European Protectionism or .....

This is not meant to offend our european members but is rather an issue that has festered for a while and has recently come to a head.
It seems that the european safety agency has decided to raise its fees for aircraft certification. This has caused Boeing to cancel the certification process for the 787-3 short range Dreamliner. They pointed out that the Federal Aviation Administration is doing all the certification work for the aircraft.
The European safety agency would charge Boeing the same amount to validate that U.S. certification even though they would not have to do any work.
Last month, FAA administrators warned that the new fees could jeopardize a bilateral agreement between Europe and the U.S., an agreement that has been more than three years in the works. In a speech to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Federal Aviation Administrator Marion Blakey said the new fee "flies in the face of actual cost."
Comments?
It seems that the european safety agency has decided to raise its fees for aircraft certification. This has caused Boeing to cancel the certification process for the 787-3 short range Dreamliner. They pointed out that the Federal Aviation Administration is doing all the certification work for the aircraft.
The European safety agency would charge Boeing the same amount to validate that U.S. certification even though they would not have to do any work.
Last month, FAA administrators warned that the new fees could jeopardize a bilateral agreement between Europe and the U.S., an agreement that has been more than three years in the works. In a speech to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Federal Aviation Administrator Marion Blakey said the new fee "flies in the face of actual cost."
Comments?