PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: as authorised by the Council on 9 December 2008, the Commission has negotiated the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Tunisia, on the other.

The negotiating directives set out the general objective of negotiating a comprehensive air transport agreement with the aim of gradually and reciprocally opening market access and ensuring regulatory convergence and effective implementation of EU requirements and standards.

In accordance with the negotiating directives, a draft agreement with Tunisia was initialled by both parties on 11 December 2017.

The conclusion of a Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Tunisia is an important element in the development of the EU external aviation policy and a crucial component of the EU neighbourhood policy and the creation of a wider European Common Aviation Area.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council decide to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Tunisia, on the other.

The agreement aims in particular at:

- gradual market opening in terms of access to routes and capacity on a reciprocal basis;

- ensuring regulatory convergence and effective compliance by Tunisia with EU aviation related legislation; and

- non-discrimination and level playing field for economic operators.

The agreement provides for the simultaneous extension of its terms to all 27 Member States, applying the same rules without discrimination and in the interest of all EU air carriers, regardless of their nationality. These carriers will be able to operate freely from any point in the European Union to any point in Tunisia, which is currently not the case.

The agreement guarantees all EU air carriers access to commercial opportunities, such as ground handling, code-sharing and intermodality, and the possibility to price freely.

A Joint Committee will be established to discuss matters relating to the implementation of the agreement.