In April 2010, the Moldovan Government expressed its wish to start negotiations for a Common Aviation Area Agreement (CAAA) between the EU and Moldova. After assessing the situation and performing the economic analysis of the possible impact of concluding such agreement, the European Commission (EC) started the negotiation of a comprehensive CAAA with Moldova. Priority areas for such agreement were market opening, freedom of establishment, equal conditions of competition and common rules in the areas of aviation safety, security, air traffic management, social conditions and environmental protection. In this context, the EC acknowledged that a project of Technical assistance needed to be introduced in Republic of Moldova.
Successfully delivered by NTU, the EU-funded project “Technical assistance for the implementation of the legal and regulatory framework in the aviation sector” (2013-2016), with a budget of 1.469.362 EUR, had the objective to improve air transport safety and security by assisting civil aviation authorities of the Republic of Moldova in the adoption and implementation of the legal and regulatory framework; in particular, to support the conformity of such framework to the EU aviation legislation, agreed prior in the EU – Moldova CAAA.
How we did it
this project, NTU provided technical assistance in the domain of civil aviation for the drafting and enforcement of a national legal and regulatory framework and related procedures. One of the activities that NTU conducted and had an important impact on how to adapt and implement EU aviation regulations in the best way, were the organization of Study Tours to Slovenia and Latvia.
The objective of the study tour in Slovenia was to give to the Moldovan beneficiaries a familiarization with transformation process in Slovenia from ICAO Standards to European requirements and regulations and provide a benefit of exchange opinion on best practices, the transition period between former model and the current European legislative environment in the aviation security area.
In Latvia, the Study Tour focused on ATM. The purpose was to provide practical information and familiarise the Beneficiary to best practices for implementation of ATM legislation and SES, based on the experience gained on this matter by the Latvian authorities. The participants visited the Civil Aviation Authority, the Airport, the Air Navigation Service Provider and the Accident/Incident Investigation Bureau. These exchanges were centered on the difficulties met for the practical transition and benefits of joining the Single European Sky.
Impacts
The Study Tours contributed for Moldovan participants to learn, exchange practical knowledge and establish a long-term working relationship with the hosts for future cooperation. The beneficiaries were familiarized with best practices regarding the implementation of an EU legislation based on the experience of the hosting countries.
In more general terms, this activity contributed to the overall outcomes of this project, which are as follows:
- Trained professional civil aviation authorities in Moldova
- Generate high level of awareness on safe and secure aviation environment
- Increased connections with the neighbouring countries, facilitating trading opportunities and contributing to the country’s overall economic development
- Decreased number of accidents
- Increase of air traffic activity at Chisinau Airport and the development of new destinations accessible to the Moldovan public
- Increased share of air transport in the GDP
Study tour in Slovenia
Steering Committee meeting
The participants of the study tour in Latvia