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Mobility and Transport

ICAO cooperation areas

Security inspections The European Commission and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) started cooperation on aviation security inspections. Since 2003, both the European Commission and ICAO have been performing aviation security...

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Security inspections

The European Commission and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) started cooperation on aviation security inspections.

Since 2003, both the European Commission and ICAO have been performing aviation security audits and inspections in EU Member States, sharing the primary objectives of enhancing aviation security by evaluating the implementation of respective standards and identifying deficiencies, if any, and ensuring their rectification, where necessary.

Since most ICAO Standards on aviation security are also covered by Community legislation, and since the European Commission has enforcement powers to ensure the implementation of Community legislation on aviation security in EU Member States, the European Community and ICAO explored the possibilities for cooperation in this field.

As a result, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the European Community and ICAO on aviation security audits / inspections and related matters was signed on 17 September 2008 in Montreal.

The Memorandum of Cooperation allows ICAO to verify compliance with relevant ICAO Standards by assessing the European Commission inspections of national appropriate authorities of EU Member States, rather than visiting every Member State directly. The Memorandum of Cooperation will thus ensure better use of limited resources and avoid duplication of work, both for EU Member States as well as for airports and airlines.

The Memorandum of Cooperation will be implemented by ICAO and the European Commission, as represented by its Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (MOVE).

Aviation's contribution to Climate Change Policy

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) plays a critical role in the development of a global solution to address greenhouse gas emissions from the global aviation industry.

The European Union, through its Member States acting within the framework of ICAO and as agreed by the 2013 ICAO Assembly, pursues a robust Global Market Based Mechanism to achieve carbon neutral growth from 2020 to be reviewed over time as appropriate, and to be made operational from 2020, as well as the adoption of a first CO² standard for aircraft.

Economic regulation

In March 2013 the Sixth Worldwide Air Transport Conference of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandated the ICAO Air Transport Regulation Panel (ATRP) to consider and develop multilateral international agreements in the liberalization of market access and in further liberalization of air cargo services, as well as develop an international agreement in the liberalization of air carrier ownership and control.

This is an important endeavor that is being undertaken by the Panel in the context of its mandate by the Sixth Worldwide Air Transport Conference to foster a long-term vision for international air transport liberalization.

The European Commission actively supports the work done by ICAO in this area. It intends to pursue its efforts in its role of coordination of the positions of the EU and European Civil Aviation Conference Member States.