Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/89 of 18 November 2015 amending Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the Union list of projects of common interest
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/89of 18 November 2015amending Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the Union list of projects of common interestTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure and repealing Decision No 1364/2006/EC and amending Regulations (EC) No 713/2009, (EC) No 714/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009OJ L 115, 25.4.2013, p. 39., and in particular Article 3(4) thereof,Whereas:(1)Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 establishes a framework for the identification, planning and implementation of projects of common interest ("PCIs") which are required to implement the nine strategic geographical energy infrastructure priority corridors identified in the fields of electricity, gas and oil, and the three Union-wide energy infrastructure priority areas for smart grids, electricity highways and carbon dioxide transportation networks.(2)Pursuant to Article 3(4) of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts to establish the Union list of PCIs ("Union list").(3)Projects proposed for the inclusion in the Union list have been assessed by the regional groups and meet the criteria laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013.(4)The draft regional lists of PCIs were agreed by the regional groups at technical-level meetings. Following positive opinions of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators ("ACER") on 30 October 2015 on the consistent application of the assessment criteria and the cost/benefit analysis across regions, the regional groups' decision-making bodies adopted the regional lists on 3 November 2015. Pursuant to Article 3(3)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, prior to the adoption of the regional lists, all proposed projects were approved by the Member States to whose territory the projects relate.(5)Organisations representing relevant stakeholders, including producers, distribution system operators, suppliers, and consumer and environmental protection organisations were consulted on the projects proposed for inclusion in the Union list.(6)PCIs should be listed per strategic trans-European energy infrastructure priorities in the order laid down in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 347/2013. The Union list should not contain any ranking of projects.(7)PCIs should be listed either as stand-alone PCIs or as a part of a cluster of several PCIs. However, certain PCIs should be clustered because they are interdependent or (potentially) competing.(8)The Union list contains projects at different stages of their development, including pre-feasibility, feasibility, permit-granting and construction. For PCIs at an early development stage, studies may be needed to demonstrate technical and economic viability and compliance with Union legislation, including environmental legislation. In this context, potential negative impacts on the environment should be adequately identified, assessed and avoided or mitigated.(9)The inclusion of projects on the Union list is without prejudice to the outcome of the relevant environmental assessment and permit procedure. Under Article 5(8) of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, a project that does not comply with Union law may be removed from the Union list. The implementation of PCIs, including their compliance with the relevant legislation, should be monitored in accordance with Article 5 of that Regulation.(10)Pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 3(4) of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, the Union list is established every two years, therefore the Union list established by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1391/2013Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1391/2013 of 14 October 2013 amending Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure as regards the Union list of projects of common interest (OJ L 349, 21.12.2013, p. 28). is no longer valid and should be replaced.(11)Pursuant to Article 3(4) of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, the Union list is to take the form of an annex to that Regulation.(12)Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: