23.1.2015 Official Journal of the European Union L18/1 II (Non-legislative acts) DECISIONS COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2015/69 of 3 December 2014 adopting an eighth update of the list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (notified under document C(2014) 9072) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora ("), and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 4(2) thereof, Whereas: (1) The Continental biogeographical region referred to in Article 1(c)(iii) of Directive 924 3/EEC comprises the Union territory of Luxembourg and parts of the Union territories of Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia and Sweden, as specified in the biogeogra- phical map approved on 20 April 2005 by the committee set up by Article 20 of that Directive (the ‘Habitats Committee’). The initial list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region, within the meaning of Directive 92/43/EEC, was adopted by Commission Decision 2004/798EC (?). That list was last updated by Commission Implementing Decision 2013/741/EU (). The sites included in the list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region form part of the Natura 2000 network which is an essential element of the protection of biodiversity in the Union. In order to make further progress in the actual establishment of the Natura 2000 network and in the context of a dynamic adaptation of that network, the lists of sites of Community importance are reviewed regularly. Since October 2012 Member States have proposed additional sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region within the meaning of Article 1 of Directive 92/43/EEC. Member States have also submitted changes in the site-related information contained in the list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region. On the basis of the draft list drawn up by the Commission in agreement with each of the Member States concerned, which also identifies sites hosting priority natural habitat types or priority species, an updated list of sites selected as sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region should be adopted. Articles 4(4) and 6(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC apply to the newly included sites. () OJL206,22.7.1992,p.7. (*) Commission Decision 2004/798/EC of 7 December 2004 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43[EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (O] L 382, 28.12.2004, p. 1). () Commission Implementing Decision 2013/741/EU of 7 November 2013 adopting a seventh updated list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (O] L 350, 21.12.2013, p. 287).