30.6.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/3

Council conclusions on Encouraging Member States-driven Voluntary Cooperation between Health Systems

(2017/C 206/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

RECALLS that under Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities; that Union action, which shall complement national policies, shall be directed towards improving public health; that the Union shall encourage cooperation between the Member States in the field of public health and, if necessary, lend support to their action, and that Union action shall fully respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care as well as for the allocation of the resources assigned to them.

RECALLS that under Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union, the Union and the Member States shall, in full mutual respect, assist each other in carrying out tasks which flow from the Treaties, pursuant to the principle of sincere cooperation.

RECALLS the Communication from the Commission on effective, accessible and resilient health systems (1) which highlights the added value for Member States in further strengthening cooperation.

RECALLS the Council conclusions on the economic crisis and healthcare (2), adopted on 20 June 2014.

RECALLS the Council conclusions on investing in Europe’s health workforce of tomorrow: Scope for innovation and collaboration (3), adopted on 7 December 2010.

RECALLS the Council conclusions on the Implementation of the EU Health Strategy (4), adopted on 10 June 2008, which amongst others, define the Working Party on Public Health at Senior Level as a forum for discussing major common strategic issues in health and strategic cooperation amongst Member States.

RECALLS the Council conclusions on strengthening the balance in the pharmaceutical systems in the EU and its Member States (5), adopted on 17 June 2016.

RECALLS the Council Recommendation on an action in the field of rare diseases (6), adopted on 9 June 2009.

NOTES the Resolution of the European Parliament on Access to Medicines (7), adopted on 2 March 2017.

10.

HIGHLIGHTS the importance that voluntary cooperation amongst Member States is encouraged in order to ensure continuity and sustainable and effective actions and to maximise the impact of the cooperation initiatives.

11.

RECALLS Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (8), and in particular Chapter IV thereof, relating to cooperation in healthcare.

12.

Whilst REITERATING that health is valuable in itself, CONSIDERS that health systems deliver a wider social benefit that goes beyond human health protection and make a major contribution to social cohesion, social justice and economic growth.

13.

CONSIDERS that strengthening European cooperation in selected areas can bring better outcomes for patients and health care professionals, whilst increasing the efficiency of health systems.

14.

NOTES that ‘health technology’ means a medicinal product, a medical device or medical and surgical procedures as well as measures for disease prevention, diagnosis or treatment used in healthcare (9).

15.

NOTES that reference herein to the term ‘access to health technology’ also incorporates the broader notions of procurement processes ranging from information gathering and sharing to purchasing and post-procurement monitoring, as well as pricing and reimbursement. This term is without prejudice to the implementation of Directive 2014/24/EU of 26 February 2014 on public procurement (10) and of Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors (11).

16.

CONSIDERS that quality of patient care is very important and that the health workforce is necessary to ensure high quality of care. Global shortages in the health workforce which seriously affect the capacity of the majority of the Member States, albeit to a higher degree in Central and Eastern Europe, may be tackled more effectively by increasing voluntary cooperation to improve the availability of skills and resources across the European Union.

17.

REITERATES that cooperation between health systems involving Member States’ competences should be exclusively Member State driven and voluntary in nature.

18.

NOTES that voluntary cooperation between health systems may provide flexible structures adapted to the specific needs of the participating Member States, and that such cooperation may require the use of instruments defined by those Member States.

19.

TAKES INTO ACCOUNT the differences that exist between health systems and the benefit of promoting rapid and efficient dissemination of innovative evidence-based practices.

20.

NOTES that tackling the specific characteristics and challenges arising in the healthcare market for therapeutic innovations, in particular in the field of rare diseases, and the development of personalised medicine, may benefit from voluntary cooperation so as to ensure a balance between access, quality, affordability and sustainability of health systems.

21.

NOTES that several Member States are engaging in models of cross-border and regional voluntary cooperation to improve access to health technologies and that valuable lessons may be learned from these experiences.

22.

CONSIDERS that voluntary cooperation to improve access to health technologies is fully in line with common European values and principles.

23.

NOTES that changes in health technology and market behaviour may require different approaches to improve access to health technologies than those applied in the past, amongst others through voluntary cooperation.

24.

NOTES the demand from several Member States for increased voluntary cooperation between them, as a means of improving access to health technologies, including by:

—	enhancing transparency through better sharing of information;

—	enabling cross-country learning through sharing experience;

—	strengthening bargaining power, particularly for smaller markets, through voluntary aggregation of demand;

—	ensuring access to health technologies through cross-border exchange of information and products in short supply, especially in emergency situations.

25.

NOTES that provision of highly specialised health care (HSHC) involves diagnosis, treatment and/or management of complex conditions with associated high costs, and can often only be provided by appropriately trained health professionals working within centres of expertise, thereby creating specific health workforce challenges.

