Equatorial Guinea’s Ambassador to the European Union, Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, who has been leading negotiations to be removed from the EU’s Aviation Blacklist for years, once again met the European Commission’s Aviation Safety Unit to sign a historic agreement that will instigate key negotiations on this issue.

Specifically, Nvono-Ncá met Peter Sorensen, Director of the Air Safety Unit from the European Commission General Directorate for Mobility and Transport, and Clarisa Barbero, Aviation Policy Officer. This meeting served no less than to ratify and specify what will be the first official aviation agreement between the European Union and Equatorial Guinea.

This historic agreement, financed entirely by the European Union, will kick-start the work that could enable Equatorial Guinea to be removed from the European Aviation Blacklist. During the first phase, technical work will be carried out by the Equatorial Guinea Aviation Agency and the EU Safety Agency (EASA). Subsequently, in what is expected to be early 2023, this will include coordinated work with the EU’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport.

Historic agreement towards leaving Aviation Blacklist

This first stage is expected to be completed around May next year, leading to the following stages and a final examination. This first important step will open the door for Equatorial Guinea to meet the necessary technical requirements to allow national carriers such as Ceiba and Cronos to be removed from the list. It is expected that the removal could be formalised at some point during 2024.

Through this historic agreement, Ambassador Nvono-Ncá brings to a successful conclusion the only challenge left to him after eleven years in charge of the Diplomatic Mission in Brussels. As he stated, “the mission I was given in this regard has been more than fulfilled. I hope that national authorities will be able to carry out and continue the work that is incumbent on them, so that our airlines can finally fly in international airspace with full rights”.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government