Directors General at ECAC’s 42nd Plenary Session in Strasbourg

Written by Communications. Posted in News Updates

Strasbourg, 9-10 July 2024 — The Directors General of ECAC Member States, along with high-level representatives from ICAO Member States and various international and regional organisations, including ICAO, the European Commission, EASA and EUROCONTROL, convened for ECAC’s 42^nd Plenary (Triennial) Session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This significant gathering brought together over 150 delegates from 47 States, organisations as well as industry representatives.

Chaired by ECAC President, Alessio Quaranta, the Plenary Session began with opening addresses from ICAO Council President, Salvatore Sciacchitano, and European Commission Director General for Transport and Mobility, Magda Kopczynska.

The afternoon on the first day featured a debate session titled “Aviation at the heart of sustainable growth” consisting of two panels with senior figures from the European aviation sector and beyond. The first panel, moderated by Maksim Et’Hemaj, DGCA of Albania, focused on the attractiveness of aviation as an industry sector, covering challenges in attracting new talent post-COVID-19, the industry’s image from environmental, political, and social perspectives, and strategies to make the sector more appealing to current and future workers.

Ana Mata, DGCA of Portugal, led the second panel debate, which addressed connectivity, liberalisation, and fair competition in the aviation sector. Key topics discussed included the complexities and variances in global aviation markets, external threats to connectivity such as geopolitical situations, and the need for international and regional efforts to encourage liberalisation and fair competition to sustain and enhance connectivity.

The Triennial Session also included statements from ECAC’s sister regional organisations (ACAO, AFCAC, LACAC), ICAO States (Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United States), and EUROCONTROL. The presenters emphasised the importance of global cooperation among States and regional civil aviation organisations in implementing international aviation policies, tackling global challenges, and supporting States in need.
During the meeting, delegates reviewed reports on ECAC’s activities since the previous triennial session in July 2021. The ECAC work programme and budget for the next three years (2025-2027) were approved.

Alessio Quaranta (Italy) was re-elected as ECAC president, with Damien Cazé (France) and Rannia Leontaridi (United Kingdom) re-elected as vice-presidents. Kemal Yüksel (Türkiye) was elected as vice-president for his first mandate. The Plenary Session elected new members on the Coordinating Committee: Koen Milis (Belgium), Jelínek Zdeněk (Czechia), and Jari Pöntinen (Finland). The full membership of ECAC’s Coordinating Committee is available on the ECAC website.

For more information on ECAC’s 42^nd Plenary Session, please visit the ECAC website:
https://www.ecac-ceac.org/events-and-meetings/past-events/ecac-42