The workshop on “Security and Facilitation – Border Security” took place in Lomé on 10 and 11 May 2023, jointly organised by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), as the implementing body of the European Union-funded CASE II Project, the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO).
The workshop was opened by the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Togo, the Ambassador of the European Union to Togo, the representatives of ACAO, AFCAC and ECAC as the co-organisers, and the Togolese Minister for Road, Air, and Rail Transport.
All acknowledged the importance of this initiative and highlighted the good partnership and excellent coordination between the different stakeholders in strengthening civil aviation.
More than 60 participants from 40 African and Middle Eastern States, international organisations, and industry stakeholders exchanged information and best practices on aviation security and facilitation during the workshop, which was animated by 15 experts drawn from Partner States, ECAC Member States, the industry and international organisations.
The main objectives of this workshop were to promote a common understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders involved in passenger data exchange and border security, such as airlines, airports, immigration authorities, and law enforcement agencies; to facilitate the exchange of information and experiences among participants, and to promote networking and knowledge-sharing in the field of aviation security and facilitation.
Among the topics discussed were:
- Emerging Security Threats and Challenges
- Passenger Data Systems
- The Database of Stolen and Lost Travel Documents
- Border Control Tools and Systems
- Capacity building and training programmes
- Regional and International Cooperation
At the closing ceremony, Col. Dokissime Gnama Latta, Director General of Togo Civil Aviation Authority gave his remarks and thanked all the organising parties for their work in bringing together aviation security and border control experts and professionals from throughout Africa and the Middle East, recognising the role played by the European Union in funding the workshop