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Ukraine and EU Hold First Joint Aviation Committee Meeting Since 2022
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Ukraine and the European Union have held the first meeting of the Joint Aviation Committee since 2022.
This committee serves as a primary tool for implementing the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the two parties, according to European Pravda on April 22.
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Oleksii Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities and Territories Development, noted that the agreement establishes uniform aviation rules and integrates Ukraine into the European aviation system.
During the session, officials agreed on a list of EU legal acts that Ukraine must adopt. They also discussed implementation strategies that account for current conditions.
This marks a shift toward the practical application of European aviation standards, ranging from flight safety to passenger rights protection.
"Our goal is for the Ukrainian market to operate under the same rules as the EU after the sky opens: transparently, safely, and with equal conditions for carriers," Kuleba stated.
Kuleba mentioned that Ukrainian airlines are currently operating under extremely difficult conditions. He explained that the system is being prepared now so that the market will be immediately integrated into the European space once flights resume.
Ukraine and the EU signed the Common Aviation Area Agreement, often called the "open skies" deal, on October 12, 2021. The Ukrainian Parliament ratified the document just days before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
The agreement was originally initiated in 2013. However, the signing was delayed for years due to a dispute between the United Kingdom and Spain regarding the status of Gibraltar.
On March 16, 2026, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine established a specialized working group to prepare for the resumption of the country’s airport operations.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba signed the official order to create this consultative body, which was tasked with developing proposals for resuming civil aviation while ensuring the safety of critical infrastructure. Led by Deputy Minister Serhii Derkach, the group included high-ranking officials, military experts, and the CEOs of major Ukrainian airports, such as Boryspil, Lviv, and Kyiv.
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