08 March 2010, 23:00
Georgia and EU to create united air space
Georgia and the European Union have signed the agreement on united air space. The document assumes to build, within 2 years after signing, the united Georgian-EU aviation space.
Let us remind you that last November a Georgian-EU visa-simplification agreement was initialled in Brussels.
According to the new agreement, Georgia will harmonize its legislation with EU standards on aviation safety, protection of environment, consumers' rights, air traffic control and economic regulation.
Pair Eklund, an EU official, named the negotiations successful. "It's a step forward promoting Georgia's integration into European structures and closer contacts between people," he said.
Mamuka Vatsadze, head of the department of transport policy of the ministry for regional management and infrastructure, has noted that the agreement will expand the area of flights and increase the number thereof.
"It'll tell positively on citizens of Georgia and promote both deeper economic relations and tourism in the country," the "Georgia Online" quotes the official.
According to Mr Vatsadze, after the agreement comes into force, various restrictions imposed on Georgia's air communication with EU countries will be lifted, as the "Business-Georgia" reports.
As reported by the RBC, after enforcing the agreement all EU airlines will be able to fly to Georgia from any point of the Union, same as Georgian air carriers.
In the last five years passenger flows between EU and Georgia went up by 10 percent every year, while cargo volumes increased by at least 26 percent for five years.
As of today, there are direct flights between Georgia and nine countries-EU members: Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Holland and Poland.
