newstodate.aero
Nov 15, 2011 (newstodate): In return for the imminent admission into WTO, Russia is now at last moving in its stance on the issue of charges on EU airlines flying on the trans-Siberian routes.
The country's minister of transport has revealed that talks will be conducted with EU on December 15-16, 2011, aiming at settling the issue that has been pending for several years.
The parties will reportedly agree on a total abolishment of the overflight charges from the start of 2013.
On March 22, 2007, the Council of EU Transport Ministers gave its unanimous approval to the "Agreed Principles" on Siberian overflights, negotiated by Vice-President Barrot and the Russian Transport Minister Levitin on November 24, 2006 in the margins of the EU-Russia summit.
The "Agreed Principles" provided for the abolition of payments for overflights for EC carriers not later than December 31, 2013, and ensured that newly operated overflights by EC carriers in the transition period until 2013 would be free of payments.
Russia however never ratified the agreement, connecting this issue to the long-standing talks over Russia's access to the WTO that was later delayed by the war with Georgia.
Estimates are the western airline using the trans-polar lanes over Russia have so far been paying around 400 mio US dollars in royalties to Aeroflot, collecting the tax on behalf of the Russian state.
The country's minister of transport has revealed that talks will be conducted with EU on December 15-16, 2011, aiming at settling the issue that has been pending for several years.
The parties will reportedly agree on a total abolishment of the overflight charges from the start of 2013.
On March 22, 2007, the Council of EU Transport Ministers gave its unanimous approval to the "Agreed Principles" on Siberian overflights, negotiated by Vice-President Barrot and the Russian Transport Minister Levitin on November 24, 2006 in the margins of the EU-Russia summit.
The "Agreed Principles" provided for the abolition of payments for overflights for EC carriers not later than December 31, 2013, and ensured that newly operated overflights by EC carriers in the transition period until 2013 would be free of payments.
Russia however never ratified the agreement, connecting this issue to the long-standing talks over Russia's access to the WTO that was later delayed by the war with Georgia.
Estimates are the western airline using the trans-polar lanes over Russia have so far been paying around 400 mio US dollars in royalties to Aeroflot, collecting the tax on behalf of the Russian state.