Regulation (EC) No 552/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network (the interoperability Regulation) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-03-10
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: air space, air traffic, common transport policy, organisation of transport, trans-European network

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REGULATION (EC) No 552/2004 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 10 March 2004

on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network

(the interoperability Regulation)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity, and in particular Article 80(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (2),

Having regard to the opinion of
Regions (3),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 251 of the Treaty (4), in the light of the joint text
approved by the Conciliation Committee on 11 December
2003,

Whereas:

(1)

In order to create the Single European Sky, measures
should be adopted in relation to systems, constituents
and associated procedures with the objective of ensuring
the interoperability of the European air traffic manage-
ment network (EATMN) consistent with the provision
of air navigation services as provided for in Regulation
(EC) No 550/2004 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 10 March 2004 on the provision of air
navigation services in the Single European Sky (the
service provision Regulation) (5) and the organisation
and use of airspace as provided for in Regulation (EC)

(1) OJ C 103 E, 30.4.2002, p. 41.
(2) OJ C 241, 7.10.2002, p. 24.
(3) OJ C 278, 14.11.2002, p. 13.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 3 September 2002 (OJ
C 272 E, 13.11.2003, p. 325), Council Common Position of
18 March 2003 (OJ C 129 E, 3.6.2003, p. 26) and position of the
European Parliament of 3 July 2003 (not yet published in the
Official Journal). Legislative resolution of the European Parliament
of 29 January 2004 and Decision of the Council of 2 February
2004.

(5) See page 10 of this Official Journal.

No 551/2004 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 10 March 2003 on the organisation and use
of the airspace in the Single European Sky (the airspace
Regulation) (6).

The report of the High Level Group on the Single
European Sky has confirmed the need to establish
technical regulation on the basis of the ‘new approach’
in accordance with the Council resolution of 7 May
1985 on a new approach to technical harmonisation
and standards (7) where essential requirements, rules and
standards are complementary and consistent.

Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parlia-
ment and of
the Council of 10 March 2004 (the
framework Regulation) (8) lays down the framework for
the creation of the Single European Sky.

The report of the High Level Group has confirmed that
even though progress has been achieved during the last
few years towards seamless operation of the EATMN,
the situation still remains unsatisfactory, with a low level
of integration between national air traffic management
systems and a slow pace in the introduction of new
concepts of operation and technology necessary to
deliver the additional required capacity.

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Enhancing the level of integration at Community level
would result in better efficiency and lower costs for
system procurement and maintenance and in improved
operational coordination.

(6) See page 20 of this Official Journal.
(7) OJ C 136, 4.6.1985, p. 1.
(8) See page 1 of this Official Journal.

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(6)

(7)

The predominance of national technical specifications
used in procurement has led to fragmentation of the
systems market and does not facilitate industrial cooper-
ation at Community level; as a result,
industry is
particularly affected since it needs to considerably adapt
its products for each national market; these practices
render development and implementation of new tech-
nology unnecessarily difficult and slow down the intro-
duction of new operational concepts that are required
to increase capacity.

It is therefore in the interest of all those involved in
air traffic management to develop a new partnership
approach allowing the balanced involvement of all
parties and stimulating creativity and the sharing of
knowledge, experience and risks; such partnership
should aim at defining, in cooperation with industry, a
coherent set of Community specifications that can fulfil
the widest possible range of needs.

(8)

The internal market is a Community objective and
therefore measures taken under this Regulation should
contribute to its progressive development in this sector.

(9)

It is therefore appropriate to define essential require-
ments which should apply to the European air traffic
management network,
its systems, constituents and
associated procedures.

(10)

Implementing rules for interoperability should be drawn
up for systems whenever necessary to complement or
further refine the essential requirements; those rules
should also be drawn up where necessary to facilitate the
coordinated introduction of new, agreed and validated
concepts of operation or technologies; compliance with
those rules should be permanently maintained; those
rules should rely on rules and standards developed
by international organisations such as Eurocontrol or
ICAO.

(11) The development and adoption of Community specifi-
cations concerning EATMN, its systems and constituents
and associated procedures is an appropriate means
of defining the technical and operational conditions
necessary to meet the essential requirements and relevant
implementing rules for interoperability; compliance with

published Community specifications, which remains
voluntary, creates a presumption of conformity with the
essential requirements and the relevant implementing
rules for interoperability.

