Article 45 Flexible use of airspace

1.   Taking into account the characteristics and nature of military activity in each Member State as well as the organisation of military matters under their responsibility, Member States shall ensure the application within the Single European Sky of the concept of the flexible use of airspace, in order to facilitate airspace management and air traffic management in the context of the common transport policy and, where appropriate, in consistency with the European ATM Master Plan.

2.   Member States shall report annually to the Commission on the application, in the context of the common transport policy, of the concept of the flexible use of airspace in respect of the airspace under their responsibility.

3.   Where, in particular in the light of the reports submitted by Member States, uniform conditions for the application of the concept of the flexible use of airspace within the Single European Sky are needed, the Commission shall, within the limits of the common transport policy and without prejudice to Article 1(2), adopt implementing acts laying down such uniform conditions. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 48(3).

4.   In cases of significant operational difficulties in the application of this Article impairing the safeguard of essential security or defence policy interests, Member States may temporarily suspend such application on condition that they inform without delay the Commission and the other Member States thereof. Following the introduction of a temporary suspension, adjustments to the rules adopted under paragraph 3 may be developed for the airspace under the responsibility of the Member State concerned. The temporary suspension and any such adjustments shall be lifted when those operational difficulties cease.