26.

NOTES that European Reference Networks (ERNs), when fully developed, present an opportunity for building capacity throughout Europe in the provision of specialised health services, in particular in the field of rare diseases, so as to ensure quality of care, and dissemination of knowledge and innovative practices.

INVITES THE MEMBER STATES TO:

27.

Explore, through the exchange of information within existing relevant health fora, priority content areas and appropriate processes for the development of Member State-driven voluntary cooperation, as a way to increase the effectiveness, accessibility and resilience of their health systems, and to identify priority processes and product categories for which voluntary cooperation between the health systems of different Member States may add value as a means of ensuring greater affordability and better access to health technologies.

The discussions may also:

a)	Explore the factors supporting and impeding voluntary cooperation to improve access to health technologies, within the context of health, which is a Member State competence;

b)	Identify best practice frameworks for cross-border and regional voluntary cooperation to improve access to innovation, for those Members States willing to develop such approaches;

c)	Explore solutions to increase the effectiveness of cooperation and to better anticipate the potential barriers to access, due to the emergence of new health technologies, including by actively contributing to joint horizon scanning;

d)	Explore mechanisms for voluntary sharing of information in the post-marketing phase, with a view to evaluating the outcomes, including the impact, that adoption of innovative health technologies has on patients and on health systems;

e)	Share information on criteria and processes used by Member States for disinvestment in health technologies that are no longer cost-effective;

f)	Evaluate the progress made in the implementation of improved access to treatment for patients with rare diseases and chronic pain, while recognising the need to maintain a balance between innovation, availability, accessibility and affordability;

g)	Explore areas in which voluntary cross-border collation of data and the development of common principles on data collection in compliance with data protection legislation (12) may provide added value, while fully respecting Member States’ competences (13).

28.

Identify areas of potential voluntary cooperation between Member States to strengthen and enhance the health workforce of the participating Member States, with a view to:

a)	Exploring possibilities and mechanisms for voluntary cooperation to enhance transfer of knowledge and skills and to further develop health workforce capacity;

b)	Making use of documented grassroots experience of voluntary cooperation in highly specialised healthcare to inform macro level policies, where appropriate;

c)	Promoting voluntary cooperation on ethical recruitment practices;

d)	Encouraging and supporting the generation of evidence on transferability of innovative practices, including voluntary cooperation, through structured mobility in highly specialised services, as a tool for disseminating innovative, high-quality health services.

29.

Considering the existence of different information practices within the pharmaceutical market, and recognising the potential benefits of exchange of information between Member States on national pricing and reimbursement policies, share more information on and within pricing agreements relating to medicinal products on a voluntary basis, with a view to increasing transparency and improving the leverage of individual Member States in negotiations with industry and – consequently – enhancing the affordability of these products across the EU.

INVITES THE MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION TO:

30.

Promote the acquisition of innovative and specialised skills for established professionals as well as post-graduate trainees through the implementation of voluntary cooperation activities between healthcare organisations geared to promoting better patient outcomes, continuity of care and strengthening of the health workforce.

31.

Encourage the ERNs to attain their intended objectives of providing better access for patients requiring highly specialised healthcare, so that barriers to access are overcome and inequities between European citizens are reduced. This includes:

Evaluating the readiness and capacity of ERNs to assume a role in highly specialised training and continuous professional development for health professionals, in particular through e-learning, e-training and short term exchanges to build health workforce capacity through ERN healthcare providers, and to develop their knowledge and expertise in diagnosis, treatment and care of patients;

b)	Reflecting on ways to stimulate innovative research on very rare diseases through ERNs, to pool evidence on the effectiveness of innovative technologies and to capture comparable and reliable data from interoperable patient registries, as well as other relevant information.

32.

Facilitate and support the implementation of pilot projects for voluntary cross-border professional mobility as a means of building experience and the capacity to deliver innovative and highly specialised services, in collaboration with stakeholders, by building on the opportunities offered through existing structures.

33.

Consider conducting a mapping exercise and reporting on voluntary national actions and voluntary European-level collaboration between Member States in the field of rare diseases in order to promote the exchange of best practices.

34.

Examine the outcome of the evidence-based analysis of the impact of incentives on innovation, availability, accessibility and affordability of medicinal products, including orphan drugs.

35.

Consider taking into account on a voluntary basis recommendations, best practices and outcomes based on the work carried out in relevant EU joint actions and expert working groups, and disseminating the results at various levels throughout the health system.

INVITES THE COMMISSION TO:

36.

