title: COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/... laying down standard Rules of Functioning for the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission and a standard form for the communication of information concerning publicity of the final decision in accordance with Council Directive (EU) 2017/1852

text:
               COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/...

               of 24.4.2019

               laying down standard Rules of Functioning for the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission and a standard form for the communication of information concerning publicity of the final decision in accordance with Council Directive (EU) 2017/1852

               THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

               Having regard to Council Directive (EU) 2017/1852 of 10 October 2017 on tax dispute resolution mechanisms in the European Union
                  1
               , and in particular Articles 11(3) and 18(4) thereof,

               Whereas:

               (1)Directive (EU) 2017/1852 introduces a mechanism for the effective resolution of tax disputes between Member States concerning the interpretation and application of  agreements and conventions that provide for the elimination of double taxation of income and, where applicable, capital.

               (2)Directive (EU) 2017/1852 provides that if the mutual agreement procedure which is foreseen as a first step for the resolution of disputes does not lead to an agreement between the competent authorities of the Member States concerned within a certain timeframe, the dispute may be submitted for resolution by an Advisory Commission or an Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission.

               (3)Directive (EU) 2017/1852 provides that the competent authorities of each Member State involved in the dispute shall sign the Rules of Functioning for the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission (‘Rules of Functioning’) and notify them to the affected persons.

               (4)Directive (EU) 2017/1852 provides that the Commission shall establish standard Rules of Functioning to apply where the Rules of Functioning have not been notified to the affected person(s) within the prescribed timeframe or they are incomplete. Standard Rules of Functioning should therefore be established, in order to achieve the continuity and effectiveness of the dispute resolution procedure. For this reason, the standard Rules of Functioning should create a comprehensive procedural framework for the dispute resolution procedure to run without obstacles and to guarantee the rights of the affected person(s) under Directive (EU) 2017/1852. It would be particularly important to delineate the legal base of the dispute, the terms of reference, as well as deal with the details of the organisation and functioning of the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission and also provide for the sharing of costs. In order to ensure the independence of the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission, it would also be necessary to include a comprehensive disclosure of any conflicts of interest.

               (5)Directive (EU) 2017/1852 provides that the competent authorities may agree to publish their final decision in its entirety, subject to consent of the affected person(s) concerned. Directive (EU) 2017/1852 also provides that where the competent authorities or affected person(s) concerned do not consent to publishing the final decision in its entirety, the competent authorities shall publish an abstract of such final decision.

               (6)In order to guarantee the coherent communication of the information concerning the publicity of the final decision, a standard form should be established. In order to ensure transparency regarding the final decision whilst also protect business secrecy of the affected person(s), the standard form should condition the publication of the final decision on an agreement of the competent authorities and the consent of the affected person(s). In the case that one of these parties disagrees with the publication, the rules should provide for releasing an abstract of the final decision and setting out the elements that should feature thereon. It should also be accepted that the affected person be entitled to request the competent authorities not to publish information that pertains to business secrecy.

               (7)In order to ensure legal certainty and a proper functioning of the system, this Regulation should start to apply after the time limit for transposition laid down in the first subparagraph of Article 22(1) of Directive (EU) 2017/1852.

               (8)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Dispute Resolution,

               HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

               Article 1

               Standard Rules of Functioning

               Where the competent authorities of the Member States involved in a dispute resolution procedure under Directive (EU) 2017/1852 have not notified the Rules of Functioning for the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission (‘Rules of Functioning’) or have notified incomplete Rules of Functioning to the affected person(s), the independent persons of standing and the chair shall complete the Rules of Functioning on the basis of the standard form laid down in Annex I to this Regulation.

               Article 2

               Standard form for the communication of information concerning publicity of the final decision

               Where the competent authorities of the Member States involved in a dispute resolution procedure under Directive (EU) 2017/1852 communicate information referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 18 of that Directive, they shall use the standard form laid down in Annex II to this Regulation.

               Article 3

               Entry into force and application

               This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

               It shall apply from 1 July 2019.

