Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/446 of 2 February 2024 adopting the fourth update of the list of sites of Community importance for the Steppic biogeographical region (notifed under document C(2024) 522)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora⁽¹⁾, and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 4(2) thereof,

Whereas:

1. The Steppic biogeographical region referred to in Article 1(c)(iii) of Directive 92/43/EEC comprises parts of the Union territory of Romania, 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’).

2. The initial list of sites of Community importance for the Steppic biogeographical region, within the meaning of Directive 92/43/EEC, was adopted by Commission Decision 2008/966/EC⁽²⁾. That list was last updated by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/15⁽³⁾.

3. The sites included in the list of sites of Community importance for the Steppic 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.

4. Between 18 July 2022 and 6 February 2023 Romania has proposed additional sites of Community importance for the Steppic biogeographical region within the meaning of Article 1 of Directive 92/43/EEC. Romania also submitted changes in the site-related information contained in the list of sites of Community importance for the Steppic biogeographical region.

5. On the basis of the draft list drawn up by the Commission in agreement with the Member State 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 Steppic biogeographical region should be adopted. Articles 4(4) and 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC apply to the newly included sites.

6. Knowledge 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. Therefore, the evaluation and selection of sites at Union level was carried out using the best available information at the time.

7. With regard to the Steppic biogeographical region, Romania has 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.

8. In the interests of clarity and transparency, Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/15 should be repealed.

9. The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Habitats Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: