Serbia, Montenegro, Norway, other countries join EU ban on Belarusian airplanes transiting air space
BRUSSELS. June 21 (Interfax) - Several candidate countries for accession to the European Union, as well as member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), have joined the EU in banning Belarusian airlines from transiting their airspace and utilizing their airports, the lead spokesperson for the external affairs of the EU, Peter Stano, said in a press release on Monday.
"[EU] candidate countries, specifically North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania; as well as the EFTA countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway; and members of the European Economic Area, have joined the decision of the Council of the European Union," the press release said, noting that said countries are to ensure "the conformity of their national policies to the Council's decision."
The EU Council on June 4 announced that it was introducing a ban on Belarusian aircraft transiting the EU countries' airspace or utilizing their airports, with the decision coming into force on June 5.
The Council's document notes that EU member countries are now required to deny Belarusian airliners permission to land, take off from their territory, or use their airspace. Meanwhile, the document has clarified that the ban "does not apply to cases when the need for an emergency landing or emergency flight" occurs over the territory of the EU.