EU and US close to deal over reciprocal wet-lease terms

Representatives of the European Commission and the US govt were ready to sign an agreement in principle to settle their long-lasting dispute over wet-lease time limitations at the recent EU-US Joint committee meeting in The Hague. But the topic fell from the agenda at the last minute due to a “linguistic issue raised by a member state.” Sources said France apparently snubbed reviewing the text because of a lack of a French version. According to a draft agreement, the EU committed not to impose time limitations on the operation of wet leases between US airlines, or between US airlines and other airlines. The US, in turn, promised the same and will not impose time limitations on the operation of wet leases between European airlines, or between European airlines and other airlines for operations to and from the US. <br/>