15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/1

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.5753 — DSB/First/DSBFirst Vast)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 340/01

On 6 December 2010, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

—	in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

—	in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32010M5753. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to the European law.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/1

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.6036 — Barclays/BPCE/Hexagone France 3)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 340/02

On 6 December 2010, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

—	in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

—	in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32010M6036. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to the European law.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/2

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.6018 — KKR/HgCapital/Archangel)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 340/03

On 29 November 2010, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

—	in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

—	in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32010M6018. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to the European law.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/3

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Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 340/04

Date of adoption of the decision	17.11.2010
Reference number of State Aid	N 124/10
Member State	France
Region	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Modification de la carte des aides à finalité régionale (AFR) à moyen terme, prévue à l'article 104 des lignes directrices AFR pour la période 2007-2013
Legal basis	Décret no 2007-732 du 7 mai 2007 modifié relatif aux zones d’aide à finalité régionale et aux zones d’aide à l’investissement des petites et moyennes entreprises
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Regional development
Form of aid	Ad hoc contracts
Budget	—
Intensity	15 %
Duration (period)	1.1.2011-31.12.2013
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	DATAR 8 rue de Penthièvre 75800 Paris Cedex 08 FRANCE
Other information	—

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/state_aids_texts_en.htm

Date of adoption of the decision	15.11.2010
Reference number of State Aid	N 340/10
Member State	Spain
Region	País Vasco
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Subvenciones a empresas para la realización de inversiones destinadas a la protección del medio ambiente
Legal basis	Decreto 91/2002, de 23 de abril, por el que se regula la concesión de subvenciones a empresas para la realización de inversiones destinadas a la protección del medio ambiente
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Objective	Environmental protection
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Overall budget: EUR 3 million
Intensity	100 %
Duration (period)	—
Economic sectors	All sectors
Name and address of the granting authority	Departamento de Medio Ambiente del Gobierno Vasco
Other information	—

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/state_aids_texts_en.htm

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/5

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.6057 — Carlyle/Commscope)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 340/05

On 9 December 2010, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

—	in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

—	in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32010M6057. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to the European law.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/6

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DECISION OF THE BUREAU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

of 13 December 2010

amending the Implementing Measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament

2010/C 340/06

THE BUREAU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 223(2) thereof,

Having regard to the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (1)‘the Statute’,

Having regard to Rules 8 and 23 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1)

By decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 11 and 23 November 2009, 14 December 2009, 19 April 2010 and 5 July 2010 (2), the Implementing Measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (3)‘the Implementing Measures’ were amended, inter alia, with a view to enabling Members to waive their entitlement to reimbursement of medical expenses. In order to ensure a stable system, it is appropriate for any decision to waive that entitlement or to revoke that waiver to stand for at least 12 months. Like the previous amendment adding paragraphs 4 and 5 to Article 3 of the Implementing Measures, the amendment to those provisions introduced by this Decision should apply from 7 July 2010.

(2)

Under the rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament ‘the PEAM rules’, committee or subcommittee chairs received an annual allowance to meet the expenses incurred in connection with travel undertaken to attend conferences or events with a parliamentary dimension which deal with a matter of European interest falling within the sphere of responsibility of the chair's committee or subcommittee. In the first half of 2009, that allowance totalled EUR 4 148. That system has continued under the Implementing Measures. However, owing to an unfortunate clerical error, the figure was given as EUR 4 000. With effect from 1 January 2010, that error should be corrected.

(3)

Pursuant to Article 23 of the Implementing Measures, Members are entitled to the reimbursement of travel expenses incurred in the Member State in which they were elected. For travel by air, rail or boat, the limit is set at 24 return journeys; for car journeys, the specified maximum distance depends on the size of the Member State concerned. With a view to affording Members greater flexibility, it should be possible for Members who have exhausted the air, rail or boat journey allowance to convert part of the car journey allowance into the allowance for air, rail or boat journeys at the rate of one air, rail or boat journey for the equivalent of 2 % of the maximum number of kilometres allowed for the Member State of election of the Member concerned. The same should apply, mutatis mutandis, for Members who have exhausted their car journey allowance. This amendment should apply from 1 January 2011.

(4)

With a view to ensuring sound financial management, it is appropriate for applications for payment of the pension to which Members are entitled to be submitted within six months of the commencement of entitlement, except in cases of force majeure. If that deadline is not respected, the date on which enjoyment of the pension takes effect should be the first day of the month in which the application is received.

(5)	It is necessary to adapt the provision in the Implementing Measures relating to bank transfers in order to bring it into line with Directive 2007/64/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2007 on payment services in the internal market (4).

(6)	On the death of former Members who were in receipt of an invalidity pension under the PEAM rules, their dependants should be entitled to the survivor's pension under the same conditions as those which applied before the entry into force of the Statute,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Implementing Measures are amended as follows:

1.

In Article 3, paragraphs 4 and 5 are replaced by the following: ‘4.   Members and former Members in receipt of the transitional allowance provided for in Article 13 of the Statute or of a pension pursuant to Articles 14 and 15 of the Statute may waive their entitlement to reimbursement of medical expenses as provided for in paragraph 1 with effect from the first day of the month following the date of submission of the request. In that case they shall be entitled to reimbursement of two thirds of the contribution due for health insurance provided that the total amount reimbursed does not exceed EUR 400 per month. 5.   Any Member or former Member who, pursuant to paragraph 4, waives his or her entitlement to reimbursement of medical expenses may not return to the system of entitlement to reimbursement of medical expenses as provided for in paragraph 1 until 12 months have elapsed from the date on which the waiver took effect. Likewise, any subsequent change, whether it concerns a return to the system of entitlement to reimbursement of medical expenses as provided for in paragraph 1 or a waiver of such entitlement, may be made only after a minimum period of 12 months.’;

2.

In Article 22, the first subparagraph of paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: ‘3.   The maximum annual amount which may be reimbursed in respect of the travel expenses actually incurred by committee or subcommittee chairs travelling to attend conferences or events which deal with a matter of European interest falling within the sphere of responsibility of their committee or subcommittee and which have a parliamentary dimension shall be EUR 4 148. Such participation shall require prior authorisation from the President of Parliament, following verification that appropriations up to the maximum amount indicated above are available.’;

3.

