newstodate.aero
JUN 03, 2003 (newstodate): The issue of seeking an end to the Russian practice of "commercial agreements" as a procedure for extracting payments of 200-250 million euro per year from Western airlines flying through Russian airspace is still high on EU's agenda.
-The issue remains an integral part of high-level ongoing negotiations between EU and Russia, and a solution could be finalised probably "by this autumn", an informed EU source tells newstodate.
The source says that although no "significant" progress has yet been made, the political pressure is mounting from EU's side to reach a solution.
-Trying to persuade the Russian side to give up a privilege they have enjoyed and exercised for 30 years is obviously an up-hill battle. But we have made it clear right from the start of the negotiations that we are quite willing to offer a compensation package in return, the source says.
-The package has even been tabled as a "starter", indicating that we will go all the way to reach a solution that will satisfy both parties, he says.
It is known that the compensation package may comprise financial support for a modernisation of Russia's ATM, which would in the longer run produce larger traffic volumes through Russian airspace generating increased revenues from agreed en-route charges according to established industrial practice.
-The issue remains an integral part of high-level ongoing negotiations between EU and Russia, and a solution could be finalised probably "by this autumn", an informed EU source tells newstodate.
The source says that although no "significant" progress has yet been made, the political pressure is mounting from EU's side to reach a solution.
-Trying to persuade the Russian side to give up a privilege they have enjoyed and exercised for 30 years is obviously an up-hill battle. But we have made it clear right from the start of the negotiations that we are quite willing to offer a compensation package in return, the source says.
-The package has even been tabled as a "starter", indicating that we will go all the way to reach a solution that will satisfy both parties, he says.
It is known that the compensation package may comprise financial support for a modernisation of Russia's ATM, which would in the longer run produce larger traffic volumes through Russian airspace generating increased revenues from agreed en-route charges according to established industrial practice.