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From 18 to 29 November 2013, the council phase of 200th Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization Council was held in Montreal. It was the last meeting of the Council under the Chairmanship of Roberto Kobeh González, who held the office continuously since 1 January, 2006. The Session was attended by Poland’s Permanent Representative on the Council of ICAO - Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska who actively participated in the Council’s work and several times made an intervention.

Between 3 and 4 December, 2013 in Budapest was held a meeting of the Visegrad Group (V4) in the field of civil aviation. On the second day of the meeting the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the countries of the Group, which includes Republic of Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. Countries were represented by Aviation Authorities delegations, including the Polish delegation of Civil Aviation Authority.

Polish pilots from the beginning of aviation have been showing their skills and talents for flying. Poland celebrates annually an Aviation Day on August 28. This day commemorates the anniversary of the victory of pilots Cpt. Franciszek Żwirko and Stanisław Wigura in the International Tourist Plane Competition organized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which took place in Berlin in 1932. More than 80 years after those unforgettable events – Polish sportsmen and sportswomen continue to prove that they are worthy the Wigura and Zwirko’s heritage. Thanks to them - Poles can proudly say that in the aviation we are the best in the world. Polish sportsmen are members of the Polish Aero Club, which is affiliated with other national aero clubs in the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Only in 2013, Polish pilots won 62 medals: 22 gold, 17 silver and 23 bronze ones.

On 29 November 2013 the last meeting of 200th Session of ICAO Council was held in Montreal. It was the last meeting of the Council under the Chairmanship of President Roberto Kobeh González, who held the office continuously since January 1, 2006. The new President of the ICAO Council under Council Members’ decision will be Dr. Benard Olumuyiwa Aliu of Nigeria. After the meeting of the Council the Farewell reception took place. Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska and other Permanent Representatives of the Council congratulated and thanked Mr. Roberto Kobeh González for his long and successful work for the Organization and development of international civil aviation.

On November 27  during the 200th Session of the ICAO Coucil, which is attended by the Permanent Representative of Poland on Council of ICAO - Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska, the meeting on the planned changes of using portable electronic devices (PED) on board the aircraft was held. Changes planned by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) was presented by Mrs. Daniel Defossar, EASA Rulemaking Air Operations Section Manager.

On November 22 the fourth meeting of the ICAO Council  was held in the framework of the ongoing 200th Session, in which participates Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska - the Permanent Representative of Poland. During the meeting, the proposed work program of the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) during 195 Session of the Commission was presented. The Secretary General also presented the results of the meeting of the Steering Group of the Committee for Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). Participants considered and approved the establishment of the Environment Advisory Group (EAG). Ms. Małgorzata Polkowska presented the position of Polish delegation: “We are in principle favourable to create a group, and then, we shall have a more informed discussion when we have the work plan in front of us, and in this fashion we will be able to avoid repetitions of the work already completed, as this would only delay the process” – she stated, but also added: “In all cases, the ICAO Council should be regularly informed on the progress and consulted, so that it can provide policy input as necessary.” There were also raised issues relating to human resources.

On November 20 was held the third meeting of the 200th Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization Council in Montreal which is participated by Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska - Polish Permanent Representative on the ICAO Council. The Council members considered a number of documents. The participants discussed among others the convening of the Twenty-fifth Meeting of the Aviation Security Panel (AVSECP/25) from 17 to 21 March 2014. There were also presented an oral report on unlawful interference with international civil aviation. In addition, there was presented a report on the amendment 24 to Annex 9 - Facilitation to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska made a speech and presented question and reservations of the Polish delegation concerning regulations on passengers needing assistance. As a part of the Council meeting participants discussed about the inclusion of the World Customs Organization in the list of organizations that may be invited to attend in suitable ICAO meetings as an observer and the annual report of the Evaluation and Audit Advisory Committee (EAAC) was presented.

On 19 November this year under 200th Session of the ICAO Council, a meeting of 194th Session of the for Air Navigation Commission (ANC) was held. Commission meeting was held with participation of members chosen on November 18. The participants of the meeting discussed, among others issues in the field of accident investigation, including proposed amendments to Annex 6, Part I, II and III relating to the requirements for the carriage of flight recorders.There also were presented the report of the thirteenth meeting of Airworthiness Panel Working Group of the Whole (AIRP/WG/WHL/13). In the field of meteorology, Chairman of the Commission presented the report of the eighth meeting of the World Area Forecast System Operations Group (WAFSOPSG/8). Later the Directives for Panels of the Air Navigation Commission were presented . On November 19 there was also held a meeting of Working Group of Governance and Efficiency (WGGE) with the participation of the Polish Permanent Representative on the ICAO Council, Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska. During the meeting, the work program of the Council and its Committees during the 201th Council Session was presented. The committee phase of Session will be held from 13 to 31 January 2014, while the council phase will be held from 24 February to 13 March 2014.

On November 18 in Montreal, started the 200th Session of the ICAO Council. The 200th Session is attended by Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska - Polish Permanent Representative on the Council. During the first day of the meeting, the Council elected the new President who will replace Mr. Roberto Kobeh González, who held the office continuously since 1 August 2006. The new President - Dr. Benard Olumuyiwa Aliu from Nigeria was elected by acclamation. Dr. Benard Olumuyiwa Aliu will start his new function on 1 January 2014.

Later in the day the members of the Air Navigation Commission (ANC ) were elected. In accordance with Art. 56 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation Air Navigation Commission consists of 19 members elected by the Council from among persons nominated by the Contracting States. Members of the Committee elected by the Council: Adel H. Alaufi , Simon Christopher Molai Allotey , David C. Behrens , Manoel da Costa Araújo Júnior , James Inglis Dow , Mervyn Gerard Fernando, Declan Fitzpatrick , Paul D. Fleming , Oscar Rubén González , Moussa Halidou , Javier Herrero , Alexander Aleksandrovich Korsakov , Rolf Monning , Hyang - gyu Park, Feng Tai , Andrew Herbert Tiede , Samuli Vuokila , Haydar Yalçin , Hajime Yoshimura , Farid Zizi.Members of the Commission are appointed for a three-year term. Persons appointed as members of the Commission shall be entitled to serve in that capacity until the end of the next session of the Assembly at which a new election of Council members takes place and thereafter until the Council appoints their successors or until the Council or the Assembly makes other provision.

From 14 to 15 November 2013 in Gdansk at the Polish Baltic Philharmonic building an international conference "Gdansk International Air & Space Law Conference - Poland on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization” was held. The hosts of the conference were the Civil Aviation Authority and the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency. At the special invitation of the President of the Civil Aviation Authority Mr. Piotr Ołowski the conference was attended by air and space law experts and aviation organizations representatives from around the world, including Mrs. Nancy Graham - Director of the ICAO Air Navigation Bureau, Mr. Catalin Radu - President of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and Mr. Frank Brenner - Director General of EUROCONTROL. Among the participants there were also representatives of the aviation authorities who, during the last elections to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) supported the Polish candidate, making Poland this year for the first time in history a part of the governing council of the most important aviation organization in the world. The conference was also attended by representatives of the aviation industry companies and students interested in the subject of the air and space law. The Conference was opened by the President of the Civil Aviation Authority - Mr. Piotr Ołowski, who stressed the importance of the conference and thanked the speakers and participants for their strong participation in this event important for Polish aviation law and aviation. During the conference opening, Director of the Air Navigation Bureau Ms. Nancy Graham congratulated Poland on the victory in the elections to the Council of ICAO and presented a work plan for the next triennium and identified long-term goals of the Organization.