U.S.-EU negotiate on parallel tracks to liberalize aviation

U.S.-EU negotiate on parallel tracks to liberalize aviation    European Union and U.S. negotiators said they made progress last week in Brussels on a sweeping aviation treaty that would allow foreign airlines to merge and offer domestic routes in other countries, according to wire service reports.
   The European Union is pushing to replace separate bilaterial aviation treaties between each EU member and the United States with a broad agreement that eliminates national restrictions on other air carriers in order to promote competition and rationalize the crowded airline market in Europe.
   The U.S. seeks a slower approach of making corrections to existing bilateral treaties in order to conform with EU court ruling that many bilateral treaties violate EU law by discriminating against many carriers.
   Negotiatiors have agreed on a two-track approach to amend individual treaties while working on a broader agreement at the same time.
   The next round of talks is scheduled for February in Washington, D.C., Reuters reported.