7.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 105/1

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Pursuant to Article 9(1)(a), second indent, of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (1), the Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Communities (2) are amended as follows:

Page 129

In Chapter 28, under the title, the following new text is inserted:

Page 135

In Chapter 29, under ‘General’, the following new text is inserted after the fourth paragraph:

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(1)  OJ L 256, 7.9.1987, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 133, 30.5.2008, p. 1.

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7.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 105/2

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Report on the budgetary and financial management in 2008

Section II — Council

2009/C 105/02

1.   INTRODUCTION

This report presents, in accordance with Article 122 of the Financial Regulation and Article 185 of the Implementing Rules, an overview of the budgetary and financial management of the budget of the Council in 2008.

Chapter 2 of this report presents a summary of the framework which was established for the financial year 2008. A global overview on the implementation of the budget appropriations available in 2008 is given in Chapter 3.

The implementation of the budget 2008 by budget line is presented in a table in Annex 1.

2.   OBJECTIVES AND BUDGET FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2008

2.1.   The main administrative objectives

The main administrative objectives of the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) for 2008 were:

—	Further consolidation of the organisation of the GSC after the enlargement of the EU in 2004 and 2007.

—

Continuation of the process of administrative modernisation. The General Secretariat has established an ambitious programme to reinforce the quality of its organisation. Various initiatives have or will have a budgetary impact (investment cost as well as economies resulting from increased efficiency).

—	Conclusion of the convention with the Belgium State on the construction of Residence Palace.

2.2.   Establishment of the budget for the GSC in 2008

The budget of the Council in 2008 was based on the ambition not to increase the budget (appropriations) in real terms or the establishment plan. This approach implied that new initiatives, like for instance the creation of a crisis management capacity (Post Hampton Court), would have to be covered within the existing framework.

The budget for Council was established at an overall amount of EUR 594,7 million, which corresponds to an increase of EUR 1,2 million (0,2 %) compared to the budget for 2007. This increase breaks down as follows:

—	a nominal increase of EUR 19,8 million (2,5 % (1)),

—	a reduction in the budget in real terms of EUR 18,6 million (– 2,3 %)

A summary of the budget by categories for 2008 is presented in table 1.

Table 1

Budget 2008 of the Council in comparison to 2007 (by category)

(EUR)
Category	Budget 2007	Budget 2008	Difference
	1	2	3 = 2/1
Establishment plan	307 086 000	303 098 000	–1,3 %
Other staff expenditure	22 294 000	21 442 000	–3,8 %
Buildings (Title II)	51 302 212	38 856 000	–24,3 %
Computer systems (Title II)	29 369 000	33 021 268	12,4 %
Interpreting costs	85 510 000	89 500 000	4,7 %
Delegations' travel expenses	34 637 000	35 295 000	1,9 %
Official Journal	8 786 000	8 314 000	–5,4 %
Ttitle III	40 392 000	36 707 000	–9,1 %
Miscellaneous (Title II)	11 302 000	10 982 000	–2,8 %
Reserve	2 850 000	17 500 000	514,0 %
Total	593 528 212	594 715 268	0,2 %

Table 2 shows the evolution of the budget of the Council over the past five years. It should be noted that the development of the budget from 2004 to 2006 was in line with the average development of heading 5 of the financial perspectives, where the Council's share remained at the level of 8,8 %.

As a consequence of prudent budget management, significant reductions in the Council's share were achieved in 2007 and 2008: the Council's share under heading 5 expenditure decreased from 8,8 % in 2004 to 8 % in 2008.

Table 2

Council's budget and Heading 5 of the Financial Perspectives in 2004-08

	2004		2005		2006		2007		2008
	EUR million	change	EUR million	change	EUR million	change	EUR million	change	EUR million	change
Heading 5	6 157		6 360	3,3 %	6 708	5,5 %	7 115	6,1 %	7 457	4,8 %
Council budget	542		563	3,9 %	592	5,2 %	594	0,3 %	595	0,2 %
Council's share in H5	8,8 %		8,9 %	1,1 %	8,8 %	–1,1 %	8,3 %	–5,7 %	8,0 %	–3,6 %

3.   GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION 2008

3.1.   Achievement of administrative objectives 2008

The following may be said on the achievement of the objectives established for budget year 2008:

—   Consolidation of the organisation after the enlargements of 2004 and 2007

An important indicator for the consolidation of the GSC organisation may be found in recruitment: 82 permanent officials from the new Member States (EU-12) were recruited in 2008. At the same time the number of temporary agents occupying a permanent post went down by 25.

The organisation of the GSC was also improved by centralising all language units in the LEX building in 2008. In addition to the physical integration of the language units, working methods in the translation domain have been rationalised and simplified.

—   Administrative modernisation

As for administrative modernisation, the GSC introduced a new system for financial management on 1 January 2008. This modernisation has provided up-to-date and efficient means for the financial management of the GSC, as well as for its partners in the project (the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors).

Another important step in administrative modernisation was the implementation of e-tendering, which improves the speed, transparency and equal treatment of tenderers.

The GSC also introduced a flexible working time system on 1 January 2008 to better combine the requirements of work and working hours with those of private life.

