The aviation industry is one of the most dynamic and globally interconnected sectors‚ requiring constant collaboration and coordination among nations to ensure safety‚ efficiency‚ and sustainability. Recognizing this imperative‚ the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) convened the Directors General of Civil Aviation from the European and North Atlantic regions for their annual meeting‚ EUR/NAT-DGCA/2024‚ held in Toulouse‚ France‚ on 23 April 2024.

ACAO have participated to this important meeting‚ and have provided comments and opinions on some agenda items in its quality of observer.

Agenda Highlights and Key Discussions
Opening Remarks and Welcome Address
ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar addressed the 97 participants in the meeting‚ outlining ICAO's current priorities within its Strategic Objectives‚ with a focus on aviation decarbonization and on the accelerating pace of innovation. He also emphasized ICAO’s ongoing transformation into a modern‚ digital‚ adaptive‚ and collaborative organization. Then the meeting commenced with welcoming remarks by the host DG of ENAC (Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile‚ France)‚ followed by a welcome speech by the Director regional of the ICAO EUR/NAT Office‚ emphasizing the significance of regional cooperation in advancing aviation standards and practices.

Approval of the Agenda and Elections of the Chair and Vice-Chair
The meeting commenced with the approval of the proposed agenda‚ setting the stage for constructive deliberations. Following the approval‚ elections were held for the Chair and Vice-Chair positions‚ ensuring effective leadership and representation for the region. Mr. David Benito Astudillo‚ the DGCA of Spain was elected as the EUR/NAT DGCA Chairperson. Additionally‚ Ms. Mirjana Čizmarov and Mr. Tahir Nazarov‚ DGCAs of Serbia and Uzbekistan respectively‚ were elected as Vice-Chairpersons.

Aviation Training: Building Bridges within and beyond Aviation for Enhanced Training Solutions. Next Generation of Aviation Professionals
Discussions focused on the importance of fostering collaboration between aviation stakeholders and academia to develop comprehensive training solutions. Emphasis was placed on nurturing the next generation of aviation professionals‚ promoting interdisciplinary approaches‚ and leveraging innovative training methodologies to address evolving industry needs and challenges. The meeting concluded on initiatives as emphasizing and improving On-the-Job Training (OJT) for the States expressing there needs‚ or on setting up a Regional Skills Shortage monitoring process.

Sustainability: Timely Actions and Cooperation to Achieve the LTAG
Recognizing the urgent need to address environmental sustainability‚ discussions centred on implementing timely actions and fostering cooperation to achieve the Long-Term Aviation Goals (LTAG). Topics included promoting sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)‚ enhancing aircraft efficiency (LCAF)‚ and integrating environmental considerations into aviation policies and practices to reduce the sector's carbon footprint. The meeting recommended to enhance coordination and cooperation to achieve LTAG‚ including the develop (re) submit their State Action Plan (SAP)‚ to join CORSIA in the first phase as voluntary participation‚ join‚ as donor States or beneficiary States: the ICAO ACT-CORSIA Capacity-Building activities and the ICAO Assistance‚ Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ICAO ACT-SAF).

Enhancing Resilience
In light of the increasing challenges posed by global disruptions‚ such as pandemics‚ natural disasters‚ and geopolitical tensions‚ discussions focused on enhancing the resilience of the aviation sector. Strategies to bolster operational resilience‚ develop robust contingency plans‚ and strengthen collaboration among states and stakeholders were explored to ensure the continued safe and efficient provision of aviation services. The meeting requested member States to utilise the content of the ICAO Crisis Management Framework Document (EUR Doc 031) in national activities to enhance crisis preparedness and response‚ and to prioritize the implementation of Corrective Actions Plans to address the USOAP related PQs on Assistance to aircraft accident victims and their families.

Collaboration for Implementation Support: Enhancing Coordination and Cooperation
Recognizing the importance of coordinated efforts to effectively implement ICAO standards and recommended practices‚ discussions centred on enhancing collaboration‚ sharing best practices‚ and providing support to states in capacity-building and regulatory compliance. The meeting emphasized the role of regional cooperation and partnerships in fostering a harmonized and resilient aviation framework. The meeting concluded to provide support to the Country Strategic Plan of Action (COSPA)/Collaborative Implementation Support Roadmap (CISRO) pilot programme deployed in pilot phase for Uzbekistan.

Gender Equality
The importance of promoting gender equality and fostering inclusivity within the aviation sector was highlighted. Discussions focused on identifying barriers to gender equality‚ sharing experiences and best practices‚ and developing strategies to empower women in aviation‚ enhance diversity‚ and promote equal opportunities across all levels of the industry.

Ratification of International Air Law Treaties
The meeting concluded with discussions on the ratification of international air law treaties‚ emphasizing the importance of adherence to international legal frameworks to ensure the safe‚ secure‚ and sustainable development of international civil aviation. States were encouraged to expedite the ratification process and actively participate in ongoing international efforts to strengthen air law and promote global aviation cooperation.

Closing Remarks and Way Forward
The meeting concluded with closing remarks by the newly elected Chair‚ emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration‚ innovation‚ and commitment to advancing the aviation sector's safety‚ sustainability‚ and resilience. The participants reaffirmed their dedication to working collectively towards achieving the outlined objectives and fostering a harmonized and prosperous aviation environment in the European and North Atlantic regions.