Brussels, 25/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 March, the European Commission adopted a regulation on the management of air traffic flows with a view to optimising the use of airspace in Europe. This new regulation implements the EU network manager foreseen in the second package of measures of the Single European Sky, which aims to modernise air traffic management in Europe. It brings in rules for management of air traffic flow and imposes planning procedures for each phase of flight. It also covers the exchange of information between airports and air traffic controllers, allowing a better harmonisation of flight planning and airport slots. For the time being, there is no legislation concerning air traffic flow management at European level. The only cooperation between member states in this field is based on voluntary procedures used between states that are part of the Eurocontrol Convention and members of the Central Flow Management Unit at Eurocontrol. Provisions of the regulation will apply 18 months from the date when it is published in the EU Official Journal. (A.By./transl.jl)