EC Requests Bulgaria to Ensure Level Playing Field for Groundhandling Service Providers at Sofia Airport  

The European Commission has requested Bulgaria to ensure the separation of accounts of Sofia Airport's managing body to comply with a directive on groundhandling services at EU airports.

Directive 96/67/EC provides that in case the managing body of an airport also provides groundhandling services, it must separate the accounts of its groundhandling activities from the accounts of its other activities to avoid cross subsidisation of the groundhandling business,the EU executive said in a reasoned opinion on Thursday.

The managing body of Sofia Airport is also a licensed groundhandling operator, providing services such as maintenance, fuel and freight handling as well as check-in, catering, baggage handling and transport within the airport itself.

Bulgaria now has two months to notify the Commission of measures taken to bring national legislation in line with EU law; otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer the Bulgarian authorities to the Court of Justice of the EU.