(1)

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 391/2013 lays down a common charging scheme for air navigation services. The common charging scheme is an integral element in reaching the objectives of the performance scheme as established under Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 390/2013 (4).

(2)

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/132/EU (5) sets the Union-wide performance targets, including a cost-efficiency target for en route air navigation services expressed in determined unit costs for the provision of those services, for the second reference period of 2015-2019.

(3)

Pursuant to Article 17(1)(b) and (c) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 391/2013, the Commission is to assess the unit rates for charging zones submitted by the Member States in accordance with the requirements of Article 9(1) and (2) of that Regulation. That assessment concerns the compliance of those unit rates with Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013.

(4)

The Commission has carried out its assessment of the unit rates with the support of Eurocontrol's Performance Review Unit and Eurocontrol's Central Route Charges Office, using the data and additional information provided by the Member States by 1 November 2017. The Commission assessment also took into account the explanations given, as well as the corrections made by Member States to the unit rates for 2018 for en route services following contacts with the Commission.

(5)

On the grounds of that assessment, the Commission has found that the unit rates for en route charging zones for 2018 submitted by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom are in compliance with Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013.

(6)

Bulgaria, Malta and Poland revised in 2016 their performance targets in the key performance area of cost-efficiency for the remaining years of the second reference period, that is, 2017, 2018 and 2019. By Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2376 (6), the consistency of those revised targets with the Union-wide performance targets has been established. On the grounds of its assessment, taking account of those revised targets, the Commission has found that the unit rates for en route charging zones for 2017 submitted by Bulgaria, Malta and Poland are in compliance with Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013.

(7)

As regards Functional Airspace Block Europe Central (FABEC), Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands submitted on 30 January 2017 revised performance targets, based on corrective measures, where required, including in the key performance area of cost-efficiency for the second reference period. That submission allowed the Commission, by its Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/553 (7), to declare those targets to be consistent with Union-wide performance targets. As a result, Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2016/420 (8) and (EU) 2016/419 (9), which established that unit rates for charging zones of Belgium-Luxembourg, France, Germany and the Netherlands for 2015 and 2016 had not been in compliance with Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013, should be repealed.

(8)

On the grounds of the Commission's assessment and of the established consistency of performance targets submitted by the Member States of FABEC, the Commission has found that the unit rates for en route charging zones for 2015 and 2016 submitted by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands are in compliance with Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013.

(9)

Pursuant to Article 17(1)(d) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 391/2013, the Member States concerned should be notified of the Commission's findings.

(10)

The finding and notification that the unit rates for charging zones are in compliance with Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013 is without prejudice to the ongoing review and investigations provided for in Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 550/2004,