In Article 23, the following paragraph is inserted: ‘1a.   On written request, any Member who has exhausted his or her air, rail or boat journey allowance, as laid down in point (a) of paragraph 1, may convert his or her car journey allowance, as laid down in point (b) of paragraph 1, into the allowance for air, rail or boat journeys at the rate of a one-way air, rail or boat journey for the equivalent of 2 % of the maximum number of kilometres allowed for the Member State of election of the Member concerned. The same shall apply, mutatis mutandis, for any Member who has exhausted his or her car journey allowance.’;

4.

In Article 49(1), the following subparagraph is added: ‘Former Members or their legal representatives shall, except in cases of force majeure, submit their application for payment of the old-age pension within six months of the commencement of entitlement. After that deadline the date on which enjoyment of the old-age pension takes effect shall be the first day of the month in which the application is received.’;

5.

In Article 63, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: ‘1.   Payments under these implementing measures shall be made by bank transfer in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2007/64/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2007 on payment services in the internal market (5). Parliament shall bear the charges payable by the payer. Any other charges shall be payable by the payee.

6.

In Article 75(1), the following subparagraph is added: ‘Where a former Member in receipt of the invalidity pension dies after 14 July 2009, the survivor's pension shall be paid to his or her spouse, stable non-marital partner or dependent children, subject to the conditions laid down in Annex I to the PEAM Rules.’;

7.

The following Article is added: ‘Article 82 Transitional regime for the waiver of reimbursement of medical expenses Members who, under Article 3(4), waive their right to reimbursement of medical expenses by 15 March 2011 shall be reimbursed under the conditions laid down in that paragraph, with retrospective effect from 14 July 2009 or else starting from the first month following the date of the last reimbursement of medical expenses made under Article 3(1).’.

Article 2

1.   This Decision shall enter into force the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

2.   This Decision shall apply from the same day, with the exception of the following provisions:

(a)	Article 1, point 1, which shall apply from 7 July 2010;

(b)	Article 1, point 2, which shall apply from 1 January 2010;

(c)	Article 1, point 3, which shall apply from 1 January 2011.

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(1)  Decision 2005/684/EC, Euratom of the European Parliament of 28 September 2005 adopting the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (OJ L 262, 7.10.2005, p. 1).

(2)  OJ C 180, 6.7.2010, p. 1

(3)  Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 19 May and 9 July 2008 concerning implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (OJ C 159, 13.7.2009, p. 1).

(4)  OJ L 319, 5.12.2007, p. 1.

(5)  OJ L 319, 5.12.2007, p. 1.’;

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/9

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Contribution of the XLIV COSAC

Brussels, 24-26 October 2010

2010/C 340/07

1.   Sustainable development in the Europe 2020 Strategy

1.1.

COSAC considers the Europe 2020 Strategy to be a well integrated and coordinated approach that must lead to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, sufficiently taking into account both the economic and the scientific developments inside and outside the EU and its social and environmental consequences and respect for human rights.

1.2.

COSAC’s support for the Europe 2020 Strategy is not unconditional. Hence, the European Commission and the Council are invited, during the process of future legislation, to bear in mind the need to limit the number of targets, coordinate with other EU initiatives, ensure Europe’s energy security and avoid productivity losses. The Europe 2020 Strategy must be taken into account in the reform process of the economic governance in Europe.

1.3.	COSAC calls on national Parliaments and the European Parliament to take political ownership of the Europe 2020 Strategy by actively monitoring its implementation.

1.4.	COSAC also calls on the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament to enhance the integration of the challenges of the European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development into legislative proposals and other initiatives.

1.5.	COSAC notices with satisfaction that national Parliaments consider that the decision-making process is sufficiently stringent and that the parliamentary oversight is sufficiently guaranteed. In this context, peer pressure is of particular importance.

1.6.	Finally, in the framework of the follow up of the Europe 2020 Strategy, COSAC invites national Parliaments to reflect on their future role with regard to National Reform Plans.

2.   Parliamentary scrutiny of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy (henceforth ‘CFSP’ and ‘CSDP’)

2.1.

COSAC stresses the need for parliamentary scrutiny of both CFSP and CSDP. (i) Parliamentary oversight of CFSP and CSDP should involve both national Parliaments and the European Parliament. (ii) The mechanism of parliamentary oversight of CFSP and CSDP should represent value for money and should add value to the work that Parliaments already do in this area. (iii) There should be no new institutions or bodies established. (iv) Parliamentary oversight should involve members specialising in foreign affairs, defence and European Union affairs.

2.2.	As a result, COSAC wishes that the new mechanism for parliamentary oversight of the CSDP be put in place during 2011.

3.   Economic governance in the European Union

3.1.

While COSAC welcomes the recent proposals on economic governance and calls for a fast track implementation approach, COSAC stresses that the far-reaching impact of the proposals calls for careful scrutiny and underlines the necessity for a thorough decision-making process that will lead to a genuine political commitment at the national and EU level alike. The effectiveness of parliamentary scrutiny exercised by national Parliaments and the European Parliament must not in any circumstances be jeopardised.

4.   The future role of COSAC

4.1.	COSAC emphasises its monitoring role through the exchange of information and best practice and, in particular, through its possible bi-annual reports.

4.2.

COSAC considers an extensive debate on the work programme of the European Commission as an essential and recurrent part of its agenda. Therefore, COSAC encourages the incoming Presidencies to include a debate on the work programme of the European Commission in the agenda of the ordinary meetings of COSAC. When fixing the date of these meetings, COSAC Presidencies are invited to take into account the timing of the publication of the European Commission’s work programme.

4.3.	As forum for exchange, COSAC is the appropriate body to debate specific European policies and issues. The discussions in COSAC have revealed a converging interest of national Parliaments and the European Parliament for that kind of debate.

4.4.

COSAC encourages national Parliaments to play an active role in the smooth functioning of the European Union by using all the possibilities offered to them by the Treaty of Lisbon. In particular, COSAC encourages the Chambers of the EU Parliaments to: (a) monitor the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality according to the procedures outlined in Protocol 2 annexed to the Treaties; (b) continue the political dialogue with the European Commission not only limited to legislative proposals and going well beyond the issue of subsidiarity. COSAC will take note of the results of these activities in order to share information and good practices between national Parliaments.

