{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2020-494/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2020-494/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2020/494",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/494 of 24 March 2020 adopting the thirteenth update of the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (notified under document C(2020) 1713)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2020-494",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/494\nof 24 March 2020\nadopting the thirteenth update of the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region\n(notified under document C(2020) 1713)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 4(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nThe Boreal biogeographical region referred to in Article 1(c)(iii) of Directive 92/43/EEC comprises parts of the Union territories of Finland and Sweden and the Union territories of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as specified in the biogeographical map approved on 20 April 2005 by the committee set up by Article 20 of that Directive (the ‘Habitats Committee’).\n(2)\nThe initial list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region, within the meaning of Directive 92/43/EEC, was adopted by Commission Decision 2005/101/EC.\n(3)\nThe sites included in the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region form part of the Natura 2000 network which is an essential element of the protection of biodiversity in the Union. In order to make further progress in the actual establishment of the Natura 2000 network and in the context of a dynamic adaptation of that network, the lists of sites of Community importance are reviewed regularly.\n(4)\nThe twelfth update of the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region was adopted by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/21. That Implementing Decision was repealed by the Commission Implementing Decision adopting the thirteenth update of the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region, adopted after a vote in the Habitats Committee on 14 November 2019 and notified to the Member States under document C(2019) 8570 on 29 November 2019.\n(5)\nFollowing the adoption of the Implementing Decision notified to the Member States under document C(2019) 8570 on 29 November 2019, it transpired that the list adopted by that Implementing Decision differed from the list that had been submitted to the Habitats Committee for opinion as the latter contained clerical errors in terms of the area of three sites located in Lithuania. Therefore, it is necessary to repeal that Implementing Decision and to adopt the thirteenth update of the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region anew after consulting the Habitats Committee, with effect from the date of notification of the Implementing Decision being repealed.\n(6)\nKnowledge of the existence and distribution of the natural habitat types and species is constantly evolving as a result of the surveillance undertaken in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 92/43/EEC.\n(7)\nThe thirteenth update of the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region is based on data submitted by Member States between 1 June 2018 and 13 March 2019, concerning proposals for additional sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region. Member States have also submitted changes in the site-related information contained in the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region.\n(8)\nOn the basis of the draft list drawn up by the Commission in agreement with each of the Member States concerned, which also identifies sites hosting priority natural habitat types or priority species, an updated list of sites selected as sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region should be adopted. Article 4(4) and Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC apply to all the sites listed.\n(9)\nCertain Member States have not proposed sufficient sites to meet the requirements of Directive 92/43/EEC for certain habitat types and species. Furthermore, knowledge of the existence and distribution of some of the natural habitat types listed in Annex I and some of the species listed in Annex II to Directive 92/43/EEC remains incomplete. For those habitat types and species it can therefore not be concluded that the Natura 2000 network is complete.\n(10)\nIn the interests of clarity and transparency, Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/21 should be repealed with effect from the date of notification of the Implementing Decision notified to the Member States under document C(2019) 8570.\n(11)\nThe measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Habitats Committee,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "Commission Decision 2005/101/EC of 13 January 2005 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (OJ L 40, 11.2.2005, p. 1)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/21 of 14 December 2018 adopting the twelfth update of the list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (OJ L 7, 9.1.2019, p. 367)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2020/494/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:12:19.726290+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}