Wednesday, July 27 2016 07:38

Safe and stable air space of Europe is still close to Armenia. 

"We still wait for the European Commission to be authorized to launch official talks with out country on the issue," Garegin Melkonyan, First Deputy Minister of Armenia told ArmInfo. To find out the reasons why the date of Armenia's joining the Single European Sky has been postponed for several times, Melkonyan recommended applying to the EU. 

In December 2015, in Brussels, at his meeting wit Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Edward Nalbandian, Foreign Minister of Armenia, said Armenia is ready to sign a Common Aviation Area Agreement with the EU. It was mentioned then that EU would authorize the European Commission to sign the given agreement and the negotiations for Armenia to join the Single European Sky would be launched in January 2016.  Yerevan has repeatedly expressed its interests in launching the talks. It was reported officially that the Council of the European Union will weigh the issue by mid-June. Later, Melkonyan told ArmInfo the terms were postponed until the end of June. 

Armenia is still waiting. "We were told that measures are being taken within the EU aviation strategy," Melkonyan said expressing hope for positive dynamics, since Armenia sees no reasons for postponement.  He said if launched, the negotiations will not last long, as there is the main format of cooperation with all the countries.  

The Common Aviation Area Agreement of Europe automatically comes into force both for EU and its every member-country. Joining this Agreement, Armenia and 28 EU countries will have more liberal aviation regime favorable to the airlines of Armenia and EU.

The document will lift the restrictions on the flights of foreign airline of Armenia and the Armenian ones to the EU countries. This will help offering conditions that are more attractive to European companies in Armenia and in the Armenian town of Gyumri. In addition, liberalization will ensure fair competition at the international level, through state support and regulation of standards. 

By joining European Common Aviation Area Armenia will receive an opportunity to integrate into European aviation market, and become an important transit country in air transport.