7.12.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 341/3 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1794/2006 of 6 December 2006 laying down a common charging scheme for air navigation services (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 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) ('), and in particular Article 15(4) thereof, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 laying down the framework for the creation of the single European sky (the framework Regulation) (?), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof, Whereas: (1) The Commission is required to establish a common charging scheme for air navigation services throughout the Community. A Regulation with direct application is the most suitable instrument for this purpose in order to guarantee uniform application of the common charging scheme in the single European sky. (2)  Eurocontrol has been mandated in accordance with Article 8(1) of the framework Regulation to assist the Commission in the development of implementing rules on a common charging scheme for air navigation services. This Regulation is based on the resulting mandate report of 29 October 2004. (3)  The development of a common charging scheme for air navigation services provided during all phases of flight is of the utmost importance for the implementation of the single European sky. The system should contribute to the achievement of greater transparency with respect to the determination, imposition and enforcement of charges to airspace users. The system should also encourage the safe, efficient and effective provision of air navigation services to the users of air navigation services that finance the system and stimulate integrated service provision. ()  In accordance with the overall objective of improving the cost efficiency of air navigation services, the charging scheme should promote the enhancement of cost and operational efficiencies. 1) OJ L 96, 31.3.2004, p. 10. ( 9 () O] L 96, 31.3.2004, p. 1. ©) (10) (11) ( ( ’) ‘) In order to provide access for passengers to the air transport network and, in particular, to small and medium sized airports as well as to larger airports at an acceptable cost, Member States should be able to apply the same unit rate for terminal services charges at all airports served by the same air traffic service provider, or in several groups of such airports, as the case may be, in order to cover the total costs of terminal services. The common charging scheme should be consistent with Article 15 of the 1944 ICAO Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. Since the majority of Member States are parties to the Eurocontrol Multilateral Agreement for route charges of 12 February 1981 and the Community has signed the protocol of accession to the Eurocontrol revised Convention, the rules developed in this Regulation should be consistent with the Eurocontrol Route Charges System. The charging scheme should allow the optimum use of airspace, taking into account air traffic flows, in particular within functional airspace blocks as established in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 551/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the organisation and use of the airspace in the single European sky (the airspace Regulation) (3). According to the Statement attached to the airspace Regulation (%), the Commission will draft a report by 2008 on experience in the creation of functional airspace blocks. At that time, the Commission will assess the difficulties that may arise from maintaining separate unit rates within a functional airspace block. It is necessary to establish requirements for complete and transparent information on the cost base to be made available in due time to airspace users’ representatives and the competent authorities. The level of charges imposed in particular on light aircraft should not discourage the use of facilities and services necessary for safety or the introduction of new techniques and procedures. 6, 31.3.2004, p. 20. ojL9 0] L 96, 31.3.2004, p. 25.