ESTONIA POSITION ON EU COMMON CHARGING SCHEME

UNCLAS TALLINN 000302 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/ISO, EUR/ERA, EUR/RPM, EUR/NB DEFENSE FOR OSAF WASHINGTON DC//GC// HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XO E.O 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR MARR MOPS PREL NATO EUN EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA POSITION ON EU COMMON CHARGING SCHEME FOR AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES REF: STATE 24725 ¶1. (U) On February 17 Poloff and DATT delivered reftel points to officials from the MFA, MoD, and the Estonian Air Navigation Services (EANS, which operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy) in regards to the EU's Common charging scheme for air navigations services (ANS). ¶2. (SBU) The GOE is sensitive to USG concerns over the EU ANS charging legislation. MFA North American Officer Juhasoo-Lawrence admitted that this issue had slipped through the inter-agency cracks and was principally being dealt with by the EANS. Dr. Tamm, CEO of EANS, said that the U.S. has a much stricter interpretation of state flights under the Chicago Convention than Estonia, but that an agreement to accommodate the U.S. concerns was achievable and would only require an increase in the MFA's budget to cover the exemption costs of U.S. military and state flights through Estonian air space. The Estonians requested more time in order to properly respond to reftel points. ¶3. (SBU) On March 29, Juhasoo-Lawrence informed Poloff that, while the budgetary details had not been fully worked out and internal negotiations were still taking place among the various ministries and agencies, all parties agreed that "the current rights and privileges enjoyed by the U.S. in regards to air navigation services would not change" and that the GOE will cover the exemption costs. WOS