Minister of Transport and Communications Yannis Karousos had a bilateral meeting today in Athens with his Greek counterpart, Konstantinos Ach. Karamanlis. The meeting took place in the framework of cooperation and coordination for the promotion of the positions of Greece and Cyprus on European Union issues.
During the meeting the revision of the Regulation on Trans-European Transport Networks was discussed, which will be on the table at the forthcoming Council of Transport Ministers, to be held in Brussels on December 5, 2022.
The two Ministers agreed on the need for the joint participation of the two regions in EU programmes to raise funding from European funds for the improvement and modernisation of the existing trans-European transport network and to exploit opportunities for investment in new projects.
At the same time, Karousos and Karamanlis discussed developments in the Fit for 55 in relation to air transport and it was agreed that cooperation and coordination between the two countries will continue in order to maintain what has been achieved so far for the benefit of the two countries.
The two Ministers agreed that in the ongoing negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, the provision for an aircraft refuelling exemption for airports where the distance between them is less than 1200 km and the allocation of 20 million free greenhouse gas emission allowances with an attempt to increase this to 60 million to assist the use of sustainable aviation fuels to cover the increase in costs compared to conventional fuels should remain in the legislative proposal.
Finally, Karousos thanked Karamanlis for the expert assistance provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of Greece to the Civil Aviation Department of Cyprus for the planning and implementation of the training of the personnel that will staff the surveillance approach unit at Larnaca Airport.
“The Surveillance Approach Unit at Larnaca Airport is expected to operate independently in Summer 2023 with your support. Our cooperation is a two-way street, as we also support the creation of satellite-based approach procedures for Greece’s airports by providing expertise,” Karousos said.
Source: Cyprus News Agency