Brussels, 19/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and the International Civilian Aviation Organisation (ICAO) signed, on Wednesday 17 September, a memorandum of understanding on air safety. This allows ICAO to have access to inspection reports from all EU member states and authorises its inspectors to take part, as monitors, in inspections carried out by European authorities in EU airports. In a press release, ICAO states it will be able to consult inspection reports by national authorities, the related action plans showing measures to be taken and the corresponding deadlines for overcoming the failings, as well as follow-up measures taken by the European Community. It may also carry out safety audits in 27 member states. Eckard Seebohm, who heads the air safety unit at the European Commission, states that the agreement marks a “major step in consolidating relations between the ICAO and the European Commission”. He went on to say that this joint approach will allow “aviation safety to be stepped up throughout the EU”. (A.By./transl.jl)