KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat on Saturday said he was hopeful that the European Union would soon lift its ban on Nepali airlines. Upon arrival at TIA from a visit to Belgium and Luxembourg, Mahat said both Belgium and Luxembourg had assured that steps would be taken to lift the ban. Mahat had urged his Belgian counterpart and Luxembourg’s prime minister to lift the ban on Nepali airlines. He had also raised the issue during his meeting with EU President Jean-Claude Juncker. “I am confident that the ban will be removed soon,” he said. The EU had first imposed a ban on Nepali airlines on December 5, 2013, citing inadequate safety standards.