—   Building policy

On 19 March 2008 the Council signed with the Belgian government a contract for the acquisition and renovation of the Residence Palace. The project is a direct result of the decision of the European Council of 25 and 26 March 2004 to accept the offer of the Belgian government to renovate the Residence Palace with a view to turning it into the seat of the European Council and the Council of Ministers.

The contract between the Council and the Belgian government enables the Council to make advance payments for the project, which will subsequently reduce the overall cost of the acquisition.

3.2.   Revenues

Table 3 presents the global outcome of the Council's revenue operations in 2008. In 2008, established rights, i.e. issued recovery orders (either carried over from 2007 and/or created in 2008), amounted to EUR 108 203 109. 89 % of this amount (EUR 96 166 694) was recovered during the budget year 2008 while 11 % (EUR 12 036 415) will have to be recovered in 2009 or later.

Table 3

Overview of revenue in 2008 (by Title)

(EUR)
Title	Established rights	Recovered revenues	To be recovered
4 Miscellaneous Community taxes, levies and dues	55 945 078	54 545 529	1 399 549
5 Revenue accruing from the administrative operation, etc.	51 778 472	41 143 289	10 635 183
6 Contributions and repayments under community agreements, etc.	473 364	473 364
9 Miscellaneous revenue	6 195	4 512	1 683
Total	108 203 109	96 166 694	12 036 415

3.2.1.   Revenues accrued in 2008

The initial revenue estimate for the budget 2008 amounted to EUR 50 447 000 (Table 4). During the budget year an amount of EUR 102 921 762 was recorded as established rights of which EUR 91 722 497 was recovered leaving EUR 11 199 266 to be collected in 2009.

Table 4

Revenue accrued during 2008 (by article)

(EUR)
Article	Initial revenue estimate	Established rights	Recovered revenues	To be recovered
400 Poceeds from taxation on salaries, etc.	24 546 000	22 036 440	22 036 180	260
404 Poceeds from special levy on salaries	1 731 000	2 805 093	2 805 086	7
410 Staff contribution to the pension scheme	24 170 000	23 387 507	23 374 468	13 039
411 Transfer of purchase of pension rights by staff		6 338 857	5 198 500	1 140 357
511 Poceeds from letting and subletting immovable property		344 593	323 237	21 356
520 Revenue from investments, bank and other interests		766 100	766 100
550 Revenue from the supply of services and work, etc.		173 216	82 500	90 716
551 Revenue from third parties in respect of services or work, etc.		12 616		12 616
570 Revenue arising from the repayment of amounts, etc.		31 591 844	24 825 753	6 766 091
571 Revenue earmarked for a specific purpose, etc.		31 994		31 994
573 Other contributions and refunds in connection with administration.		14 955 626	11 832 796	3 122 830
631 Contributions within the framework of the Schengen acquis		473 364	473 364
900 Miscellaneous revenue		4 512	4 512
Total	50 447 000	102 921 762	91 722 497	11 199 266

The positive difference between the initial estimate and the established rights (EUR 52 474 762) originates mainly from:

—	recovery of parts of the envelopes paid to Member States in previous years for the financing of delegates' travel expenses following their declaration for 2007 (approximately EUR 20 500 000).

—	recovery of payments by Member States for supplementary on-request interpretation in certain languages (EUR 4 100 000) (Article 570).

—	the presidencies' contributions to financing the normal and extraordinary summits in 2008 (EUR 6 900 000) (Article 573).

—	the participation of other institutions and the payments by Council officials for the Council crèche (EUR 2 000 000) in 2008 (Article 573).

—	the transfer of pension rights of (150) officials (EUR 6 300 000). This amount had not been included in the initial revenue estimate (Article 411).

3.2.2.   Revenues accrued before 2008

EUR 5 281 347 in respect of outstanding recovery orders (issued before 2008) was carried over for recovery in 2008. As shown in Table 5, EUR 4 444 197 (84 %) of this amount was recovered in 2008 and EUR 837 150 was carried over to 2009.

Table 5

Revenue accrued during 2008 (by article)

(EUR)
Article	Established rights prior 2008	Recovered revenues	To be recovered
411 Transfer of purchase of pension rights by staff	1 377 182	1 131 294	245 887
511 Poceeds from letting and subletting immovable property	153 216	153 216
520 Revenue from investments, bank and other interests	52 748	52 748
550 Revenue from the supply of services and work, etc.	15 997	15 997
551 Revenue from third parties in respect of services or work, etc.	2 729	2 729
570 Revenue arising from the repayment of amounts etc.	3 070 405	2 852 728	217 676
573 Other contributions and refunds in connection with adrrinistration.	598 555	228 335	370 220
580 Miscellaneous compensation	8 834	7 150	1 684
900 Miscellaneous revenue	1 683		1 683
Total	5 281 347	4 444 197	837 150

3.3.   Expenditure in 2008

The analysis of expenditure in 2008 is presented at an aggregation level of the 10 most significant expenditure categories.

3.3.1.   Overview of implementation of the budget in 2004-08

In the past five years there have been no significant changes in the budget implementation of the GSC (see Graph 1). The global implementation rate of the budget has been, except for 2006, around 98 %. During these years, approximately 79 % of the appropriations have been paid in the budget year while on average 19 % have been carried over to the next budget year.

As can be seen in Graph 1, the appropriations carried over break down into two major categories: functioning and buildings. The first is related to obligations duly contracted before the end of the budget year but for which delivery and/or invoices were not received before the end of the year.

