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Mobility and Transport
News article4 October 2022Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport

Aviation: EU welcomes UN Civil Aviation Organization’s vote to remove Russia from governing body

The EU welcomes today’s agreement in the 41st Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to remove Russia from its Council for the next three-year term. This unprecedented decision was taken in a context of grave violations by Russia of international aviation rules since the beginning of its war of aggression against Ukraine. In June, ICAO had already declared aviation in Russia to be unsafe.

Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said: "I welcome that ICAO member countries have chosen to stand in defence of the international aviation rules-based system, for the safety of passengers and crews around the world."

Following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, ICAO has condemned Russia for violating Ukraine’s sovereign airspace, as well as several technical requirements; these violations had a significant impact on global aviation safety. Russia’s actions, including illegally double-registering aircraft stolen from European leasing companies and operating aircraft on international routes without a valid safety certificate, led to ICAO issuing a Serious Safety Concern (SSC) against Russia, declaring aviation in Russia to be fundamentally unsafe. ICAO is the UN’s civil aviation regulator.

The ICAO Council is the Organization’s main governing body and comprises 36 States. They are elected every three years by the ICAO Assembly composed of 193 States.

Details

Publication date
4 October 2022
Author
Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport