Brussels, 05/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has approved funding of 15 million euro for EU-Asia cooperation in the field of aviation. This aid completes a series of cooperation programmes set up since 1998 by the Commission to improve the safety conditions of civil aviation in Asia, while strengthening the presence of European aeronautical equipment in the region. In that context, it signed a financing convention in June 2000 for 32 million euro, 18 of which from the EU, for a cooperation programme in the field of aviation with India and has already approved similar programmes with China and Asean.
The further 15 million funding completes the geographic coverage of the region, by integrating seven countries of the South Asia Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) except for India, and nine Asean countries. Agreement protocols have still to be signed with each of the beneficiary countries before releasing these funds, which the European Executive approved just before the Christmas break.
Other than air traffic safety concerns, arising from the constant increase in air traffic in Asia, "the potential market for aeronautic construction of large carriers in the Asia/Pacific region over the next 20 years is estimated at some 4,000, which leave a lot of room for cooperation", the Commission service stressed when presenting the project. This series of cooperation programmes is being co-funded by the national authorities of the countries concerned and the European Aerospace Equipment Manufacturers Association (AECMA). AECMA is also responsible for implementing the projects.