The second refers to the GSC's acquisition of buildings such as LEX, the crèche and Residence Palace. In the last few years, the GSC has been able to use the savings made in its budget implementation to finance these acquisitions. This in turn has significantly reduced the overall cost of the building projects, especially in terms of interest payments.

Graph 1:   Global implementation of the Council budget 2004-2008

(EUR)

3.3.2.   Implementation of the appropriations by category in 2008

Table 6 compares, by category of expenditure, the initial budget (column 1) with the distribution of appropriations after transfers (column 2) as well as the consumption of the budget (column 3). The difference between the initial budget and committed appropriations corresponds to the budget surpluses or deficits covered by transfers carried out during the fiscal year of 2008.

The implementation rate of the budget 2008 for the institution's current expenditure is 85,7 %. The global implementation, which includes the planned advance payments for the Residence Palace building, is 97,5 %. An amount of EUR 15 million is cancelled (3).

Table 6

Overview of the implementation of the budget 2008  (4)

Category	Budget 2008	Appropriations available after transfers	Commitments	Global result 2008	Outturn rate	Cancelled appropriations
	1	2	3	4 = 1 – 3	5 = 3/1	6 = 2 – 3
Establishment plan	303 098 000	288 621 000	283 897 820	19 200 180	93,7 %	4 723 180
Other staff expenditure	21 442 000	21 159 000	20 441 341	1 000 659	95,3 %	717 659
Buildings (Title II)	38 856 000	38 911 000	35 816 323	3 039 677	92,2 %	3 094 677
Computer systems (Title 11)	33 021 268	32 367 268	30 625 212	2 396 056	92,7 %	1 742 056
Interpreting costs	89 500 000	66 857 208	65 881 887	23 618 113	73,6 %	975 321
Delegations' travel expenses	35 295 000	28 322 792	28 312 493	6 982 507	80,2 %	10 299
Official Journal	8 314 000	7 614 000	7 614 000	700 000	91,6 %	—
Title III	36 707 000	31 217 000	28 511 165	8 195 835	77,7 %	2 705 835
Miscellaneous (Title II)	10 982 000	9 582 000	8 591 647	2 390 353	78,2 %	990 353
Reserve	17 500 000			17 500 000	0,0 %	—
Total (excl. acquisition)	594 715 268	524 651 268	509 691 888	85 023 380	85,7 %	14 959 380
Acquisition of immovable property		70 064 000	70 064 000	–70 064 000
Grand total	594 715 268	594 715 268	579 755 888	14 959 380	97,5 %	14 959 380

The difference between the budget estimates and the implementation can be explained as follows:

—	The difference between the initial budget for the establishment plan and implementation is due to the low occupation rate of the posts in the establishment plan (on average 90 % (5)). Globally, the use of appropriations was EUR 19,2 million lower than foreseen in the budget 2008.

—	The saving of EUR 1 million within the category of other staff expenditure comes mainly from the underspending of appropriations related to other staff and termination of service.

—

Regarding building related expenditure (without Residence Palace) it should be noted that it was not possible to conclude and renew all related contracts in time. Globally EUR 3 million was cancelled (including EUR 1,8 million for costs relating to buildings including postponement of corridor renovation in the Justus Lipsius building and EUR 0,6 million for other fitting-out and installation work).

—

The budget for computer systems (title 2) was reduced by EUR 0,7 million mainly as a result of the reduced use of communication and data-transmission devices. In addition, at the end of the budget year EUR 1,7 million was cancelled mainly because of underspending on acquisition of hardware and software (EUR 0,9 million) and on maintenance of IT installations (EUR 0,6 million).

—

The underspending in interpretation expenditure comes from two sources: — saving of EUR 4,8 million for general interpretation, (the initial budget was EUR 36,5 million including EUR 3,9 million for cancellations and contingencies) — underspending in respect of ‘on-request’ envelopes by language totalled EUR 18,8 million (the initial budget was EUR 53 million (6).

—

The amount available for delegations’ travel expenses after transfers amounted to EUR 47,7 million (initial budget EUR 35,3 million + transfers of EUR 12,4 million from on-request interpreting savings). Since the Member States had to reimburse unused amounts from previous year(s), only EUR 28,3 million was committed for the subsequent payments in the budget 2008.

—	The implementation of the appropriations for the Official Journal was EUR 0,7 million lower than foreseen.

—

In Title III, the relatively low implementation rate is explained by the following factors: — the delay in the implementation of the SESAME project (EUR 4,2 million) — reduced need for outside services in IT (EUR 0,7 million) — reduced need for mission and travel expenditure in the framework of CFSP/ESDP.

—	The global underspending of the budget (outturn rate 85,7 %) made it possible to make available for advance payments in respect of Residence Palace EUR 55 million in addition to the EUR 15 million foreseen in Chapter 100 (7).

Table 7 shows the decisions which modified the appropriations of the budget in 2008.

Table 7

Budget modifications in 2008

Modification	Legal basis	Number
Amending budgets	Article 29 F.R.	0
Transfer B	Item to item	72
Transfer C	Article 22 F.R.	3
Transfer D	Article 24 F.R.	1
Total		76

Table 8 gives an overview on the budget lines which were significantly (8) modified in 2008.

