PURPOSE: the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2008/191/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services.

CONTENT: following the rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in the “Open skies” case, the Council authorised the Commission, in June 2003, to open negotiations with third countries in order to replace certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with Community agreements. On behalf of the Community, the Commission has negotiated an Agreement with the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services, in accordance with the mechanisms and directives in the Annex to the Council Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with third countries in order to replace certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with Community agreements.

The Council decided to approve the agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services. Article 2 of the agreement replaces the traditional designation clauses with a Community designation clause, permitting all Community carriers to benefit from the right of establishment. Articles 4 and 5 of the Agreement address two types of clauses concerning matters of Community competence. Article 4 deals with the taxation of aviation fuel. Article 5 (Pricing) resolves conflicts between the existing bilateral air services agreements and Council Regulation No 2409/92 on fares and rates for air services, which prohibits third country carriers from being price leaders on air services for carriage wholly within the Community.

The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Paolo COSTA (ALDE, IT) and approved the conclusion of the Agreement with Lebanon.

The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Paolo COSTA (ALDE, IT) and approved the conclusion of the Agreement with Lebanon.

The committee adopted the report by its chairman, Paolo COSTA (ALDE, IT) approving the conclusion of the agreement under the consultation procedure.

PURPOSE : signature, provisional application and conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decisions.

CONTENT : the Council authorised the Commission in June 2003 to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community agreement. The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Community an agreement with the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services in accordance with the mechanisms and directives in the Annex to the Council’s decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community agreement.

Article 2 of the Agreement replaces the traditional designation clauses with a Community designation clause, permitting all Community carriers to benefit from the right of establishment. Articles 4 and 5 of the Agreement address two types of clauses concerning matters of Community competence. Article 4 deals with the taxation of aviation fuel. Article 5 (Pricing) resolves conflicts between the existing bilateral air services agreements and Council Regulation 2409/92 on fares and rates for air services which prohibits third country carriers from being price leaders on air services for carriage wholly within the Community.

The Council is asked to approve the decisions on the signature and provisional application and on the conclusion of the agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services and to designate the persons authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the Community.

PURPOSE : signature, provisional application and conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decisions.

CONTENT : the Council authorised the Commission in June 2003 to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community agreement. The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Community an agreement with the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services in accordance with the mechanisms and directives in the Annex to the Council’s decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with a Community agreement.

Article 2 of the Agreement replaces the traditional designation clauses with a Community designation clause, permitting all Community carriers to benefit from the right of establishment. Articles 4 and 5 of the Agreement address two types of clauses concerning matters of Community competence. Article 4 deals with the taxation of aviation fuel. Article 5 (Pricing) resolves conflicts between the existing bilateral air services agreements and Council Regulation 2409/92 on fares and rates for air services which prohibits third country carriers from being price leaders on air services for carriage wholly within the Community.

The Council is asked to approve the decisions on the signature and provisional application and on the conclusion of the agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Lebanon on certain aspects of air services and to designate the persons authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the Community.