(12) Community specifications should be established by the
European standardisation bodies in conjunction with
the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment
(Eurocae) and by Eurocontrol, in accordance with general
Community standardisation procedures.

(13) The procedures governing the assessment of conformity
or suitability for use of constituents should be based on
the use of the modules covered by Council Decision 93/
465/EEC of 22 July 1993 concerning the modules
for the various phases of the conformity assessment
procedures and the rules for the affixing and use of the
CE conformity marking, which are intended to be used
in the technical harmonisation directives (1); as far as
necessary, these modules should be expanded to cover
specific requirements of the industries concerned.

(14) The market concerned is of small size and consists of
systems and constituents used almost exclusively for air
traffic management purposes and not intended for the
general public; it would be therefore excessive to affix
the CE mark to constituents as, on the basis of the
assessment of conformity and/or suitability for use, the
manufacturer’s declaration of conformity is sufficient;
that should not affect the obligation on manufacturers
to affix the CE mark to certain constituents in order
to certify their compliance with other Community
legislation relating to them.

the

(15) The putting into service of air traffic management
systems should be subject to verification of compliance
relevant
with
implementing rules for interoperability; use of Com-
munity specifications creates a presumption of conform-
ity with the
requirements and relevant
essential
implementing rules for interoperability.

requirements

essential

and

(16) The full application of

this Regulation should be
accomplished by means of a transitional strategy de-
signed to attain the objectives of this Regulation while
not creating unjustified cost-benefit barriers to preser-
vation of the existing infrastructure.

(1) OJ L 220, 30.8.1993, p. 23.

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(17) Within the framework of

the relevant Community
legislation, due account should be taken of the need to
ensure:

remains in force unchanged. The adoption under this
Regulation of the implementing rules corresponding to
such provisions will necessitate a certain amount of
time,

— harmonised conditions with regard to the avail-
ability and efficient use of radio spectrum necessary
for the implementation of the Single European Sky,
including electromagnetic compatibility aspects,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

— protection of the safety-of-life services from harm-

ful interference,

— efficient andappropriate use of frequencies allo-
cated to and managed exclusively by the aviation
sector.

(18) Council Directive 93/65/EEC of 19 July 1993 on the
definition and use of compatible technical specifications
for the procurement of air traffic management equip-
ment and systems (1) is limited to obligations of awarding
entities; this Regulation is more comprehensive in that
it addresses obligations of all actors,
including air
navigation service providers, airspace users, industry and
airports, and provides both for rules applicable to all
and for the adoption of Community specifications
which, while being voluntary, creates a presumption of
conformity with the essential requirements. Therefore,
Directive 93/65/EEC, Commission Directive 97/15/EC
of 25 March 1997 adopting Eurocontrol standards and
amending Council Directive 93/65/EEC on the definition
and use of compatible technical specifications for the
procurement of air-traffic-management equipment and
systems (2) and Commission Regulations (EC) No 2082/
2000 of 6 September 2000 adopting Eurocontrol stan-
dards and amending Directive 97/15/EC (3) and (EC)
No 980/2002 of 4 June 2002 amending Regulation (EC)
No 2082/2000 should be repealed after a transitional
period.

(19)

For reasons of legal certainty it is important to ensure
that the substance of certain provisions of Community
legislation adopted on the basis of Directive 93/65/EEC

(1) OJ L 187, 29.7.1993, p. 52. Directive as last amended by
Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and
of the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 95, 10.4.1997, p. 16. Directive as last amended by Regulation

(EC) No 2082/2000 (OJ L 254, 9.10.2000, p. 1).

(3) OJ L 254, 9.10.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by

Regulation (EC) No 980/2002 (OJ L 150, 8.6.2002, p. 38).

CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Objective and scope

1. Within the scope of the framework Regulation, this
Regulation concerns the interoperability of the EATMN.

This Regulation shall apply to the systems, their constitu-

2.
ents and associated procedures identified in Annex I.

3.
The objective of this Regulation is to achieve interop-
erability between the different systems, constituents and
associated procedures of the EATMN, taking due account of
the relevant international rules. This Regulation aims also at
ensuring the coordinated and rapid introduction of new agreed
and validated concepts of operations or technology in air
traffic management.

