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Mobility and Transport

The European Union at ICAO

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The gradual development of a more co-ordinated EU external aviation policy is the logical consequence of the EU internal market and associated common rules. Against the background of its increasing development, in September 2005 the European Commission established an Office in Montreal and appointed its Representative to ICAO. The office was officially inaugurated by Vice-President Jacques Barrot on 21 June 2007.

The Head of Office, Ms Delphine Micheaux Naudet, reports to the Air Transport Directorate, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) and she and the Office are accredited to the Canadian Government through the administrative relationship with the Delegation of the European Union to Canada in Ottawa.

For all enquiries and further information regarding ICAO and the European Union, you are welcome to contact the Office directly.

Contact Details

Delphine [dot] MICHEAUX-NAUDETateeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Ms Delphine Micheaux Naudet), Head of Office
Katerina [dot] SOKOLIateeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Ms Katerina Sokoli), Assistant

Office of the European Union in Montréal - Relations with ICAO

Bureau de l'Union européenne à Montréal
Relations avec l'OACI 700 de la Gauchetière Ouest, Bureau 24.70 Montréal (Québec) H3B 5M2 Canada
Tel: 514-393-3220
Fax: 514-393-1656

ICAO

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was founded in 1944 upon the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation ("The Chicago Convention of 1944").

ICAO works with the Convention's 191 Member States, International Organizations as well as other global aviation organizations to develop international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) which States reference when developing their legally-enforceable national civil aviation regulations.

The Status of the EU at ICAO

The European Union (EU) is an ad-hoc observer in many ICAO bodies (Assembly and other technical bodies).

At the ICAO Council (main executive body), where the EU has no status, the EU is represented based on an ad-hoc invitation (as Head of Office, the Representative of the EU participates in ICAO Council meetings in accordance with Rules 32 (a) and 38 of the Rules of Procedure for the Council).

The Functions of the Mission

The Office's main task is the strengthening of the relationship between the EU and ICAO, focusing on aviation safety, security, environment, air traffic management and air transportation. This main task is pursued by ensuring continuing contacts between on the one hand the ICAO Secretariat and the ICAO Council and on the other hand the European Union, in particular the Directorate-Generals of the European Commission dealing with issues of civil aviation, as well as by ensuring coordination and cooperation between European States represented on the ICAO Council and European delegates during meetings at ICAO.

Day-to-day activities include

  • Attending relevant ICAO meetings, including meetings of the Council
  • Assisting with coordination between the EU representatives on the Council
  • Informing and briefing EU representatives and all members of the Council on EU policy and legislative developments in the field of air transport
  • Maintaining a working relationship on technical matters with the ICAO Secretariat and fostering cooperation between the EU and ICAO
  • Acting as a liaison office to ICAO for the European Aviation Safety Agency (an official from EASA also sits in the EU Office)
  • Promoting European Union participation in ICAO activities