Fries with that?
The EU and US sides are meeting from today in Brussels, to work out a deal on Open Skies, amid fears that if this week's talks fail, that could be "it" until the end of the current US administration.
The sticking point, much as expected, is that the Europeans want changes to the mgmt and control of US carriers; the US is resolute in saying "no" and in any case, even if the US DOT did want to give concessions, it would be blocked by congress.
The EU's latest plan is a "franchise" type operation, "like Burger King" (according to an EU official), whereby the EU carriers could open a US airline with their name, but managed and owned by Americans. The US hasn't said anything, but I can't see it being of much interest to EU airlines either; much more convenient surely to have a codeshare.
It now looks very likely that this week's talks will fail, although it remains to be seen whether any compromise will be offered by either side ...