When European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, comes to Washington, DC later this month, she plans to call for consultations within the EU-US Open Skies in support of EU aviation workers over a EU-US route approval process.
This is significant, because it shows the consultation process set forth in Open Skies being used by one of the parties to the agreement. This is the very same process Americans for Fair Skies and our allies and partners have been asking the United States government to employ to ensure enforcement of our Open Skies agreements with the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar.
Our government currently has evidence that the State of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are acting in deliberate violation of their Open Skies Agreements, but has yet to take action. More than $52 billion in subsidies has been documented, yet the government fails to take action to safeguard U.S. jobs and rectify this obvious trade violation.
The merits of Commissioner Bulc’s case with the U.S. can be debated, but she is to be applauded for having the courage to execute the EU’s right to open consultations within the Open Skies agreement.
As a nation, we fail our citizens when we do not stand up for American industries and our workers. It’s time for fair skies and fair competition. It’s time for the United States to show leadership for our aviation workers, and open consultations with the State of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.