5.   Cooperation with the European Union institutions

5.1.	COSAC highly appreciates the participation for the first time of Mr Herman VAN ROMPUY, the President of the European Council. It is convinced that its cooperation with the Council as well as with the European Council will continue to be as cordial as it is successful.

5.2.	With reference to the definition of ‘draft legislative act’, COSAC refers to the Contribution of the XLIII COSAC and invites the Council to reconsider its initial position.

5.3.

COSAC is delighted to have heard the address of Mr José Manuel BARROSO, the President of the European Commission, and welcomes the ensuing debate on the challenges for the Union over the next year. COSAC hopes that this direct dialogue will become a regular feature on the agenda of COSAC so that national Parliaments and the European Parliament can have an open discussion with the European Commission.

5.4.	COSAC stresses that the application of the framework agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission must be subject to constant legal monitoring.

5.5.	COSAC underlines that all institutions are to respect the institutional balance resulting from the letter and the spirit of the Treaties.

5.6.

In the light of the forthcoming consultation documents and legislative proposals on Europol and Eurojust, COSAC underscores the utmost need for a broad and timely preliminary consultation with national Parliaments by the European Commission. COSAC requests the European Commission to simultaneously publish the legislative proposals on Europol and Eurojust.

5.7.	COSAC invites a response to this Contribution from the European Commission, the Council Presidency and the European Parliament.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/11

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Code of Conduct between the Council, the Member States and the Commission setting out internal arrangements for the implementation by and representation of the European Union relating to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

2010/C 340/08

Recalling that Articles 3 and 4 of Council Decision 2010/48/EC of 26 November 2009 concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (1), provide for the need to agree on a Code of Conduct before the deposition of the instrument of formal confirmation on behalf of the Union,

Recalling that pursuant to the aforementioned Articles of Decision 2010/48/EC, the Code of Conduct will set out detailed arrangements for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter ‘the Convention’) by the Union, including for the Commission's role as focal point for the implementation of the Convention on behalf of the Union; for the representation of the Union at meetings of the bodies created by the Convention; for the representation of the Union's position at such meetings; as well as for the close cooperation at such meetings, in particular as far as the questions of monitoring, reporting and voting arrangements are concerned,

In addition, the provisions in this Code of Conduct which deal with matters of coordination between the Council, the Member States and the Commission are to be considered as part of the coordination mechanism mentioned in Article 33.1 of the Convention,

Bearing in mind the requirement of unity of the international representation of the Union and its Member States in accordance with the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union also at the stage of implementation of international obligations,

THE COUNCIL, THE MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION AGREE ON THE FOLLOWING CODE OF CONDUCT:

NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE CODE

1.

(a) This Code of Conduct sets out the arrangements between the Council, the Member States and the Commission on cooperation on various aspects of the implementation of the Convention, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 13 December 2006. Without prejudice to a general duty of close cooperation, the Code will apply to preparation of and participation in meetings of the bodies created by the Convention. (b) The Code lays down the details of the function of focal point.

DIVISION OF TASKS BASED ON COMPETENCE

2.

The Union institutions and the Member States will ensure close cooperation in the implementation of the Convention, bearing in mind the principles of sincere cooperation, subsidiarity and the need to respect the different competences of the Union institutions and the Member States as established by the Treaties, and bearing in mind that the scope and exercise of the Union's competence are, by their nature, subject to continuous development.

3.	On matters falling within the competence of the Member States, the Member States will aim at elaborating coordinated positions whenever it is deemed appropriate.

4.

On matters falling within the Union's exclusive competence, the Union will aim at elaborating Union positions, in particular in relation to: (a) the compatibility of State aid with the internal market (Article 108 TFEU, ex Article 88 EC); (b) the common custom tariff (Article 31 TFEU, ex Article 26 EC); (c) its own public administration (Article 336 TFEU, ex Article 283 EC); (d) any other matter to the extent that provisions of the Convention or legal instruments adopted in implementation thereof affect or alter common rules previously established by the Union in accordance with Article 3(2) of the TFEU.

5.

On matters falling within shared competence and on matters where the Union coordinates, supports and/or supplements the actions of the Member States, the Union and the Member States will aim at elaborating common positions, in particular in relation to: (a) legislative acts included in the Appendix to the Declaration of Competence annexed to Decision 2010/48/EC or new acts or policy measures taken within the sphere of: — action to combat discrimination on the ground of disability (Article 19 TFEU, ex Article 13 EC), — free movement of goods, persons, services and capital (Articles 28-32, 34-37 TFEU, ex Articles 23-31 EC, and Articles 45-66 TFEU, ex Articles 39-60 EC), — agriculture (Articles 42-43 TFEU, ex Articles 36-37 EC), — transport by rail, road, sea and air transport (Article 91 TFEU, ex Article 71 EC and Article 100 TFEU, ex Article 80 EC), — taxation (Article 113 TFEU, ex Article 93 EC), — internal market (Articles 114-115 TFEU, ex Articles 94-95 EC), — equal pay for male and female workers (Article 157 TFEU, ex Article 141 EC), — trans-European network policy (Articles 170-172 TFEU, ex Articles 154-156 EC), — statistics (Articles 337-338 TFEU, ex Articles 284-285 EC); (b) Union legal acts or policy measures, where there is close and substantial connection with the implementation of the Convention, and taken within the sphere of: — employment (Articles 145-150 TFEU, ex Articles 125-130 EC), — development of quality of education and implementation of a vocational training policy (Articles 165-166 TFEU, ex Articles 149-150 EC), — economic and social cohesion (Articles 174-178 TFEU, ex Articles 158-162 EC), — development cooperation (Articles 208-211 TFEU, ex Articles 177-181 EC), and — cooperation with industrialised countries (Article 212 TFEU, ex Article 181a EC).

ESTABLISHING OF POSITIONS

6.

