On Monday the Council of the European Union decided to sign the aviation agreement with Qatar. Among other things, this will grant Qatar Airways improved market access. European employee representatives criticize this and would like to prevent the agreement.

The Cockpit Association, together with “Europeans for Fair Competition” (E4FC), reminds the Cockpit Association (VC), as the representative of the German cockpit staff, that the comprehensive provisions of the agreement on fair competition must be complied with.

"The agreement with Qatar is neither in the interests of European employees nor of the European air transport industry," says Maria-Pascaline Murtha, VC board member for international relations. “It is therefore all the more important that the EU Commission closely monitors fair competition within the framework of this agreement and takes the necessary measures in the event of violations. The agreement should also be improved in terms of climate protection. We need binding environmental requirements that correspond to the goals of the European Green Deal. "

Although the agreement contains obligations for transparency and protective measures in the event of violations, the Cockpit Association has doubts that these will actually take effect. "The EU Commission is called upon to take the necessary steps right from the start to ensure the proper and effective implementation of these provisions and thus fair competition," said the VC.