News Releases

No. 104/06
December 5, 2006

EU REACTION TO US WITHDRAWAL OF THE PROPOSED RULE ON "ACTUAL CONTROL" OF US CARRIERS

US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters called the Vice President of the European Commission in charge of Transport, Jacques Barrot, on December 5 to inform him that the US Department of Transportation is withdrawing the proposed rule on "actual control" of US air carriers and to explain the reasons which led to this decision.

Vice President Barrot expressed disappointment and regretted this decision, noting that for the EU, this was an essential element in order to conclude the comprehensive first step Air Transport Agreement with the United States.

Vice President Barrot accepted Secretary Peters' proposal to send US representatives to hold consultations on an urgent basis early 2007 in Brussels, to review the situation and discuss the way forward.

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