               This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

               Done at Brussels, 24.4.2019

                     For the Commission

                     The President
                     Jean-Claude JUNCKER

                     (1)

                        OJ L 265, 14.10.2017, p. 1.

    ---documentbreak---

               EN

               ANNEX I

               Part 1

               Standard Rules of Functioning of the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission

               (Article 11(3) of Directive (EU) 2017/1852)

               [To be filled in by the independent persons of standing and the chair and signed by the competent authorities of the Member States concerned]

               [Where the advisory commission is set up for the purposes of Article 6(1)(a) of Directive (EU) 2017/1852, fill in items marked with a * only]

               1.General Information*

               Name(s) of the affected person(s), address(es), tax identification number(s) (TIN)(s):

               Member State of residence for tax purposes of the affected person(s):

               Member States concerned:

               Full address and details of a contact person for the affected person(s), including phone number and email address:

               Names and details of the affected person’s counsel (if applicable):

               2.Composition of the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission

               2.1.Form:

               ◻ Advisory Commission

               ◻ Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission

               2.2.Type of resolution process:

               ◻ “Independent opinion” process

               ◻ "Final offer" process

               ◻ Other, please specify: ______________________________________

               2.3.Number of Members and general information*:

               –◻ Chair

               –◻ ____ Independent persons of standing  and ___ Substitutes

               –◻ ____Competent authorities’ representatives

               Chair:

               Citizenship: ______________________ Address and contact details (incl. email address and phone number - optional): _______________________

               Independent person of standing (appointed by _______________):

               Citizenship: ______________________ Address and contact details (incl. email address and phone number - optional): _______________________

               Substitute (appointed by _______________):

               Citizenship: ______________________ Address and contact details (incl. email address and phone number - optional): _______________________

               Independent person of standing (appointed by _______________):

               Citizenship: ______________________ Address and contact details (incl. email address and phone number - optional): _______________________

               Substitute (appointed by _______________):

               Citizenship: ______________________ Address and contact details (incl. email address and phone number - optional): _______________________

               Competent authorities (Representative appointed for__________)

               Address and contact details (incl. email address and phone number):

               Competent authorities (Representative appointed for__________)

               Address and contact details (incl. email address and phone number):

               Where applicable, add lines for additional members involved

               In addition, as regards the independent persons of standing, their CVs and references with details of their competence and qualifications shall optionally be attached to these Standard Rules of Functioning. The Disclosure of any Conflicts of Interest set out in Part 2 shall be lawfully signed and included.

               3.Description and characteristics of the question in dispute*

               Subject matter description:

               Tax period(s):

               Industry sector:

               References to applicable laws and treaties:

               ◻ National law provisions (Detailed reference of the corresponding articles shall be provided – the full provisions can be attached)

               ◻ Double Taxation Convention (Bilateral or multilateral - detailed reference of the corresponding articles shall be provided – the full provisions can be attached)

               ◻ Convention on the elimination of double taxation in connection with the adjustments of profits of associated enterprises (90/436/EEC)
                  1
                (Detailed reference of the corresponding articles shall be provided – the full provisions can be attached)

               ◻ Any other reference agreed by the competent authorities:

               Amounts per tax year and other details about the disputed application or interpretation of the agreement or convention as specified in the complaint submitted by the affected person and as verified by the competent authorities:

               4.Terms of reference agreed by the Competent Authorities

               Description of the legal issues subject to interpretation in the disputed case:

               Description of the factual circumstances to be considered and factual issues on which competent authorities need clarification and/or interpretation by the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission:

               5.Time Frame for the dispute resolution procedure*

               Latest date for delivering the opinion:

               Time-limits for submissions by the competent authorities and affected person(s), including documentary or other evidence and/or expert opinions; consequences of late submission (if any):

               Scheduled dates and place of hearings (if any):

               Scheduled dates for the appearance or representation of the affected person(s) and/or third parties at the hearings (if any):

               6.Organisation and functioning*

               Place(s) of meeting of the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission: __________________________

