Partnering with European States to deliver on ICAO’s strategic priorities

ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar successfully advocated for ICAO’s strategic priorities at the recent 74th Special Meeting of the Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCAs) of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) in Bern, Switzerland. During his mission, he held a series of high-level engagements with European States and other key stakeholders. 

This included a bilateral meeting with Swiss Federal Councillor, Albert Rösti, at which the Secretary General underscored Switzerland’s leadership in civil aviation and expressed appreciation for its continued support to ICAO’s work.

In his opening remarks to the ECAC DGCA meeting, Mr. Salazar provided updates on ICAO’s global priorities, with particular emphasis on the ICAO Strategic and Business Plans, the Organization’s ongoing transformation, and the significance of the upcoming 42nd session of the ICAO Assembly.

The Secretary General also held meetings focused on cooperation priorities with a number of several high-level officials, including Filip Cornelis, Director for Aviation at the European Commission’s DG MOVE; Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA; and senior representatives from Azerbaijan, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Discussions included the review of progress under ICAO’s Transformational Objective and highlights from the ICAO Strategic Plan 2026–2050. 

During his mission, Mr. Salazar was accompanied by Michael Gill, Director of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau, and Nicolas Rallo, ICAO Regional Director for Europe and the North Atlantic.