Commission Decision (EU) 2025/1062 of 19 May 2025 on the consistency of the performance targets included in the draft performance plan submitted by Croatia pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council with the Union-wide performance targets for the fourth reference period of the Single European Sky performance and charging scheme (notified under document C(2025) 2944)
Date: 2025-05-19
Institutions: Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission
Subjects: Croatia, air safety, air space, air traffic, air traffic control, airport, common transport policy, cost-effectiveness analysis, environmental protection, transport capacity








L_202501062EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/1062


28.5.2025







            COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2025/1062
of 19 May 2025
         
on the consistency of the performance targets included in the draft performance plan submitted by Croatia pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council with the Union-wide performance targets for the fourth reference period of the Single European Sky performance and charging scheme


(notified under document C(2025) 2944)


(Only the Croatian text is authentic)


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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


Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 laying down the framework for the creation of the single European sky (the framework Regulation) (1), and in particular Article 11(3) point (c), thereof,


Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/2803 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on the implementation of the Single European Sky (2), and in particular Article 58(3) thereof,


Having regard to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317 of 11 February 2019 laying down a performance and charging scheme in the single European sky and repealing Implementing Regulations (EU) No 390/2013 and (EU) No 391/2013 (3), and in particular Article 14(2) thereof,

Whereas:

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS







(1)


Pursuant to Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004, Member States are to draw up plans, either at national level or at the level of functional airspace blocks (‘FABs’), including performance targets, for each reference period of the performance and charging scheme for air navigation services and network functions. Those plans are to include local performance targets which are consistent with the Union-wide performance targets for the reference period concerned.










(2)


The Union-wide performance targets for the fourth reference period (‘RP4’, 2025-2029) were set out in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1688 (4).










(3)


All Member States have drawn up and adopted draft performance plans for RP4, which were submitted to the Commission for assessment by 1 October 2024. Following the verification of completeness of those draft performance plans, the Commission requested Member States to submit updated draft performance plans by 15 November 2024.










(4)


The Commission’s assessment presented in this Decision is based on the updated draft performance plan for RP4 submitted by Croatia (‘the draft performance plan’).










(5)


The Performance Review Body (‘PRB’), assisting the Commission in the implementation of the performance scheme, has submitted to the Commission a report containing its advice on the assessment of the draft performance plans.










(6)


In accordance with Article 14(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the Commission has assessed the consistency of the local performance targets included in the draft performance plan on the basis of the criteria laid down in point 1 of Annex IV to that Implementing Regulation, and taking account of local circumstances where relevant.










(7)


The Commission has complemented its assessment of the draft performance plan with a review of the elements set out in point 2 of Annex IV to that Implementing Regulation. In respect of point 2.1(d)(vii) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the Commission notes that it has not conducted, as part of that review, a detailed analysis of the methodology used by Croatia for the allocation of costs between en route and terminal services in RP4. Therefore, the Commission has not drawn any conclusions, at this stage, in respect of the compliance of that cost allocation methodology with points (e) and (f) of Article 15(2) Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) and Article 22(5) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317.





COMMISSION ASSESSMENT


Assessment of the safety targets







(8)


As regards the key performance area of safety, the consistency of the targets included in the draft performance plan has been assessed in accordance with point 1.1 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317.










(9)


The performance targets in the key performance area of safety proposed by Croatia in respect of the effectiveness of safety management, broken down per safety management objective and expressed as a level of implementation, are as follows:












Croatia




Targets on the effectiveness of safety management, expressed as a level of implementation, ranging from EASA level A to D






Air navigation service provider




Safety management objective




2025




2026




2027




2028




2029





Croatia Control


Safety policy and objectives


B


B


B


B



C





Safety risk management


B


B


B


C



D





Safety assurance


B


B


B


B



C





Safety promotion


B


B


B


B



C





Safety culture


B


B


B


B



C















(10)


The Commission observes that the safety performance targets proposed by Croatia for the air navigation service provider (Croatia Control) are equal to the Union-wide safety targets in respect of calendar year 2029.










(11)


The Commission notes that the draft performance plan sets out measures for Croatia Control for the achievement of the local safety targets, such as implementing an efficient safety management system to mitigate risks at an early stage, as well as monitoring and reporting on safety indicators to track and improve performance and address deviations and deficiencies.










