2025/1061

28.5.2025

COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2025/1061

of 19 May 2025

on the consistency of the performance targets included in the draft performance plan submitted by Cyprus 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) 2926)

(Only the Greek 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 Cyprus (‘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 Cyprus 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 Cyprus in respect of the effectiveness of safety management, broken down per safety management objective and expressed as a level of implementation, are as follows:

Cyprus	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
DCAC	Safety policy and objectives	B	B	B	C	C
	Safety risk management	C	C	C	D	D
	Safety assurance	B	B	C	C	C
	Safety promotion	B	B	C	C	C
	Safety culture	B	B	C	C	C

(10) The Commission has found that the safety performance targets proposed by Cyprus for the air navigation service provider ‘DCAC’ are equal to the Union-wide safety targets for each calendar year from 2027 onwards in the areas of ‘safety assurance’, ‘safety promotion’ and ‘safety culture’. Furthermore, the Union-wide target level is planned to reached from 2028 onwards in the areas of ‘safety policy and objectives’ and ‘safety risk management’.

(11) The Commission notes that the draft performance plan sets out measures for DCAC for the achievement of the local safety targets, such as the effective implementation and further development of the safety management system, the further training of newly recruited Air Navigation Safety Officers and the management of human factors risks.

(12) On the basis of the findings set out in recitals (9), (10) and (11) and considering that the Union-wide safety performance targets set in Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1688 are to be achieved by the final year of RP4, that is, 2029, the local safety performance targets included in the draft performance plan should be considered consistent with the Union-wide performance targets.

Assessment of the environment targets

(13) As regards the key performance area of environment, the consistency of the targets included in the draft performance plan regarding the average horizontal

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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 Cyprus 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.

(14) The environment performance targets proposed by Cyprus 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:

Cyprus	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	4,48 %	4,45 %	4,40 %	4,30 %	4,25 %
Reference values	4,48 %	4,45 %	4,40 %	4,30 %	4,25 %

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

(16) On the basis of the findings set out in recitals (14) and (15), 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.

(17) However, having regard to the PRB’s findings, the Commission has doubts whether the measures presented by Cyprus in the draft performance plan for the achievement of the environment performance targets are adequate to enable those targets to be effectively reached. In particular, it is noted that Cyprus has not expressly committed, in the draft performance plan, to the implementation of the operational measures set out in the ERNIP.

(18) Therefore, the Commission considers that, in connection with the adoption of its final performance plan in accordance with Article 16, point (a) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, Cyprus should strengthen the measures for the achievement of its environment targets for RP4 presented in the draft performance plan, including by committing to all the operational measures set out in the ERNIP and expediting the implementation of cross-border free route airspace.

Assessment of the capacity targets

(19) As regards the key performance area of capacity, the consistency of the targets included in the draft performance plan regarding the average

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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 Cyprus 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.

(20) The

en route

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

Cyprus	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029
Targets in the key performance area of capacity, expressed in minutes of en route ATFM delay per flight	0,17	0,13	0,12	0,09	0,09
Reference values	0,17	0,13	0,12	0,09	0,09

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

(22) The Commission notes that Cyprus has presented, in the draft performance plan, measures for the achievement of its

en route

capacity targets. Those measures include the recruitment of additional air traffic controllers, more efficient rostering arrangements, investments in the air traffic management infrastructure, improved air traffic flow and capacity management, and the operation of an additional sector by the area control centre during time periods of peak traffic demand.

(23) On the basis of the findings set out in recitals (20) to (22), 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

(24) 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.

(25) The

en route

cost-efficiency targets proposed by Cyprus for RP4, and the related baseline values, are as follows:

En route charging zone of Cyprus	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 23,74	EUR 31,16	EUR 30,41	EUR 29,66	EUR 29,58	EUR 28,91	EUR 29,31

(26) Concerning the assessment criterion set out in point 1.4(a) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the Commission observes that Cyprus’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.

(27) Concerning the assessment criterion set out in point 1.4(b) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the Commission observes that Cyprus’s long-term DUC trend at charging zone level over RP3 and RP4 of +2,4 % underperforms the long-term Union-wide trend of -1,0 % over the same period.

(28) The Commission notes, however, that Cyprus has lost, as a consequence of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, a significant share of the overflights which it historically used to serve. That traffic reduction continues over RP4 to considerably impact the cost-efficiency performance of the air navigation service provider and has, in particular, a negative effect on the long-term DUC trend of Cyprus.

(29) It is therefore necessary to examine, for the purpose of the assessment criterion referred to in recital (27), whether Cyprus would meet the Union-wide long-term DUC trend in the absence of the circumstances referred to in recital (28).

(30) To this end, the Commission has recalculated the long-term DUC trend in light of the estimated structural loss of traffic for Cyprus as a consequence of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, measured in

en route

service units. That recalculation results in an adjusted long-term DUC trend for Cyprus of -1,6 %, which outperforms the long-term Union-wide DUC trend of -1,0 %. Therefore, it is concluded that Cyprus fulfils the assessment criterion referred to in recital (27) after taking into account the effect of the significant traffic reduction resulting from geopolitical factors.

(31) Concerning the assessment criterion set out in point 1.4(c) of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, the Commission observes that Cyprus’s baseline value for the DUC of EUR 31,16 in real terms at 2022 prices (‘EUR2022’) is 14,8 % higher than the average baseline value of EUR 27,14 in EUR2022 of the relevant comparator group set out in Article 7 Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1688.

(32) When excluding the negative impact of the traffic changes resulting from the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, it is clear that Cyprus meets both the Union-wide DUC trend and the Union-wide long-term DUC trend. Therefore, the Commission considers that the deviation from the average DUC baseline for 2024 referred to in recital (31) does not preclude Cyprus’s cost-efficiency performance targets from being consistent with the Union-wide cost-efficiency performance targets.

(33) On the basis of the findings set out in recitals (25) to (32), 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

(34) In the light of the foregoing, the performance targets included in the draft performance plan of Cyprus should be considered consistent with the Union-wide performance targets for RP4. However, as set out in recital (18), Cyprus should strengthen, in its final performance plan, the measures for the achievement of its environment targets for RP4, including by committing to all the operational measures set out in the ERNIP and expediting the implementation of cross-border free route airspace,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The performance targets included in the draft performance plan submitted by Cyprus 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 Cyprus.

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 Cyprus, found to be consistent with the Union-wide performance targets for the fourth reference period

KEY PERFORMANCE AREA OF SAFETY

Cyprus	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	Safety management objective	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029
DCAC	Safety policy and objectives	B	B	B	C	C
	Safety risk management	C	C	C	D	D
	Safety assurance	B	B	C	C	C
	Safety promotion	B	B	C	C	C
	Safety culture	B	B	C	C	C

KEY PERFORMANCE AREA OF ENVIRONMENT

Cyprus	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	4,48 %	4,45 %	4,40 %	4,30 %	4,25 %

KEY PERFORMANCE AREA OF CAPACITY

Cyprus	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029
Targets in the key performance area of capacity, expressed in minutes of en route ATFM delay per flight	0,17	0,13	0,12	0,09	0,09

KEY PERFORMANCE AREA OF COST-EFFICIENCY

En route charging zone of Cyprus	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 23,74	EUR 31,16	EUR 30,41	EUR 29,66	EUR 29,58	EUR 28,91	EUR 29,31

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1061/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)