12.5.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
L 135/7
(16)
The assessment of en route cost efficiency targets was conducted taking account of local circumstances.
It was complemented by the review of the elements laid down in point 2 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, namely the key factors and parameters underpinning those targets as set out under point 2.1(d) of that Annex.
(17)
Furthermore, in relation to the assessment of draft en route cost-efficiency targets, for airports which are in the scope of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317 in accordance with Articles 1(3) and (4) of that Regulation, the Commission has complemented its review with the assessment of the draft cost-efficiency targets for terminal air navigation services in accordance with point 2.1(c) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317.
Where those draft targets were found to raise concerns, the related findings are set out in this Decision.
(18)
In accordance with point 2(f) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, in relation to the assessment of draft capacity targets, the Commission has complemented its review by an assessment of the draft incentive schemes referred to in Article 11 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317.
In this respect, the Commission has examined whether the draft incentive schemes fulfil the substantive requirements set out in Article 11(1) and (3) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317.
Where those draft incentive schemes were found to raise concerns, the related findings are set out in this Decision.
Special considerations concerning traffic evolution
(19)
The STATFOR October 2021 base traffic forecast projects that air traffic at Union-wide level will reach its prepandemic levels in the course of 2023 and will exceed those levels in 2024.
However, the level of uncertainty regarding traffic development remains particularly high, because of the risks related to the evolution of the COVID-19 epidemiological situation.
The Commission notes that the traffic recovery is expected to be uneven across Member States.
(20)
Accordingly, the forecasted RP3 traffic growth in several Member States is foreseen to be significantly lower than the average traffic growth at Union-wide level, and RP3 traffic volumes are forecasted to remain below pre-pandemic levels in a number of those Member States.
The Commission acknowledges that this renders the achievement of Union-wide cost-efficiency targets more demanding for the Member States concerned, and has taken this point into account when reviewing the local circumstances relevant for the assessment of each draft performance plan.
FINDINGS CONCERNING FABEC
Assessment of draft performance targets in the key performance area of cost-efficiency – Belgium and Luxembourg
(21)
The draft en route cost-efficiency targets proposed by Belgium and Luxembourg for RP3 are as follows: En route charging zone of Belgium and Luxembourg
Draft en route cost-efficiency targets, expressed as determined en route unit cost (in real terms at 2017 prices)
(22)
2014 baseline value
2019 baseline value
2020 -2021
2022
2023
2024
73,13 EUR
83,28 EUR
189,52 EUR
113,26 EUR
108,51 EUR
103,82 EUR
As regards the criterion laid down in point 1.4(a) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the Commission observes that the en route determined unit cost trend of Belgium and Luxembourg at charging zone level of +5,7 % per year over RP3 underperforms the Union-wide trend of +1,0 % over the same period.