The SRU is responsible for the preparation of harmonised safety regulatory objectives and requirements for the ATM system. As part of the EUROCONTROL Agency, with the appropriate level of independence, the SRU supports the Safety Regulation Commission (SRC). It reports to the EUROCONTROL Director General for administrative purposes.

The activities of the Division include the identification and analysis of short and long-term airspace requirements from users, i.e. airline operations, military and general aviation; the long-term development and validation of improved Airspace Management strategies to enhance the flexible utilisation of airspace, taking into account related military and ATFM developments and the design, development and validation of short-term improvements to airspace management. The navigation domain objectives are to develop and maintain the navigation strategy and implementation plan ensuring it meets the ATM2000+ objectives and contributes to a safe and cost-effective means of meeting future ECAC capacity requirements. The route network development activity organises and carries out the development and co-ordination of planning and implementation activities needed to optimise the ATS route network and support sectorisation in the ECAC area, in both en-route and terminal airspace.