Table 8

Budget lines which were subject to significant transfers in 2008

Item/Article	Heading	Initial Budget	Transfers	Final appropriations	Difference
1100	Basic salaries	221 133 000,00	7 990 000,00 –	213 143 000,00	–3,6 %
1101	Entitlements under the Staff Regulations related to the post held	4 115 000,00	654 000,00	4 769 000,00	15,9 %
1102	Entitlements under the Staff Regulations related to the personal circumstances of the staff member	55 764 000,00	950 000,00 –	54 814 000,00	–1,7 %
1105	Overtime	2 500 000,00	600 000,00 –	1 900 000,00	–24,0 %
1106	Entitlements under the Staff Regulations related to entering the service, transfer and leaving the service	5 009 000,00	900 000,00 –	4 109 000,00	–18,0 %
1111	Allowances for staff whose service is terminated	3 600 000,00	838 000,00 –	2 762 000,00	–23,3 %
1120	Provisional appropriation (officials and temporary staff)	4 451 000,00	4 451 000,00 –		– 100,0 %
1200	Other staff	3 483 000,00	321 000,00 –	3 162 000,00	–9,2 %
1203	Outside services	1 005 000,00	325 000,00	1 330 000,00	32,3 %
133	Missions	5 100 000,00	550 000,00	5 650 000,00	10,8 %
2002	Acquisition of immovable property		70 064 000,00	70 064 000,00
2003	Fitting-out of premises	7 700 000,00	2 955 000,00 –	4 745 000,00	–38,4 %
2004	Work to make premises secure	1 000 000,00	1 365 000,00	2 365 000,00	136,5 %
2005	Expenditure preliminary to the acquisition, construction and fitting-out of buildings	690 000,00	310 000,00 –	380 000,00	–44,9 %
2010	Cleaning and maintenance	14 122 000,00	1 125 000,00	15 247 000,00	8,0 %
2011	Water, gas, electricity and heating	3 956 000,00	760 000,00	4 716 000,00	19,2 %
2100	Acquisition of equipment and software	9 300 000,00	1 384 650,00 –	7 915 350,00	–14,9 %
2101	Outside assistance for the operation and development of computer systems	14 240 000,00	987 015,00	15 227 015,00	6,9 %
2102	Servicing and maintenance of equipment and software	4 277 268,00	1 038 095,00	5 315 363,00	24,3 %
2103	Telecommunications	5 204 000,00	1 294 460,00 –	3 909 540,00	–24,9 %
2120	Purchase and replacement of technical equipment and installations	1 950 000,00	1 615 000,00 –	335 000,00	–82,8 %
2200	Travel expenses of delegations	35 295 000,00	6 972 208,00 –	28 322 792,00	–19,8 %
2202	Interpreting costs	89 500 000,00	22 642 792,00 –	66 857 208,00	–25,3 %
2211	Official Journal	8 314 000,00	700 000,00 –	7 614 000,00	–8,4 %
2213	Information and public events	1 198 000,00	280 000,00 –	918 000,00	–23,4 %
2236	Legal expenses and costs, damages and compensation	600 000,00	345 000,00	945 000,00	57,5 %
3010	Missions	1 400 000,00	300 000,00 –	1 100 000,00	–21,4 %
3200	Acquisition of equipment and software	7 996 000,00	4 698 000,00 –	3 298 000,00	–58,8 %
3300	Delegations’ travel expenses	847 000,00	342 500,00 –	504 500,00	–40,4 %
100	Provisional appropriations	15 000 000,00	15 000 000,00 –		– 100,0 %
101	Contingency reserve	2 500 000,00	2 500 000,00 –		– 100,0 %

3.3.3.   Implementation of the carry-over appropriations from 2007

As shown in Table 9, the global use of appropriations carried over from 2007 to 2008 corresponds to 91,8 %.

Table 9

Overview of the implementation of appropriations carried over from 2007

Category	Appropriations carried over from 2007	Payments 2008	Outturn rate	Cancelled appropriations
	1	2	3 = 2/1	4 = 1 – 2
Establishment plan	621 141	543 607	87,5 %	77 534
Other staff expenditure	2 917 003	2 509 367	86,0 %	407 637
Buildings (Title II)	13 923 671	11 886 054	85,4 %	2 037 617
Computer systems (Title II)	13 900 848	11 564 649	83,2 %	2 336 199
Interpreting costs	8 944 284	8 944 284	100,0 %	—
Delegations' travel expenses	42 395		0,0 %	42 395
Official Journal	5 771 410	2 523 390	43,7 %	3 248 020
Title III	5 681 483	3 888 073	68,4 %	1 793 410
Miscellaneous (Title II)	3 412 912	2 614 277	76,6 %	798 635
Reserve	—	—		—
Total (excl. acquisition)	55 215 148	44 473 701	80,5 %	10 741 446
Acquisition of immovable property	75 123 830	75 123 830	100,0 %	—
Grand total	130 338 978	119 597 531	91,8 %	10 741 446

The implementation rate of the current expenditure appropriations carried over from 2007 was 80,5 %, 5,5 percentage points less than the year before. The main reasons for the low implementation rate are:

—	Partial or complete failure to deliver ordered goods/services during the year. The Official Journal can be mentioned as an example.

