Brussels, 01/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - From 1st December, Switzerland will be a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Switzerland is the fourth non-EU Member State to adopt the legislation of the Agency, following Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. These four countries are represented on the Agency's Executive Board and its nationals are eligible to work within the Agency. EASA Executive Director Patrick Goudou said that Switzerland's joining was “an important step towards a better integrated safety system in Europe, and underlines the Agency's key role in this system”. The EASA, which has been operational since 2003, is responsible for assisting the Community legislator develop joint standards which will ensure the highest level of safety and environmental protection, and for ensuring that these standards are applied uniformly across Europe. (dt)