FINDING SOLUTIONS

In cooperation with the EU, Finland sought solutions to a number of problems overshadowing our air services agreements. Traditional air traffic agreements contain restrictions based on nationality, which conflicts with the demands of the EU constitution. Air services agreements that grant traffic rights only to mainly Finnish- owned companies contradict the principle of equal treatment for European nationals.

In line with other EU states, Finland has focused in all its aviation relations on removing this contradiction. Finland may negotiate a solution on its own but the commission’s negotiations which seek a solution for all member states at the same time are also to Finland’s benefit. For example, the Commission has negotiated an Open Aviation Area agreement with the USA which would replace all the previous air traffic agreements between the EU and the United States. An initial joint understanding between the US and EU delegates was reached in November 2005 but is expected that final acceptance of the result of the talks will not be confi rmed until 2006.