By Henrietta Billings - 26th June 2005
Aviation tops the agenda for European transport ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.
Luxembourg EU presidency is hoping agreement can be reached on Brussels plans for an air traffic controllers licence.
Under proposals discussed on Monday, qualifications for air traffic controllers will be harmonised, enabling workers to move throughout the EU with a mutually recognised licence.
The proposals are designed to reinforce safety levels of air traffic management by introducing common training standards and tests that will be recognised across the EU.
The move follows on from a series of measures known as the 'Single European Sky' package adopted last year to create a single airspace out of a patchwork of almost 50 separate national zones.
Questions of English language proficiency - a stumbling block in previous negotiations have been resolved, clearing the way for a deal to be clinched.
European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot will also brief ministers on the state of play of EU-US ‘open skies’ negotiations.
The talks – aimed at opening up the EU-US air market - have been on hold since last June when member states refused the commission the go-ahead for ‘first step’ deal.
Progress has been made in a number of areas including US recognition of the concept of a "European carrier" and a commitment to press ahead with opening up foreign ownership.
But Washington dug in its heels over an EU market access request to allow European carriers to fly US domestic routes - a practice known as "cabotage" – terms unacceptable to EU ministers.
Other items up for discussion include controversial EU plans for the compensation of cross border rail passengers set back by delayed or cancelled trains.
And ministers will also look at European Commission plans for an EU wide driving licence – a credit card format that will replace the 110 different types of certificate currently in use around the 25 member bloc.
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