Asean and the European Union (EU) have successfully concluded negotiations on the world’s first region-to-region aviation agreement, the Asean-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (AE CATA), according to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) on June 4.
The AE CATA will enhance air connectivity between both regions and will help support economic development in Asean and the EU amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, the agreement provides for both regions to work together in areas such as aviation safety, air traffic management, consumer protection, as well as environmental and social issues.
The conclusion of the negotiations took place virtually at the Extraordinary Asean-EU Senior Transport Officials Meeting on June 2, after eight rounds of negotiations that began in October 2016.
Singapore led the negotiations for Asean while the European Commission (EC) led the negotiations for the EU.
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Minister for Transport S Iswaran, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations of Singapore called the conclusion of the air transport agreement a “historic achievement and a milestone” in bilateral ties between both regions.
The first such region-to-region agreement also represents a “statement of commitment” between Asean and the EU member states, and will help “boost business confidence and support economic recovery”.
“Singapore is honoured to have been able to contribute to the inception, development, and conclusion of the agreement, leading the negotiations for ASEAN, and working closely with our fellow Asean Member States and the EU,” he says in a June 4 statement.
Cover photo: Bloomberg
