2. After the end of the time period for the submission of a reasoned statement referred to in Article 31(5), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, the ESAs, through the Joint Committee and upon recommendation from the Oversight Forum, shall designate an ICT third-party service provider as critical for financial entities if it fulfils all the ‘step 1’ sub-criteria referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), and following a positive outcome of the assessment carried out in relation to the ‘step 2’ sub-criteria referred to in paragraph 1, point (b).