Perspectives

Canada-EU Community Aviation Safety Agreement

At the Canada-European Union (EU) Summit held in Prague, Czech Republic, on May 6, 2009, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso signed the Canada-European Union Agreement on Civil Aviation Safety. Under the new agreement, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will recognize certification of Canadian aviation products and services, allowing the Canadian aviation industry to be more competitive in the European market. Civil aviation safety will also be enhanced, as EASA and Transport Canada will work cooperatively to resolve unforeseen safety issues.

Prior to 2003, the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) represented the civil aviation regulatory authorities of 36 primarily European countries. These countries had agreed to cooperate in developing and implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures through state-to-state or agency-to-agency agreements with individual European countries or authorities, or the JAA.
 
In September 2003, the functions, tasks and responsibilities of the European country members of the JAA regarding the certification, manufacture and maintenance of civil aviation aeronautical products were legally transferred to the EASA. EASA is now the single agency for civil aviation in Europe, and represents the 27 European Member States. EASA has not yet been granted legal jurisdiction in certain areas of civil aviation, however, individual Member States do not act independently within the areas for which EASA has become responsible.

The long-standing history of cooperation between Canada and Europe is the result of a natural evolution that started with individual partnerships with many European countries and their aviation authorities. In fact, Canada had signed several agreements and arrangements with various European countries as well as with the JAA. Following multiple working sessions, Canada and EASA completed the draft text of the Canada-European Community Aviation Safety Agreement in April 2007.This Agreement will replace most existing Bilateral Agreements and Technical Arrangements between various European Union Member States and Canada, which had been put in place prior to the creation of EASA.

The Canada-European Community Aviation Safety Agreement will formalize Canada's relationship with EASA and make it possible to obtain a single European approval. This single approval will be automatically binding to all of the EASA Member States. The Agreement is currently focused on product airworthiness including the certification, manufacture, and maintenance of civil aeronautical products (including personnel and organizations), however, the Agreement could be expanded in the future to include areas such as recognition of pilot licensing and foreign operations.

The Canada-European Union Agreement on Civil Aviation Safety has been signed by both parties and is expected to come into effect later this year following ratification by Canadian parliament.

For more information, please refer to the following links:

• Prime Minister’s Office
• Technical Arrangements