transparency, with an obligation to ensure that air carriers publicly issue financial information;
   • rules to facilitate business activities, including the right for air carriers to freely establish offices in the territory of the other party;
   • rules on user charges for airport and aviation facilities and services.
2. Regulatory cooperation (aviation safety, security and air traffic management)

   Both parties commit to:

   • accepting certificates of airworthiness and competence, along with licences, issued by the other party;
   • achieving the highest levels of aviation security standards, including conforming to international aviation standards and recommended practices;
   • respecting and promoting the International Labour Organization’s fundamental principles and rights at work, working towards ratifying all of that organisation’s fundamental conventions and cooperating on labour matters within the scope of the agreement;
   • promoting sustainable aviation and working together on minimising the effects of aviation on the environment – the agreement also includes rules to allow the taxing of aviation fuel within the EU;
   • cooperating in air traffic management;
   • cooperating to achieve a high level of consumer protection.
3. Institutional rules (administration and enforcement)
   • Each party is responsible for enforcing the rules of the agreement on its territory.
   • A joint committee comprising representatives of both parties, and meeting at least yearly, is responsible for administering the agreement and ensuring its proper implementation.
   • The agreement includes a dispute resolution mechanism.