—	Non-reception of invoices for delivered works/services/goods. It should be noted that this inevitably constitutes a budgetary burden for future years.

3.3.4.   Appropriations carried over from 2008 to 2009

The appropriations carried over from 2008 to 2009 are presented in table 10. The amounts carried over (excluding Residence Palace) totalled EUR 46,6 million, which corresponds to 9 % of the amounts committed at the end of the year 2008 (in 2007: EUR 55,2 million ~ 10,9 %).

Table 10

Appropriations carried over from 2008 to 2009

Category	Budget 2008	Appropriations available after	Commitments	Appropriations carried over to	Carry-over rate
	1	2	3	4	5 = 4/3
Establishment plan	303 098 000	288 621 000	283 897 820	281 391	0,1 %
Other staff expenditure	21 442 000	21 159 000	20 441 341	1 340 383	6,6 %
Buildings (Title II)	38 856 000	38 911 000	35 816 323	11 532 944	32,2 %
Computer systems (Title II)	33 021 268	32 367 268	30 625 212	12 145 935	39,7 %
Interpreting costs	89 500 000	66 857 208	65 881 887	7 344 120	11,1 %
Delegations' travel expenses	35 295 000	28 322 792	28 312 493	44 274	0,2 %
Official Journal	8 314 000	7 614 000	7 614 000	2 952 576	38,8 %
Title III	36 707 000	31 217 000	28 511 165	8 290 807	29,1 %
Miscellaneous (Title II)	10 982 000	9 582 000	8 591 647	2 626 433	30,6 %
Reserve	17 500 000			—
Total (excl. acquisition)	594 715 268	524 651 268	509 691 888	46 558 864	9,1 %
Acquisition of immovable property		70 064 000	70 064 000	70 064 000
Grand total	594 715 268	594 715 268	579 755 888	116 622 864	20,1 %

3.3.5.   Implementation of accrued assigned revenue

Tables 11a and 11b show the implementation of assigned revenue during the budget year 2008.

Table 11a gives an overview of implementation of assigned revenue which accrued before 2008. At the end of the budget year 2008, EUR 3,4 million was still available.

Table 11a

Overview of the implementation of carried-over assigned revenue accrued before 2008

Category	Assigned revenues before 2008	Commitments	Available assigned revenues
	1	2	3 = 1 – 2
Establishment plan	1 485 022	1 485 022	—
Other staff expenditure	342 087	258 305	83 782
Buildings (Title II)	3 515 033	2 794 545	720 488
Computer systems (Title II)	2 541 813	2 344 269	197 544
Interpreting costs	5 940 555	5 940 555	—
Delegations' travel expenses	14 664 027	14 664 027	—
Official Journal	547 062		547 062
Title III	647 136	581 583	65 552
Miscellaneous (Title II)	2 956 618	1 169 422	1 787 197
Reserve	—	—	—
Total	32 639 353	29 237 727	3 401 625

It should be noted that the EUR 1,8 million under Miscellaneous title II relates to the unused funds made available by the various Presidencies in 2005-07. This amount will either be used to cover a limited number of outstanding financial obligations or reimbursed to the Presidencies concerned after the final closure of the events.

Table 11b shows the implementation of appropriations of the assigned revenue accrued in 2008.

Table 11b

Overview of the implementation of the assigned revenue accrued in 2008

Category	Assigned revenues 2008	Commitments	Available assigned revenues
	1	2	3 = 1 – 2
Establishment plan	924 394		924 394
Other staff expenditure	2 773 706	958 327	1 815 379
Buildings (Title II)	1 710 458	1 273 329	437 129
Computer systems (Title II)	1 362 985	580 933	782 051
Interpreting costs	4 892 897		4 892 897
Delegations' travel expenses	21 781 230	3 538 711	18 242 519
Official Journal	506 956		506 956
Title III	824 217	231 319	592 897
Miscellaneous (Title II)	6 020 962	3 062 482	2 958 480
Reserve	—	—	—
Total	40 797 805	9 645 101	31 152 703

Assigned revenue received in 2008 amounted to EUR 40,8 million. EUR 9,6 million of this amount was used in 2008, leading to a carry-over of EUR 31,2 million.

3.3.6.   Council activities

Tables 12 and 13 give an overview of the core activities of the Council from 2003 to 2008.

Table 12

Development of activities 2003-08: meetings

	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Summits	6	5	3	3	3	5
Councils	77	76	80	76	68	81
Coreper	134	128	123	120	106	144
Working groups	4 333	3 971	3 918	4 037	4 183	4 480
Total	4 550	4 180	4 124	4 236	4 360	4 710

Table 13

Development of activities 2003-08: legal acts published in the OJ

	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Legal acts published in OJ	1 045	1 118	1 056	1 317	1 000	1 274

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(1)  Inflation 2007-08: 1,9 %, wage increase 2007-08: 3,0 %, increase of envelopes for interpretation 4,7 %.

(2)  In 2008, an amount of EUR 15 million was foreseen for the advance payments in respect of Residence Palace under category ‘Reserve’.

(3)  Implementation rate of the budget 2007 was 98,3 % (without planned advances for Residence Palace: 86,1 %); cancelled appropriations totalling to EUR 10 million.

(4)  An amount of EUR 15 million was foreseen for the advance payments in respect of Residence Palace under category ‘Reserve’.