CHAPTER II

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS, IMPLEMENTING RULES FOR
INTEROPERABILITY AND COMMUNITY SPECIFICATIONS

Article 2

Essential requirements

The EATMN, its systems and their constituents and associated
procedures shall meet essential requirements. The essential
requirements are set out in Annex II.

Article 3

Implementing rules for interoperability

1.
Implementing rules for interoperability shall be drawn
up whenever necessary to achieve in a coherent way the
objectives of this Regulation.

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Systems, constituents and associated procedures shall
2.
comply with the relevant implementing rules for interopera-
bility throughout their lifecycle.

Implementing rules for interoperability shall

3.
ticular:

in par-

(a)

determine any specific requirements that complement or
refine the essential requirements, in particular in terms of
safety, seamless operation and performance; and/or

(b) describe, where appropriate, any specific requirements
that complement or refine the essential requirements, in
particular regarding the coordinated introduction of
new, agreed and validated concepts of operation or
technologies; and/or

(c)

determine the constituents when dealing with systems;
and/or

(d) describe the specific conformity assessment procedures
involving, where appropriate, notified bodies as referred
to in Article 8, based on the modules defined in Decision
93/465/EEC to be used to assess either the conformity or
the suitability for use of constituents as well as the
verification of systems; and/or

(e)

specify the conditions of
implementation including,
where appropriate, the date by which all relevant stake-
holders are required to comply with them.

The preparation, adoption and review of implementing
4.
rules for interoperability shall take into account the estimated
costs and benefits of technical solutions by means of which
they may be complied with, with a view to defining the most
viable solution, having due regard to the maintenance of an
agreed high level of safety. An assessment of the costs and
benefits of those solutions for all stakeholders concerned shall
be attached to each draft implementing rule for interopera-
bility.

5.
Implementing rules for interoperability shall be estab-
lished in accordance with the procedure under Article 8 of the
framework Regulation.

Article 4

Community specifications

In pursuit of the objective of this Regulation, Community
1.
specifications may be established. Such specifications may be:

standardisation bodies in cooperation with Eurocae, on a
mandate from the Commission in accordance with
Article 6(4) of Directive 98/34/EC of
the European
Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying
down a procedure for the provision of information in
the field of technical standards and regulations (1) and
pursuant
to the general guidelines on cooperation
between the Commission and the standardisation bodies
signed on 13 November 1984;

or

(b)

specifications drawn up by Eurocontrol on matters of
operational coordination between air navigation service
providers, in response to a request from the Commission
in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 5(2) of the framework Regulation.

2.
Compliance with the essential requirements and/or the
implementing rules for interoperability shall be presumed
together with the associated procedures, or
for systems,
constituents that meet the relevant Community specifications
and whose reference numbers have been published in the
Official Journal of the European Union.

3.
The Commission shall publish the references to the
European standards referred to in paragraph 1(a) in the Official
Journal of the European Union.

4.
The references to Eurocontrol specifications referred to
in paragraph 1(b), shall be published by the Commission in
the Official Journal of the European Union in accordance with the
procedure referred to in Article 5(2) of
the framework
Regulation.

5. Where a Member State or the Commission considers
that conformity with a published Community specification
does not ensure compliance with the essential requirements
and/or implementing rules for interoperability which the said
Community specification is intended to cover, the procedure
referred to in Article 5(2) of the framework Regulation shall
apply.

6.
In the case of shortcomings of published European
standards, partial or total withdrawal of the standards con-
cerned from the publications containing them, or amendments
thereto, may be decided upon in accordance with the pro-
cedure referred to in Article 5(2) of the framework Regulation
after consultation of the committee set up under Article 5 of
Directive 98/34/EC.

(a)

European standards for systems or constituents, together
with the relevant procedures, drawn up by the European

(1) OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 37. Directive as last amended by Directive

98/48/EC (OJ L 217, 5.8.1998, p. 18).

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In the case of shortcomings of published Eurocontrol
7.
specifications, partial or total withdrawal of the specifications
concerned from the publications containing them, or amend-
ment thereof, may be decided upon in accordance with the
the framework
procedure referred to in Article 5(2) of
Regulation.

