7m Euro fund to promote civil aviation between EU and SAARC countries

The European Union (EU) has set up a seven million Euro fund to promote civil aviation between EU member States and the SAARC countries, said Head of Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Ambassador Bernard Savage.

He was addressing a ceremony to sign the EU-Sri Lanka Horizontal Air Services Agreement recently.

He said the aviation development fund will strengthen relations and promote trade between EU member States and SAARC countries.

The EU is a major trade partner for SAARC countries which export garments and a large number of agricultural products. Sri Lanka exports apparels, gem and jewellery and agricultural products to the EU.

“The air service agreement will further strengthen bilateral and trade relations between the European Union and Sri Lanka”, the Ambassador said.

The Horizontal agreement will remove nationality restrictions in bilateral air services agreements between EU member States and Sri Lanka.

The agreement will allow any EU airline to operate flights between Sri Lanka and any EU member State.

Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Karunatilaka Amunugama said that Sri Lanka has been maintaining cordial relations with the EU and added that the Horizontal agreement will boost trade and tourism between Sri Lanka and EU member States.

“The air service agreement signed today is the culmination of several years of hard work between EU member States and Sri Lanka.

The agreement will strengthen aviation relations and overall cooperation with Sri Lanka” Amunugama said. Sri Lanka operates direct flights to Germany, Italy Netherlands, Belgium, France and Britain.

The number of travellers between the EU and Sri Lanka increased by 11 percent to 380,000 in 2010.

Amunugama said the air services agreement will help attract more visitors from the EU which is a major tourism market for Sri Lanka.

Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation Ranjith De Silva said the signing of the new agreement turn a new chapter in the civil aviation industry in Sri Lanka.

“The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched many programs to develop the aviation industry in Sri Lanka”, De Silva said.

The Horizontal agreement will bring several provisions in bilateral air services agreements between EU member States and Sri Lanka on a sound legal footing by ensuring compliance with EU legislation.

The EU currently has 47 horizontal agreements with partner countries. Over 900 bilateral air services agreements have been modified by the European Commission and EU member States to replace nationality rules with the principle of EU airline designation. LF