newstodate.aero
Nov 27, 2006 (newstodate): The agreement between EU and Russia during the weekend's summit in Helsinki will need ratification on both sides, which is probably only a formal issue.
Under the agreement new routes over Siberia will be free of charge, sources say, while charges on existing routes will be frozen until 2010, when they will either be fully abolished or phased out under a mechanism yet to be detailed.
In either case all overflight charges will disappear from 2013.
The agreement removes one major EU stumbling block on Russia's road to full WTO membership.
Under the agreement new routes over Siberia will be free of charge, sources say, while charges on existing routes will be frozen until 2010, when they will either be fully abolished or phased out under a mechanism yet to be detailed.
In either case all overflight charges will disappear from 2013.
The agreement removes one major EU stumbling block on Russia's road to full WTO membership.