Article 2

Without prejudice to Article 3, grasslands in the following geographic ranges of the European Union shall always be regarded as highly biodiverse grassland:

1. (1)

   habitats as listed in Annex I to Council Directive 92/43/EEC^f1;

2. (2)

   habitats of significant importance for animal and plant species of Union interest listed in Annexes II and IV to Directive 92/43/EEC;

3. (3)

   habitats of significant importance for wild bird species listed in Annex I to Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council^f2.

Highly biodiverse grassland in the European Union is not limited to the geographic ranges referred to under (1), (2) and (3) of this Article. Other grassland might fulfil the criteria for highly biodiverse grassland set out in Article 1.