CHAPTER III

VERIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

Article 5

The elements of this declaration and of the technical file are
set out in Annex IV. The national supervisory authority may
require any additional information necessary to supervise such
compliance.

The relevant

3.
implementing rules for interoperability
shall identify, where appropriate, the tasks pertaining to the
verification of systems to be carried out by the notified bodies
as referred to in Article 8.

4.
The EC declaration of verification shall be without
prejudice to any assessments that the national supervisory
authority may need to carry out on grounds other than
interoperability.

EC declaration of conformity or suitability for use of
constituents

1.
Constituents shall be accompanied by an EC declaration
of conformity or suitability for use. The elements of this
declaration are set out in Annex III.

Article 7

Safeguards

1. Where the national supervisory authority ascertains that:

2.
The manufacturer, or its authorised representative estab-
lished in the Community, shall ensure and declare, by means
of the EC declaration of conformity or suitability for use, that
he has applied the provisions laid down in the essential
requirements and in the relevant implementing rules for
interoperability.

(a)

(b)

a constituent accompanied by an EC declaration of
conformity or suitability for use, or

a system accompanied by the EC declaration of verifi-
cation,

3.
Compliance with the essential requirements and the
relevant implementing rules for interoperability shall be pre-
sumed in relation to those constituents that are accompanied
by the EC declaration of conformity or suitability for use.

The relevant

implementing rules for interoperability
4.
shall identify, where appropriate, the tasks pertaining to the
assessment of conformity or suitability for use of constituents
to be carried out by the notified bodies referred to in Article 8.

Article 6

does not comply with the essential requirements and/or
relevant implementing rules for interoperability, it shall, with
due regard to the need to ensure safety and continuity of
operations, take all measures necessary to restrict the area of
application of the constituent or the system concerned or to
prohibit its use by the entities under the responsibility of the
authority.

2.
The Member State concerned shall immediately inform
the Commission of any such measures, indicating its reasons
and, in particular, whether in its opinion non-compliance with
the essential requirements is due to:

EC declaration of verification of systems

(a)

failure to meet the essential requirements;

1.
Systems shall be subject to an EC verification by the air
navigation service provider in accordance with the relevant
implementing rules for interoperability, in order to ensure that
they meet the essential requirements of this Regulation and
the implementing rules for interoperability, when integrated
into the EATMN.

(b)

(c)

incorrect application of
interoperability and/or Community specifications;

the implementing rules for

shortcomings in the implementing rules for interopera-
bility and/or Community specifications.

2.
Before a system is put into service, the relevant air
navigation service provider shall establish an EC declaration of
verification, confirming compliance, and shall submit it to the
national supervisory authority together with a technical file.

As soon as possible, the Commission shall consult the
3.
parties concerned. After such consultation, the Commission
shall inform the Member State of its findings and of its opinion
as to whether the measures taken by the national supervisory
authority are justified.

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4. Where the Commission establishes that the measures
taken by the national supervisory authority are not justified, it
shall request the Member State concerned to ensure that they
are withdrawn without delay. It shall forthwith so inform the
manufacturer or its authorised representative established in
the Community.

5. Where the Commission establishes that non-compliance
with the essential requirements is due to incorrect application
of the implementing rules for interoperability and/or the
Community specifications, the Member State concerned shall
take appropriate measures against the originator of the declar-
ation of conformity or suitability for use or the EC declaration
of verification and shall inform the Commission and the other
Member States thereof.

CHAPTER IV

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 9

Revision of Annexes

In case of any technical or operational developments, adjust-
ments may be made to Annexes I and II in accordance with
the procedure referred to in Article 5(3) of the framework
Regulation.

6. Where the Commission establishes that non-compliance
with the essential requirements is due to shortcomings in the
Community specifications,
the procedures referred to in
Article 4(6) or (7) shall apply.

Article 10

Transitional arrangements

Article 8

Notified bodies

1. Member States shall notify the Commission and the
other Member States of the bodies they have appointed to
carry out tasks pertaining to the assessment of conformity or
suitability for use referred to in Article 5, and/or the verification
referred to in Article 6,
indicating each body’s area of
responsibility and its identification number obtained from the
Commission. The Commission shall publish in the Official
Journal of the European Union the list of bodies, their identifi-
cation numbers and areas of responsibility, and shall keep the
list updated.

