EU-Turkey soon to integrate air transport

"We want to reach as soon as possible Turkey's full integration into the EU's air transport system". This was the message sent forth by the European Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, in occasion of his official visit to Ankara today, a few hours prior to the arrival of the Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule. According to Kallas this objective "will give Turkish and EU citizens more and safer connections which will also cost less". The objective of the mission by Kallas is to increase the transport cooperation between the EU and Turkey, for this reason he has included in his talks the creation of a specific road map which includes regular high-level meetings and the start of targeted discussions with Turkish authorities. The European Commissioner added that "In these talks we focused on the future of our partnership in transport". Priorities were set in the aviation field regarding a strengthening of ties between Turkey and the European Agency for air safety, but also progress towards the unified European airspace. The next step is for both parts to sign an agreement which will adjust all bilateral deals in the air transport field between Member States and Turkey into the current Communities' rules. During the mission, Kallas took part in the ceremony for the start of the Irmak-Karabuk-Zonguldak rail line, the largest contract financed by the EU in Turkey (188 million euros) with the funds allocated to countries who are in the process of joining the EU. The project will consent a modernisation of cargo transport between the western Black Sea region of Turkey and Europe.