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 conduct ramp inspections on third-country aircraft landing at any of its airports open to international air traffic following a harmonised procedure, and to participate to the collection and exchange of information on the ramp inspections carried out.

The Community obligations of the Member States deriving from Directive 2004/36/EC could be, to a large extent, previously discharged through their voluntary participation in the Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) programme initiated in 1996 by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), the management of which was delegated to the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA).

The SAFA programme should be complemented with appropriate measures aimed at ensuring common standards for the performance of ramp inspections, such as a manual for ramp inspections.

Annex II to Directive 2004/36/EC contains only very general criteria, as at the time of its adoption detailed technical guidelines and procedures were being published and updated regularly by the JAA and subsequently being voluntarily implemented by ECAC states participating in the SAFA programme.

In view of the transfer of the SAFA programme to the Community and of the increased importance being ascribed by the Commission to the results of ramp inspections conducted under the SAFA programme in taking its decisions on the inclusion of carriers in the Community list of banned air carriers established under Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2005 on the establishment of a Community list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the Community and on informing air transport passengers of the identity of the operating air carrier, and repealing Article 9 of Directive 2004/36/EC, it is deemed necessary to specify the core elements of the manual for conducting ramp inspections.

The core elements of the manual constitute the essential standards for the effective performance of ramp inspections and should therefore form part within the shortest time possible, of Annex II of Directive 2004/36/EC which establishes the procedure for the performance of ramp inspections, particularly following the transfer of the SAFA programme under Community competence.

EASA has submitted a proposal for the amendment of Annex II of Directive 2004/36/EC as provided under Article 4(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 768/2006.

Directive 2004/36/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.