It Took 10 Years For ASEAN-EU Europe To Agree To The Air Agreement In Bali

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Transportation)

JAKARTA - The agreement for air relations between ASEAN and the European Union has been agreed upon after being discussed since 10 years ago.

The agreement was agreed upon at a meeting of the Minister of Transportation throughout ASEAN or the 28th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting.

The European ASEAN-Uni air relations agreement agreement was signed by the Permanent Secretary of Singapore, Mr. Loh Ngai Seng, Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation Novie Riyanto, Director General for Mobility and Transport European Union Mr. Henrik Hololei, Ambassador of Czech Mr. Jaroslav Dolecek, and Secretary General ASEAN Mr. Dato Lim Mir Hoi.

And witnessed directly by the Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia Budi Karya Sumadi, ministers and representatives of delegations of ASEAN member countries, as well as ASEAN speech partners namely Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and China.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi in Nusa Dua Bali said the ASEAN-EU Europe air relations agreement or the ASEAN-European Union Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) became the world's first interregional air relations agreement and became a milestone in the world's aviation history.

Furthermore, Budi said this was because the agreement was not only about the exchange of traffic transport rights between the two regions, but also more comprehensive cooperation regarding aviation safety and security, air traffic management, consumer protection, as well as social and environmental issues.

The deal also marks the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU cooperation relationship.

"The agreement that has been discussed since approximately 9 or 10 years ago, Alhamdulillah, today it can be agreed when Indonesia becomes the host," said Budi Karya Sumadi after chairing a meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, Monday, October 17.

Budi said the two regions of ASEAN and the European Union have a total of 37 countries, of which Asean has 10 member states and the European Union has 27 member states.

With this agreement, he continued, it is hoped that it will further strengthen the ASEAN-EU's strategic partnership, improve flight services, and support the sustainability of aviation industry growth globally.

"He agreed that the air relations agreement with the European Union shows the ASEAN region has a strategic position and is highly taken into account in the eyes of the international community," he said.

In the midst of increasingly competitive competition between countries and between countries, Budi hopes that ASEAN member countries will have high solidarity to help and strengthen each other in the midst of a global situation full of uncertainty, be it the problem of the COVID-19 pandemic, energy crisis, food, finance, and geopolitical conditions in the world.

From Friday, October 14, 2022 to Monday, October 17, 2022, a number of meetings have been held in which Indonesia through the Ministry of Transportation acts as chairman/chairman.

The meeting was held at the senior transportation official level (54th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting) and the Minister of Transportation's level (28th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting).

In addition to being attended by a number of ministers and delegates from ASEAN member countries, the meeting was also attended by delegates from ASEAN's speech partner countries, namely Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and China.

This annual routine agenda was first held face-to-face after two years of being held online.

"With the presence of hundreds of foreign delegates who attended Bali, it is hoped that it can revive the economy and tourism in Bali after more than two years of being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.