The European Council of Ministers has approved further European Commission (EC) efforts to head off draconian US measures to block Europe's get-tough policy on hushkits. The council says the EC can continue negotiating, but only on condition that Washington "makes real overtures to negotiation and renounces all retaliatory measures against the European Union".
Europe has already pushed back - to next May - the cut-off date for determining which aircraft can continue operating after the 2002 general ban on non-Stage 3-compliant aircraft, and the Council's move makes a further compromise more likely. Europe would expect the USA to accelerate negotiations on a new Stage 4 rule.
Source: Flight International