               Administrative services that may be required for the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission to carry out their functions: ___________________________________________________________________________

               Working language(s) for the dispute resolution procedure: _________________

               Possible need for translation of documents (in full or in part): _______________________

               Possible need for interpretation of oral presentations: _______________________

               Practical details concerning written submissions and evidence (e.g. method of submission, copies, numbering, references): ___________________________________________________________________________

               Routing of written communications among the competent authorities and affected person(s) (including means of sending documents):
                  ___________________________________________________________________________

               Arrangements for requests for information by the Advisory Commission or Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission and subsequent replies by the affected person(s) and the competent authorities: ______________________________________

               Experts and other possible third parties (terms and conditions for the submission of oral and written opinions): ___________________________________________________________________________

               Conditions for the admissibility of documents (e.g. original or certified copies, etc.): _____________________________________________

               Arrangements for presenting voluminous and complicated documentary evidence (e.g., through summaries, tabulations, charts, extracts or samples): _________________________________

               Arrangements for a record of the hearings: ______________________________________

               Other (to be specified, including other procedural, evidentiary and logistical arrangements that may be applicable): ___________________________________________________________________________

               7.Opinion

               Possible requirements concerning filing or delivering the opinion: ___________________________________________________________________________

               ___________________________________________________________________________

               8.Costs*

               The costs shall be shared between the Member States:

               ◻  In proportion of: __________________________

               ◻  Equally

               The costs shall include, if any:

               ◻ The expenses incurred by the independent persons of standing: _________

               ◻ The fees of the independent persons of standing (limited to EUR 1 000 per person per meeting day): _______________________

               ◻ Translation costs ________________________________________________

               ◻ Interpretation costs ______________________________________________

               ◻ Other administrative costs (including Secretariat costs) __________________________________________________________________

               Other information and arrangements regarding costs (to be specified):

               9.Other

               Date:

               Signature by the representatives of the competent authorities of the Member States:

               ______________________________                  ___________________________

               Part 2

               Disclosure of Any Conflicts of Interest

               [To be filled in by each appointed independent person of standing and his or her substitute]

               Family name: _________________________

               First name: ___________________________

               Appointed by: ________________________

               ◻ I consider myself independent and impartial. To the best of my knowledge, and having made due enquiry, there is no interest, relationship or any other matter, past or present, that I should disclose because it might affect my independence or impartiality or that might reasonably create an appearance of bias in the proceedings.

               ◻ Confirmation with disclosure: I am objective and intend to remain so. Accordingly, I am also mindful of my obligation to disclose any facts or circumstances, which might be of such nature as to call into question my independence before the competent authorities. In this context, I draw your attention to the matters below:

               This disclosure does not discharge my ongoing duty to disclose any facts and circumstances that might affect my independence.

               Date:

               Signature of the appointed independent person or his or her subsitute:

               ______________________________

               ANNEX II

               Standard Form for the communication of information concerning Publicity of the Final Decision

               (Article 18(4) of Directive (EU) 2017/1852)

               [To be filled in by the competent authorities of each Member State concerned]

                        Publication of the final decision

                        1. Agreement of the competent authorities to publish the final decision in its entirety

                        Yes           No

                        2. Consent of the affected person(s) to publish the final decision in its entirety

                        Yes           No

                        If ‘Yes’ under both 1. and 2.:

                        a) Publication of the final decision in its entirety

                        Text of final decision in its entirety:

                        If ‘No’ under any of 1. or 2.:

                        b) Publication of the abstract of the final decision

                        (i) a description of the issue and the subject matter

                        …

                        (ii) date

                        …

                        (iii) tax periods involved

                        …

                        (iv) legal base

                        …

                        (v) industry sector

                        …

                        (vi) a short description of the final outcome

                        …

                        (vii) a description of the method of arbitration used

                        …

                        The final decision has been redacted for reasons concerning a trade, business, industrial or professional secret or trade process, or for being contrary to public policy

                     (1)

                      OJ L 225, 20.8.1990, p. 10.


