(3)In order to counteract the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and support railway undertakings, Regulation (EU) 2020/1429 enables Member States to authorise infrastructure managers to reduce, waive or defer charges for accessing rail infrastructure. That possibility had been granted from 1 March 2020 until 31 December 2020 and was extended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2180note until 30 June 2021 (‘the reference period’).