L 96/26 Official Journal of the European Union 31.3.2004 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 the Committee of the Regions (3), 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) (°) and the organisation and use of airspace as provided for in Regulation (EC) (1) OJC103E, 30.4.2002, p. 41. (3) O] C241,7.10.2002, p. 24. () OJC278,14.11.2002, p. 13. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 3 September 2002 (O] C 272 E, 13.11.2003, p. 325), Council Common Position of 18 March 2003 (O] 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. (°) 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) (9). (2)  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. (3)  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. (4)  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. (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. (%) See page 20 of this Official Journal. () O] C 136, 4.6.1985, p. 1. (%) See page 1 of this Official Journal.