2004/12/EC: Commission Decision of 5 December 2003 on a procedure relating to the application of Article 18(2), first sentence, of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on air transport and Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 (Case TREN/AMA/11/03 — German measures relating to the approaches to Zurich airport) (notified under document number C(2003) 4472)

• CELEX: Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92
• Articles: 2

Article 1

Germany may continue to apply the 213th regulation for the implementation of German air traffic regulations establishing procedures for instrument-guided landings and take-offs at Zurich airport as amended by the first amending regulation of 4 July 2003.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Done at Brussels, 5 December 2003.

For the Commission

Loyola De Palacio

Vice-President

(1) OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 73.

(2) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992, p. 8.

(3) Decision of the Federal Court Lausanne on the fifth stage of extension of 24 June 1998-BGE 124 II 293.

(4) Botschaft zum Vertrag zwischen der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft und der Bundesrepublik Deutschland über die Durchführung der Flugverkehrskontrolle durch die Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft über deutschem Hoheitsgebiet und über Auswirkungen des Betriebes des Flughafens Zurich auf das Hoheitsgebiet der Bundesrepublik Deutschland http://www.uvek.admin.ch/imperia/ md/content/gs_uvek2/d/verkehr/ luftverkehrsverhandlungen/21.pdf.

(5) See e.g. Decisions 1994/290/EC "Orly" (OJ L 127, 19.5.1994, p. 22), 2001/163/EC "Malpensa" (OJ L 58, 28.2.2001, p. 29), 98/523/EC "Karlstad" (OJ L 233, 20.8.1998, p. 25).

(6) Now Articles 49 and 51.

(7) Judgment of the Court in Case C-361/98 Malpensa [2001] ECR, I-385, at paragraphs 31 to 36. It is also noteworthy that the decision on the access to Karlstad airport established that the Commission, "when using the powers conferred upon it by Article 8(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, must ensure that any measures taken by Member States' authorities are not contrary to other provisions of Community law." See OJ L 233, 20.8.1998, p. 25.

(8) Based on § 32(1), sentence 1 number 1 and (3), sentences 2 and 3 of German air traffic law (OJ p. 550 of 27 March 1999) in conjunction with § 27a(1) and (2) first sentence of the air traffic regulation (OJ p. 580 of 27 March 1999).

(9) Judgment of the Court in Case C-792/79 Camera Care [1980] ECR 119.

(10) The Swiss authorities argue in their letter of 21 October that the non-notification can not exclude the applicability of Article 9. However, paragraph 4 of Article 9 clearly states that: "when the Commission, within one month of having been informed under paragraph 3, takes the action up for examination". See also Commission Decision 98/523/EC "Karlstad", op. cit. at paragraphs 41 to 43.

(11) It must be noted that the European Court of Justice has established that similarity of the provisions in international agreements between the Community and a third country with terms of the Treaty is not sufficient reason to transpose to the provisions of the agreement the case-law of the Court.. The scope of case-law must be determined in light of the Community's objectives and activities as defined by the Treaty, including in particular the objective of a single market having the characteristics of a domestic market. Judgment of the Court in Case C-270/80 Polydor [1982] ECR 329.

(12) See footnote 8, C-361/98, Malpensa.

(13) Now Articles 49 and 51.

(14) This contrasts with the full right of establishment provided for in Article 4 of the Agreement.

(15) OJ L 162, 13.7.1995, p. 25.

(16) OJ L 337, 12.12.1998, p. 52, recital 30.

(17) OJ L 58, 28.2.2001, p 29, paragraph 49.

(18) See e.g. Case C-311/97 Royal Bank of Scotland [1999] ECR I-2651, at paragraph 26.

(19) ECJ: Case C-361/98 Malpensa.

(20) It should be noted that, during the hour between 6.00 and 7.00, when there is allegedly excess demand, the overwhelming majority of incoming flights are from third countries and are therefore not within the scope of the EC-Swiss Air Transport Agreement.

(21) In this context, it should be noted that these calculations are based on figures provided by Switzerland, which are contested by Germany, and rely therefore on the assumptions most favourable for Switzerland's argumentation.

(22) OJ L 85, 28.3.2002, p. 40.