Article 3U.K.
1.Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that authorizations are granted following a procedure in which all interested entities may submit applications in accordance either with paragraph 2 or 3.
2.This procedure shall be initiated:
(a)either at the initiative of the competent authorities by means of a notice inviting applications, to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities at least 90 days before the closing date for applications;
(b)or by means of a notice inviting applications, to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities following submission of an application by an entity without prejudice to Article 2 (1). Other interested entities shall have a period of at least 90 days after the date of publication in which to submit an application.
Notices shall specify the type of authorization, the geographical area or areas in part or all of which an application has been or may be made and the proposed date or time limit for granting authorization.
Where preference is given to applications by entities which are single natural or legal persons, the notice shall so specify.
3.Member States may grant authorizations without initiating a procedure under paragraph 2 where the area for which authorization is requested:
(a)is available on a permanent basis; or
(b)has been the subject of a previous procedure according to paragraph 2 which has not resulted in the grant of an authorization; or
(c)has been relinquished by an entity and does not fall automatically under (a).
A Member State wishing to apply this paragraph shall within three months of the adoption of this Directive or, in case of Member States who have not yet introduced such procedures, without delay arrange for the publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities of a notice indicating the areas within its territory which are available under this paragraph and where detailed information in this regard can be obtained. Any significant change in this information shall be the subject of an additional notice. However, no application for an authorization under this paragraph can be considered until after the publication of the relevant notice under this text.
4.A Member State may decide not to apply the provisions of paragraph 1 if and to the extent that geological or production considerations justify the granting of the authorization for an area to the holder of an authorization for a contiguous area. The Member State concerned shall ensure that the holders of authorizations for any other contiguous areas are able to submit applications in such a case and are given sufficient time to do so.
5.The following shall not be considererd as the grant of an authorization within the meaning of paragraph 1:
(a)the grant of an authorization solely by reason of a change of name or ownership of an entity holding an existing authorization, a change in the composition of such an entity or a transfer of an authorization;
(b)the grant of an authorization to an entity having another form of authorization where the possession of the latter authorization implies a right to the grant of the former authorization;
(c)the decision of the competent authorities taken within the framework of an authorization (whether or not such authorization was granted before the date fixed in Article 14) and relating to the commencement, interruption, prolongation or cessation of the activities or to the prolongation of the authorization itself.
6.Notwithstanding the initiation of the procedures mentioned in paragraph 2, Member States retain the option to refuse the granting of authorizations, whilst ensuring that this option does not give rise to discrimination between entities.