Saudi Arabia recently signed an initial draft horizontal agreement with the European Union aimed at strengthening the foundation and the prospect of cooperation between the Kingdom and the EU in the field of civil aviation. The agreement, which was signed during an official meeting in Brussels, aims to increase traffic between the EU and the Kingdom, with the added hope that it will lead to the establishment of a strategic partnership that reflects the Kingdom's economic and political power. According to Khaled Al-Khaibari, Director of Media and Public Relations at the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the agreement will also contribute to strengthening the marketing foundation and strategic alliances between European airlines and the Kingdom's national carriers in order to ensure appropriate investment in air transport. “It can help remove all reciprocal restrictions imposed on market access,” Al-Khaibari said. He pointed out that the horizontal agreement will establish the legal groundwork for creating further bilateral agreements with the EU, which in itself will have a positive impact on the development of trade, tourism, the economy and investment growth. “The agreement can open doors for the further expansion of bilateral cooperation in order to complete a comprehensive agreement between the Kingdom and the European Union in conformity with the economic requirement policies of both the EU and the Kingdom,” Al-Khaibari added. He noted that the agreement highlights the historic cooperation between the two sides and brings about the beginning of a transitional period in the growth and development of relations between the Kingdom and the EU in many different aspects of the civil aviation field. “The initial signing is hoped to widen the prospect of cooperation and investment with EU member states. The final signature will be inked at a later date,” he said. Capt. Mohammed Jamjoom, GACA's Vice President for Safety and Licensing, who headed the Saudi delegation, signed the draft along with the chief negotiator at the European Union's General Department of Transportation and Communication.
