(1)

Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123 (2) lays down quotas for 2020.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock of Northern albacore in the Atlantic Ocean, north of 5° N by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Ireland have exhausted the quota allocated for 2020.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit certain fishing activities for that stock,

(1)

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp drop in air traffic as a result of a significant fall in demand and direct measures taken by the Member States as well as third countries to contain the pandemic.

(2)

These circumstances are beyond the control of air carriers and the consequent voluntary or obligatory cancellations of air services by air carriers is a necessary or legitimate response to those circumstances.

(3)

In order to protect the financial health of air carriers and avoid the negative environmental impact of empty or largely-empty flights operated only for the purpose of maintaining underlying airport slots, Regulation (EU) 2020/459 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) amended Regulation (EEC) No 95/93. That amendment provides that slot coordinators are to consider slots allocated for the period from 1 March 2020 until 24 October 2020 as having been operated by the air carrier to which they were initially allocated.

(4)

Regulation (EU) 2020/459 also granted delegated powers to the Commission to amend the period specified in Article 10a of Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 in case the Commission finds, on the basis of figures published by Eurocontrol, which is the network manager for the air traffic network functions of the single European sky, that the reduction in the level of air traffic as compared to the level in the corresponding period in the previous year is persisting and is likely to persist, and also finds, on the basis of the best available scientific data, that that situation is the result of the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19.

(5)

In accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 10a of Regulation (EEC) No 95/93, the Commission presented a summary report on this matter to the European Parliament and to the Council by 15 September 2020, which found that the conditions listed in paragraph 4 of Article 10a to amend the period specified in paragraph 1 of the same Article are met.

(6)

Despite a gradual increase, air traffic levels are still low in comparison to the same period in 2019 as based on Eurocontrol data, air traffic in August 2020 was still down by -47 % compared to August 2019. Despite the difficulties in accurately predicting the recovery path of air traffic levels, it is reasonable to expect that the situation will persist in the near future. Based on a Eurocontrol coordinated approach scenario (assuming a common approach to putting in place operational procedures and lifting national restrictions), it is expected that in February 2021 air traffic will be -15 % lower compared to February 2020. For the uncoordinated approach scenario (no common approach to putting in place operational procedures and lifting national restrictions), the air traffic drop in the same corresponding period is expected to be -25 %.

(7)

The persistent reduction of air traffic is the result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the available data concerning consumer confidence in the wake of COVID-19, while in April 2020 around 60 % of respondents indicated that they would be likely to return to air travel within a few months after the pandemic subsided, this percentage dropped to 45 % in June 2020. The available data shows a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and consumer demand for air traffic.

(8)

The World Health Organisation data shows that the number of daily recorded cases in Europe had reached a peak on 1 April 2020 with 43 326 new cases. In the period from May to mid-July 2020 the rate decreased with most days recording less than 20 000 new cases. However, towards the end of August 2020 the number has picked up again with a considerable number of days recording more than 30 000 new cases.

(9)

The weekly surveillance report by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) shows that as of 26 August 2020, the 14-day case notification rate for the EU/EEA and the UK was 46 (country range: 2–176) per 100 000 population. The rate has been increasing for 38 days. Hospital and/or ICU occupancies and/or new admissions due to COVID-19 have recently increased in Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

(10)

In September 2020, the ECDC estimated that the risk of further escalation of COVID-19 across all EU or EEA countries and the United Kingdom is moderate (for countries that continue to implement and enforce multiple measures, including physical distancing and have sufficient contact tracing and testing capacity) and very high (for countries that do not implement or enforce multiple measures, including physical distancing and have insufficient contact tracing and testing capacity).

(11)

The air flight restrictions introduced by some Member States, as a result of sanitary and health measures linked to COVID-19, also influence the consumer confidence and resulting demand for air traffic. While the number of such air flight restrictions reduced in the early summer 2020, some Member States introduced new air flight restrictions as of September 2020, which coincide with the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in a number of Member States.

(12)

In light of existing flight bookings and epidemiological forecasts, it can reasonably be expected that a significant number of cancellations attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic should occur over the forthcoming winter scheduling season, running from 25 October 2020 until 27 March 2021. The non-utilisation of slots allocated for that period should not lead to air carriers losing the possibilities they would otherwise enjoy under Articles 8(2) and 10(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 95/93.

(13)

It is therefore necessary to extend the exception from the requirement contained in those provisions, of having operated the series of slots in question to a certain extent, beyond the summer 2020 scheduling season to the entirety of the 2020/2021 winter scheduling season, i.e. to the period running from 25 October 2020 until 27 March 2021.

(14)

This Delegated Regulation is foreseen to enter into force after the end of the period currently envisaged in paragraph 1 of Article 10a of Regulation (EEC) No 95/93. In order to avoid legal uncertainty, in particular for slot coordinators and air operators, this Regulation should be adopted under the urgency procedure detailed under Article 12b of the Slot Regulation, and should enter into force as a matter of urgency on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

‘1.

For the purposes of Articles 8(2) and 10(2), coordinators shall consider slots allocated for the period from 1 March 2020 until 27 March 2021 as having been operated by the air carrier to which they were initially allocated.’.

(1)

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 lays down rules for the performance of official controls and for action to be taken by the competent authorities in relation to the production of products of animal origin intended for human consumption.