(12)


As observed in recitals (9) and (10), the local safety performance targets for 2029 included in the draft performance plan are in line with the corresponding Union-wide targets set in Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1688. Therefore, those local safety performance targets should be considered consistent with the Union-wide performance targets.










(13)


However, the intermediate targets for years 2025 to 2028 for all safety management objectives are observed to be abnormally low and insufficient for ensuring the subsequent achievement of the targets for 2029. Furthermore, such low intermediate targets are not justified in light of the actual performance of Croatia Control in the third reference period (‘RP3’) and the measures for achievement of the safety targets in RP4 referred to in recital (11).










(14)


Therefore, Croatia should address, in its final performance plan to be adopted pursuant to Article 16, point (a), of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the findings set out in recital (13) by improving the targeted safety management levels for years 2025 to 2028.





Assessment of the environment targets







(15)


As regards the key performance area of environment, the consistency of the targets included in the draft performance plan regarding the average horizontal en route flight efficiency of the actual trajectory has been assessed based on the criterion laid down in point 1.2 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317. Accordingly, the proposed environment targets of Croatia have been compared to the relevant en route horizontal flight efficiency reference values set out in the European Route Network Improvement Plan (‘ERNIP’), drawn up in accordance with Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/123 (6) and available at the time of adopting the Union-wide performance targets for RP4, that is on 2 July 2024.










(16)


The environment performance targets proposed by Croatia for RP4 and the corresponding national reference values from the ERNIP, expressed as the average horizontal en route flight efficiency of the actual trajectory, are as follows:











Croatia




2025




2026




2027




2028




2029






Targets in the key performance area of environment, expressed as the average horizontal en route flight efficiency of the actual trajectory



1,46  %




1,45  %




1,44  %




1,43  %




1,42  %





Reference values


1,46  %


1,45  %


1,44  %


1,43  %


1,42  %














(17)


The Commission observes that the environment targets proposed by Croatia are equal to the corresponding national reference values for each calendar year of RP4.










(18)


The Commission notes that Croatia has presented in the draft performance plan measures for the achievement of its environment targets which include the re-sectorisation of airspace at the interfaces with Serbia and Hungary, and an expanded cross-border free route airspace implementation.










(19)


On the basis of the findings set out in recitals (16), (17) and (18), the targets in the key performance area of environment included in the draft performance plan should be considered consistent with the Union-wide performance targets for RP4.





Assessment of the capacity targets







(20)


As regards the key performance area of capacity, the consistency of the targets included in the draft performance plan regarding the average en route air traffic flow management (‘ATFM’) delay per flight has been assessed based on the criterion laid down in point 1.3 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317. Accordingly, the proposed capacity targets of Croatia have been compared to the relevant reference values set out in the Network Operations Plan drawn up in accordance with Article 9 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/123 and available at the time of adopting the Union-wide performance targets for RP4, that is on 2 July 2024.










(21)


The en route capacity targets proposed by Croatia for RP4, expressed in minutes of ATFM delay per flight, and the corresponding reference values from the Network Operations Plan, are as follows:











Croatia




2025




2026




2027




2028




2029






Targets in the key performance area of capacity, expressed in minutes of en route ATFM delay per flight



0,29 




0,23 




0,21 




0,18 




0,18 





Reference values


0,29 


0,23 


0,21 


0,18 


0,18 














(22)


The Commission observes that the capacity targets proposed by Croatia are equal to the corresponding national reference values for each calendar year of RP4.










(23)


The Commission notes that Croatia has presented, in the draft performance plan, measures for the achievement of its en route capacity targets. Those measures include the reorganisation of airspace, the recruitment of additional air traffic controllers, the introduction of a new air traffic management system, and the continuous optimisation of sector opening schemes to meet traffic demand.










(24)


On the basis of the findings set out in recitals (21), (22) and (23), the targets in the key performance area of capacity included in the draft performance plan should be considered consistent with the Union-wide performance targets for RP4.





Assessment of the cost-efficiency targets







(25)


As regards the key performance area of cost-efficiency, the consistency of the targets included in the draft performance plan regarding the determined unit cost (‘DUC’) for en route air navigation services has been assessed based on the criteria laid down in points 1.4(a), (b) and (c) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317. Those criteria consist of the DUC trend over RP4, the long-term DUC trend over RP3 and RP4 (2020-2029), and the baseline value for the DUC at charging zone level compared with the average value of the charging zones where air navigation service providers have a similar operational and economic environment.










