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PHOTO: An Emirates A380 in flight. (photo via Flickr/Roderick Elme)

Battling against the alleged unfair competitive practices by foreign airlines, the European Union announced Thursday that it was proposing new regulations to ensure fair competition among all carriers serving Europe.

According to Reuters.com, the proposal would permit governments in the European Union to file complaints to the European Commission regarding alleged discriminatory practices or illegal subsidies.

Before it becomes a law, though, the proposal needs to be approved by the European Parliament and member states.

The decision was made after European airlines such as Air France and Lufthansa complained that Gulf carriers have been receiving illegal government subsidies. Similar complaints have been filed by the top airlines in the United States as well.

Gulf carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad have all denied the allegations.

The proposal states that if the European Commission deems a country or airline is causing injury or threat of injury to European airlines, the group will impose financial penalties or suspend ground and other services.

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We want to ensure that Europe remains a leader in international aviation, well connected to fast-growing markets, with efficient European skies, EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc told Reuters.

The plan is for the new proposal to not interfere with existing, bilateral air services agreements, and ACI Europe added that it would ensure equality of opportunity.

This will hopefully allow us to move on from mere allegations and somewhat sterile debates to established facts and legal action, where needed, ACI Europe's Director General Olivier Jankovec said.

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European Union Takes Aim at Gulf Carriers - TravelPulse