13.2.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 431 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 12 December 2008 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43EEC, a first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region (notified under document number C(2008) 7918) (2009/90/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, Having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1) and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 4(2) thereof, Whereas: 1 The Pannonian biogeographical region referred to in Article 1(c)(iii) of Directive 92/43/EEC comprises parts of the territories of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania, and the territory of Hungary as specified in the biogeographical map approved on 20 April 2005 by the Committee set up by Article 20 of that Directive, hereinafter ‘the Habitats Committee’. It is necessary in the context of a process which was initiated in 1995 to make further progress in the actual establishment of the Natura 2000 network, which is an essential element of the protection of biodiversity in the Community. An initial list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region, within the meaning of Directive 92/43/EEC, was adopted by Commission Decision 2008/26/EC (3. On the basis of Articles 4(4) and 6(1) of () OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7. () OJL12,15.1.2008, p. 678. Directive 92/43[EEC, the Member State concerned shall designate the sites included in the list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region as special areas of conservation as soon as possible and within six years at most, establishing conservation priorities and the necessary conservation measures. In the context of a dynamic adaptation of the Natura 2000 network, the lists of sites of Community importance are reviewed. A first update of that initial list is therefore necessary. On the one hand, the update of the initial list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region is necessary in order to include additional sites that have been proposed since September 2006 by the Member States as sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region within the meaning of Article 1 of Directive 92[43/EEC. The obligations resulting from Articles 4(4) and 6(1) of Directive 92/43[EEC are applicable as soon as possible and within six years at most from the adoption of the first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region. On the other hand, the update of the initial list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region is necessary in order and to reflect any changes in site related information submitted by the Member States following the adoption of the initial Community list. In that sense, the first updated list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region constitutes a consolidated version of the list of sites of Community importance for the Pannonian biogeographical region. However, it should be stressed that the obligations resulting from Articles 4(4) and 6(1) of Directive 92/43/