PURPOSE : to achieve interoperability within Community territory between the different systems and constituents of the air traffic management network, and make use of the possibilities offered by new technologies.
LEGISLATIVE ACT : Regulation 552/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network ("the interoperability Regulation").
CONTENT : the Council adopted, by written procedure, the package of four Regulations aimed at creating a "Single European Sky" in accordance with the joint text agreed by the Conciliation Committee, introducing common rules on the use of airspace throughout the Community in order to reduce air delays and airspace congestion.
The "Single European Sky" package contains a framework Regulation and three implementing Regulations covering air navigation service provision, organisation and use of airspace and interoperability within the European air transport management network. These legislative proposals aims, in particular, at improving and reinforcing safety, and at restructuring airspace as a function of traffic flow rather than according to national boundaries.
The interoperability Regulation has a double objective. It aims to achieve interoperability between the different systems, constituents and associated procedures of the European air traffic management network, and to promote the introduction of new agreed and validated concepts of operations and technology in air traffic management. An agreement was reached on the date of the transitional arrangements for putting into service the systems and constituents of the European Air Traffic Management Network.
ENTRY INTO FORCE : 01/04/2004.