On 28 May 2025, the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) convened the 164th meeting of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA/164), a landmark gathering at the iconic Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków. Surrounded by the architectural splendor of the historic city, the meeting was hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Poland and served as a crucial platform for dialogue and cooperation in the European civil aviation sector.

Among the participants were Dr. Christos Tsitouras, Governor of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), and Mrs. Kalliopi Lykou, General Director of Economic Oversight and Administrative Support. They also took part in the Kraków Aviation Summit held over the following two days.

This high-level DGCA/164 meeting gathered over 80 delegates, including Directors General and representatives from 35 ECAC Member States, the European Commission, EASA, and EUROCONTROL. The discussions centered on key priorities such as aviation safety, environmental sustainability, operational efficiency, regulatory coherence across European airspace, and strategic planning ahead of the 42nd ICAO Assembly.

For decades, ECAC has played a pivotal role in harmonizing civil aviation policies and building bridges between Europe and other global regions. Its mission — to foster a safe, efficient, and sustainable European air transport system — continues to gain importance in an increasingly complex global landscape.

Under the banner “Safe, Clean and Competitive European Aviation,” Kraków became Europe’s aviation capital for two days during the Kraków Aviation Summit on 29–30 May 2025. Held under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the summit was organized by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Infrastructure. It served as a strategic forum for dialogue among politicians, regulators, and aviation experts to shape a shared vision for the future of European aviation. The summit addressed pressing climate, technological, and geopolitical challenges, emphasizing the importance of maintaining competitiveness and ensuring airspace safety. On 29–30 May 2025, Kraków hosted delegations from the most important EU aviation supervisory institutions and heads of civil aviation supervisory authorities from EU member states and partner countries. Also in attendance were members of the European Parliament, representatives of Polish and foreign airports and airlines, as well as industry, including industry organizations, and research institutes.