27.—(1) In these Regulations a “European site” means any of the following located in the United Kingdom—
(a)a special area of conservation;
(b)a site of Community importance which has been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive;
(c)a site hosting a priority natural habitat type or priority species in respect of which consultation has been initiated under Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive, during the consultation period mentioned in Article 5(2) or pending a decision of the Council under Article 5(3);
(d)a site classified as a special protection area pursuant to Article 4(1) or (2) of the Wild Birds Directive; and
(e)a site which has been proposed to the Commission by the Secretary of State or any of the devolved administrations as a site eligible for designation as a special area of conservation for the purposes of meeting the United Kingdom’s obligations under Article 4(1) of the Habitats Directive, until such time as—
(i)it is placed on the list of sites of Community importance referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive, or
(ii)agreement is reached or a decision is taken pursuant to Article 4(2) of that Directive that the site is not to be placed on that list.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), where consultation is initiated by the Commission in accordance with Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive with respect to a site in the United Kingdom hosting a priority natural habitat type or priority species, the site is to be treated as having been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive as from the date specified in paragraph (3).
(3) The date referred to in paragraph (2) is the date on which—
(a)it is agreed between the Commission and the Secretary of State, within the six-month period mentioned in Article 5(2) of the Habitats Directive, that the site should be selected as a site of Community importance; or
(b)the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission in pursuance of Article 5(2) of the Habitats Directive, decides that the site should be so selected.
(4) In this regulation “the United Kingdom” means the United Kingdom (including its internal waters) and the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom.