amending Decision No 529/2013/EU to include reference levels for forest management, minimum values for the definition of forest and base year of emissions for the Republic of Croatia

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Decision No 529/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on accounting rules on greenhouse gas emissions and removals resulting from activities relating to land use, land-use change and forestry and on information concerning actions relating to those activities entered into force on 7 July 2013 upon its publication in the Official Journal L165 of 18 June 2013. This decision sets Member State reference levels for forest management, minimum values for the definition of forest and base year or period of emissions in Annex II, V and VI respectively.

Following the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union on 1 July 2013, Annexes II, V and VI to Decision No 529/2013/EU should also include the specific reference level, values for the definition of forest and base year of emissions, respectively for Croatia. This information was submitted by Croatia to the European Commission.

(1)The proposed value for reference level is in accordance with the value inscribed in the Appendix of Decision 2/CMP.7 on Land use, land-use change and forestry and the values for the definition of forest and the base year in accordance with the values specified in the Initial Report of the Republic of Croatia under the Kyoto Protocol.

The legal basis for the amendment is Article 50 of the Act of Accession of Croatia. The amendment must be adopted by the Council, on a proposal by the Commission.

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

Decision No 529/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on accounting rules on greenhouse gas emissions and removals resulting from activities relating to land use, land-use change and forestry and on information concerning actions relating to those activities entered into force on 7 July 2013 upon its publication in the Official Journal L165 of 18 June 2013. This decision sets Member State reference levels for forest management, minimum values for the definition of forest and base year or period of emissions in Annex II, V and VI respectively.

Following the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union on 1 July 2013, Annexes II, V and VI to Decision No 529/2013/EU should also include the specific reference level, values for the definition of forest and base year of emissions, respectively for Croatia. This information was submitted by Croatia to the European Commission.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

The legal basis for the amendment is Article 50 of the Act of Accession of Croatia. The amendment must be adopted by the Council, on a proposal by the Commission.

2015/0315 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

amending Decision No 529/2013/EU to include reference levels for forest management, minimum values for the definition of forest and base year of emissions for the Republic of Croatia

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Republic of Croatia and in particular Article 50 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)Decision No 529/2013/EU sets Member State reference levels for forest management, minimum values for the definition of forest and base year or period of emissions in Annex II, V and VI, respectively.

(2)Following the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union on 1st July 2013, Annexes II, V and VI to Decision No 529/2013/EU should also include the specific reference level, values for the definition of forest and base year, respectively for Croatia.