Brussels, 05/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, Hungarian State Secretary for Infrastructure Pál Völner and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) President Roberto Kobeh signed a memorandum of cooperation on Thursday 28 April providing a framework for enhanced cooperation, states a press release issued by the European Commission on Wednesday 4 May. The memorandum will allow Europe to contribute to the preparatory work for policy and standard setting in ICAO, a United Nations body in charge of aviation matters, in the fields of safety, security, environment and air traffic management and to make better use of resources by sharing information and coordinating efforts.
Initially, activities will focus on safety, allowing stronger European involvement in the preparatory phases in decision-making for all ICAO regions. Later other areas of interest, such as security, environment and air traffic management, will also be covered.
The memorandum will also help with the development of SESAR, the European air traffic control modernisation programme, helping to define the global technical standards that are needed to ensure real interoperability between SESAR and similar programmes developed by other countries. The memorandum signed on Thursday will also allow Europe to contribute more effectively to the programme of work established by the latest ICAO General Assembly Resolution on international aviation and climate change. (A.By./transl.rt)