The advocate general of the European Court of Justice recommended on Thursday that the court reject bilateral "open skies" agreements between the United States and eight EU members as contrary to community law, a court official said.

The court, which usually follows

the recommendations of its advocate general, is expected to rule on the case within six months, he said.

The suit, brought in 1998 by the European Commission, held that bilateral open skies air transport accords between the United States and eight EU member states violated EU rules.

"We consider the conclusion recognized a large part of the argu-

ments we raised," said a commission spokesman.

"The advocate general believed that it is not compatible with the (EU) treaty to enter into agreement with third countries when they affect common rule...that when common rules have been decided...at the community level, then individual countries should not exercise that competence."