Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ROME4075
2005-12-19 09:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY POSITIVE ON U.S.-EU AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT

Tags:  EAIR ETRD ECON IT EUN AVIATION FAA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ROME 004075 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ETRD ECON IT EUN AVIATION FAA
SUBJECT: ITALY POSITIVE ON U.S.-EU AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT

REF: SECSTATE 219034

UNCLAS ROME 004075

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ETRD ECON IT EUN AVIATION FAA
SUBJECT: ITALY POSITIVE ON U.S.-EU AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT

REF: SECSTATE 219034


1. Summary: Officials at the Italian Ministries of Transport
and Foreign Affairs say Italy will be supportive of the
U.S.-EU Air Services Agreement, provided the Department of
Transportation follows through with proposed rule changes.
End summary.


2. Econoff delivered reftel points to Maria Cristina
Francolini, Director of International and EU Relations in the
Ministry of Transport's Directorate for Maritime and Air
Transport. Francolini said the GOI was very "positive" about
the draft U.S.-EU air services agreement. She indicated
Italy would probably support the deal in the EU Transport
Council, provided the United States adopts the Department of
Transportation's proposed rule changes regarding foreign
participation in U.S. carriers. Francolini said that, for
Italy, the rule changes convey an important political signal
that the United States is moving towards greater openness.
As a practical matter, however, Francolini noted that no
Italian airline is in a financial position to invest in the
United States at this time.


3. Francolini added that, because the GOI already has a
bilateral open skies agreement with the United States, the
U.S.-EU accord would have very little impact on Italy.
However, the GOI welcomes completion of a first-stage U.S.-EU
open skies pact, since this will eliminate problems related
to the European Court of Justice's rejection of all
member-state bilateral open skies agreements.


4. Econoff also delivered reftel demarche to Michele Quaroni,
Office Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affair's
Directorate for EU Integration. Quaroni largely echoed
Francolini's points and added that the GOI is anxious for the
United States and the EU to start negotiation on a
second-stage agreement.
SPOGLI