Aviation is going through a very delicate time from every point of view, although since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic attention has been placed on restrictions, measures and protocols, it cannot be ignored that the sector faces other types of challenges to ensure global connectivity.
ICAO yesterday revealed through a statement the new decisions that have emerged from the 223rd Session of the Council to support the recovery and development of the airline industry.
In response to a variety of developments, significant progress has been made to facilitate the recovery of the sector including the impact of the health crisis, safety and sustainability of flights.
The basis of the new ICAO strategy is to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Working Group (CART). Prepared in cooperation with WHO and other United Nations and aviation agencies, its recommendations have been continually updated throughout the pandemic to reflect the highly dynamic context, knowledge and challenges.
In this session, the Council reviewed the implementation of the most recent "Phase III" guidance, which was adopted in March 2021, and discussed means to accelerate momentum. The Council also addressed ICAO's preparations for its High-Level Conference on COVID-19, which will take place in October. The Conference aims to promote and strengthen the collective efforts of States, including through the implementation of CART.
The implementation of the ICAO pre-COVID-19 work plan also remains crucial for the aviation sectors of Member States, and the negative impacts of the pandemic do not diminish but rather increase both risks and opportunities in all countries. scopes. Of particular interest to the Council in this session were updates on ICAO activities to mitigate cybersecurity risks and threats, and on the United Nations agency's efforts to build on the very promising achievements being made in support of aviation sustainability. Progress towards the implementation of the landmark Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) was greatly appreciated.
Assisting States in their cooperation on operational matters was also an important theme of the 223rd session. The Council assessed progress in work to ensure the safety and security of flights through conflict zones, with a focus on Canada's proposed "Safer Skies" initiative. The Council also facilitated the achievement of a decision in principle on the establishment of a Doha flight information region, and reviewed an interim report resulting from a fact-finding investigation led by the ICAO Secretariat into developments related to the flight. Ryanair flight FR 4978 in Belarus. This investigation is ongoing and a report is expected at the next Council session, which begins on September 13.
Progress towards improving ICAO's own governance and operations is helping to ensure that the agency can continue to carry out its activities efficiently and effectively. This Council session marked the completion of work towards a new ICAO ethics framework, the approval of the ICAO financial statements for 2020, and the achievement of several governance decisions, including decisions regarding the reorganization of Council committees. and its subsidiary bodies.
The end of the second term of the ICAO Secretary General, Dr. Fang Liu, also provided the Council with an opportunity to review and appreciate the work of the Secretariat towards these objectives and the ICAO Strategic Objectives. The President of the ICAO Council, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, expressed the gratitude of the Council for the end-of-term report of the Secretary General and for his achievements throughout the six years of his leadership. The incoming Secretary General, Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, will take office on August 1, 2021.
The ICAO Council is responsible for the adoption of standards and other ICAO governance responsibilities while the full Assembly of 193 national governments of the agency is not in session. It is made up of diplomatic representatives from 36 countries who are elected by each ICAO Assembly for a period of three years.
The 41st ICAO Assembly will take place from September 27 to October 7, 2022, and preparations will also be included in the Council's activities at this session.