On July 19, 2018 at the premises of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine the official closure conference of the Twinning Project “Harmonization of Ukrainian Legislation in the Field of Airworthiness and Certification of Airports/Aerodromes with the Relevant EU Norms and Standards” was held.
The project was implemented in joint cooperation with the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency and aimed at supporting the development of civil aviation in Ukraine. Its integration into the EU transport system by harmonizing Ukrainian aviation regulations with the relevant EU legislation in the field of certification of airports / airfields and airworthiness of aircraft, their parts and appliances as well as the certification of project and production organizations.
The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Volodymyr Omelyan expressed his sincere gratitude to the project partners and emphasized the high support of the European Commission, which believed in the resolve and ability of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the State Aviation Service of Ukraine to be reformed in accordance with European standards. In addition, he noted that the aviation sphere is one of the priorities of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU, and stressed that the Twinning project is one more step on the way of realization of Ukraine's National Transport Strategy 2030 “Drive Ukraine”. The Minister noted that Ukraine and the EU are expected to sign the Common Aviation Area Agreement, which will unite air transport markets and open up new opportunities for national air carriers and passengers to use better air services.
Head of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Bilchuk welcomed the participants focusing on the high professionalism and effective cooperation between the project partners in achieving mandatory results and in the context of the development of civil aviation in Ukraine in accordance with European standards. He noted that during the implementation of the project the system of training of the State Aviation Service personnel was improved, the new editorial manual of the state inspectors' were approved, as well as a number of training courses, workshops and study visits were conducted.
Spanish Ambassador to Ukraine Silvia Josefina Cortes Martin and Director of Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency Isabel Maestre Moreno expressed the readiness of the European side to fully support the State Aviation Service of Ukraine in the realization of further reforms in the sphere of aviation.
MS Project Leader from Spain Eugenia Llorens Beltrán de Heredia thanked the Ukrainian part for active participation in expert missions and study visits, as well as the involvement of a large number of national experts during the project implementation. In addition, she presented the main achievements of the project, in particular the development of the Aviation Rules of Ukraine in Aerodrome/Airport and Airworthiness spheres in accordance with the EU Regulations as well as conducting of the trainings on certification and supervision of the Aerodrome/Airport operators due to updated requirements.
First Secretary of the European Commission delegation to Ukraine, “Competition Policy and Energy Markets” Jose Manuel Hernandez Martinez expressed confidence that the achieved experience from colleagues from the Kingdom of Spain will continue to contribute to raising the safety standards of Ukraine's aviation industry.
Representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, State Aviation Service of Ukraine, State Service of Ukraine on Transport Safety, EU Delegation to Ukraine and other also took part in the meeting.
On behalf of the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union the Chief Consultant of the Twinning Coordination Division of the Project Management Unit Yuliia Fedyna took part in the conference.
For reference: according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ukraine “On Approval of the Procedure for Initiation, Preparation and Implementation of the Twinning Projects” as of 11 October, 2016 No 700 the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service coordinates the implementation of the institution building instrument of the European Union Twinning in Ukraine. Furthermore, in accordance with relevant legal acts the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service is the coordinator of institution building instrument TAIEX implementation in Ukraine. In order to provide effective coordination of Twinning and TAIEX the Twinning Program Administration Office in Ukraine was established, its functions are performed by the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union.
