ISSN 1977-0677 Official Journal L 10 of the European Union Volume 55 English edition Legislation 13 January 2012 Contents II Non-legislative acts DECISIONS 2012/9/EU: ★ Commission Implementing Decision of 18 November 2011 adopting a fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region (notified under document C(2011) 8172) . 1 2012/10/EU: ★ Commission Implementing Decision of 18 November 2011 adopting a third updated list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region (notified under document C(2011) 8187) . 103 2012/11/EU: ★ Commission Implementing Decision of 18 November 2011 adopting a fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Boreal biogeographical region (notified under document C(2011) 8195) . 130 2012/12/EU: ★ Commission Implementing Decision of 18 November 2011 adopting a fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Alpine biogeographical region (notified under document C(2011) 8202) . 339 Price: EUR 10 Acts whose titles are printed in light type are those relating to day-to-day management of agricultural matters, and are generally valid for a limited period. The titles of all other acts are printed in bold type and preceded by an asterisk. EN 13.1.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 10/1 II (Non-legislative acts) DECISIONS COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 18 November 2011 adopting a fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region (notified under document C(2011) 8172) (2012/9/EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, 2006/613/EC ( 2 ), 2008/335/EC ( 3), 2009/95/EC ( 4 ), 2010/45/EU ( 5) and 2011/85/EU ( 6). On the basis of Articles 4(4) and 6(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC, the Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Member State concerned shall designate the sites Union, included in the list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region as special areas of conservation as soon as possible and within six years at most, establishing conservation priorities and the Having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 necessary conservation measures. on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora ( 1), and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 4(2) thereof, (4) In the context of a dynamic adaptation of the Natura 2000 network, the lists of sites of Community Whereas: importance are reviewed. A fifth update of the Mediter­ ranean list is therefore necessary. (1) The Mediterranean biogeographical region referred to in Article 1(c)(iii) of Directive 92/43/EEC comprises the Union territories of Greece, Cyprus and Malta in (5) On the one hand, the fifth update of the list of sites of accordance with Article 1 of Protocol No 10 of the Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeo­ 2003 Act of Accession, and parts of the Union territories graphical region is necessary in order to include addi­ of Spain, France, Italy and Portugal and in accordance tional sites that have been proposed since 2009 by the with Article 355(3) of the Treaty the territory of Member States as sites of Community importance for the Gibraltar, for which the United Kingdom is responsible Mediterranean biogeographical region within the for external relations as specified in the biogeographical meaning of Article 1 of Directive 92/43/EEC. For these map approved on 20 April 2005 by the Committee set additional sites, the obligations resulting from Articles up by Article 20 of that Directive, hereinafter ‘the 4(4) and 6(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC should apply as Habitats Committee’. soon as possible and within six years at most from the adoption of the fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region. (2) It is necessary in the context of a process which was initiated in 1995 to make further progress in the actual establishment of the Natura 2000 network, which is an essential element of the protection of biodi­ (6) On the other hand, the fifth update of the list of sites of versity in the Union. Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeo­ graphical region is necessary in order to reflect any changes in site related information submitted by the (3) The initial list and the first four updated lists of sites of Member States following the adoption of the initial and Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeo­ 2 graphical region, within the meaning of Directive ( ) OJ L 259, 21.9.2006, p. 1. 3 92/43/EEC, were adopted by Commission Decisions ( ) OJ L 123, 8.5.2008, p. 76. ( 4 ) OJ L 43, 13.2.2009, p. 393. ( 5 ) OJ L 30, 2.2.2010, p. 322. ( 1 ) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7. ( 6 ) OJ L 40, 12.2.2011, p. 206. L 10/2 EN Official Journal of the European Union 13.1.2012 the first four updated Union lists. In that sense, the fifth (12) Certain Member States have not proposed sufficient sites updated list of sites of Community importance for the to meet the requirements of Directive 92/43/EEC for Mediterranean biogeographical region constitutes a certain habitat types and species. For those habitat consolidated version of the list of sites of Community types and species it can therefore not be concluded importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region. that the Natura 2000 network is complete. Taking into It should be stressed that, for any site included in the account the delay in receiving the information and fifth update of the list of sites of Community importance reaching agreement with the Member States, it is for the Mediterranean biogeographical region, the obli­ necessary to adopt a fifth updated list of sites, which gations resulting from Articles 4(4) and 6(1) of Directive will need to be reviewed in accordance with Article 4 92/43/EEC should apply as soon as possible and within of Directive 92/43/EEC. six years at most following the adoption of the list of sites of Community importance in which the site was included for the first time. (13) Given that knowledge on the existence and distribution of some of the natural habitat types of Annex I and species of Annex II to Directive 92/43/EEC remains incomplete, it should not be concluded that the Natura 2000 network is either complete or incomplete. The list (7) For the Mediterranean biogeographical region, lists of should be reviewed, if necessary, in accordance with sites proposed as sites of Community importance Article 4 of Directive 92/43/EEC. within the meaning of Article 1 of Directive 92/43/EEC have been transmitted to the Commission between January 2003 and October 2010 by the Member States (14) In the interests of clarity and transparency Decision concerned in accordance with Article 4(1) of that 2011/85/EU should be repealed. Directive. (15) The measures provided for in this Decision are in (8) The lists of proposed sites were accompanied by accordance with the opinion of the Habitats Committee, information on each site, supplied in the format estab­ lished by Commission Decision 97/266/EC of 18 December 1996 concerning a site information HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: format for proposed Natura 2000 sites ( 1 ). Article 1 (9) That information includes the map of the site transmitted by the Member States concerned, name, location and The fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the extent of the site, and the data yielded by application Mediterranean biogeographical region in accordance with the of the criteria specified in Annex III to Directive third subparagraph of Article 4(2) of Directive 92/43/EEC is 92/43/EEC. set out in the Annex to this Decision. (10) On the basis of the draft list drawn up by the Article 2 Commission in agreement with each of the Member Decision 2011/85/EU is repealed. States concerned, which also identifies sites hosting priority natural habitat types or priority species, a fifth updated list of sites selected as sites of Community Article 3 importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region should be adopted. This Decision is addressed to the Member States. (11) Knowledge of the existence and distribution of the Done at Brussels, 18 November 2011. natural habitat types and species is constantly evolving as a result of the surveillance in accordance with For the Commission Article 11 of Directive 92/43/EEC. Therefore, the evaluation and selection of sites at EU level was done Janez POTOČNIK using the best available information at present. Member of the Commission ( 1 ) OJ L 107, 24.4.1997, p. 1. 13.1.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 10/3 ANNEX Fifth updated list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region Each site of Community importance (SCI) is identified by the information supplied in the Natura 2000 format, including the corresponding map. This information has been transmitted by the competent national authorities in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 4(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC. The table below gives the following information: A: SCI code comprising nine characters, the first two being the ISO code for the Member State; B: name of SCI; C: * = presence on the SCI of at least one priority natural habitat type and/or species within the meaning of Article 1 of Directive 92/43/EEC; D: area of SCI in hectares or length of SCI in km; E: geographical coordinates of SCI (latitude and longitude) in decimal degrees. All the information given in the Union list below is based on the data proposed, transmitted and validated by Greece, Spain, France, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Portugal and the United Kingdom.