All positions of the Union and its Member States referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 will be duly coordinated: (a) In matters referred to in paragraph 3, the Presidency may convene, at its own initiative or at the request of the Commission or a Member State, coordination meetings (which may consist of an electronic coordination in urgent cases) of the Member States and the Commission within the competent Council Working Group before and during each meeting referred to in paragraph 1. Coordinated positions will be expressed by the Presidency or if necessary by a Member State as appointed by the Presidency or by the Commission with the agreement of all Member States present. (b) In matters referred to in paragraph 4, coordination meetings of the Commission and the Member States within the competent Council Working Group will be convened at the Presidency's own initiative or at the request of the Commission or a Member State before and during each meeting referred to in paragraph 1, with possible reference to the Disability High Level Group in its area of competence. These coordination meetings may consist of an electronic coordination in urgent cases. Union positions will be expressed by the Commission. (c) In matters referred to in paragraph 5, coordination meetings of the Commission and the Member States within the competent Council Working Group, will be convened at the Presidency's own initiative or at the request of the Commission or a Member State before and during each meeting referred to in paragraph 1, with possible reference to the Disability High Level Group in its area of competence. These coordination meetings may consist of an electronic coordination in urgent cases. The Commission and the Member States in coordination meetings within the competent Council Working Group will decide who will deliver any statement to be made on behalf of the Union and its Member States in cases where the respective competences are inextricably linked. Common positions will be presented by the Commission when the preponderance of the matter concerned lies within the competence of the Union, and by the Presidency or a Member State when the preponderance of the matter concerned lies within the competence of the Member States. For the purposes of establishing positions regarding points (a), (b) and (c), the following arrangements will apply: (i) in Brussels, within the competent Council Working Group, as early as possible ahead of the start of the meetings referred to in paragraph 1. On receipt of the agenda of the meetings referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission will send to the Council Secretariat for circulation to the Member States an indication of the agenda items on which it is intended that statements are made and whether these statements should be made by the Commission and/or the Presidency. The Council Secretariat will circulate those draft statements received from the Presidency (in relation to paragraph 3) and from the Commission (in relation to paragraphs 4 and 5) for circulation to the Member States and the Commission at least one week before the coordination meeting. The Council Secretariat will ensure that the draft statements are transmitted to the competent Council Working Group promptly; (ii) without prejudice to local arrangements for Union coordination, on-the-spot (in New York or Geneva (2)), particularly at the beginning and, if necessary, at the end of the meetings referred to in paragraph 1, with further coordination meetings being called whenever necessary throughout the series of meetings. In cases where no position can be reached including for reasons relating to disagreement on the repartition of competences between the Union and its Member States, the matter will be referred without undue delay to the competent Council Working Group and/or, when applicable, other Council bodies. If no agreement can be reached in these bodies, the matter will be referred to the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper). However, in cases where meetings of the competent working group and, when applicable, of the relevant other Council bodies cannot be convened in time, the matter will be directly referred to Coreper, which will decide on the position on the basis of the voting rules laid down in the relevant EU Treaty dealing with the subject matter under consideration; (iii) the ‘competent Council Working Group’ will be determined by the Presidency. The Presidency will also take due care to inform and liaise in good time with all Council Working Groups that have a significant interest in the matter under consideration, including the Tax Working Group where the matter includes tax elements. At the request of a Member State or the Commission, the Presidency should refer any matter being discussed under this Code to other significantly interested working groups for consideration.

SPEAKING IN CASES OF AGREED COORDINATED, UNION OR COMMON POSITIONS

7.	Without prejudice to the speaking arrangements referred to in paragraph 6, a Member State or the Commission may take the floor, after due coordination to support and/or develop the coordinated position, the Union position or the common position.

VOTING IN CASES OF AGREED COORDINATED, UNION OR COMMON POSITIONS

8.

(a) Subject to paragraph 6, and in accordance with Article 44.4 of the Convention, the Commission, on behalf of the Union, will exercise the Union's voting rights on the basis of Union or common positions reached in the coordination process on matters referred to in paragraph 4, and in paragraph 5 when the preponderance of the matter concerned lies within the competence of the Union. It may be agreed that in cases where the Union is not represented, the Member States will exercise their voting rights on those matters, on the basis of Union and/or common positions. (b) Subject to paragraph 6, and in accordance with Article 44.4 of the Convention, the Member States will exercise their voting rights on matters referred to in paragraph 3, and in paragraph 5 when the preponderance of the matter concerned lies within the competence of the Member States on the basis of coordinated or common positions reached in the coordination process. (c) This paragraph does not apply to the right of Member States to vote pursuant to Article 34 of the Convention.

SPEAKING AND VOTING IN CASES OF NO COORDINATED, UNION OR COMMON POSITIONS

9.

Where no agreement between the Commission and the Member States is reached in accordance with paragraph 6, Member States may speak and vote on matters falling clearly within their competence on condition that the position is coherent with Union policies and in conformity with Union law. The Commission may speak and vote on matters falling clearly within the Union's competence to the extent necessary to defend the Union acquis.

NOMINATIONS

10.

Without prejudice to the right of Member States to nominate candidates for experts in accordance with Article 34.5 of the Convention and the right to vote in accordance with Article 34.5 of the Convention, the Union may nominate a candidate on the basis of a Commission proposal to be agreed upon by consensus by the Member States within the competent Council Working Group for an expert to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on behalf of the Union. This procedure shall apply also to re-nomination of Union candidates. The Union nominee shall be a citizen of the Union, holding the nationality of one of the Member States pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 20 of the TFEU.

FOCAL POINT

11.

In accordance with Article 3 of Decision 2010/48/EC and Article 33.1 of the Convention: (a) in respect of matters falling within the Union competence referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5, and without prejudice to the respective competences of the Member States, the Commission shall be a focal point for matters related to the implementation of the Convention; (b) the Member States will notify to the Commission their focal points; (c) on receipt of a notification from the United Nations or any other State Party to the Convention, whenever the matter falls under shared competence, as referred to in paragraph 5, the Commission or a Member State's focal point will inform, as appropriate, the other focal points referred to in subparagraphs (a) and (b); (d) where necessary the Commission will convene, on its own initiative or at the request of a Member State's focal point, a coordination meeting with the focal points of the Member States.

MONITORING AND REPORTING

12.

