newstodate.aero
Oct 09, 2009 (newstodate): EU is taking first steps to reproach Latvia and Hungary for failure to comply with rules for airport ground handling competition.
In the case of Latvia, the European Commission has launched legal proceedings for failure to notify any transposition of the directive on market opening for ground handling services.
In the absence of satisfactory reply from Latvia within two months, the Commission would then refer the case to the Court of Justice, which opens the litigation procedure.
In the more advanced case of Hungary, the European Commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to remind the Hungarian authorities of the need to comply with the obligations incumbent on them under Directive 96/67/EC on access to the ground handling market at Community airports.
The Commission considers that the decisions taken by the Hungarian authorities to limit the number of service providers and carriers which can carry out their own ground handling operations at Budapest International Airport without organizing a selection procedure is contrary to the provisions of Article 11 of the Directive.
In particular, the Commission noted that one of the main incumbent service providers at Budapest Airport had recently been refused access to this market; it was ousted for reasons which, on the face of it, would seem to violate both Community law and the relevant national rules.
The Hungarian authorities also have two months to comment on the letter of formal notice and must take steps to ensure compliance with Community law at Budapest Airport.
In the case of Latvia, the European Commission has launched legal proceedings for failure to notify any transposition of the directive on market opening for ground handling services.
In the absence of satisfactory reply from Latvia within two months, the Commission would then refer the case to the Court of Justice, which opens the litigation procedure.
In the more advanced case of Hungary, the European Commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to remind the Hungarian authorities of the need to comply with the obligations incumbent on them under Directive 96/67/EC on access to the ground handling market at Community airports.
The Commission considers that the decisions taken by the Hungarian authorities to limit the number of service providers and carriers which can carry out their own ground handling operations at Budapest International Airport without organizing a selection procedure is contrary to the provisions of Article 11 of the Directive.
In particular, the Commission noted that one of the main incumbent service providers at Budapest Airport had recently been refused access to this market; it was ousted for reasons which, on the face of it, would seem to violate both Community law and the relevant national rules.
The Hungarian authorities also have two months to comment on the letter of formal notice and must take steps to ensure compliance with Community law at Budapest Airport.