Transport and telecommunications ministers from the 27 EU member states approved Thursday the air transport agreement with the US.
The open-skies agreement will allow European airlines, for the first time, to run transatlantic flights to any American city from any EU country and not just their home country.
In return, US companies will be able to fly to any European city.
The council will also attempt to reach an agreement regarding the use of trans-Siberian routes in such a way that would not distort competition among air carriers from EU member states, according to the agenda of the council.
The ministers are also expected to open the door for non-EU countries to participate in some capacity in the bloc's Galileo global navigation satellite system.
Bulgaria is represented at the council by Transport Minister Petar Mutafchiev.