(a) Reports of the Union and its Member States will cover their respective competences referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 and shall be complementary. (b) In matters referred to in paragraphs 3 and 5 (where the preponderance of the matter lies within the competence of the Member States), Member States will prepare their own reports in accordance with Article 35 of the Convention. (c) In respect of matters falling within the Union competence, referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 (where the preponderance of the matter lies within the competence of the EU), the Commission will prepare the Union report, and will agree, where necessary, with Member States on the information they shall provide to enable it to do so. The Union report shall address the matters governed by the Convention falling within the precise provisions of each act adopted by the Union that appears in the Appendix to the Declaration of Competence attached as Annex II to Decision 2010/48/EC. (d) In line with the duty of close cooperation, Member States and the Commission will, before submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, provide to each other, for information and on a confidential basis, reports referred to in subparagraphs (b) and (c). (e) Each Member State is responsible for its own examination by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Commission, as the Union's focal point, is responsible for the Union examination. Member States may request the Commission to provide an expert to become a part of their delegations, and the Commission may request Member States to provide experts, for its delegation. (f) The Commission will inform and consult Member States during the preparation of its oral presentation of the report before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Similarly, Member States will inform and consult the Commission during the preparation of their national oral presentation.

13.

The Commission will propose in due course an appropriate framework for one or several independent mechanisms in accordance with Article 33.2 of the Convention and on the involvement of civil society, in accordance with Article 33.3 of the Convention, taking into account all relevant Union institutions, bodies, offices or agencies.

REVIEW OF ARRANGEMENT

14.	At the request of the Council, a Member State or the Commission, the arrangement will be reviewed, taking account of experience gained during its operation.

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(1)  OJ L 23, 27.1.2010, p. 35.

(2)  Or at the place where the meeting is held, if elsewhere than New York or Geneva.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/16

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Euro exchange rates (1)

14 December 2010

2010/C 340/09

1 euro =

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,3435
JPY	Japanese yen	111,63
DKK	Danish krone	7,4536
GBP	Pound sterling	0,84865
SEK	Swedish krona	9,1284
CHF	Swiss franc	1,2916
ISK	Iceland króna
NOK	Norwegian krone	7,8960
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CZK	Czech koruna	25,162
EEK	Estonian kroon	15,6466
HUF	Hungarian forint	277,33
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,7097
PLN	Polish zloty	3,9900
RON	Romanian leu	4,2915
TRY	Turkish lira	2,0196
AUD	Australian dollar	1,3433
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,3531
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	10,4441
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,7788
SGD	Singapore dollar	1,7457
KRW	South Korean won	1 531,16
ZAR	South African rand	9,1663
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	8,9411
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,4040
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	12 104,46
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,2000
PHP	Philippine peso	58,698
RUB	Russian rouble	41,2450
THB	Thai baht	40,312
BRL	Brazilian real	2,2802
MXN	Mexican peso	16,6511
INR	Indian rupee	60,3060

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

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/17

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COMMISSION DECISION

of 14 December 2010

appointing two Commission representatives and two alternates to the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency

2010/C 340/10

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 laying down Community procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines Agency (1), and in particular Article 65 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)	Pursuant to Article 65 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, the Management Board of the European Medicine Agency (hereinafter ‘the Agency’) is to include two representatives of the Commission.

(2)

Due to reallocation of competences within the Commission, it is necessary to appoint two new members of the Management Board of the Agency from the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers and from the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry and two alternates who will replace the members in their absence and vote on their behalf,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The representatives of the Commission to the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency shall be the persons occupying the following positions and exercising the following functions:

From the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers: (a) Director-General of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers.

The alternate representative shall be the person occupying the following position and exercising the following functions: (b) Director heading the Directorate which is responsible for the authorisation of medicinal products on the basis of the work program of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers.

From the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry: (c) Director heading the Directorate which is responsible for pharmaceuticals on the basis of the work program of the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry.

The alternate representative shall be the person occupying the following position and exercising the following functions: (d) Head of Unit heading the Unit responsible for pharmaceuticals on the basis of the work program of the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply to the persons occupying, including on a temporary basis, the positions referred to in Article 1 at the date of adoption of this Decision, or to any successor of those persons in those positions.

Article 3

The Director-Generals of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers and the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry shall inform the President of the Management Board and the Executive Director of the Agency of the names of the persons occupying the positions referred to in Article 1, and any changes thereof.

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(1)  OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 1.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/18

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Information communicated by Member States regarding closure of fisheries

2010/C 340/11

In accordance with Article 35(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy (1), a decision has been taken to close the fishery as set down in the following table:

Date and time of closure	10.6.2010
Duration	10.6.2010-31.12.2010
Member State	Spain
Stock or Group of stocks	ANE/08.
Species	Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)
Zone	VIII
Type(s) of fishing vessels	—
Reference number	—

Web link to the decision of the Member State:

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/fishing_rules/tacs/index_en.htm

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(1)  OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/19

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Information communicated by Member States regarding closure of fisheries

2010/C 340/12

In accordance with Article 35(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy (1), a decision has been taken to close the fishery as set down in the following table:

Date and time of closure	13.11.2010
Duration	13.11.2010-31.12.2010
Member State	The Netherlands
Stock or Group of stocks	SRX/2AC4-C
Species	Skates and rays (Rajidae)
Zone	EU waters of IIa and IV
Type(s) of fishing vessels	—
Reference number	—

Web link to the decision of the Member State:

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/fishing_rules/tacs/index_en.htm

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(1)  OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/20

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Call for proposals under the work programme ‘People’ of the Seventh EC Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities

2010/C 340/13

Notice is hereby given of the launch of a call for proposals under the work programme ‘People’ of the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013).

Proposals are invited for the following call concerning transnational operation of the EURAXESS Services Network. The call deadline and budget are given in the call text, which is published on the CORDIS website.

‘People’ Specific Programme:

Call Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2011-EURAXESS-II

This call for proposals relates to the work programme adopted by Commission Decision C(2010) 8940 of 14 December 2010.

Information on the modalities of the call, the work programme, and the guidance for applicants on how to submit proposals is available through the CORDIS website: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/calls/

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/21

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Call for proposals 2010 — Europe for Citizens Programme (2007-2013)

Implementation of the programme actions: Active Citizens for Europe, Active civil society in Europe and Active European Remembrance

2010/C 340/14

INTRODUCTION

This call for proposals is based on Decision No 1904/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006, establishing for the period 2007 to 2013 the programme Europe for Citizens to promote active European citizenship (1). The detailed conditions of this call for proposals can be found in the Programme Guide for the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme published on the Europa website (see point VII). The Programme Guide constitutes an integral part of this call for proposals.