2. Member States shall apply the criteria provided for in
Annex V for the assessment of the bodies to be notified. Bodies
meeting the assessment criteria provided for in the relevant
European standards shall be deemed to meet the said criteria.

3. Member States shall withdraw notification of a notified
body which no longer meets the criteria provided for in
Annex V. It shall forthwith inform the Commission and the
other Member States thereof.

1.
Starting from 20 October 2005, the essential require-
ments shall apply to the putting into service of systems and
constituents of the EATMN, if not otherwise specified by the
relevant implementing rules for interoperability.

2.
Compliance with the essential requirements shall be
required for all systems and constituents of the EATMN
currently in operation by 20 April 2011, if not otherwise
specified by the relevant implementing rules for interoperabi-
lity.

3. Where systems of the EATMN have been ordered or
binding contracts to that effect have been signed

— before the date of entry into force of this Regulation, or,

where appropriate,

— before the date of entry into force of one or more relevant

implementing rules for interoperability,

so that compliance with the essential requirements and/or the
relevant implementing rules for interoperability cannot be
guaranteed within the time limit mentioned in paragraph 1,
the Member State concerned shall communicate to the Com-
mission detailed information on the essential requirements
and/or implementing rules for interoperability where uncer-
tainty of compliance has been identified.

4. Without prejudice to the requirements referred to in
paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, Member States may decide to appoint
organisations recognised in conformity with Article 3 of the
service provision Regulation as notified bodies.

The Commission shall enter into consultation with the parties
concerned, after which it shall take a decision in accordance
with the procedure referred to in Article 5(3) of the framework
Regulation.

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Article 11

Repeal

Article 12

Entry into force

Directives 93/65/EEC and 97/15/EC and Regulations (EC)
Nos 2082/2000 and 980/2002 shall be repealed on
20 October 2005.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day
following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Strasbourg, 10 March 2004.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. COX

For the Council

The President

D. ROCHE

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ANNEX I

LIST OF SYSTEMS FOR AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES

For the purpose of this Regulation the EATMN is subdivided into eight systems.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Systems and procedures for airspace management.

Systems and procedures for air traffic flow management.

Systems and procedures for air traffic services, in particular flight data processing systems, surveillance data
processing systems and human-machine interface systems.

Communications systems and procedures for ground-to-ground, air-to-ground and air-to-air communications.

Navigation systems and procedures.

Surveillance systems and procedures.

Systems and procedures for aeronautical information services.

Systems and procedures for the use of meteorological information.

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ANNEX II

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Part A: General requirements

These are network-wide requirements that are generally applicable to each one of the systems identified in Annex I.

1. Seamless operation

Air traffic management systems and their constituents shall be designed, built, maintained and operated using
the appropriate and validated procedures, in such a way as to ensure the seamless operation of the EATMN at all
times and for all phases of flight. Seamless operation can be expressed, in particular, in terms of information-
sharing,
information,
comparable processing performances and the associated procedures enabling common operational performances
agreed for the whole or parts of the EATMN.

including the relevant operational status information, common understanding of

2. Support for new concepts of operation

The EATMN, its systems and their constituents shall support, on a coordinated basis, new agreed and validated
concepts of operation that improve the quality and effectiveness of air navigation services, in particular in terms
of safety and capacity.

The potential of new concepts, such as collaborative decision-making, increasing automation and alternative
methods of delegation of separation responsibility, shall be examined taking due account of technological
developments and of their safe implementation, following validation.

3. Safety

Systems and operations of the EATMN shall achieve agreed high levels of safety. Agreed safety management and
reporting methodologies shall be established to achieve this.

In respect of appropriate ground-based systems, or parts thereof, these high levels of safety shall be enhanced by
safety nets which shall be subject to agreed common performance characteristics.

A harmonised set of safety requirements for the design, implementation, maintenance and operation of systems
and their constituents, both for normal and degraded modes of operation, shall be defined with a view to
achieving the agreed safety levels, for all phases of flight and for the entire EATMN.

Systems shall be designed, built, maintained and operated, using the appropriate and validated procedures, in
such a way that the tasks assigned to the control staff are compatible with human capabilities, in both the
normal and degraded modes of operation, and are consistent with required safety levels.