title: COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/... amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014, Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014 as regards financial instruments set up under the programmes for rural development

text:
               COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/...

               of 6.6.2019

               amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014, Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014 as regards financial instruments set up under the programmes for rural development

               THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

               Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005
                  1
               , and in particular Article 8(3) thereof,

               Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 352/78, (EC) No 165/94, (EC) No 2799/98, (EC) No 814/2000, (EC) No 1290/2005 and (EC) No 485/2008
                  2
               , and in particular Articles 36(6) and 62(2)(a) hereof,

               Whereas:

               (1)The possibility to set-up financial instruments combining European Structural and Investment Funds contributions with European Investment Bank financial products under the European Fund for Strategic Investments was introduced in Article 38(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council
                  3
                by Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council
                  4
               .

               (2)This new provision applies also to the financial instruments set up under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) programmes. Some implementing rules laid down  in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014
                  5
               , in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014
                  6
                and in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014
                  7
                contain references to financial instruments as referred to in Article 38(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 before its amendment by Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. Therefore, a reference to the new point (c) of Article 38(1) should be introduced to the relevant provisions of those acts.

               (3)Implementing Regulations (EU) No 808/2014, (EU) No 809/2014 and (EU) No 908/2014 should therefore be amended accordingly.

               (4)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Rural Development Committee and the Committee on the Agricultural Funds,

               HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

               Article 1

               In point 10(c) of Part 1 of Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014 the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

               ‘When a measure or a type of operation with specific EAFRD contribution rate contributes to the financial instruments referred to in Article 38(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, the table shall indicate separately the contribution rates for financial instruments and for other operations and an indicative EAFRD amount corresponding to the planned contribution to the financial instrument.’

               Article 2

               Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 is amended as follows:

               (a) in Article 48, paragraph 6 is replaced by the following:

               ‘6. As regards the financial instruments referred to in Article 38(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article shall neither apply to the contribution to the financial instrument nor to the support to the final recipient. However, Articles 58 and 59 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 and Article 9 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 480/2014* shall apply.

               *Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 480/2014 of 3 March 2014 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (

                  OJ L 138, 13.5.2014, p. 5

               ).’

               (b) in Article 51, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

               ‘5. As regards the financial instruments referred to in Article 38(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article shall neither apply to the contribution to the financial instrument nor to the support to the final recipient. However, Articles 58 and 59 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 and Article 9 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 480/2014 shall apply.’

               Article 3

               In Article 22(2) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014, the third subparagraph is replaced by the following:

               ‘As regards financial instruments set up in accordance with Article 38(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, the expenditure shall be declared in respect of the reference periods referred to in the first subparagraph once the conditions for each subsequent application for interim payment as laid down in Article 41(1) of that Regulation are met.’

               Article 4

               This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

               This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

               Done at Brussels, 6.6.2019

                     For the Commission

                     The President
                     Jean-Claude JUNCKER

                     (1)

                        OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 487.

                     (2)

                        OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 549.

                     (3)

                        Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 320).

                     (4)

                        Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1).

                     (5)

                        Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014 of 17 July 2014 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (OJ L 227 31.7.2014, p. 18).

                     (6)

                        Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 of 17 July 2014 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the integrated administration and control system, rural development measures and cross compliance (OJ L 227, 31.7.2014, p. 69).

                     (7)

                        Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014 of 6 August 2014 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to paying agencies and other bodies, financial management, clearance of accounts, rules on checks, securities and transparency (OJ L 255 28.8.2014, p. 59).


title: COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/... on the uniform conditions for the harmonised application of territorial typologies pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

text:
               COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/...

               of 2.7.2019

               on the uniform conditions for the harmonised application of territorial typologies pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

               THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

               Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)
                  1
               , and in particular Article 4b(5) thereof,

               Whereas:

               (1)Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 constitutes the legal framework for the regional classification of the Union in order to enable the collection, compilation and dissemination of harmonised regional statistics.

               (2)Article 4b of Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 empowers the Commission to establish at Union level uniform conditions for the harmonised application of the territorial typologies referred to in that Article.

