(1)

Pursuant to Article 11(3), point (a), of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004, the Commission is responsible for setting, for each reference period of the performance and charging scheme for air navigation services and network functions, Union-wide performance targets in the key performance areas of safety, environment, capacity and cost-efficiency. Detailed rules regarding the setting of those Union-wide performance targets by the Commission are set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317.

(2)

The Union-wide performance targets for the fourth reference period (‘RP4’), which covers the calendar years 2025 to 2029 inclusive, are to be adopted by 1 June 2024.

(3)

In preparation of those Union-wide performance targets, Article 9(2) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317 requires the Commission to publish indicative target ranges for each key performance area (‘KPA’), consisting of the annual minimum and maximum values within which the Commission intends to set the Union-wide performance targets. Those indicative target ranges are to be used by the Commission for the purpose of consulting the stakeholders referred to in Article 10(3) of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004, other relevant persons and organisations and, regarding safety aspects, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (‘EASA’).

(4)

The Performance Review Body (‘PRB’) designated by the Commission in accordance with Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 proposed indicative Union-wide performance target ranges for RP4 in a report submitted to the Commission on 29 September 2023.

(5)

In that report, the PRB presented in detail the assumptions, rationale and analysis underlying the proposed indicative target ranges in the key performance areas of safety, environment, capacity and cost-efficiency. As regards the traffic evolution foreseen for RP4, the PRB made use of the latest available Eurocontrol STATFOR base traffic forecast, published on 31 March 2023.

(6)

The indicative Union-wide performance target ranges set out in this Decision should be based on the values proposed by the PRB in its report referred to in recitals (4) and (5), and should be underpinned by the robust methodology, comprehensive data, and extensive quantitative and qualitative analysis presented in that report.

(7)

In respect of the KPA of safety, consideration should be given to the improvements in the effectiveness of safety management achieved during the third reference period (‘RP3’) and to the further improvements necessary in the light of the latest regulatory and operational developments.

(8)

For the purpose of calculating the indicative Union-wide performance target ranges for the environment KPA, consideration should be given to the historical performance achieved in that KPA, the estimated benefits resulting from measures set out in the European Route Network Improvement Plan referred to in Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/123 (3), in its version published in July 2023 (4), and the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on air traffic flows in the airspace. Furthermore, the proposed indicative Union-wide performance target ranges in the environment KPA should take into account the results of a study conducted by the PRB on the interdependencies between the environment and capacity KPAs, which has been used to appraise the impact of expected capacity constraints on the environment KPA in RP4.

(9)

For the purpose of calculating the indicative Union-wide performance target ranges for the capacity KPA, consideration should be given firstly to the historical capacity performance of Air Navigation Service Providers (‘ANSPs’), with a focus on the air traffic flow management (‘ATFM’) delays due to air traffic control (‘ATC’) capacity restrictions or ATC staffing reasons. Secondly, to the historical occurrence of air navigation service disruptions due to non-ATC related causes together with the impact of adverse weather-related delays on capacity provision. Thirdly, to the capacity improvement plans of ‘ANSPs’ which are included in the European Network Operations Plan referred to in Article 9 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/123, in its Annexes published in April 2023 (5). In respect of operational benefits expected in RP4 from the air traffic management (‘ATM’) functionalities part of the SESAR ‘Common Project One’ and laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/116 (6), for the development of indicative Union-wide performance target ranges for RP4 consideration should be given to the analysis produced by the SESAR Deployment Manager and annexed to the PRB report.

(10)

In respect of the KPA of cost-efficiency, the preliminary cost and traffic data for RP4 submitted by Member States by 1 June 2023 should be used as one of the inputs for the calculation of indicative Union-wide performance target ranges for RP4. The indicative Union-wide performance target ranges are further underpinned by the PRB’s forward-looking expert analysis of the RP4 cost bases and of the potential for cost-efficiency improvements during RP4, taking account of interdependencies with other KPAs. Consideration should be also given to an analysis of the estimated cost inefficiencies in the provision of en route air navigation services within the scope of the performance and charging scheme,