Recitals

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

• Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 240(3) thereof,

Whereas:

1. Council Decision (EU) 2020/430⁽¹⁾ introduced a one-month derogation from the first subparagraph of Article 12(1) of the Council’s Rules of Procedure⁽²⁾ as regards decisions to use the ordinary written procedure, where those decisions are taken by the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States (Coreper). That derogation was foreseen until 23 April 2020.
2. Decision (EU) 2020/430 provides that, if justified by continued exceptional circumstances, the Council may renew that Decision. On 21 April 2020, the Council, by Decision (EU) 2020/556⁽³⁾, extended the derogation provided for in Article 1 of Decision (EU) 2020/430 for a further period of one month from 23 April 2020. That extension of the derogation was foreseen until 23 May 2020. On 20 May 2020, the Council, by Decision (EU) 2020/702⁽⁴⁾, extended the derogation provided for in Article 1 of Decision (EU) 2020/430 until 10 July 2020. On 3 July 2020, the Council, by Decision (EU) 2020/970⁽⁵⁾, extended that derogation until 10 September 2020. On 4 September 2020, the Council, by Decision (EU) 2020/1253⁽⁶⁾, extended that derogation until 10 November 2020. On 6 November 2020, the Council, by Decision (EU) 2020/1659⁽⁷⁾, extended that derogation until 15 January 2021.
3. Given that the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continue, with a number of extraordinary preventive and containment measures taken by Member States still in place, it is necessary to extend the derogation provided for in Article 1 of Decision (EU) 2020/430, as extended by Decisions (EU) 2020/556, (EU) 2020/702, (EU) 2020/970, (EU) 2020/1253 and (EU) 2020/1659, for a further limited period until 19 March 2021,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: