Brussels, 24/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Commission announced the launch on Wednesday 24 February of the EU-China Aviation Partnership Project (APP), a cooperation programme in the field of civil aviation. The five-year programme has a budget of €10 million.
The project, funded by the partnership instrument (PI) for cooperation with third countries and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), will be jointly implemented by the EASA and the CAAC. The concept of the APP was developed in September 2015, the Commission says, before the launch of the aviation strategy for Europe (see EUROPE 11438), in which reference is made to it.
The APP focuses on: - aviation safety and security; - general aviation (which involves all civil air activities other than commercial transport); - air navigation services and air navigation services (ATM/ANS); - airports; - airworthiness; - environmental protection; - economic policy and regulation; - legislation and law enforcement.
The first work plan for 2016 and 2017 will give pride of place to airworthiness issues. Discussions will focus on design organisation approvals, that is, on the certification of organisations which build, modify and repair aircraft. Training will be given in the area of ATM/AMS. In terms of the regulatory dimension, stakeholders will look at the concept of a performance-based regulatory environment. They will also discuss technologies which could contribute to the growth of an environmentally friendly, sustainable aviation sector. Drones will be another topic for debate. A review of the work plan will be carried out as early as September of this year.
This technical cooperation will tie in with the political dialogue between the EU and the Chinese political authorities responsible for aviation. Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc hopes that within the first half of this year (see EUROPE 11447), when the Council of Ministers is still chaired by the Netherlands, she will be granted the first instructions for negotiations with China and the member countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The commissioner, who is currently visiting Singapore, has stated that she hopes to sign an agreement with the ASEAN countries as early as 2017. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)