I.   Objectives

The Europe for Citizens programme has the following specific objectives:

—	bringing together people from local communities across Europe to share and exchange experiences, opinions and values, to learn from history and to build for the future,

—	fostering action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through cooperation within civil society organisations at European level,

—	bringing Europe closer to its citizens by promoting Europe's values and achievements, while preserving the memory of its past,

—

encouraging interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries contributing to intercultural dialogue and bringing to the fore both Europe's diversity and unity, with particular attention to activities aimed at developing closer ties between citizens from Member States of the European Union as constituted on 30 April 2004 and those from Member States which have acceded since that date.

II.   Eligible applicants

The Programme is open to all promoters established in one of the countries participating to the Programme and depending on the measure being:

—	a public body, or

—	a non-profit organisation with a legal status (legal personality).

Each action of the Programme is however targeting a more specific range of organisations. The eligibility of applicant organisations is therefore defined in the Programme Guide specifically for each measure/sub-measure.

Countries eligible under this Programme are:

—	EU Member States (2),

—

Croatia,

—

Albania,

—

FYROM.

III.   Eligible actions

The Europe for Citizens programme supports projects promoting active European citizenship.

This call covers the following actions of the Europe for Citizens programme which are supported within two types of grants: project and operating grants

Action 1:   Active Citizens for Europe

Measure 1:   Town Twinning

This measure is aimed at activities that involve or promote direct exchanges between European citizens through their participation in town-twining activities.

Measure 1.1:   Town twinning citizens’ meetings (project grant)

This measure is aimed at activities that involve or promote direct exchanges between European citizens through their participation in town-twinning activities. A project must involve municipalities from at least two participating countries, of which at least one is an EU Member State. The project must have a minimum of 25 international participants coming from the invited municipalities. The maximum duration of the meeting is 21 days. The maximum grant to be awarded is EUR 25 000 per project. The minimum grant awarded is EUR 5 000.

The grants for town twinning citizens’ meetings are targeted to co-finance the organisational costs of the host town and the travel expenses of the invited participants. The grant calculation is based on flat rates.

Measure 1.2:   Networks of twinned towns (project grant)

This measure supports the development of networks created on the basis of town twinning links, which are important for ensuring structured, intense and multifaceted cooperation among municipalities, and therefore for contributing to maximising the impact of the Programme. A project must foresee at least three events. It must involve municipalities from at least four participating countries, of which at least one is an EU Member State. The project must have a minimum of 30 international participants coming from the invited municipalities. The maximum project duration is 24 months; the maximum duration of each event is 21 days.

Maximum amount eligible for a project within this measure is EUR 150 000. The minimum amount eligible is EUR 10 000. The grant calculation is based on flat rates.

Measure 2:   ‘Citizens’ projects’ and ‘Support measures’

Measure 2.1:   Citizens’ projects (project grant)

This measure addresses a major challenge of the European Union today: how to bridge the gap between citizens and the European Union. It aims at exploring original and innovative methodologies capable of encouraging citizens’ participation and stimulating the dialogue between European citizens and the institutions of the European Union.

A project must involve at least five participating countries, of which at least one is an EU Member State. A project must involve at least 200 participants. The maximum project duration is 12 months.

The amount of the grant will be calculated on the basis of a balanced, detailed forecast budget, expressed in euro. The grant awarded may not exceed 60 % of the total amount of the project's eligible costs. The minimum grant will be EUR 100 000. The maximum grant eligible for a project within this measure is EUR 250 000.

Measure 2.2:   Support measures (project grant)

This measure aims at supporting the activities which may lead to the establishment of long-lasting partnerships and networks reaching a significant number of different stakeholders promoting active Europe citizenship, thus contributing to provide a better response to the programmes’ objectives and maximising the overall programme impact and effectiveness.

A project must involve at least two participating countries, of which at least one is an EU Member State. The maximum is 12 months. At least two events per project have to be foreseen.

The amount of the grant will be calculated on the basis of a balanced, detailed forecast budget, expressed in euro. The grant may not exceed a maximum rate of 80 % of eligible costs of the action concerned. The minimum grant eligible is EUR 30 000. The maximum grant eligible for a project within this measure is EUR 100 000.

Action 2:   Active civil society in Europe

Measures 1 and 2:   Structural support for European public policy research organisations and for civil society organisations at EU level (Operating grants (3))

Measure 1— Structural support for European public policy research organisations (think tanks) — aims at supporting the work of European public policy research organisations (think tanks), which are able to provide new ideas and reflections on European issues, on active citizenship at European level or on European values.

Measure 2— Structural support for civil society organisations at EU level — will provide civil society organisations of European dimension with the capacity and stability to develop their activities at European level. The purpose is to contribute to the emergence of a structured, coherent and active civil society at European level.

The period of eligibility must correspond to the applicant's budget year, as evidenced by the organisation's certified accounts. If the applicant's budget year corresponds to the calendar year, the period of eligibility will be from 1 January to 31 December. For applicants with a budget year that differs from the calendar year, the period of eligibility will be the 12-month period from the starting date of their budget year.

The grant can be calculated following two different methods:

(a)	budget based on flat rates;

(b)	budget based on real costs. The amount of the grant will be calculated on the basis of a balanced, detailed forecast budget, expressed in euro. The grant may not exceed a maximum rate of 80 % of eligible costs of the action concerned.

The maximum grant is EUR 100 000.

Measure 3:   Support for projects initiated by civil society organisations (project grant)

The aim of this measure is to support concrete projects promoted by civil society organisations belonging to different participating countries. These projects should raise awareness on matters of European interest and contribute to foster mutual understanding on different cultures and to identify common values through cooperation at European level.

A project must involve at least two participating countries, of which at least one is an EU Member State. The maximum duration of projects is 18 months.

The grant can be calculated following two different methods, corresponding to different approaches and to which specific rules apply:

(a)	budget based on flat rates for ‘event projects’;

(b)	budget based on real costs for ‘production and realisation projects’. The grant requested in that case may not exceed 70 % of the eligible costs of the action concerned.

The maximum grant is EUR 150 000. The minimum grant eligible is EUR 10 000.

Action 4:   Active European Remembrance (project grant)

The aim of projects supported under this action is to keep alive the memory of the victims of Nazism and Stalinism and to improve the knowledge and understanding of present and future generations about what took place in the camps and other places of mass-civilian extermination, and why.

The maximum duration of project is 12 months.

