The European Commission will discuss Serbia’s contentious changes to its aviation regulations with the Serbian authorities at a meeting of the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Joint Committee in Brussels on September 22 and 23, in talks that could prove decisive in determining whether the amendments comply with the country’s obligations under the ECAA Agreement. The outcome could have major implications for Wizz Air, which has warned that the new rules could force it to close its Belgrade base. A European Commission official confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News that the matter will be raised directly with Serbia during the meeting. “The Joint Committee takes place in Brussels on 22 and 23 September. It will bring together all ECAA Parties, but the Commission services will also have bilateral meetings with each of the Western Balkan partners. The Commission will take the opportunity to discuss the matter with Serbian authorities at the Joint Committee”, the official said. The Joint Committee is responsible for administering the ECAA Agreement and ensuring its proper implementation. Under the Agreement, where new legislation is introduced, the parties can consult on its implications through the Joint Committee, which can determine whether the legislation is in accordance with the Agreement or take other steps aimed at safeguarding its functioning. The upcoming talks are therefore expected to represent a key stage in the Commission’s assessment of the Serbian regulatory changes. The European Commission began examining the matter earlier this year following a complaint from Wizz Air. At the time, Brussels told EX-YU Aviation News that it was in contact with the Serbian authorities “with a view to checking the compatibility of this Regulation with Serbia’s obligations under the European Common Aviation Area Agreement”. The dispute centres on amendments to Serbia’s Regulation on Issuing Approvals to Foreign Air Carriers for the Operation of International Commercial Air Services, adopted by the Civil Aviation Directorate earlier this year. Under the amended provisions, approvals granted to EU airlines exercising third- and fourth-freedom traffic rights are limited to flights which begin and end within the European Union. Wizz Air argues this effectively prevents a foreign EU carrier from beginning its rotations in Serbia and therefore makes its current Belgrade base model unworkable. Wizz Air currently stations four aircraft in the Serbian capital and has maintained a base in Belgrade since 2011. It has warned that unless a solution is reached, the based aircraft could be relocated from Serbia with the start of the 2026/27 winter season, beggining on October 25. The airline has stressed that it would not withdraw from Belgrade altogether but would instead attempt to retain as many routes as possible using aircraft based elsewhere, which would likely result in fewer flights and frequencies. Wizz Air is expected to make a final decision on the future of the base by the end of September, falling shortly after the Brussels meeting. In a statement to EX-YU Aviation News, the Serbian Ministry for Construction, Traponsport and Infrastructure, said, “There is no intention to “force” Wizz Air out of Serbia or to restrict its, or any other EU carrier’s, right to operate services, either in terms of routes or frequencies. The issue concerns the so-called establishment of EU air carriers in Serbia, specifically at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, Niš Constantine the Great Airport and Morava Airport in Kraljevo, as this is contrary to the Multilateral Agreement on the Establishment of a European Common Aviation Area (ECAA Agreement). Under the Agreement, Serbia is currently in the First Transitional Period, during which the standard arrangement is for foreign air carriers to commence their flights at a point outside Serbia and terminate them at a point within Serbia. Ultimately, the adoption of the new regulation removes the more favourable treatment previously afforded to one carrier compared to all others”. EX-YU Aviation News
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