(26)


The en route cost-efficiency targets proposed by Croatia for RP4, and the related baseline values, are as follows:














En route charging zone of Croatia




2019 baseline value




2024 baseline value




2025




2026




2027




2028




2029






Targets and baseline values in the key performance area of cost-efficiency, expressed as determined unit cost (in real terms at 2022 prices)



EUR 44,80 




EUR 37,41 




EUR 36,96 




EUR 36,52 




EUR 36,08 




EUR 35,64 




EUR 35,21 















(27)


Concerning the assessment criterion set out in point 1.4(a) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the Commission observes that Croatia’s DUC trend at charging zone level of -1,2 % % over RP4 is in line with the Union-wide trend of -1,2 % over the same period.










(28)


Concerning the assessment criterion set out in point 1.4(b) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the Commission observes that Croatia’s long-term DUC trend at charging zone level over RP3 and RP4 of -2,6 % outperforms the long-term Union-wide trend of -1,0 % over the same period.










(29)


Concerning the assessment criterion set out in 1.4(c) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the Commission observes that Croatia’s baseline value for the DUC of EUR 37,41 in real terms at 2022 prices (‘EUR2022’) is 4,4 % lower than the average baseline value of EUR 39,13 in EUR2022 of the relevant comparator group set out in Article 7 Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1688.










(30)


On the basis of the findings set out in recitals (26) to (29), the targets in the key performance area of cost-efficiency included in the draft performance plan should be considered consistent with the Union-wide performance targets for RP4.





CONCLUSIONS







(31)


In the light of the foregoing, the performance targets included in the draft performance plan of Croatia should be considered consistent with the Union-wide performance targets for RP4,




HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The performance targets included in the draft performance plan submitted by Croatia for the fourth reference period (‘RP4’), listed in the Annex to this Decision, are consistent with the Union-wide performance targets for RP4 set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1688.


Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Croatia.




Done at Brussels, 19 May 2025.


For the Commission

Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS
            

Member of the Commission






(1)  
            OJ L 96, 31.3.2004, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/549/oj.

(2)  
            OJ L, 2024/2803, 11.11.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2803/oj.

(3)  
            OJ L 56, 25.2.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/317/oj.

(4)  Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1688 of 12 June 2024 setting Union-wide performance targets for the air traffic management network for the fourth reference period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029 (OJ L, 2024/1688, 17.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/1688/oj).

(5)  Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the provision of air navigation services in the single European sky (the service provision Regulation) (OJ L 96, 31.3.2004, p. 10, ELI http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/550/oj).

(6)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/123 of 24 January 2019 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of air traffic management (ATM) network functions and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) No 677/2011 (OJ L 28, 31.1.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/123/oj).




ANNEX
Performance targets included in the draft performance plan of Croatia, found to be consistent with the Union-wide performance targets for the fourth reference period

KEY PERFORMANCE AREA OF SAFETY













Croatia




Targets on the effectiveness of safety management, expressed as a level of implementation, ranging from European Aviation Safety Agency (‘EASA’) level A to D





Air navigation service provider concerned




Safety management objective




2025




2026




2027




2028




2029





Croatia Control


Safety policy and objectives


B


B


B


B


C




Safety risk management


B


B


B


C


D




Safety assurance


B


B


B


B


C




Safety promotion


B


B


B


B


C




Safety culture


B


B


B


B


C





KEY PERFORMANCE AREA OF ENVIRONMENT












Croatia




2025




2026




2027




2028




2029






Targets in the key performance area of environment, expressed as the average horizontal en route flight efficiency of the actual trajectory



1,46  %




1,45  %




1,44  %




1,43  %




1,42  %






KEY PERFORMANCE AREA OF CAPACITY












Croatia




2025




2026




2027




2028




2029






Targets in the key performance area of capacity, expressed in minutes of en route ATFM delay per flight



0,29 




0,23 




0,21 




0,18 




0,18 






KEY PERFORMANCE AREA OF COST-EFFICIENCY















En route charging zone of Croatia




2019 baseline value




2024 baseline value




2025




2026




2027




2028




2029






Targets and baseline values in the key performance area of cost-efficiency, expressed as determined unit cost (in real terms at 2022 prices)



EUR 44,80 




EUR 37,41 




EUR 36,96 




EUR 36,52 




EUR 36,08 




EUR 35,64 




EUR 35,21 








ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1062/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)