The development of cooperation between EU island member states on issues relating to air connectivity was discussed on Thursday in Malta by Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Yiannis Carousos with his counterpart Aaron Farouzia.
According to a statement by the Ministry, during the meeting, the developments in Fit for 55 in relation to air transport were discussed and it was agreed that cooperation and coordination between the two states will continue in order to maintain what has been achieved so far for the benefit of the island and peripheral states of the EU.
It is noted that both Ministers agreed that the objective is the best possible outcome in the negotiations currently underway between the European Parliament, the EU Presidency and the European Commission, with the retention in particular in the legislative proposal of the provision for an aircraft refuelling exemption for Cyprus and Malta for airports where the distance between them is less than 1200 km, the granting of 20 million free greenhouse gas emission allowances with an effort to increase them to 60
It is also underlined that the challenges faced by the two island countries are the same, with the Ministers expressing their satisfaction for their cooperation so far and stating that the necessary coordination between the two Ministries will be done in order for the two countries to achieve the best possible connectivity with Continental Europe through the European Transport Networks and to draw funds from the EU within the framework of the Trans-European Transport Networks policy.
Mr. Karousos said, as stated in the statement, that it is important to keep what we have gained so far in terms of reducing the negative impact that the Fit for 55 legislative package will have on aviation, particularly the references and exemptions for islands, and that is why we are building alliances within the EU with countries such as Malta and taking joint initiatives to further improve the proposals to reduce the negative impacts, promote our joint positions on aviation, roads, airports and airports.
