EU Fights to Block Russia's Return to ICAO Council

A sharp diplomatic clash is expected at the Montreal assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on September 23, centered on the Russian Federation's attempt to regain its membership in the organization's governing body, the Council. This aspiration is meeting with fierce resistance from the European Union, which accuses Moscow of the gravest violations of international aviation rules, recalls Politico.

The 193 member states of ICAO have gathered to discuss new goals for the sector and to elect the 36 states that will form the organization's governing body. Russia, which was removed from this body in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine, is actively promoting its candidacy, presenting itself as "the largest aviation power with a history of civil aviation of more than a hundred years."

The European Union is doing everything to prevent this. Brussels' position is based on a number of serious accusations, including:

The downing of a civilian aircraft: Russia has been found responsible for the downing of civilian airliners, which is a gross violation of international norms.

Theft of aircraft: After the invasion of Ukraine, Russia de facto confiscated hundreds of aircraft belonging to foreign leasing companies.

The European Commission's spokesperson for transport, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, clearly formulated the EU's position: "It is unacceptable for a state that endangers the safety of air passengers and violates international rules to occupy a place in the governing body of an organization whose task is to monitor compliance with these very rules."

Thus, today's vote in Montreal is seen not only as a technical procedure, but also as a test of political sentiment. Its results will show to what extent the international community is ready to reckon with Russia's actions or to continue its isolation on international platforms.