EU to Offer Technical Assistance to CAAN to Enhance Aviation Safety!

The 12^th Joint Commission meeting between the European Union (EU) and Nepal has been conducted successfully via video conference on October 2, 2020.

The Nepali delegation and the EU discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest in a cordial, candid, and constructive environment.

During the meeting, they discussed the social and economic impacts of the current coronavirus pandemic in Nepal and the EU.

The Nepali delegates put forth the efforts made by the Nepali Government to contain and combat coronavirus in the country and provided an update on its economic impact.

Moreover, Nepal briefed on its substantial efforts to improve air safety, particularly regarding the proposed new aviation legislation, which is yet to be acknowledged by the Federal Parliament of Nepal.

The EU appreciated this positive development and reiterated that further progress needed to be made to implement the legislation. It informed that it is planning to develop a technical assistance project to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to enhance aviation safety oversight.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Affairs Service (EEAS), and Mr. Bharat Raj Paudyal, Officiating Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Nepal.

The EU-Nepal Joint Commission meeting, which has taken place annually since 2009, portrays the EU’s and Nepal’s determination to strengthen their partnership further.

The next Joint Commission will take place in Kathmandu in 2021.