As part of the 42nd Session of the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Chair of the Civil aviation committee of the Ministry of transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Saltanat Tompiyeva, held a meeting with the Director General of EUROCONTROL, Raúl Medina. The meeting was also attended by Enrique Fraile-Riesco, Head of Cabinet at EUROCONTROL; David T. Lloyd, Advisor on Institutional Relations; and   Predrag Vranjkovic, Senior Advisor to the Director General of EUROCONTROL.

The parties discussed deepening cooperation in key areas of air traffic management.

Saltanat Tompiyeva emphasized:

“Kazakhstan, located in the heart of Eurasia, plays a key role in ensuring transit air transport between Europe and Asia. Our priority is to further enhance flight safety, improve the efficiency of air traffic management, and harmonize procedures with international and European standards.”

Kazakhstan expressed its intention to sign an agreement that would enable the country to become a full member of EUROCONTROL (with the same rights and responsibilities as European participants, except for voting rights). This agreement would allow Kazakhstan to adopt pan-European rules in the fields of air navigation, route planning, and charging. Furthermore, it would provide for mutual recognition of regulations and technical standards, as well as participation in EU strategic initiatives.

Raúl Medina confirmed his willingness to consider the possibility of signing such an agreement:

“We work with countries and key regions through technical and comprehensive agreements. We are pleased to see your interest in this. I believe this would be a positive experience for you, for us, and for Europe. We are fully committed to it.”

The parties agreed to initiate work on the potential signing of the agreement and, as a first step, to hold a technical working meeting to discuss and develop the details of the document.

For reference:

EUROCONTROL is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates air traffic management in Europe, including through the Central Route Charges Office (CRCO) and the Single European Sky initiative.

The "Comprehensive Agreement" is a document signed by non-EU countries that wish to integrate into the EUROCONTROL system on par with European states. The Comprehensive Agreement ensures full inclusion in the EUROCONTROL system.