THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC(1), and in particular Article 18a(3)(b) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Directive 2008/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) amended Directive 2003/87/EC to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the European Union.
(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 748/2009(3) establishes a list of aircraft operators which had performed an aviation activity as defined in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC on or after 1 January 2006.
(3) That list aims to reduce the administrative burden on aircraft operators by providing information on which Member State will be regulating a particular aircraft operator.
(4) The inclusion of an aircraft operator in the Union's emissions trading scheme is dependent upon the performance of an aviation activity as set out in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC and is not dependent on the inclusion in the list of aircraft operators established by the Commission on the basis of Article 18a(3) of that Directive.
(5) The accession of Croatia to the European Union on 1 July 2013 and the criteria set under Article 18a(1) of Directive 2003/87/EC to determine an aircraft operator's administering Member State imply that certain aircraft operators should be administered by Croatia.
(6) Regulation (EC) No 748/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: