L 300/34 Official Journal of the European Union 14.11.2009 REGULATION (EC) No 1070/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 October 2009 amending Regulations (EC) No 549/2004, (EC) No 550/2004, (EC) No 551/2004 and (EC) No 552/2004 in order to improve the performance and sustainability of the European aviation system (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO- PEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 80(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (?), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (?), Whereas: (1) Implementation of the common transport policy requires an efficient air transport system allowing the safe, regular and sustainable operation of air transport services, opti- mising capacity and facilitating the free movement of goods, persons and services. (2)  The adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the first package of the single European sky legislation, namely, Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of 10 March 2004 laying down the framework for the creation of the single European sky (the framework Regulation) (4), Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 of 10 March 2004 on the provision of air navigation services in the single European sky (the ser- vice provision Regulation) (°), Regulation (EC) No 551/2004 of 10 March 2004 on the organisation and use of the airspace in the single European sky (the airspace Regulation) (°), and Regulation (EC) No 552/2004 of 10 March 2004 on the interoperability of the European air traffic management network (the interoperability Regula- tion) () laid down a firm legal basis for a seamless, interop- erable and safe air traffic management (ATM) system. (1) O] C 182, 4.8.2009, p. 50. () OJ C 120, 28.5.2009, p. 52. (}) Opinion of the European Parliament of 25 March 2009 (not yet pub- lished in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 7 September 2009. (%) OJL 96, 31.3.2004, p. 1. (%) OJ L 96, 31.3.2004, p. 10. () OJ L 96, 31.3.2004, p. 20. () OJ L 96, 31.3.2004, p. 26. (3)  In response to strong demand from industry, Member States and other stakeholders to simplify and increase the effectiveness of the regulatory framework for aviation in Europe, a high level group on the future of the European aviation regulatory framework (the High Level Group) was established in November 2006. The High Level Group, made up of representatives of the majority of stakehold- ers, submitted a report in July 2007 containing recommen- dations on how to improve the performance and governance of the European aviation system. The High Level Group recommended according the environment the same importance as safety and efficiency in the aviation system and insisted that industry and regulators should work together to ensure that ATM contributes as much as possible to sustainability. (4) At its meeting of 7 April 2008 the Council invited the Commission to develop, in accordance with the recom- mendations of the High Level Group, an overall system approach in line with the gate-to-gate concept to enhance safety, improve ATM and to increase cost efficiency. (5)  In order to complete the creation of the single European sky, it is necessary to adopt additional measures at Com- munity level, in particular, to improve the performance of the European aviation system in key areas such as the envi- ronment, capacity and cost-efficiency, all having regard to the overriding safety objectives. It is also necessary to adapt the single European sky legislation to technical progress. (6)  Council Regulation (EC) No 219/2007 of 27 February 2007 on the establishment of a Joint Undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic manage- ment system (SESAR) (8) calls for the development and implementation of an ATM Master Plan. The implementa- tion of the ATM Master Plan requires regulatory measures to support the development, introduction and financing of new concepts and technologies. It should result in a sys- tem composed of fully harmonised and interoperable com- ponents, which guarantee high performance air transport activities in Europe. The schedule for implementation of the single European sky should take into consideration the timescale foreseen for the development and deployment phases of the SESAR programme as a part of the single European sky. Both processes should be closely coordinated. (%) OJ L 64, 2.3.2007, p. 1.