(5)  In 2007, the average occupation rate was 86 %. A flat-rate reduction of 7 % was applied to the related appropriations in both years.

(6)  In conformity with the decision 111/07, the GSC transfers 66 % of the unused amounts to the delegates’ travel envelopes for use during the same budget year. In 2008, this totalled EUR 12,4 million.

(7)  Since at the time of the adoption of the budget for 2008 the contract for Residence Palace had not yet been signed, a provision of EUR 15 million for advance payments in respect of the Residence Palace building was foreseen in Chapter 100 (provisional appropriations).

(8)  Amount > EUR 250 000.

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7.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 105/24

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Euro exchange rates (1)

6 May 2009

2009/C 105/03

1 euro =

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,3322
JPY	Japanese yen	131,17
DKK	Danish krone	7,4485
GBP	Pound sterling	0,88610
SEK	Swedish krona	10,6160
CHF	Swiss franc	1,5089
ISK	Iceland króna
NOK	Norwegian krone	8,7350
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CZK	Czech koruna	26,805
EEK	Estonian kroon	15,6466
HUF	Hungarian forint	285,83
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,7093
PLN	Polish zloty	4,4135
RON	Romanian leu	4,1592
TRY	Turkish lira	2,0930
AUD	Australian dollar	1,7917
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,5689
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	10,3245
NZD	New Zealand dollar	2,2857
SGD	Singapore dollar	1,9651
KRW	South Korean won	1 702,95
ZAR	South African rand	11,3237
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	9,0877
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,3744
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	13 885,52
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,7073
PHP	Philippine peso	63,515
RUB	Russian rouble	43,7360
THB	Thai baht	46,857
BRL	Brazilian real	2,8549
MXN	Mexican peso	17,6967
INR	Indian rupee	66,0640

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(1)  Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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7.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 105/25

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Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

2009/C 105/04

Aid No: XA 405/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Sardegna

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Regime di aiuto a favore delle PMI attive nella produzione di prodotti agricoli che partecipano ad attività di promozione istituzionale

Legal basis: Legge Regionale 5 marzo 2008, n. 3 — art. 7, comma 14

Deliberazione della Giunta regionale n. 58/10 del 28.10.2008

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Presumed annual amount: EUR 200 000

Maximum aid intensity: 100 % of the eligible costs

Date of implementation: The scheme will be implemented from the date of publication of the registration number of the request for exemption on the website of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2013.

Objective of aid: Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector — Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Eligible expenditure under the scheme is as follows: participation fees, transport and publication costs, and rental and equipping of exhibition stands, including the supply of ancillary services, and prizes awarded following contests not exceeding EUR 250 per prize and per winner.

Sector(s) concerned: The sheep and goat sector and the fruit and vegetables sector.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Autonoma della Sardegna — Assessorato dell’Agricoltura e Riforma Agro-Pastorale

Via Pessagno, n. 4

09129 Cagliari

ITALIA

Regione Autonoma della Sardegna — Agenzia Regionale Sardegna Promozione

Viale Trieste n. 115

09123 Cagliari

ITALIA

Website: http://www.regione.sardegna.it/j/v/80?s=75087&v=2&c=4426&t=1

http://www.regione.sardegna.it/documenti/1_73_20081028175620.pdf

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 419/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Galicia

Title of aid scheme: Ayudas a asociaciones de ganaderos y asociaciones de criadores de ganado vacuno de raza frisona

Legal basis: Ayudas para la realización de pruebas para determinar la calidad genética, el rendimiento del ganado vacuno lechero y a la realización de técnicas o prácticas innovadoras en el ámbito de cría de animales de ganado vacuno de raza frisona y se convocan para el año 2009

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: EUR 1 895 927,00

Maximum aid intensity:

—	70 % of the cost of performing tests to determine the genetic quality of dairy cattle,

—	70 % of the cost of performing tests to determine the yield of dairy cattle,

—	40 % of the cost of introducing innovatory animal breeding techniques or practices on holdings.

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the registration number of the request for exemption on the website of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Duration of scheme: Until 31 December 2009.

Objective of aid: The scheme provides for aid for:

Improving the production and breeding characteristics and health of livestock by:

Determining the genetic quality or yield of livestock for the purpose of genetic improvement programmes. Aid is paid for performing tests.

Determining the yield of livestock for the purpose of improvement programmes. Aid is paid for collecting data.

Introducing new techniques and innovative practices in animal breeding so as to achieve genetic improvements in the breed. Aid is paid for breeding programmes.

This scheme is in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, which indicates that such aid is compatible with the common market.

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock production.

Name and address of the granting authority: Xunta de Galicia. Consellería de Medio Rural.

Dirección Xeral de Produción, Industrias e Calidade Agroalimentaria.

Website: http://mediorural.xunta.es/

http://mediorural.xunta.es/externos/orde_cria_frison.pdf

Other information: e-mail address:

dxpica.mrural@xunta.es

gerardo.rivero.cuesta@xunta.es

Santiago de Compostela, 5 January 2009

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

signed Alberte Souto Souto

Aid No: XA 437/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Castilla y León (provincia de Salamanca)

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: subvenciones dirigidas a cooperativas de ganaderos que tengan como fin la utilización de cebaderos y/o la comercialización de carne, anualidad 2009

Legal basis: Proyecto de bases reguladoras de la convocatoria de subvenciones dirigidas a cooperativas de ganaderos que tengan como fin la utilización de cebaderos y/o la comercialización de carne, anualidad 2009

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The annual expenditure planned under the scheme for 2009 is EUR 45 000 (forty-five thousand euros).

