Sri Lanka and the European Union today (27 September 2012) signed the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of Sri Lanka on Certain Aspects of Air Services, which is commonly known as the 'Horizontal' Air Services Agreement, at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium. Ambassador P.M. Amza, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the European Union signed the Agreement on behalf of Sri Lanka, while Ambassador George Zodiates, Deputy Permanente Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU and Mr. Matthew Baldwin, Director Aviation and Transport Affairs signed the Agreement on behalf of the EU Presidency and the European Commission (EC) respectively.

Making an opening comment at this occasion, Ambassador Zodiates said that this agreement will bring certain provisions of Bilateral Air Service Agreements signed between Sri Lanka and the EU Member States in line with the prevailing EU law. He also said that this Agreement enables reciprocal growth in aviation sector and it would further enhance opportunities for tourism, technical and bilateral cooperation between the two parties.

Mr. Matthew Baldwin recalling the intensive negotiations that lead to concluding this Agreement, expressed hope that this Agreement would open a path for development of EU-Sri Lanka relations. Ambassador P.M. Amza expressing similar sentiments noted that aviation sector between EU and Sri Lanka witnessed a significant growth over the past years and the Agreement signed today would make an important contribution to the expansion of the civil aviation sector.

This Agreement will aslo strengthen the bilateral platform of existing airservices agreements between Sri Lanka and EU Member States enables the National Career of Sri Lanka to expand its services to new destinations in the EU Member States.