EASA & EUROCONTROL sign MoC to enhance cooperation for the safe and sustainable future of European aviation

COLOGNE, April 29, 2024 — European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Executive Director Florian Guillermet and EUROCONTROL Director General Raúl Medina signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to reinforce their respective organisations’ shared commitment to building the highest possible levels of safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the European civil aviation sector.

EUROCONTROL and EASA have formed a strong and longstanding cooperation on many areas of mutual interest  from safety to innovation, and from efficiency to sustainability, with the overall goal of ensuring that the European aviation safety system operates as effectively as possible. This cooperation has enhanced the synergies between the two organisations’ respective technical and scientific teams through regular exchange of information, knowledge, and data.

The EASA-EUROCONTROL Joint Work Programme and the EASA-EUROCONTROL Technical & Coordination Office (TeCO) are two pivotal instruments that have facilitated this fruitful collaboration, including activities in the following areas:

• Aviation Sustainability;
• European Air Traffic Management / Air Navigation Services (ATM/ANS) Rules, Specifications, and Standards at Global Level;
• Support to Stakeholders; and
• Production and Analysis of ATM/ANS Safety Intelligence.

Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA said: “We are standing together to fulfil Europe’s environmental ambitions, avoiding any gaps in our approach while ensuring that safety remains our priority. Through this cooperation, we will pool our expertise to the benefit of the Member States and the European aviation system as a whole”.

Raúl Medina, Director General of EUROCONTROL, said: “This MoC is a testament to our commitment to reinforce our partnership with EASA and to work together on new common priorities, maximising synergies around topics which are central for the future development of European aviation. I look forward to our continued collaboration as we move forward and prepare to face aviation challenges.”

This MoC replaces the existing one signed in 2021 and addresses four new areas of cooperation to enhance the safety and resilience of European Safety, covering training, cybersecurity, research and innovation, as well as Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS).

Training: Courses will be developed and delivered by EUROCONTROL, in coordination with EASA, to ensure an effective implementation of EASA rules and support the continuous evolution of the regulatory landscape.

Cybersecurity: Information will be exchanged regarding cyber-events and incidents that have an impact on aviation safety, and new technologies and their influence on cybersecurity will be explored. Additionally, “tabletop” cybersecurity exercises will be created and deployed. This new area of cooperation is essential as the two organisations aim for the highest level of safety and resilience of European aviation.

Research and Innovation: Joint research and innovation activities will be designed to advance the safety and sustainability of European aviation.

Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS): Cooperation on CNS matters allows EASA to bring the relevant certification and oversight aspects, thereby supporting the CNS Programme Manager’s role within the EUROCONTROL Network Manager to modernise Europe’s CNS infrastructure.