Maximum aid intensity: the grant may not exceed 70 % of the eligible expenditure or EUR 8 000 per applicant.

Moreover, aid aimed at defraying operating and management costs will be temporary — based on the date the cooperative was established — and degressive, i.e. subject to the percentages indicated below:

55 % of the costs concerned for cooperatives established in 2005,

60 % of the costs concerned for cooperatives established in 2006,

65 % of the costs concerned for cooperatives established in 2007,

70 % of the costs concerned for cooperatives established in 2008.

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the identification number of the request for exemption on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 December 2009.

Objective of aid: The purpose of the aid is to promote the development of livestock cooperatives in the province of Salamanca, thereby boosting the creation and maintenance of cooperative livestock bodies.

It is also aimed at increasing the presence of the said cooperatives at fairs and exhibitions organised by the Diputación Provincial at the Exhibition Centre, implying that the importance of these installations and of the activities taking place should extend to Autonomous Community and national level.

This aid scheme falls within the scope of Articles 9 and 15 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products.

Eligible activities: participation in fairs and exhibitions organised by the Diputación de Salamanca, operational and management-related activities and the provision of technical assistance to the Salamancan livestock sector.

Eligible expenditure is taken to mean:

1.	registration, space and stand rental, security, conference hosts and participation fees;

2.	publications related to the activity;

3.	travelling expenses;

4.	technical symposia held in the Exhibition Centre during the fairs;

5.	prizes awarded in the competitions organised by the body at the fairs, with a maximum limit of EUR 250 per prize and winner.

1.	the cost of renting premises for headquarters;

2.	legal and administrative expenses;

3.	office equipment;

4.	administrative staff costs;

5.	overheads (maintenance, repairs, conservation, supplies, etc.).

1.	training activities: the actual costs of organising the training programme;

2.	attendance at national fairs: space and stand rental, security, conference hosts, participation fees, travelling expenses and publications related to the activity;

3.	presentation of quality products at national and provincial level: only the rental of the installations where the presentation is made, travelling expenses and publications related to the activity may be subsidised;

4.	publications such as catalogues or websites presenting information about producers from a given region or producers of a given product, provided that this information and the presentation are neutral and that all producers concerned have the same opportunity to feature in them;

5.	prizes awarded in the competitions organised by the body at the fairs, with a maximum limit of EUR 250 per prize and winner.

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock sector.

Name and address of the granting authority:

Excma. Diputación Provincial de Salamanca

C/Felipe Espino no 1

37002 Salamanca

ESPAÑA

Website: —

http://www.lasalina.es/areas/eh/ProyConvocatorias/2009/Cooperativas.pdf

Other information: The aid will be compatible with any other grant, aid, resources or revenue assigned to the subsidised activity by a national or European Union authority or public or private body or international organisation, provided that the aid ceilings specified in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 are not exceeded (in particular, in the case of the activities referred to in 3.B of the regional instrument concerned) and, more specifically, the operating and management costs, the total amount of public aid granted within the scope of Article 9 of the Regulation must not exceed EUR 400 000 per recipient.

If the applicant has been awarded another grant — for the same purpose — which is incompatible with that awarded by the Diputación, Article 33 of Spanish Royal Decree 887/2006 of 21 July 2006 establishing the Rules implementing the General Law on Subsidies will apply.

However, in no case may the amount of subsidies awarded by the Diputación be such that, on its own or together with other grants, aid, revenue or resource, it exceeds the cost of the subsidised activity.

Likewise, the grant will be incompatible with any other grant, aid, resource or revenue for the subsidised activity that is awarded by the Diputación de Salamanca — either by a direct award procedure or by a competitive procedure — covering the same eligible expenditure.

The aid will be granted by means of subsidised services and will not include direct payments of money to producers, in accordance with Article 15(3) of the Regulation.

The beneficiaries of the grant must comply with all the conditions laid down in Article 15 of the Regulation, including the provisions of paragraph 4 concerning conditions for access to a service.

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7.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 105/29

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Extract from the Decision concerning Straumur-Burdaras Investment Bank hf. pursuant to Directive 2001/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reorganisation and winding-up of credit institutions

2009/C 105/05

STRAUMUR-BURDARAS INVESTMENT BANK HF. GRANTED A MORATORIUM

On 19 March 2009 the District Court of Reykjavik, Iceland, granted Straumur-Burdaras Investment Bank hf., Borgartun 25, Reykjavik, Iceland, a moratorium on payments to creditors until 11 June 2009. Applying for the moratorium was a necessary step in order to ensure that all creditors of the Bank are treated fairly and appropriately, in accordance with Icelandic law and EU directives. The moratorium process provides the Bank with appropriate protection from legal action, while retaining a banking licence sufficient to support its assets. The moratorium will also give the Bank the opportunity to continue discussions with the Bank's creditors with the aim of maximising recovery for all stakeholders.

