European Parliament resolution on relations with the Russian Federation and China in the field of air transport (2005/2085(INI))
Date: 2006-01-17
Institutions: Committee on Transport and Tourism, European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, EU relations, Russia, air transport, negotiation of an agreement (EU)

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Tuesday, 17 January 2006

Environment

22. Recognises that the aviation sector has several negative environmental effects, in particular as a
source of noise and as a significant contributor to climate change, but recognises also that airports and air
carriers have already made, and will continue to make, significant efforts to reduce and avoid noise and
emission pollution;

23. Welcomes, in this respect, the communication from the Commission on possible measures reducing
the climate change impact of the aviation sector (COM (2005)0459), and looks forward to the adoption of
clear policies for better air traffic management and for the operational procedures and infrastructural
circumstances of airports; also looks forward to other measures, such as the integration of aviation into the
European emissions trading system with equal treatment of EU and non-EU air carriers;

Social policy

24. Urges the Commission, therefore, to insist on the introduction of references in new agreements to
relevant international legislation relating to social rights, in particular the labour standards embodied in the
fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO 1930-1999), the OECD guidelines
for Multinational Enterprises (1976, revised 2000) and the Rome Convention on the Law Applicable to
Contractual Obligations (1980);

Insists that Community social legislation should be applied to employees recruited and/or employed
25.
in EU Member States,
in particular the Directives on consulting and inform employees (2002/14/EC,
98/59/EC and 80/987/EEC), the Directive on the organisation of working time of mobile staff in civil avia-
tion (2000/79/EC) and the Directive concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision
of services (96/71/EC);

Conduct of negotiations

Stresses that negotiations should be carried out in close cooperation with the Member States, which

26.
have the necessary expertise and experience to carry out such negotiations;

27. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the European Parliament and all relevant stakeholders are
fully informed and consulted before and throughout the negotiations, by means of an agreed consultation
road-map;

28.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.

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P6_TA(2006)0007

EU/Russia and EU/China relations in the field of air transport

European Parliament resolution on relations with the Russian Federation and China in the field of
air transport (2005/2085(INI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A6-0375/2005),

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Tuesday, 17 January 2006

China

1. Welcomes the Commission's general response to the process of growth, modernisation and liberalisa-
tion currently underway in Chinese commercial aviation;

2. Acknowledges the desirability of a comprehensive aviation agreement between the European Union
and China; considers, however, that prior to the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement, a horizontal
agreement should be reached so that China's current bilateral air service agreements with various Member
States can be brought into line with the Court of Justice's ‘open skies’ judgment (1);

3. Accepts that the negotiation of such an agreement would strengthen the EU's position and would be
more beneficial to stakeholders and consumers than a series of revised bilateral agreements essentially
concerned with traffic rights;

4. Calls on the Council without delaying the negotiating mandate to extend the Commission's negotiating
mandate to cover the provision of the necessary airport and safety infrastructures and air traffic control
over Chinese airspace, which unfortunately are inadequate at present and pose an obstacle to the develop-
ment of aviation relations;

5. Acknowledges the excellent work the Commission is carrying out with its Chinese partners, but
regrets that it has not had access to the terms of the negotiating mandate the Commission now seeks from
the Council in respect of China; insists that it be better integrated in the process of negotiating the agree-
ment and hopes that this issue will be resolved, as this will benefit all parties;

Insists that the provisions of a balanced conclusion to negotiations with China on air cargo should be

6.
implemented without delay and if necessary before completion of negotiations on passenger traffic.

Russia

7. Welcomes the Commission's approach to the challenges and opportunities which the growth and
consolidation in the Russian civil aviation sector represent for the European Union;

8.
Supports the Commission's proposal that there should be a comprehensive aviation agreement, that
being the best way of meeting this challenge and consolidating the Union's negotiating position with
respect to Russia; considers, however, that, in line with the Conclusions of the Transport, Telecommunica-
tions and Energy Council of 27 and 28 June 2005 on external relations in the field of aviation, the accep-
tance of Community clauses should be a starting point for Community negotiations aimed at reaching a
comprehensive agreement;

9. Acknowledges the excellent work the Commission is carrying out with its Russian partners, but
regrets that it has not had access to the terms of the negotiating mandate the Commission now seeks from
the Council in respect of Russia; insists that it be better integrated in the process of negotiating the agree-
ment and hopes that this issue will be resolved, as this will benefit all parties;

10. Notes that the charges imposed by Russia for flights over its territory are in violation of international
law and have not, in the main, been used for the promised improvement of air traffic control management
but rather to subsidise Russia's own airline, in breach of competition law;

11. Nevertheless insists to the Commission and Council that no comprehensive agreement should be
concluded without the immediate and complete abolition of Russian overflight charges ;

(1) Judgment of 5 November 2002, Case C-476/98 Commission of the European Communities v Federal Republic of

Germany [2002] ECR I-9855.

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Further insists that no modified charging scheme should be agreed to replace the current overflight

12.
charging regime.

13. Calls on the Commission not to conclude an agreement on the Russian Federation's accession to the
World Trade Organisation while Russia continues to charge for Siberian overflights.

In this context asks the Commission to evaluate all arguments related to modernisation, capital
14.
investment and technical requirements in the links between the European Union's and Russia's aviation
industries and their differences over overflight charging.

China and Russia

15.
Emphasises that negotiations can only be successfully concluded with both China and Russia if stake-
holders are able to advise the Commission and are fully apprised of the progress of negotiations and the
positions adopted therein;

16.
Insists that no mandate should be granted which does not inexorably link increased access to both
China's and Russia's markets to the creation of a ‘level playing field’ through the convergence of operating
standards in the areas of air traffic control and management, staff training and operating standards and
aviation security and safety; insists that the principle of reciprocity be applied;

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17.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.

P6_TA(2006)0008

Farming of bear bile in China

European Parliament declaration on rising international concern over the farming of bear bile in
China

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas 7002 Asiatic Black Bears (Moon Bears) are currently ‘milked’ for their bile in China; whereas
these bears are endangered, featuring in the list in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES),

B. whereas new ‘humane’ bile extraction methods continue to cause agonising suffering and the death of

bears on Chinese farms, with at least one new method directly contravening new regulations,

C. welcoming the acknowledgement by eminent practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine of the exis-

tence of at least 54 herbal alternatives to bear bile, together with a synthetic version,

D. welcoming the action taken by the Chinese Government since 2000 in closing over 40 bear farms and

confiscating 188 bears into the care of the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF),

E. noting the serious concern, internationally and within the Chinese media, public and Government, at

the fact that such a cruel and uncivilised practice exists,