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 on 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:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 272/2009^f2 supplements the common basic standards on civil aviation security laid down in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 300/2008.

Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 charges the Commission with the recognition of the equivalence of security standards of third countries, in accordance with the criteria set out in Part E of the Annex to that Regulation.

The Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998^f3 lists the third countries recognised as applying security standards equivalent to the common basic standards.

The Commission has verified that the Republic of Serbia, in regard to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, satisfies the criteria set out in Part E of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 272/2009.

The Commission has verified that the State of Israel, in regard to Ben Gurion International Airport, satisfies the criteria set out in Part E of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 272/2009, with regard to aircraft security and screening of passengers and cabin baggage.

Detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards referred to in Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 include procedures for approval and use of civil aviation security equipment.

Steps taken to ensure that civil aviation security equipment meets the required performance standards should be harmonised to ensure the best implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security.

The Commission acknowledges the common evaluation process of the European Civil Aviation Conference as a mandatory pre-condition for the approval of civil aviation security equipment. Security equipment that has undergone that process should therefore benefit from an EU approval scheme consisting of a visual stamp marking and its entry into a consolidated Union database allowing for the immediate deployment of civil aviation security equipment throughout the Union.

As the final approval of civil aviation equipment will be granted by adopting a legal act, the installation and use of such security equipment should be legally allowed under a pending status until the final approval.

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: