EUROCONTROL hosts NATO Air Traffic Management Committee Meeting

This move follows the conclusion in May of this year of a Memorandum of Cooperation between EUROCONTROL and NATO. It reflects the increasingly close working relationship between the two organisations, who together represent most of Europe and North America. EUROCONTROL currently has 31 Member States while NATO has 19 Member States and 27 Partner States. Both parties recognise the benefits of cooperating towards the development of a seamless air navigation system on a European and an international level.

EUROCONTROL’s primary objective is to develop a seamless, safe and efficient pan-European air traffic management system for the benefit of all users, civil and military. Civil and military cooperation and coordination is therefore essential. The NATO Traffic Management Committee exists to ensure that all these aspects are taken into consideration and that the defence needs of NATO Member States receive due priority. Hence the need to work closely together, exemplified by this NATMC plenary meeting at EUROCONTROL.

The meeting brought together approximately 100 participants from NATO and Partner nations. It was opened by Víctor M. Aguado, Director General of EUROCONTROL, and Robert Bell, Assistant Secretary General of the Defence Investment Division of NATO (ASG/DI).

Welcoming the participants to the meeting, Mr Aguado noted the increasing cooperation between EUROCONTROL and NATO over the past years, and in particular since the creation of the Civil/Military Interface Standing Committee in 1998. “To further enhance pan-European safety and security, we need to develop even stronger links between the two organisations and between the officials and members of the respective bodies and committees, “ he said. “NATMC is crucial in this context as it plays an important role in enabling safe and expeditious training and air operations to take place in some of the busiest airspace in the world.“

Endorsing Mr. Aguado’s sentiments, ASG/DI Bell said: “NATO and EUROCONTROL have clearly demonstrated in the past that they can join together to advance the aims of both organizations. Now is the time to take that cooperation to a higher level”.

Note to Editors:

EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, has 31 Member States: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The Organisation’s primary objective is to develop a seamless, pan-European air traffic management (ATM) system that fully copes with the constant growth in air traffic, while maintaining a high level of safety, reducing costs and respecting the environment.

For further information, please contact:

Kyla Evans or Lucia Pasquini:
Tel.: +32 2 729 50 95 / +32 2 729 34 20, Email: press@eurocontrol.int
For more information via the website: www.eurocontrol.int

NATO Office of Information and Press

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