               (3)Those conditions should describe the method for assigning the typologies to individual local administrative units (LAUs) and Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) level 3 regions.

               (4)When applying the uniform conditions, it is important to take account of geographical, socioeconomic, historical, cultural and environmental circumstances.

               (5)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the European Statistical System Committee,

               HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

               Article 1

               The uniform conditions for the harmonised application of the grid-based typology and the LAUlevel and NUTS level 3 typologies shall be those set out in the Annex.

               Article 2

               This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

               This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

               Done at Brussels, 2.7.2019

                     For the Commission

                     The President
                     Jean-Claude JUNCKER

                     (1)

                        OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, p. 1.

    ---documentbreak---

               ANNEX

               1.The uniform conditions for the harmonised application of the grid-based typology shall be the following:

                        Element as established in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003

                        Labels

                        Conditions

                        Grid-based typology

                        ‘Rural grid cells’ or

                        ‘Low density grid cells’

                        1 km² grid cells with density below 300 inhabitants/km² and other cells outside urban clusters.

                        ‘Urban clusters’ or ‘Moderate density clusters’

                        Contiguous (including diagonals) 1 km² grid cells with a density of at least 300 inhabitants/km², and a minimum of 5 000 inhabitants in the cluster.

                        ‘Urban centres’ or ‘High density clusters’

                        Contiguous (without diagonals) 1 km² grid cells within the 'urban cluster' with a density of at least 1 500 inhabitants/km² and a minimum of 50 000 inhabitants in the cluster after gap filling.

               2.The uniform conditions for the harmonised application of the typologies at LAU level shall be the following:

                        Element as established in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003

                        Labels

                        Conditions

                        Degree of urbanisation (DEGURBA)

                        'Urban areas'

                        'Cities' or 'Densely populated areas'

                        LAU level territorial units where at least 50% of the population lives in urban centres.

                        'Towns and suburbs' or 'Intermediate density areas'

                        LAU level territorial units where less than 50 % of the population lives in rural grid cells and less than 50 % lives in urban centres.

                        'Rural areas' or

                        'Thinly populated areas'

                        LAU level territorial units where at least 50% of the population lives in rural grid cells.

                        Functional urban areas

                        'Functional urban areas'

                        'Cities'

                        LAU level territorial units defined as 'Cities' or 'Densely populated areas'

                        'Commuting zone'

                        LAU level territorial units from which at least 15% of the employed population commutes to the city, whereby enclaves are included and exclaves are excluded.

                        Coastal areas

                        'Coastal areas'

                        LAU level territorial units that border the sea or that have at least 50% of their surface within a distance of 10 km from the sea. Enclaves (non-coastal LAUs surrounded by adjacent coastal LAUs) are added.

                        'Non-coastal areas'

                        LAU level territorial units that are not 'Coastal areas' i.e. that do not border the sea and have less than 50% of their surface within a distance of 10 km from the sea.

               3.The uniform conditions for the harmonised application of the typologies at NUTS level 3 shall be the following:

                        Element as established in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003

                        Labels

                        Conditions

                        Urban-rural typology

                        'Predominantly urban regions'

                        NUTS level 3 regions where at least 80% of the population live in urban clusters.

                        'Intermediate regions'

                        NUTS level 3 regions where more than 50% but less than 80% of the population live in urban clusters.

                        'Predominantly rural regions'

                        NUTS level 3 regions where at least 50% of the population live in rural grid cells.

                        Metropolitan typology

                        'Metropolitan regions'

                        A single or an aggregation of NUTS level 3 region(s) in which at least 50% of the population live in functional urban areas of at least 250 000 inhabitants.

                        'Non-metropolitan regions'

                        NUTS level 3 regions that are not 'Metropolitan regions'.

                        Coastal typology

                        'Coastal regions'

                        NUTS level 3 regions that border the sea, or those in which at least 50% of the population live within 50 km from the coastline, as well as the NUTS level 3 region of Hamburg (Germany).

                        'Non-coastal regions'

                        NUTS level 3 regions that are not 'Coastal regions'.