Mr. Hordur Felix Hardarson, Attorney to the Supreme Court of Iceland, has been appointed to act as the assistant in relation to the moratorium. He will work with the Bank’s Resolution Committee, which is appointed by the Icelandic Finance Supervisory Authority, and the Management Committee of the Bank. Whilst in moratorium, the disposal of assets by the Bank is generally prohibited unless it is necessary for its day - to - day operations or to achieve a reorganisation of the Bank’s finances.

Information in relation to Straumur-Burdaras Investment Bank hf. can be found online (http://www.straumur.com).

For further information, please contact the Bank by e-mail (straumur@straumur.com).

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7.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 105/30

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STATE AID — POLAND

(Articles 87 to 89 of the Treaty establishing the European Community)

Commission notice pursuant to Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty — Withdrawal of notification

State aid C 47/2008 (ex N 270/08) — Restructuring aid to Przędzalnia Zawiercie, Poland

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 105/06

The Commission has decided to close the formal investigation procedure under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty, initiated on 10 December 2008 in respect of the measure referred to above, recording that Poland has withdrawn its notification on 19 January 2009 and will not pursue this aid project further.

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7.5.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 105/31

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Notice for the attention of Mr Faraj Faraj Hussein Al-Sa’idi concerning his inclusion in the list referred to in Articles 2, 3 and 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Al-Qaida network and the Taliban

2009/C 105/07

1.

Common Position 2002/402/CFSP (1) calls upon the Community to freeze the funds and economic resources of Usama bin Laden, members of the Al-Qaida organisation and the Taliban and other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them, as referred to in the list drawn up pursuant to UNSCR 1267(1999) and 1333(2000) to be updated regularly by the UN Committee established pursuant to UNSCR 1267(1999). The list drawn up by this UN Committee comprises: — Al Qaida, the Taliban and Mr Usama bin Laden; — natural or legal persons, entities, bodies and groups associated with Al Qaida, the Taliban and Mr Usama bin Laden; and — legal persons, entities and bodies owned or controlled by, or otherwise supporting, any of these associated persons, entities, bodies and groups. Acts or activities indicating that an individual, group, undertaking, or entity is ‘associated with’ Al-Qaida, Usama bin Laden or the Taliban include: (a) participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of, Al Qaida, the Taliban or Mr Usama bin Laden, or any cell, affiliate, splinter group or derivative thereof; (b) supplying, selling or transferring arms and related materiel to any of them; (c) recruiting for any of them; or (d) otherwise supporting acts or activities of any of them.

2.

The UN Committee decided on 12 November 2003 to add Mr Faraj Faraj Hussein Al-Sa’idi to the relevant list. The natural person concerned may submit at any time a request to the UN Committee, together with any supporting documentation, for the decision to include him in the UN list referred to above, to be reconsidered. Such request should be sent to the following address: United Nations — Focal point for delisting Security Council Subsidiary Organs Branch Room S-3055 E New York, NY 10017 United States of America See for more information at: http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/delistings.html

3.

Further to this decision the Commission has adopted Regulation (EC) No 2049/2003 (2), which amends Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Al-Qaida network and the Taliban (3), pursuant to Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 881/2002. The entry was last amended by means of Commission Regulation (EC) No 46/2008 (4). The following measures of Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 apply to the natural and legal persons, groups and entities concerned: 1. The freezing of all funds, other financial assets and economic resources belonging to them, or owned or held by them, and the prohibition to make funds, other financial assets and economic resources available to them or for their benefit, whether directly or indirectly (Articles 2 and 2a (5); and 2. The prohibition to grant, sell, supply or transfer technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities to them, whether directly or indirectly (Article 3).

4.

Following the judgement of the Court of Justice of 3 September 2008 in Joined Cases C-402/05 P and C-415/05 P, Yassin Abdullah Kadi and Al Barakaat International Foundation v. Council, the UN Committee has provided grounds for listing of Mr Faraj Faraj Hussein Al-Sa’idi. He may make a request for the grounds for his listing to the Commission. This request should be sent to: European Commission DG External Relations Attn. Unit A2 (CHAR12/45) Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200 B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË After having given him an opportunity to express his views on the grounds for listing, the Commission will review his inclusion in Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 and a new decision concerning him will be made.

5.

Personal data provided by Mr Faraj Faraj Hussein Al-Sa’idi will be handled in accordance with the rules of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (6). Any request, e.g. for further information or in order to exercise the rights under Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 (e.g. access or rectification of personal data), should be sent to the Commission at the address mentioned under point 4 above.

6.

For good order, the attention of the natural persons listed in Annex I is drawn to the possibility of making an application to the competent authorities of the relevant Member State(s), as listed in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 881/2002, in order to obtain an authorisation to use frozen funds, other financial assets and economic resources for essential needs or specific payments in accordance with Article 2a of that Regulation.

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(1)  OJ L 139, 29.5.2002, p. 4. Common Position as last amended by Common Position 2003/140/CFSP (OJ L 53, 28.2.2003, p. 62).

(2)  OJ L 303, 21.11.2003, p. 20.

(3)  OJ L 139, 29.5.2002, p. 9.

(4)  OJ L 16, 19.1.2008, p. 11.

(5)  Article 2a was inserted by Council Regulation (EC) No 561/2003 (OJ L 82, 29.3.2003, p. 1).

(6)  OJ L 8 of 12.1.2001, p. 1.

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