Brussels, 07/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - Since 1 May 2004, the date when it joined the EU, Cyprus should have withdrawn its noisiest aircraft from its airports, in line with Directive 2002/30/EC on noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports, which stipulates that any aircraft operating from EU Member State airports should be in line with the standards in the field of noise certification specified in the Convention on International Aviation (total phase out of noisy airplanes as specified in Chapter 2 of the Convention). As Cyprus has not complied with these stipulations, the Commission has sent it a letter of formal notice. In their response, Cypriot authorities confirmed that the withdrawal of the aircraft concerned used for charter flights had not taken place but that they would soon be phased out. The Commission nonetheless believes that Cyprus has failed to comply with its obligations under the directive. It has therefore sent it a reasoned opinion allowing the country two months in which to withdraw all its Chapter 2 aircraft. If it fails to do so, the matter may be taken before the Court of Justice.