The European Union and the United States concluded today an agreement on cooperation in the regulation of civil aviation safety (8312/09). The agreement will enter into force on 1 May 2011.

The purpose of the agreement is to enable the reciprocal acceptance of findings of compliance and approvals, promote a high degree of safety in air transport and ensure regulatory cooperation and harmonisation between the United States and the EU as regards airworthiness approvals and monitoring of civil aeronautical products, environmental testing and approvals of such products, and approvals and monitoring of maintenance facilities.