L 134/16 Official Journal of the European Union 20.5.2006 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 768/2006 of 19 May 2006 implementing Directive 2004/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the collection and exchange of information on the safety of aircraft using Community airports and the management of the information system (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Directive 2004/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on the safety of third-country aircraft using Community airports (%), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof, Whereas: Directive 2004/36/EC introduces a harmonised approach to the effective enforcement of international safety standards within the Community by harmonising the rules and procedures for ramp inspections of third- country aircraft landing at airports located in the Member States. It requires the Member States to proceed to ramp inspections of third-country aircraft suspected of non-compliance with international safety standards landing at any of its airports open to interna- tional air traffic following a harmonised procedure, and to participate to the collection and exchange of infor- mation on the ramp inspections carried out. The Community obligations of the Member States deriving from Directive 2004/36/EC may be to a large extent discharged through their participation in the Safety Assessment of Foreign  Aircraft (SAFA) programme initiated in 1996 by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), which management has been delegated to the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). In particular, the JAA manages the SAFA database, facil- itates the harmonised training of inspectors and personnel participating in the programme, and ensures the development of procedures and proposals for improving the programme and its tools and the reporting on the information gathered. It is necessary to improve the system of collection and exchange of information contained in Directive 2004/36/EC, by designating a single specialised expert body responsible for the management of the SAFA system in the Community. () O] L 143, 30.4.2004, p. 76. (4)  Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council () establishes a European Aviation Safety Agency as a single specialised expert body responsible for assisting the Commission and taking the necessary measures within the powers conferred on it by that Regulation or other Community legislation. (5)  In the context of the current process of transition from the JAA system to the European Aviation Safety Agency, it is necessary to entrust that Agency with the tasks related to the SAFA programme conducted so far by the JAA. This transfer should contribute to strengthening the programme and ensuring its continuation. (6)  The continuation of the SAFA programme and an accurate exchange of information on the safety of aircraft using Community airports require that the Community SAFA system be filled with the largest possible amount of information, including the ramp inspection  reports not required by  Directive 2004/36/EC but which have been carried out in accordance with the procedure established under Annex II of Directive 2004/36/EC. (7) It is necessary that the Community SAFA system ensures that the added value resulting from the operational and technical cooperation with international organisations will be maintained. (8)  The Community SAFA system should also be comple- mented with appropriate activities aimed at ensuring common standards for the performance of ramp inspections, such as the continuation of the manual for ramp inspections as well as the training activities developed by the JAA. (9) It has been recognised that the involvement of third countries should continue to be pursued, in order to facilitate the improvement of civil aviation safety throughout Europe. Therefore, the participation of third countries in the Community SAFA system, according to the relevant agreements, should be encouraged and promoted to ensure a seamless transition. (3 OJ L 240, 7.9.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1643/2003 (O] L 245, 29.9.2003, p. 7).