(1)

In May 2003 the European Commission adopted a Communication to the European Parliament and to the Council entitled ‘Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT): Proposal for an EU Action Plan’ which called for measures to address illegal logging through the development of Voluntary Partnership Agreements with timber-producing countries. Council conclusions on that Action Plan were adopted in October 2003 (1).

(2)

On 5 December 2005 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations on Partnership Agreements to implement the EU Action Plan for FLEGT.

(3)

On 20 December 2005 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 (2) which established a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the Union from countries with which the Union has concluded Voluntary Partnership Agreements.

(4)

The negotiations with the Republic of the Congo have been concluded, and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Congo on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) was initialled on 9 May 2009.

(5)

Subject to its conclusion at a later date, the Agreement should be signed,

(1)

On 26–27 February 2009 the Council authorised the Presidency, assisted by the Commission, to open negotiations for an Agreement between the European Union and Japan on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

(2)

In accordance with Council Decision 2010/88/CFSP/JHA of 30 November 2009, the Agreement between the European Union and Japan on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (hereinafter the Agreement) was signed on 30 November and 15 December 2009, subject to its conclusion.

(3)

The Agreement has not yet been concluded. With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the procedures to be followed by the Union in order to conclude the Agreement are governed by Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

(4)

The Agreement should be approved.

(5)

In accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol on the Position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, these Member States have notified their wish to take part in the adoption and application of this Decision.

(6)

In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the Position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application,

(1)

Pursuant to the first subparagraph of Article 6(2) and in accordance with Article 17(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, Italy’s application to register the name ‘Asparago di Badoere’ was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (2).

(2)

As no statement of objection under Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 has been received by the Commission, that name should therefore be entered in the register,

(1)

Commission Decision 2009/821/EC of 28 September 2009 drawing up a list of approved border inspection posts, laying down certain rules on the inspections carried out by Commission veterinary experts and laying down the veterinary units in Traces (4) lays down a list of border inspection posts approved in accordance with Directives 91/496/EEC and 97/78/EC. That list is set out in Annex I to that Decision.

(2)

Following communication from Denmark, new categories of products of animal origin that can be checked at the approved border inspection posts at the ports at Århus and Esbjerg should be added in the entries for these border inspection posts set out in Annex I to Decision 2009/821/EC.

(3)

Spain has communicated that one of its border inspection posts has been suspended, the suspension for certain categories of products of animal origin that can be checked at one of its border inspection posts has been lifted and one new inspection centre was added to one of its border inspection posts. Following that communication from Spain, the list of border inspection posts for that Member State should be amended.

(4)

Italy has communicated that for one of its border inspection posts the category for unpacked products of animal origin has been added and three inspection centres at one of its border inspection posts have changed their names. In addition, the inspection centre ‘Docks Cereali’ at the border inspection post at the port at Ravenna was suspended. Following that communication from Italy, the list of border inspection posts for that Member State should be amended.

(5)

Following communication from Latvia, the approval of one inspection centre at the port at Riga (Riga port) should be suspended in the list of border inspection posts for that Member State.

(6)

The Netherlands has communicated that the name of one inspection centre at a certain border inspection post has changed and that two inspection centres have been installed at a certain border inspection post. In addition, certain categories of animals and products of animal origin that can be checked at one inspection centre at the border inspection post at the port at Rotterdam should be added. Following that communication from the Netherlands, the list of border inspection posts for that Member State should be amended.

(7)

Following communication from the United Kingdom, the approval of the border inspection post at the port at Grove Wharf Wharton should be removed from the list of border inspection posts for that Member State.

(8)

Annex II to Decision 2009/821/EC lays down the list of central units, regional units and local units in the integrated computerised veterinary system (Traces).

(9)

Following communication from Germany, Ireland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom, certain changes should be brought to the list of central, regional and local units in Traces for those Member States laid down in Annex II to Decision 2009/821/EC.

(10)

Decision 2009/821/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

(1)

Article 103n of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides that the allocation of the available Community funds as well as the budgetary limits for the national support programmes in the wine sector are set out in Annex Xb to that Regulation.

(2)

Pursuant to Article 103o of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, some Member States have foreseen the transfer of funds to the Single Payment Scheme or have provided for subsequent changes to their national support programmes.

(3)

Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 555/2008 (2) provides that the Member States should notify any subsequent transfer to the Single Payment Scheme before 1 December preceding the calendar year in which it will be applicable.

(4)

For the sake of clarity and in accordance with Article 103za of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the Commission should publish the amounts notified by the Member States concerned pursuant to Articles 2 and 3 of Regulation (EC) No 555/2008.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,