The grant can be calculated following two different methods:

(a)	budget based on flat rates and lump sum for ‘event projects’;

(b)	budget based on real costs for ‘production and realisation projects’. The grant requested in that case may not exceed 60 % of the eligible costs of the action concerned.

The maximum grant is EUR 55 000. The minimum grant eligible is EUR 10 000.

IV.   Award criteria

For project grants:   Qualitative criteria (80 % of points available): — relevance of the project to the objectives and priorities of the Europe for Citizens programme (25 %), — quality of the project and methods proposed (25 %), — impact (15 %), — visibility and follow-up (15 %),   Quantitative criteria (20 % of points available): — geographical impact (10 %), — target group (10 %),

For operating grants:   Qualitative criteria (80 % of points available): — relevance to the objectives and priorities of the Europe for Citizens programme (30 %), — adequacy, coherence and completeness of the work programme (20 %), — impact of the work programme (10 %), — European added value (10 %), — visibility of activities and the dissemination and exploitation of results to European citizens and other interested parties (10 %).   Quantitative criteria (20 % of points available): — geographical impact (10 %), — target group (10 %).

V.   Budget

Foreseen budget 2011 for the following actions

Action 1 Measure 1.1	Town twinning citizens’ meetings	EUR 7 043 000
Action 1 Measure 1.2	The thematic networking of twinned towns	EUR 4 528 000
Action 1 Measure 2.1	Citizens’ projects	EUR 1 308 000
Action 1 Measure 2.2	Support measures	EUR 1 207 000
Action 2 Measure 3	Support for projects initiated by civil society organisations	EUR 2 807 000
Action 4	Active European Remembrance	EUR 1 781 000

The implementation of this call for proposals is subject to the adoption of the European Union budget for the year 2011 by the budget authority.

VI.   Deadlines for applications

Actions		Deadline for submission
Action 1 Measure 1.1	Town twinning citizens’ meetings	1 February 1 June 1 September
Action 1 Measure 1.2	The thematic networking of twinned towns	1 February 1 September
Action 1 Measure 2.1	Citizens’ projects	1 June
Action 1 Measure 2.2	Support measures	1 June
Action 2 Measure 1 & 2	Structural support for EU policy research organisations (think tanks) and for civil society organisations at EU level	15 October
Action 2 Measure 3	Support for projects initiated by civil society organisations	1 February
Action 4	Active European Remembrance	1 June

Applications must be submitted before 12.00 noon (Brussels time) on the final date for applications. If the deadline for submission falls on a weekend, the first working day after a weekend must be considered as the day of the deadline.

Applications must be sent to the following address:

EACEA

Unit P7 Citizenship

Applications — ‘Measure XXX’

Avenue du Bourget 1 (BOUR 01/17)

1140 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Only proposals submitted using the official grant application electronic form (eForm) duly completed and signed by the person empowered to enter into a legal commitment on behalf of the applicant, will be considered.

Applications submitted on paper by post, by fax or directly by email will not be accepted for further evaluation.

VII.   Further information

The detailed conditions for submitting projects proposals and the application forms can be found in the Europe for Citizens Programme Guide as last amended on the following websites:

http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.html

Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.htm

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(1)  OJ L 378, 27.12.2006, p. 32.

(2)  The 27 EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

(3)  This call for proposal concerns annual operating grants for the 2012 financial year.

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/27

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6053 — CVC/Apollo/Brit Insurance)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 340/15

1.

On 6 December 2010, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings CVC Capital Partners SICAV-FIS SA and its subsidiaries and affiliates (‘CVC’, Luxembourg) and AIF VII Euro Holdings, LP, a fund managed by an affiliate of Apollo Management LP (‘Apollo’, USA) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Brit Insurance Holdings NV (‘Brit Insurance’, The Netherlands) by way of public bid announced on 26 October 2010.

2.	The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — CVC: advice to and management of investment funds, — Apollo: advice to and management of investment funds, — Brit Insurance: general insurance and reinsurance.

3.	On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission. Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6053 — CVC/Apollo/Brit Insurance, to the following address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry J-70 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

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15.12.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 340/28

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Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

2010/C 340/16

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date of this publication.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘NANOŠKI SIR’

EC No: SI-PDO-005-0421-29.10.2004

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

This summary sets out the main elements of the product specification for information purposes.

1.   Responsible department in the Member State:

Title:	Ministrstvo za kmetijstvo, gozdarstvo in prehrano
Address:	Dunajska cesta 22 SI-1000 Ljubljana SLOVENIJA
Tel.	+386 14789000
Fax	+386 14789055
E-mail:	varnahrana.mkgp@gov.si

2.   Applicant:

Title:	Gospodarsko interesno združenje Nanoški sir (Nanoški sir Commercial Interest Association)
Address:	Goriška cesta 13 SI-5271 Vipava SLOVENIJA
Tel.	+386 53671280
Fax	+386 53671314
E-mail:	alenka.stopar@vipava1894.si
Composition:	Producers/processors ( X ) Other ( )

3.   Nature of produce:

Class 1.3:

Cheeses

4.   Specification:

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1.   Title:

‘Nanoški sir’

4.2.   Description:

‘Nanoški sir’ is a hard cheese made from cow's milk.

‘Nanoški sir’ has the shape of a wheel with a diameter of 32-34 cm and a height of 7-12 cm. The edge of the wheel is slightly convex. The interior of ‘Nanoški sir’ is of an intense yellow colour and has an elastic, flexible, smooth and solid consistency. The cheese can have occasional, irregularly-shaped, small to medium-sized eyes.

The weight after at least 60 days of ripening is 8-11 kg.

The rind of ‘Nanoški sir’ is yellow with a brick-red to brown shade; traces of mould may be visible in places, which are the result of traditional ripening. The rind is smooth, dry, without imperfections and cracks.

The product is marketed after at least 60 days of ripening and must contain at least 60 % dry matter and at least 45 % fat in dry matter.

The aroma of the cheese is clean, unobtrusive and characteristic of ‘Nanoški sir’; the flavour is slightly piquant and pleasantly salty. As the cheese ages, its aroma and piquant flavour become stronger.

4.3.   Geographical area:

Milk for ‘Nanoški sir’ is produced inside a geographical area limited by the Italian/Slovene border between the towns of Sežana and Nova Gorica, the river Soča as far as Most na Soči, the river Idrijca from Most na Soči to Idrija, the Idrija-Godovič-Kalce-Planina-Postojna road and the Postojna-Pivka-Divača-Sežana road.

