COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/372

of 27 February 2020

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization as regards the adoption of amendments to Annexes 1, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 100(2) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Convention on International Civil Aviation (‘the Chicago Convention’), which regulates international air transport, entered into force on 4 April 1947. It established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

(2) The Member States of the Union are contracting parties to the Chicago Convention and members of the ICAO, whereas the Union has observer status in certain ICAO bodies.

(3) Pursuant to Article 54 of the Chicago Convention, the ICAO Council is to adopt international standards and recommended practices.

(4) The ICAO Council, at its 219th session starting on 2 March 2020, is to adopt a number of amendments to Annexes 1, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 to the Chicago Convention (‘the amendments’), in the areas of safety, environment and air navigation.

(5) Once adopted, the amendments will be binding on all ICAO Member States, including all Member States of the Union, in accordance with and within the limits set out in the Chicago Convention, and capable of decisively influencing the content of Union law.

(6) It is therefore appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the ICAO Council with regard to the amendments.

(7) The scope of this Decision should be limited to the content of the amendments, insofar as that content falls within an area which is already largely covered by EU common rules. This Decision should not affect the distribution of competences between the Union and the Member States in the field of aviation.

(8) The position of the Union within the ICAO Council should be to support the policies expressed in the amendments, since they contribute to improving aviation safety and environmental standards.

(9) The Union’s position should be expressed by the Member States of the Union that are members of the ICAO Council, acting jointly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at its 219th session as regards the adoption of amendments to Annexes 1, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1) shall be expressed by the Member States of the Union that are members of the ICAO Council, acting jointly.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 27 February 2020.

For the Council

The President

D. HORVAT

(1)  See document ST 6180/20 on http://register.consilium.europa.eu