Systems shall be designed, built, maintained and operated using the appropriate and validated procedures, in
such a way as to be free from harmful interference in their normal operational environment.

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4. Civil-military coordination

The EATMN, its systems and their constituents shall support the progressive implementation of civil/military
coordination, to the extent necessary for effective airspace and air traffic flow management, and the safe and
efficient use of airspace by all users, through the application of the concept of the flexible use of airspace.

To achieve these objectives, the EATMN, its systems and their constituents shall support the timely sharing of
correct and consistent information covering all phases of flight, between civil and military parties.

Account should be taken of national security requirements.

5. Environmental constraints

Systems and operations of the EATMN shall take into account the need to minimise environmental impact in
accordance with Community legislation.

6. Principles governing the logical architecture of systems

Systems shall be designed and progressively integrated with the objective of achieving a coherent and increasingly
harmonised, evolutionary and validated logical architecture within the EATMN.

7. Principles governing the construction of systems

Systems shall be designed, built and maintained on the grounds of sound engineering principles, in particular
those relating to modularity, enabling interchangeability of constituents, high availability, and redundancy and
fault tolerance of critical constituents.

Part B:

Specific requirements

These are the requirements that are specific to each one of the systems and that complement or further refine the
general requirements.

1.

Systems and procedures for airspace management

1.1.

Seamless operation

Information relating to pre-tactical and tactical aspects of airspace availability shall be provided to all
interested parties in a correct and timely way so as to ensure an efficient allocation and use of airspace by all
airspace users. This should take into account national security requirements.

2.

Systems and procedures for air traffic flow management

2.1.

Seamless operation

Systems and procedures for air traffic flow management shall support the sharing of correct, coherent and
relevant strategic, pre-tactical and tactical, as applicable, flight information covering all phases of flight and
offer dialogue capabilities with a view to achieving optimised use of airspace.

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3.

Systems and procedures for air traffic services

3.1.

Flight data processing systems

3.1.1. Seamless operation

Flight data processing systems shall be interoperable in terms of the timely sharing of correct and consistent
information, and a common operational understanding of that information, in order to ensure a coherent
and consistent planning process and resource-efficient tactical coordination throughout the EATMN during
all phases of flight.

In order to ensure safe, smooth and expeditious processing throughout the EATMN, flight data processing
performances shall be equivalent and appropriate for a given environment (surface, terminal manoeuvring
area (TMA), en-route), with known traffic characteristics and exploited under an agreed and validated
operational concept, in particular in terms of accuracy and error tolerance of processing results.

3.1.2. Support for new concepts of operation

Flight data processing systems shall accommodate the progressive implementation of advanced, agreed and
validated concepts of operation for all phases of flight.

The characteristics of automation-intensive tools must be such as to enable coherent and efficient pre-tactical
and tactical processing of flight information in parts of the EATMN.

Airborne and ground systems and their constituents supporting new, agreed and validated concepts of
operation shall be designed, built, maintained and operated, using appropriate and validated procedures, in
such a way as to be interoperable in terms of timely sharing of correct and consistent information and a
common understanding of the current and predicted operational situation.

3.2.

Surveillance data processing systems

3.2.1. Seamless operation

Surveillance data processing systems shall be designed, built, maintained and operated using the appropriate
and validated procedures, in such a way as to provide the required performance and quality of service within
a given environment (surface, TMA, en-route) with known traffic characteristics, in particular in terms of
accuracy and reliability of computed results, correctness, integrity, availability, continuity and timeliness of
information at the control position.

Surveillance data processing systems shall accommodate the timely sharing of relevant, accurate, consistent
and coherent information between them to ensure optimised operations through different parts of the
EATMN.

3.2.2. Support for new concepts of operation

Surveillance data processing systems shall accommodate the progressive availability of new sources of
surveillance information in such a way as to improve the overall quality of service.

3.3.

Human-machine interface systems

3.3.1. Seamless operation

Human-machine interfaces of ground air traffic management systems shall be designed, built, maintained and
operated using the appropriate and validated procedures, in such a way as to offer to all control staff a
progressively harmonised working environment, including functions and ergonomics, meeting the required
performance for a given environment (surface, TMA, en-route), with known traffic characteristics.

