(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 points (b) and (c) of Article 17(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 391/2013, the Commission is to assess the unit rates for charging zones submitted by the Member States to the Commission in accordance with Article 9(1) and (2) of that Implementing 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 for 2019 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 June 2018 and 1 November 2018. The Commission’s assessment also took into account the explanations given and the corrections made by Member States to the unit rates for 2019 for en route services.

(5)

On 21 December 2018, Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Malta as Members of the BlueMed Functional Airspace Block (FAB) submitted further revised FAB performance targets based on corrective measures, where required, which the Commission subsequently assessed. Concerning the key performance area of capacity, the Commission assessed the consistency of those further revised targets for en route air traffic flow management delay in accordance with all the criteria laid down in point 4 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 390/2013. That assessment has demonstrated that those further revised targets are consistent with the relevant Union-wide performance target. The Commission notified the Member States concerned thereof. Consequently, Italy should be also notified that the 2018 unit rate complies with Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013.

(6)

The Commission received reassurances from the Greek authorities that the determined costs included in the unit rates for the years 2017 and 2018 comply with Implementing Regulation (EU) No 391/2013. Greece should be notified that, based on the currently available information, the en route unit rates for the charging zone of Greece for the years 2017 and 2018 comply with Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013.

(7)

The Commission has also found, in accordance with point (d) of Article 17(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 391/2013, that the unit rates for en route charging zones for 2019 submitted by Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and United Kingdom comply with Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013. Those Member States should be notified of that finding.

(8)

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