L 96/10 Official Journal of the European Union 31.3.2004 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) (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)  Member States have restructured, to varying degrees, their national air navigation service providers by increas- ing their level of autonomy and freedom to provide services. It is increasingly necessary to ensure that minimum public-interest requirements are satisfied under this new environment. (2) The report of the High Level Group on the single European sky of November 2000 has confirmed the need for rules at Community level to distinguish between regulation and service provision and to introduce a (1) OJC103E, 30.4.2002, p. 26. (3 OJ C 241, 7.10.2002, p. 24. () O] C278,14.11.2002, p. 13. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 3 September 2002 (O] C 272 E, 13.11.2003, p. 303), Council common position of 18 March 2003 (O] C 129 E, 3.6.2003, p. 16) 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. system of certification aimed at preserving public interest requirements, most notably in terms of safety, and to improve charging mechanisms. (3)  Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parlia- ment and of the Council of 10 March 2004 (the framework Regulation) (°) lays down the framework for the creation of the single European sky. (4) In order to create the single European sky, measures should be adopted to ensure the safe and efficient provision of air navigation services consistent with the organisation and use of airspace as provided for in Regulation (EC) No 551/2004 of the European Parlia- ment and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the organisation and use of the airspace in the single European sky (the airspace Regulation) (°). The establish- ment of a harmonised organisation for the provision of such services is important in order to respond adequately to the demand of airspace users and to regulate air traffic safely and efficiently. (5)  The provision of air traffic services, as envisaged by this Regulation, is connected with the exercise of the powers of a public authority, which are not of an economic nature justifying the application of the Treaty rules of competition. (6) Member States are responsible for monitoring the safe and efficient provision of air navigation services and for the control of compliance by air navigation service providers with the common requirements established at Community level. (7 Member States should be permitted to entrust to recog- nised organisations, which are technically experienced, the verification of compliance of air navigation service providers with the common requirements established at Community level. (®) See page 1 of this Official Journal. (%) See page 20 of this Official Journal.