Commission seeks wider talks

The European Commission said yesterday it hoped EU countries would agree later in 1997 to widen its mandate in talks on an "open skies" aviation deal with the United States, despite British and French reluctance. European Union transport ministers made clear at a meeting in Luxembourg that they were not now prepared to extend the mandate to include the thorny issue of traffic rights - the right to fly to and inside another country's territory.

EU Transport Commissioner, Mr Neil Kinnock had urged them to widen the negotiating mandate they gave him in July last year, arguing that he should be able to discuss traffic rights and market access to get anywhere in the talks with Washington. - (Reuter)