L 169/44 Official Journal of the European Union 8.7.2003 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1217/2003 of 4 July 2003 laying down common specifications for national civil aviation security quality control programmes (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation security (), and in particular Article 7(1) thereof, Whereas: (1) The development and implementation of a national civil aviation security quality control programme by each Member State is essential to ensure the effectiveness of its national civil aviation security programme in accor- dance with Article 5(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2320/ 2002. (2)  Specifications for the national civil aviation security quality control programme to be implemented by the Member States should ensure a harmonised approach in this respect. Therefore a Regulation is the most suitable instrument for this purpose. (3)  The monitoring of national civil aviation security quality control programmes at Community level requires a harmonised approach to the assessment of compliance at national level. (4 To be effective, audits to be undertaken under the responsibility of the appropriate authority should be carried out regularly. They should not be restricted as to the subject, stage or moment at which they are carried out. They should take the most suitable forms to ensure their effectiveness. (5)  Priority should be given to the development of a detailed common methodology for audits. (6) It is necessary to develop a harmonised way of reporting on the measures taken to fulfil the obligations under this Regulation and on the aviation security situation at the airports in the territories of the Member States. (7)  National civil aviation security quality control programmes should be based on best practices. Such best practices should be shared between Member States. (8)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Civil Aviation Security, () OJ L 355, 30.12.2002, p. 1. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: CHAPTER I OBJECTIVE AND DEFINITIONS Article 1 Objective This Regulation lays down the common specifications for the national civil aviation security quality control programme to be implemented by each Member State. This includes establishing common requirements for quality control programmes, a common methodology for the audits to be undertaken and common requirements for auditors. Atticle 2 Definitions For the purpose of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply: 1. ‘appropriate authority’ shall mean the national authority designated by a Member State pursuant to Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002 to be responsible for the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of its national civil aviation security programme; 2. ‘audit’ shall mean any procedure or process used for compliance monitoring undertaken at national level. It covers security audits, inspections, surveys, tests and inves- tigations; 3. ‘auditor’ shall mean any person conducting audits at national level; 4. ‘deficiency’ shall mean failure to comply with aviation security requirements; 5. ‘inspection’ shall mean an examination of the implementa- tion of one or more aspects of security measures and procedures in order to determine how effectively they are being carried out; 6. ‘investigation’ shall mean an examination of a security inci- dent and an explanation of its cause in order to avoid recurrence and to consider legal action; 7. ‘quality control programme’ shall mean the national civil aviation security quality control programme; 8. ‘security audit’ shall mean an in-depth examination of all aspects of security measures and procedures in order to determine if they are being implemented on a continual basis and to a constant standard;