Regionalism

“We are stronger when we work together and support each other.”

PASO Chairperson, Mr. Magele Hoe J. Viali.

PASO was born out of a Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in 2002 and founded on the concepts of sovereignty and regionalism in 2005 when the Pacific Islands Civil Aviation Safety and Security Treaty (PICASST) came into force.

The PICASST recognises that each Member State of PASO “has complete and exclusive sovereignty over its airspace and responsibility for aviation security regulatory oversight within its territory”.

Map of PASO Member Countries

As a CROP agency, PASO has a regional aviation leadership role to progress aviation policy development and regional collaboration

Micronesian Presidents Summit in Palau 2018

Effective Pacific collective action

Article three of the PICASST articulate a vision for regional collaboration to achieve individual State obligations for regulatory safety and security oversight of civil aviation under the Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation regionally in the Pacific and in their States for the areas of:

Airworthiness,
Flight operations
Airports
Security
Personnel licencing

Strong Member State’s aviation regulatory frameworks are key to maintaining and establishing viable and sustainable connectivity between Pacific States and are essential as an enabler of economic growth through tourism and trade links.

PASO is underpinned by the fundamental principle that by operating as a collective, on a shared resource basis governed by the PASO Council, Pacific aviation regulation is more harmonised, compliant, cost effective and efficient than Members acting independently.

This principal aligns with the Framework for Pacific Regionalism (FPR), endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in July 2014 which articulates Pacific regionalism as:

“The expression of a common sense of identity and purpose, leading progressively to the sharing of institutions, resources, and markets, with the purpose of complementing national efforts, overcoming common constraints, and enhancing sustainable and inclusive development within Pacific countries and territories and for the Pacific region as a whole.”

The Framework expresses a vision for the Pacific as:

“Our Pacific Vision is for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy, and productive lives.”

The Framework recognises for Pacific Regionalism to succeed it requires the support, commitment, and ownership of all parties – Pacific people, including governments and administrations, civil society organisations, private sector representatives, regional organisations, development partners, media, and other key stakeholders.

Further to the FPR, in 2019 the Forum Leaders endorsed the development of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which will acknowledge the growing need for urgent and immediate actions on threats and challenges of climate change. The Leaders also agreed that the Strategy must advance resources towards the protection of our Ocean’s health and integrity, sustainably managing our island and ocean resources, promoting air, sea and ICT connectivity to ensure the health and benefit of the people.

In progressing this, the Leaders tasked the review of the regional Council of Regional Organisation in the Pacific (CROP) architecture to ensure that governance and resourcing arrangements are available to deliver the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Scene from Tamana Island, Kiribati. Credit: Salote Mataitini

Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP)

PASO is member of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) and the only CROP agency with headquarters permanently based in Vanuatu.

CROP membership currently includes the following Pacific regional intergovernmental organisations: Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA); Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP); Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS); Pacific Power Association (PPA); The Pacific Community (SPC); Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP); Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO); and the University of the South Pacific (USP). The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum is the Permanent Chair of the CROP.

As an active member of CROP, PASO contributes to Pacific regionalism efforts in the aviation safety and security regulatory oversight space, including participating in important regional issues and communicating on issues of common interest and importance to the region, in accordance with our mandate.

PASO works collaboratively to assist our Member States improve their aviation regulatory environment in the ‘Pacific way’ through regional leadership, and maintains strong relationships with other Pacific countries and territories who are not signatories to PICASST.

PASO’s broader regional aviation leadership role is to progress aviation policy development and regional collaboration, particularly for air connectivity, optimisation and economic development through the enabling of regional aviation efficiency and effectiveness for regional and State economic growth. This includes broader aviation initiatives, such as infrastructure development, asset management and maintenance support.

Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) Heads Meeting in 2018

Download the CROP Charter

Download the CROP Work Agenda 2021

Download the CROP Annual Report 2020

Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting Logo

Framework for Aviation in the Pacific

Regional Aviation Ministerial Meeting (RAMM)

In 2019 the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders at Funafuti, Tuvalu, agreed in their communique, to the convening of a Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting to “consider and discuss aviation-specific matters of importance to the region, in particular aviation safety and security, compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and opportunities for increased connectivity”.

The virtual Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting on Wednesday, 30 June 2021 resulted in Pacific Island Forum States committing to the Port Moresby Declaration on Aviation Safety and Security to progress important Pacific regional aviation matters through a new enhanced collaboration framework.

RAMM1

The first Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM1) was successfully hosted by the Government of Papua New Guinea and provided a strategic opportunity for Forum Island Member States to discuss the wide-ranging aviation needs of the region to ensure there is a safe, sustainable and enhanced aviation environment for the Pacific.

The RAMM1 focused on strengthening aviation safety and security compliance through enhancing current institutional arrangements and establishing a long-term shared vision for the region.

RAMM2

The next Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM2) is being planned for June 2022 and will be hosted by the Government of the Cook Islands, following the success of the first Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM1) in June.

The RAMM2 will consider the Pacific’s progress on the implementation of the Port Moresby Declaration on Aviation Safety and Security and the RAMM 1 Ministerial outcomes to advance important regional aviation matters to ensure there is safe, sustainable, and enhanced aviation system to benefit the Pacific.

Regional Aviation Ministers will consider amendments to the Pacific Islands Civil Aviation Safety and Security Treaty (PICASST), the development of a ten-year regional pacific aviation strategy, and an enhanced Pacific aviation organisation at the RAMM2. The Ministers will also consider an Enhanced Regional Safety Oversight Organisation and COVID-19 impacts and recovery assessment for aviation in the Pacific.

RAMM Secretariat

PASO’s involvement in the RAMM process is to act as the Secretariat providing technical, administrative and logistical support to all Pacific Island States in implementing the RAMM Ministerial Outcomes and work closely with Aviation Officials to meet the expectations of the Ministers.

PASO is working cooperatively with Pacific aviation officials from all Pacific Island States, Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP agencies), the World Bank and the Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility (PRIF), international aviation partners including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and key industry stakeholders to realise the RAMM2.

Last Updated on December 10, 2021

PASO

An international organisation providing quality aviation safety and security services for Pacific Member States.

Generously hosted by the Republic of Vanuatu.

Tel: +678 28500
Email: info@paso.aero

PO Box 139
Nambatu
Port Vila
Vanuatu

Regionalism

Effective Pacific collective action

Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP)

Regional Aviation Ministerial Meeting (RAMM)

RAMM1

RAMM2

RAMM Secretariat

Subscribe

PASO

Quick links

PASO

Priorities

Quick Links