The limited geographical area for the production of ‘Nanoški sir’ (processing of milk into ‘Nanoški sir’) is located inside the geographical area for the production of milk. It is located in the upper part of the wine-growing area of the Vipavska Dolina (Vipava Valley), specifically on the territory of the valley of the Močilnik stream from Lozice to Vipava and on that of the valley of the Vipava river from Vipava to Ajdovščina. ‘Nanoški sir’ is produced in establishments located at an altitude of no more than 500 m above sea level.

All the settlements mentioned are located within the defined geographical area.

4.4.   Proof of origin:

In order to ensure that ‘Nanoški sir’ originates from the specified geographical area, the following are monitored:

—	the production of milk: the milk must be produced on farms in the specified geographical area. The keeping of a herd book (veterinary treatments record book) ensures that the breed composition of the herd is appropriate, and the farms also keep records of the purchase of feed or feedingstuffs,

—	the collection of milk: the milk collection routes for the production of ‘Nanoški sir’ must be separate from any other collection routes. When milk is collected, records are kept of the quantities supplied by individual farms and the total quantity of milk collected,

—	the keeping in dairies of records of the daily quantity of milk processed. The heat treatment of the milk takes place at a low temperature of 63 °C to 69 °C; this is ensured by keeping records of the temperature of the heat treatment of the milk for cheese,

—	the processing of the milk and the moulding of the cheese in accordance with the requirements of the specifications; this is ensured by keeping records on the processing of the milk and the moulding of the cheese. Each batch is managed under a specific number and the day and month of production,

—

the ripening of the cheese: a record is kept of the quantity of cheese and the date of the start of ripening for each batch. The temperature and humidity in the ripening room are monitored. Each batch is ripened for at least 60 days. A record is kept of cheese maturing in order to meet the requirements of the specification.

4.5.   Method of production:

At least 80 % of the milk for ‘Nanoški sir’ is obtained from cows of the brown breed. The cows are mainly fed with forages and roughage from the geographical area; forages and roughage (pasture grass, hay and silage or cereals) must comprise 75 % of the dry matter in each ration.

Steps are taken to ensure that the milk intended for the production of ‘Nanoški sir’ is collected and stored separately. No more than 72 hours may elapse between the first milking and the heat treatment. The milk is then treated at a low temperature and stored at a cool temperature. The milk is heated to curdling temperature in the cheese-making vat. A rennet solution is poured into the milk, which is then mixed for five minutes. The milk is then left to coagulate. The curd is cut into squares and pressed into moulds with a diameter of 35 cm and a height of 15 cm. The fresh cheese is pressed, and fermentation takes place during pressing. After the end of pressing and fermentation, each wheel of cheese is labelled on one side with the serial number (day and month).

The wheels of cheese are then salted in a sea-salt solution for three days at a temperature of between 12 °C and 18 °C, during which time they are turned every day in order to ensure that they are evenly salted. After three days of salting, the wheels are removed from the brine and placed on draining boards so that the surfaces dry. When the surface of the cheese is sufficiently dry, the wheels are put into the ripening room. ‘Nanoški sir’ ripens in ripening rooms for at least 60 days or until it has at least 60 % dry matter and at least 45 % fat in dry matter. For the first 14 days of ripening, the cheese is wiped and turned over every three days, and from then on it is turned over at least once a week and wiped if necessary. Before the cheese is released from the store, it is washed so as to remove mould from the rind. When the cheese is at least 60 days old, the external appearance of the individual wheels is examined and those that meet the requirements are selected. An organoleptic assessment and chemical analysis are carried out on the same batch of selected wheels.

Each wheel that meets the criteria of the specification is marked on one of the horizontal surfaces with the stamp bearing the symbol of a narcissus and the inscription ‘Nanoški sir’ in such a way that, when the wheel is cut into sections, each small piece contains part of the symbol of a narcissus. Each pre-packed piece of ‘Nanoški sir’ must also be marked with the serial number.

4.6.   Link:

The territory of the Vipava valley is characterised by a mixture of the continental pre-alpine climate and the Mediterranean climate. There are frequent droughts in the Vipava valley due to the wind that very quickly dries out the wet soil. This territory is considerably affected by the bora, a cold northerly wind which blows down from the Nanos plateau and is very strong. Summers are hot. The natural conditions and the harsh climate have also led to the rearing of the brown breed of cattle, which is strong and more resistant. The brown breed can consume a large quantity of basic forages and roughage, and its milk has a high protein and fat content, which influences the quality of curdling, and the colour, flavour and aroma of ‘Nanoški sir’.

Ripening takes place in the upper part of the wine-growing area of the Vipava Valley in ripening rooms which must be situated at an altitude of no more than 500 m above sea level, since vines, too, grow very well up to that altitude above sea level. The upper section of the wine-growing area of the Vipava valley exerts considerable influence over the content of autochthonous microflora in the air, which plays a role in the ripening of ‘Nanoški sir’ and its characteristic aroma and piquant flavour. The content of autochthonous microflora in the air is influenced by the characteristic climate, the proximity of the sea and the presence of vines.

Cheese has been produced on the Nanos plateau for a long time (since the 16th century). The land register of the Vipava manor from the 16th century contains entries for the rental of plateau land and reveals that the users of pastures paid the lords of the manor partly in cheese. This proves that grazing and cheese-making on the Nanos plateau were already developed at that time. From 1986 onwards, ‘Nanoški sir’ began to be made from cow's milk using the traditional cheese-making methods in that area. It is clear that from early on the milk was already mixed with rennet at a low temperature so as to preserve the majority of the lactic acid microorganisms naturally present in the milk. The cheese-making process also took place in open vats, which allow autochthonous microflora — mainly consisting of yeasts — to enter the curd.

4.7.   Control body:

Title:	Bureau Veritas d.o.o.
Address:	Linhartova cesta 49a SI-1000 Ljubljana SLOVENIJA
Tel.	+386 14757600
Fax	+386 14757601
E-mail:	info@si.bureauveritas.com

4.8.   Labelling:

The cheeses that meet the requirements of the specification are marked with the name ‘Nanoški sir’, the symbol of a narcissus, the corresponding Community symbol and the national quality symbol.

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(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

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