The European Union (EU) signed on Thursday an aviation agreement with Paraguay.

The new pact has removed nationality restrictions in the bilateral air services agreements and thereby allows European airlines to operate flights between any EU member state and Paraguay.

The agreement was signed in Brussels by European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot in charge of Transport, German Permanent Representative in the EU Wilhelm Schenfelder and the Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Ruben Ramirez Lezcano.

"I welcome this further step in developing Europe's air transport links with Latin America," Barrot said at the signing ceremony.

According to the commissioner, EU airlines now have non- discriminatory access to the air transport market between the EU and Paraguay, building on similar agreements with Chile and Uruguay.

Paraguay is the third country in Latin America (besides Chile and Uruguay) to sign such a what is called "horizontal" air transport agreement.

Horizontal agreements have so far been negotiated with 25 countries worldwide and more will follow in the coming months.

Source: Xinhua