Brussels, 21/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU-Latin America civil aviation summit will be held in Rio de Janeiro on 25 and 26 May 2010. The event is jointly organised by the European Commission, the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil and the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission. It aims to enhance political, technical and industrial cooperation between Latin America and the EU in the aviation sector. Latin America is one of the world's fastest growing aviation markets and of strategic importance to the EU and its industry.
The summit will be opened by European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, José Blanco, Spanish Minister for Transport and Public Works, representing the EU Presidency, as well as Nelson Jobim, Minister for Defence of Brazil, and José Huepe Pérez, President of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission. The European delegation includes some 100 representatives from airlines, airports, aerospace industries, service providers, national governments, the European Commission and all key EU institutions in the field of aviation. The summit will tackle the following key points: - removing barriers to air transport in the EU and Latin America; - developments in the airline industry in Latin America and the EU; - safety and security - challenges and potential for cooperation; - air traffic management and new technologies; - environmental implications of air transport; - airport infrastructure and airport policy; - economic and social dimension of aviation; - and future EU-Latin America cooperation in civil aviation including technical assistance and industrial cooperation. Over 20 million passengers a year currently travel on direct flights between Latin America and the EU. (L.C./transl.jl)