During 2004 the management of international aviation relations
continued to be influenced by the Open Skies judgements
handed down by the EU Court in November 2002. These verdicts
declared that certain provisions contained in traditional
air transport agreements were contrary to EU legislation.
A free market has been created for air transport within
the EU but aircraft flying outside the EU are usually subject
to the conditions of traditional air transport contracts.
A fundamental problem with these conditions is that another
contracting state may refuse to allow a company to fly if
it is not primarily owned and under the supervision of a
Finnish national. This does not provide the same opportunities
for airlines from other EU states as it does for Finnish
owned firms and thus runs counter to EU principles. Finland,
in common with other EU states, must do everything it can
to change aviation agreements signed with third countries.
A regulation came into force within the EU in July 2004
on how air services agreements should be negotiated and
implemented. The purpose of the regulation is to ensure
that EU legislation is properly taken into account in such
negotiations.