(2)

Trichinella is a parasite which may be present in the meat of susceptible species such as pigs and causes food-borne illness in humans when infected meat is consumed. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1375 (2) lays down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat, including laboratory examination of meat samples of all slaughter pigs.

(3)

Pending the result of the Trichinella examination, carcases may be cut into a maximum of six parts under certain conditions. For the production of certain specific products derived from domestic swine, warm cutting into more parts is required before the result of the Trichinella examination are available. For such specific products, cutting into more parts should therefore be allowed provided that the safety of the meat is ensured.

(4)

The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1375 provides for a derogation from Trichinella examination at entry into the Union where pigs are coming from officially Trichinella-free holdings applying controlled housing conditions. A third country can only apply this derogation if it has informed the Commission of the application of such derogation and if it has been listed for that purpose by the Commission.

(5)

In this regard, Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2015/1375 refers to third countries listed in Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 (3) and Commission Decision 2007/777/EC (4). Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (5) repeals Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 and Decision 2007/777/EC with effect from 21 April 2021. Therefore, and for reasons of simplification, the possibility to lay down lists of third countries applying the derogations on Trichinella should therefore be provided for directly in that Implementing Regulation.

(6)

Article 126(2)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and Article 13 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 (6) require that consignments of certain animals and good should be accompanied by an official certificate to ensure that the animals and goods comply with the relevant requirements established by the rules referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625. Article 14 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1375, which requires attestation on Trichinella examination or Trichinella status of the holding to be inserted into the official certificates for intra-Union trade in live domestic swine and for entry into the Union of such swine and their meat, has therefore become redundant and should therefore be deleted.

(7)

Chapter I of Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1375 sets a reference method of detection of Trichinella in samples collected from carcases of domestic swine. In 2015, the International Organization for Standardization adopted global standard ISO 18743:2015 specifying a method of detection of Trichinella spp. muscle stage larvae in meat of individual animal carcasses intended for human consumption. The reference method of detection of Trichinella, laid down in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1375 complies with the requirements of ISO 18743:2015.

(8)

It is therefore appropriate to replace the reference method in Regulation (EU) 2015/1375 by ISO 18743:2015 to bring the Union reference method in line with this global standard. This will facilitate export of pig meat from the Union, without creating any additional requirements or burden to European laboratories using the reference methods for official controls.

(9)

Since Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 and Decision 2007/777/EC are only repealed from 20 April 2021, the amendment of listing of third countries and model certificates should only apply from that date.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

(1)

in Article 2, the second subparagraph of paragraph 3 is deleted;

(2)

in Article 3, the following paragraph 5 is inserted:

(3)

Article 4 is amended as follows:

(4)

in Article 13, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

(5)

Article 14 is deleted;

(6)

in Annex I, Chapter I is replaced by the following:

‘CHAPTER I

REFERENCE METHOD OF DETECTION

The reference method of detection for the examination of samples for Trichinella, is ISO 18743:2015.’;

(7)

the following Annex VII is inserted:

(1)

The development and implementation of network codes and guidelines are essential in order to have a fully integrated internal energy market. The electricity and gas internal market rules create an institutional set-up for developing network codes. This institutional set-up has been recently improved through the new Electricity Market Design, in particular with the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 as part of the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package (3). For this purpose, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (‘ACER’), the European Networks of Transmission System Operators (‘ENTSOs’), the European entity for distribution system operators (‘EU DSO entity’) and the Commission work in close cooperation with all relevant stakeholders.

(2)

The areas in which network codes can be developed are set out in Article 59(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and in Article 8(6) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009. Besides the possibility to develop network codes, the Commission can develop guidelines on its own initiative. The areas in which guidelines can be developed are set out in Article 61(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Article 23(1) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009. In accordance with Article 59(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, the Commission is to first establish priority lists identifying the areas to be included in the development of network codes. Priority lists are to be established every three years for the electricity sector and every year for the gas sector.

(3)

The Commission has already adopted harmonised electricity rules on capacity allocation and congestion management, connection of generators, demand connection, high voltage direct current, forward capacity allocation, system operation, emergency and restoration requirements and procedures, and balancing.

(4)

In addition, harmonised gas rules on congestion management procedures, capacity allocation, balancing, interoperability and data exchange, harmonised transmission tariff structures have been adopted.

(5)

In the targeted stakeholder consultation (4), the majority of stakeholders supported the development of harmonised electricity rules regarding cybersecurity and regarding demand-side flexibility. Regarding gas, stakeholders supported the prioritisation of the work already started and emphasised the importance of a proper and well-coordinated implementation of network codes and guidelines.

(6)

Acknowledging the responses of stakeholders and having regard to the new challenges regarding cybersecurity as well as the need for transparent and non-discriminatory flexibility market, the priority list for electricity for 2020-2023 includes harmonised electricity rules on cybersecurity and on demand-side flexibility.

(7)

Moreover, acknowledging the responses of stakeholders and having regard to the ongoing implementation of existing gas rules, no new areas are identified for the development of network codes and guidelines for gas for 2020,

(a)

sector-specific rules for cyber security aspects of cross-border electricity flows, including rules on common minimum requirements, planning, monitoring, reporting and crisis management;

(b)

rules regarding demand side flexibility, including rules on aggregation, energy storage and demand curtailment rules.