Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control)^f1, and in particular Article 32(5), second subparagraph thereof,

Whereas:

In accordance with Article 32(5) first subparagraph of Directive 2010/75/EU, the Republic of Slovenia submitted to the Commission its transitional national plan (TNP) on 14 December 2012^f2.

During its assessment of the completeness of this TNP, the Commission found that the methodology for calculating the contribution to the TNP ceilings for combustion plants including different types of units and/or firing multiple fuels was not correctly applied and that for one plant two different methods were used to establish its contribution to the SO₂ ceilings. The Commission also noted that certain conversion factors for calculating the average annual waste gas flow rate were too high and that the TNP did not provide specific measures to ensure that the applicable emission limit values will be met from 1 July 2020 on.

Therefore, by letter 8 July 2013^f3, the Commission requested the Slovenian authorities to provide the missing data and information and do the necessary recalculations.

By letter of 26 July 2013^f4, the Republic of Slovenia submitted additional information to the Commission.

After further assessment of the TNP and the additional information received, the Commission sent a second letter to the Republic of Slovenia on 30 September 2013^f5 with the request to correct the emission limit value applied for one plant, to provide more detailed information on the conversion factor used for the calculation of the waste gas volumes and to clarify which method would be used for calculating the contribution to the SO₂ ceilings for one plant using indigenous solid fuel.

By letter of 7 October 2013^f6, the Republic of Slovenia submitted the requested additional information concerning correction of the emission limit value for one plant, correction of the conversion factors for biomass for another plant, and confirming application of the minimum desulphurisation rate for the calculation of the contribution to the SO₂ ceilings for one plant, in conformity with Commission Implementing Decision 2012/115/EU^f7.

The TNP has therefore been assessed by the Commission in accordance with Article 32(1), (3) and (4) of Directive 2010/75/EU and with Implementing Decision 2012/115/EU.

In particular, the Commission has examined the consistency and correctness of the data, assumptions and calculations used for determining the contributions of each of the combustion plants covered by the TNP to the emission ceilings set out in the TNP, and has analysed whether it contains objectives and related targets, measures and timetables for reaching these objectives and a monitoring mechanism to assess future compliance.

Further to additional information submitted, the Commission found that the emission ceilings for the years 2016 and 2019 were calculated using the appropriate data and formulae and that the calculations were correct. The Republic of Slovenia has provided sufficient information regarding the measures that will be implemented in order to achieve emission ceilings, the monitoring and the reporting to the Commission on the implementation of the TNP.

The Commission is satisfied that the Slovenian authorities have taken into consideration the provisions listed in Article 32(1), (3) and (4) of Directive 2010/75/EU and in Implementing Decision 2012/115/EU.

The Commission considers that the implementation of the TNP should be without prejudice to other applicable national and Union law. In particular, when setting individual permit conditions for the combustion plants covered by the TNP, the Republic of Slovenia should ensure that compliance with the requirements set out in, inter alia, Directive 2010/75/EU, Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council^f8 and Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council^f9 is not jeopardised.

Article 32(6) of Directive 2010/75/EU requires the Republic of Slovenia to inform the Commission of any subsequent changes to the TNP. The Commission should assess whether those changes comply with the provisions laid down in Article 32(1), (3) and (4) of Directive 2010/75/EU and in Implementing Decision 2012/115/EU.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: