The Ministry of Transport and Communications – host to international top meeting on co-operation in civil aviation

Historical archive

Published under: Stoltenberg's 2nd Government

Publisher: Ministry of Transport and Communications

News story | Date: 23/06/2011 | Last updated: 24/06/2011

For the past two days Norway and the Ministry of Transport and Communication have been host to 77 international delegates from the EU and USA in connection with talks on Trans-Atlantic civil aviation.

On Tuesday 21st June 2011 the EU, USA, Iceland and Norway signed an agreement on Iceland’s and Norway’s adoption of Phase II of the Civil Aviation Agreement between the USA and the EU.

On the following day, Wednesday 22nd June, the Ministry of Transport and Communication hosted a meeting of the Joint Committee between the EU and USA, which was established in connection with the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, Norway and Iceland have the right to meet in the Committee together with the EU member states.

Delegation Leader USA: Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs, US State Department, Mr. Krishna Urs (Photo: Ministry of Transport and Communication)

The role of the Committee is to monitor adherence to and implementation of the Civil Aviation Agreement. The main themes of the meeting of 22nd June were matters relating to the environment and security.

A total of 77 delegates attended the Oslo meeting. The EU Commission led the EU delegation, which was comprised of representatives from ministries and civil aviation authorities from the member states. The American delegation was led by the Department of State, and was comprised of representatives from other US departments and authorities that are affected by the agreement. Representatives of professional and industrial bodies who participated as observers accompanied both sides.

Delegation Leader EU: European Commission, DG MOVE, Director, Air Transport, Mr. Matthew Baldwin (Photo: Ministry of Transport and Communication)

The historic Trans-Atlantic Civil Aviation Agreement is designed to contribute to the harmonisation of regulations governing civil aviation in the USA and Europe. Norwegian accession to the agreement ensures that Norwegian airline companies will be in a position to compete on equal terms as the EU states’ airlines in the civil aviation co-operation with the USA.