EU ratifies aviation agreement with Israel despite annexation strain
The European Parliament has ratified the landmark Open Skies agreement with Israel, but warns that there could still be sanctions if annexation goes forward.
In a major achievement for the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, The European Parliament ratified the EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement, also knowns as the Open Skies agreement. On June 17, 437 European legislators voted in favor of the deal, with only 102 against it and with 147 abstentions. Similar agreements were ratified with Jordan, Georgia and China.
The Open Skies agreement enables European and Israel airline companies to more easily operate direct flights between any airport in the Union and Israel. It also provides a framework for a wide range of aviation issues, including air traffic management, passenger rights and competition matters. It should lower flight prices, protect European and Israeli consumers and enlarge the number of European destinations for Israeli tourists. A preliminary agreement with the European Union was reached in 2013, but this formalization should now offer the Israeli economy a significant boost on the backdrop of the coronavirus-induced crisis.