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3.3.2. Support for new concepts of operation

Human-machine interface systems shall accommodate the progressive introduction of new, agreed and
validated concepts of operation and increased automation, in such a way as to ensure that the tasks assigned
to the control staff remain compatible with human capabilities, in both the normal and degraded modes of
operation.

4.

Communications systems and procedures for ground-to-ground, air-to-ground and air-to-air communications

4.1.

Seamless operation

Communication systems shall be designed, built, maintained and operated using the appropriate and validated
procedures, in such a way as to achieve the required performances within a given volume of airspace or for a
specific application, in particular in terms of communication processing time, integrity, availability and
continuity of function.

The communications network within the EATMN shall be such as to meet the requirements of quality of
service, coverage and redundancy.

4.2.

Support for new concepts of operation

Communication systems shall support the implementation of advanced, agreed and validated concepts of
operation for all phases of flight.

5.

Navigation systems and procedures

5.1.

Seamless operation

Navigation systems shall be designed, built, maintained and operated using appropriate and validated
procedures in such a way as to achieve the required horizontal and vertical navigation performance, in
particular in terms of accuracy and functional capability, for a given environment (surface, TMA, en-route),
with known traffic characteristics and exploited under an agreed and validated operational concept.

6.

Surveillance systems and procedures

6.1.

Seamless operation

Surveillance systems shall be designed, built, maintained and operated using appropriate and validated
procedures in such a way as to provide the required performance applicable in a given environment (surface,
TMA, en-route) with known traffic characteristics and exploited under an agreed and validated operational
concept, in particular in terms of accuracy, coverage, range and quality of service.

The surveillance network within the EATMN shall be such as to meet the requirements of accuracy, timeliness,
coverage and redundancy. The surveillance network shall enable surveillance data to be shared in order to
enhance operations throughout the EATMN.

7.

Systems and procedures for aeronautical information services

7.1.

Seamless operation

Accurate, timely and consistent aeronautical information shall be provided progressively in an electronic
form, based on a commonly agreed and standardised data set.

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Accurate and consistent aeronautical
constituents or systems, shall be made available in a timely manner.

information,

in particular concerning airborne and ground-based

7.2.

Support for new concepts of operation

Increasingly accurate, complete and up-to-date aeronautical information shall be made available and used in
a timely manner in order to support continuous improvement of the efficiency of airspace and airport use.

8.

Systems and procedures for the use of meteorological information

8.1.

Seamless operation

Systems and procedures for the use of meteorological information shall
timeliness of its provision and the quality of its presentation, using an agreed data set.

improve the consistency and

8.2.

Support for new concepts of operation

Systems and procedures for the use of meteorological information shall improve the promptness of its
availability and the speed with which it may be used, in order to support continuous improvement of the
efficiency of airspace and airport use.

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ANNEX III

CONSTITUENTS

EC declaration

— of conformity

— of suitability for use

1.

Constituents

The constituents will be identified in the implementing rules for interoperability in accordance with the
provisions of Article 3 of this Regulation.

2.

Scope

The EC declaration covers:

— either the assessment of the intrinsic conformity of a constituent, considered in isolation, with the

Community specifications to be met, or

— the assessment/judgment of the suitability for use of a constituent, considered within its air traffic

management environment.

The assessment procedures implemented by the notified bodies at the design and production stages will draw
upon the modules defined in Decision 93/465/EEC, in accordance with the conditions set out in the relevant
implementing rules for interoperability.

3.

Contents of the EC declaration

The EC declaration of conformity or suitability for use and the accompanying documents must be dated and
signed.

That declaration must be written in the same language as the instructions and must contain the following:

— the Regulation references,

— the name and address of the manufacturer or its authorised representative established within the
Community (give trade name and full address and, in the case of the authorised representative, also give
the trade name of the manufacturer),

— description of the constituent,

— description of the procedure followed in order to declare conformity or suitability for use (Article 5 of

this Regulation),

— all of the relevant provisions met by the constituent and in particular its conditions of use,

— if applicable, name and address of notified body or bodies involved in the procedure followed in respect
of conformity or suitability for use and date of examination certificate together, where appropriate, with
the duration and conditions of validity of the certificate,

— where appropriate, reference to the Community specifications followed,

— identification of signatory empowered to enter into commitments on behalf of the manufacturer or of

the manufacturer’s authorised representative established in the Community.

