Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation security and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002^f1 and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,

Whereas:

In accordance with Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 the Commission should adopt detailed measures for the implementation of common basic standards referred to in Article 4(1) and of general measures supplementing common basic standards referred to in Article 4(2) of that Regulation.

If they contain sensitive security measures, these measures should be regarded as EU classified information within the meaning of Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom of 29 November 2001 amending internal rules of procedure^f2, as provided for by Article 18 point (a) of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 and should therefore not be published. These measures should be adopted separately, by means of a Decision addressed to the Member States.

Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 shall apply in full as from the date specified in the implementing rules adopted in accordance with the procedures referred to in Article 4(2) and 4(3) of that Regulation but not later than 29 April 2010. This Regulation should therefore apply as from 29 April 2010 in order to harmonise the application of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 and its implementing acts.

Commission Regulations (EC) No 1217/2003 of 4 July 2003 laying down common specifications for national civil aviation security quality control programmes^f3, (EC) No 1486/2003 of 22 August 2003 laying down procedures for conducting Commission inspections in the field of civil aviation security^f4, (EC) No 1138/2004 of 21 June 2004 establishing a common definition of critical parts of security restricted areas at airports^f5 and (EC) No 820/2008 of 8 August 2008 laying down measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security^f6, which all implemented Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation security^f7 should therefore be repealed.

Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 permits that, notwithstanding the general rule that the Commission shall publish measures that have a direct impact on passengers, certain measures containing aviation security sensitive information may be classified in accordance with Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom of 29 November 2001 amending internal rules of procedure, and not published. These measures should be adopted separately, by means of a Decision addressed to Member States. The part of the Decision which contains security sensitive measures and procedures should not be published and should be made available only to those operators and entities with legitimate interest. Such measures include, in particular, certain detailed procedures and exemptions there from, concerning the way aircrafts, vehicles, persons, baggage, mail and cargo are controlled when entering or within security restricted areas as well as the technical specifications for screening equipment.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Civil Aviation Security set up by Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: