The European Union has stepped up its aviation cooperation with Nepal and South Asia through two new regional initiatives being held in Kathmandu under the EU–South Asia Aviation Partnership Project.

The programmes come months after the launch of a series of aviation cooperation activities and are aimed at strengthening aviation safety through greater collaboration among regulators, airlines, industry representatives and technical experts across the region.

Over the next two weeks, aviation stakeholders from South Asian countries will gather in Kathmandu to exchange experiences, build professional networks and discuss practical measures to improve aviation safety standards.

From June 23 to 25, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is hosting the third module of the Regional Aviation Safety Programme (RASP), jointly organised with aircraft manufacturer ATR.

The module focuses on crew training and operational standards, addressing the human and procedural aspects of flight operations, including decision-making, operational resilience and fatigue management.

Speaking at the opening session on Tuesday, Thomas Millar, Chargé d’Affaires at the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, said aviation safety remains a key priority for Nepal.

“Air safety is clearly a priority for the Government of Nepal, and we have taken note of the recent remarks by the Finance Minister in his budget speech, aiming to address the concerns of the European Commission,” Millar said.

He added that the European Union had also welcomed Nepal’s recent submission of a complete package outlining the implementation of its Corrective Action Plan.

“Our colleagues in the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport will review it in the coming months,” he said.

Millar said the European Union and its member states remain committed to supporting Nepal in achieving higher aviation safety standards.

“The European Union and its Member States are keen to continue working side by side with Nepal to help achieve the level of safety that Nepali citizens and travellers deserve. Both the EU and its Member States are already providing technical assistance and have worked closely with all stakeholders to support progress,” he said.

A key feature of the programme is the participation of regional airlines, which will share operational experiences, case studies and lessons learned alongside industry experts.

By bringing together regulators, operators and aviation professionals, the initiative seeks to promote practical and sustainable approaches to improving air safety across the region.

Kathmandu will also host a regulatory update and continuing airworthiness workshop under the South Asia Regional Initiative (SARI) from June 29 to July 2.

According to organisers, the workshop will review recent developments in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations and modern oversight concepts, helping authorities and industry stakeholders adapt to evolving international standards.

Together, the two programmes mark the evolution of the EU–South Asia Aviation Partnership Project from individual technical exchanges to a more structured and long-term framework for regional cooperation.

They also reinforce Nepal’s growing role as a regional platform for aviation dialogue and underscore the European Union’s commitment to supporting aviation stakeholders through practical, demand-driven partnerships.

“Strong aviation safety systems are essential to enabling connectivity, tourism and economic development,” the organisers said. “By supporting closer cooperation between authorities, operators and industry, the European Union contributes to safer, more resilient and future-ready air transport systems across South Asia.”