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ANNEX IV

SYSTEMS

EC declaration of verification of systems

Verification procedure for systems

1.

Contents of EC declaration of verification of systems

The EC declaration of verification and the accompanying documents must be dated and signed. That declaration
must be written in the same language as the technical file and must contain the following:

— the Regulation references,

— name and address of the air navigation service provider (trade name and full address),

— a brief description of the system,

— description of the procedure followed in order to declare conformity of the system (Article 6 of this

Regulation),

— name and address of the notified body which carried out tasks pertaining to the verification procedure, if

applicable,

— the references of the documents contained in the technical file,

— where appropriate, reference to the Community specifications,

— all the relevant temporary or definitive provisions to be complied with by the systems and in particular,

where appropriate, any operating restrictions or conditions,

— if temporary: duration of validity of the EC declaration,

— identification of the signatory.

2.

Verification procedure for systems

Verification of systems is the procedure whereby an air navigation service provider checks and certifies that a
system complies with this Regulation and may be put into operation on the basis of this Regulation.

The system is checked for each of the following aspects:

— overall design,

— development and integration of the system, including in particular constituent assembly and overall

adjustments,

— operational system integration,

— specific system maintenance provisions if applicable.

Where involvement of a notified body is required by the relevant implementing rule for interoperability, the
notified body, after having carried out the tasks incumbent upon it in accordance with the rule, draws up a
certificate of conformity in relation to the tasks it carried out. This certificate is intended for the air navigation
service provider. This provider then draws up the EC declaration of verification intended for the national
supervisory authority.

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3.

Technical file

The technical file accompanying the EC declaration of verification must contain all the necessary documents
relating to the characteristics of the system, including conditions and limits of use, as well as the documents
certifying conformity of constituents where appropriate.

The following documents shall be included as a minimum:

— indication of the relevant parts of the technical specifications used for procurement that ensure compliance
with the applicable implementing rules for interoperability and, where appropriate, the Community
specifications,

— list of constituents as referred to in Article 3 of this Regulation,

— copies of the EC declaration of conformity or suitability for use with which the above mentioned
constituents must be provided in accordance with Article 5 of this Regulation accompanied, where
appropriate, by a copy of the records of the tests and examinations carried out by the notified bodies,

— where a notified body has been involved in the verification of the system(s), a certificate countersigned by
itself, stating that the system complies with this Regulation and mentioning any reservations recorded
during performance of activities and not withdrawn,

— where there has not been involvement of a notified body, a record of the tests and installation
configurations made with a view to ensuring compliance with essential requirements and any particular
requirements contained in the relevant implementing rules for interoperability.

4.

Submission

The technical file must be attached to the EC declaration of verification which the air navigation service
provider submits to the national supervisory authority.

A copy of the technical file must be kept by the provider throughout the service life of the system. It must be
sent to any other Member States which so request.

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ANNEX V

NOTIFIED BODIES

1.

2.

3.

The body, its Director and the staff responsible for carrying out the checks may not become involved, either
directly or as authorised representatives,
in the design, manufacture, marketing or maintenance of the
constituents or systems or in their use. This does not exclude the possibility of an exchange of technical
information between the manufacturer or constructor and that body.

The body and the staff responsible for the checks must carry out the checks with the greatest possible
professional integrity and the greatest possible technical competence and must be free of any pressure and
incentive, in particular of a financial type, which could affect their judgment or the results of their inspection,
in particular from persons or groups of persons affected by the results of the checks.

The body must employ staff and possess the means required to perform adequately the technical and
administrative tasks linked with the checks; it should also have access to the equipment needed for exceptional
checks.

4.

The staff responsible for inspection must have:

— sound technical and vocational training,

— satisfactory knowledge of the requirements of the inspections they carry out and adequate experience of

such operations,

— the ability required to draw up the declarations, records and reports to demonstrate that the inspections

have been carried out.

5.

6.

7.

The impartiality of the inspection staff must be guaranteed. Their remuneration must not depend on the
number of inspections carried out or on the results of such inspections.

The body must take out liability insurance unless its liability is assumed by the Member State in accordance
with national law, or the Member State itself is directly responsible for the inspections.

The staff of the body must observe professional secrecy with regard to all information acquired in carrying out
their tasks under this Regulation.