7.9.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 240/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 1592/2002 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 15 July 2002 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 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 Economic and Social Committee (%), Having consulted the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (), Whereas: (1) A high and uniform level of protection of the European citizen should at all times be ensured in civil aviation, by the adoption of common safety rules and by measures ensuring that products, persons and organisations in the Community comply with such rules and those adopted to protect the environment. This will contribute to facili- tating the free movement of goods, persons and organi- sations in the internal market. () As a consequence, aeronautical products should be subject to certification to verify that they meet essential airworthiness and environmental protection require- ments relating to civil aviation. Appropriate essential requirements should be developed within one year after the entry into force of this Regulation to cover opera- tions of aircraft and flight crew licensing and application of the Regulation to third-country aircraft and, there- after, other areas in the field of civil aviation safety. (3) In order to respond to increasing concerns over the health and welfare of passengers during flights, it is necessary to develop aircraft designs which better protect the safety and health of passengers. (4)  Results of air accident investigations should be acted upon as a matter of urgency, in particular when they () O] C 154 E, 29.5.2001, p. 1. () 0] € 221, 7.8.2001, p. 38. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 September 2001 (O] C 72 E, 21.3.2002, p. 146), Council Common Position of 19 December 2001 (OJ C 58 E, 5.3.2002, p. 44) and Decision of the European Parliament of 9 April 2002 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Council Decision of 18 June 2002. (6) relate to defective aircraft design andfor operational matters, in order to ensure consumer confidence in air transport. The Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in Chicago on 7 December 1944 (‘Chicago Convention’), to which all Member States are parties, already provides for minimum standards to ensure the safety of civil avia- tion and environmental protection relating thereto. Community essential requirements and rules adopted for their implementation should ensure that Member States fulfil the obligations created by the Chicago Convention, including those vis-a-vis third countries. Aeronautical products, parts and appliances should be certified once they have been found in compliance with essential airworthiness and environmental protection requirements laid down by the Community in line with standards set by the Chicago Convention. The Commis- sion should be empowered to develop the necessary implementing rules. In order to achieve Community objectives as regards the freedom of movement of goods, persons and services, as well as those of the common transport policy, Member States should, without further requirements or evalua- tion, accept products, parts and appliances, organisations or persons certified in accordance with this Regulation and its implementing rules. Enough flexibility should be provided for addressing special circumstances such as urgent safety measures, unforeseen or limited operational needs and provisions should also be made for reaching an equivalent safety level by other means. Member States should be entitled to grant exemptions from the requirements of this Regu- lation and its implementing rules, provided that they are strictly limited in scope and subject to appropriate Community control.