The European Union and the United States signed a second-stage agreement yesterday to further open up the transatlantic aviation market by paving the way for majority control of each other's airlines. European Commission Vice President responsible for transport, Siim Kallas said after signing the agreement in Luxembourg that this was a significant step forward in our mutually beneficial aviation relationship with the U.S. The second stage agreement builds on the benefits of the groundbreaking aviation agreement signed by the EU and the U.S. in 2007.