Article 17Establishment and functions of the Agency
1.For the purpose of the implementation of this Regulation, a European Aviation Safety Agency shall be established.
2.For the purposes of ensuring the proper functioning and development of civil aviation safety, the Agency shall:
(a)undertake any task and formulate opinions on all matters covered by Article 1(1);
(b)assist the Commission by preparing measures to be taken for the implementation of this Regulation. Where these comprise technical rules and in particular rules relating to construction, design and operational aspects, the Commission may not change their content without prior coordination with the Agency. The Agency shall also provide the Commission with the necessary technical, scientific and administrative support to carry out its tasks;
(c)take the necessary measures within the powers conferred on it by this Regulation or other Community legislation;
(d)conduct inspections and investigations as necessary to fulfil its tasks;
(e)in its fields of competence, carry out, on behalf of Member States, functions and tasks ascribed to them by applicable international conventions, in particular the Chicago Convention.