Facilitate a needs assessment, exchange and cooperation concerning cross-border post-graduate training and continuing professional development in the area of innovative and highly specialised services. In this regard, the mapping of the Continuing Professional Development in the EU (2014) (14) in consultation with Member States and the relevant European level stakeholder organisations, can be a valuable document to build on.

37.

If requested by Member States, following submission of the needs assessment referred to in paragraph 36, reflect on the requirements for sustainable development and implementation of the options.

38.

Inform the Council about the state of implementation of the Council recommendation of 8 June 2009 on an action in the field of rare diseases and on the follow-up to the Commission Communication of 11 November 2008 on rare diseases (15).

(1) 8997/14 COM (2014) 215 final.

(2) OJ C 217, 10.7.2014, p. 2.

(3) OJ C 74, 8.3.2011, p. 2.

(4) 16139/08.

(5) OJ C 269, 23.7.2016, p. 31.

(6) OJ C 151, 3.7.2009, p. 7.

(7) European Parliament resolution of 2 March 2017 on EU options for improving access to medicines – 2016/2057(INI).

(8) Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (OJ L 88, 4.4.2011, p. 45.).

(9) Point (l) of Article 3 of Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council.

(10) Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 65).

(11) Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and repealing Directive 2004/17/EC (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 243).

(12) Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).

(13) Council conclusions on personalised medicine for patients, adopted on 7 December 2015 (OJ C 421, 17.12.2015, p. 2).

(14) https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/workforce/docs/cpd_mapping_report_en.pdf

(15) 15775/08 — COM (2008) 679 final.

30.6.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/9

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 29 June 2017

on the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of a request for amendment of a specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council [Vacqueyras (PDO)]

(2017/C 206/04)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (1), and in particular Article 97(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)	France has sent an application for amendment of the specification for the name ‘Vacqueyras’ in accordance with Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

(2)	The Commission has examined the application and concluded that the conditions laid down in Articles 93 to 96, Article 97(1), and Articles 100, 101 and 102 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 have been met.

(3)	In order to allow for the presentation of statements of opposition in accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the application for amendment of the specification for the name ‘Vacqueyras’ should be published in the Official Journal of the European Union,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The application for amendment of the specification for the name ‘Vacqueyras’ (PDO), in accordance with Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, is contained in the Annex to this Decision.

In accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the publication of this Decision confers the right to oppose the amendment of the specification referred to in the first paragraph of this Article within two months of the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 29 June 2017.

For the Commission

Phil HOGAN

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671.

ANNEX

REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT OF THE SPECIFICATION

‘VACQUEYRAS’

AOP-FR-A0151-AM01

Date of submission of the application: 3 December 2015

1. Rules applicable to the amendment

Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 — Non-minor amendment

2. Description of and reasons for the amendment

2.1. Rules relating to the vine varieties to be planted

Point V of the specification lays down rules on the proportions of the various authorised vine varieties to be planted on each holding. For the red wines, these rules are as follows:

—	the proportion of the main variety and complementary varieties combined must be more than or equal to 90 % of the vines planted;

—	the proportion of the Grenache N variety must be more than or equal to 50 % of the vines planted;

—	the proportion of the Mourvèdre N and Syrah N varieties combined must be more than or equal to 20 % of the vines planted.

An adjustment has been introduced for the red wines: this does not apply to operators producing grapes who do not make wine from their own production and whose holdings within the demarcated parcel area for ‘Vacqueyras’ (PDO) are of a total area of less than 1,5 ha (all grape colours combined).

The above rules on planting are not suitable for small holdings, usually comprising just a few parcels, that do not produce their own wine.

This amendment does not affect the Single Document.

2.2. Cultivation methods

The second indent of point VI(2) of the specification, which states as follows: ‘Spontaneous vegetation is controlled from 1 September to 1 February, either by mechanical means or using equipment that enables treatment products to target precise locations’ is replaced by the following wording: ‘At least 60 % of the area between two rows is either tilled or covered by sown or spontaneous vegetation. In the latter case, the spontaneous vegetation is controlled either by mechanical means or using equipment that enables treatment products to target precise locations.’

The applicant group would like the ground to be worked mechanically throughout the year so that there is no longer any bare soil.

This amendment does not affect the Single Document.

2.3. Analytical standards

In point IX(1)(c) of the specification, the standard relating to the colour intensity of the red wines is altered from 6 to 5.

This amendment is necessary as the current threshold is too high and penalises cuvées with a high percentage of the Grenache N variety, which is the main variety used for the PDO red wines. It is a light-coloured variety (it has a relatively low anthocyanin concentration), which prevents it from reaching very high colour intensities.

2.4. Other amendments

In connection with this amendment application, the Single Document has been updated according to the new input rules of the e-Ambrosia software.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name

Vacqueyras

2. Type of geographical indication

PDO — Protected Designation of Origin

3. Grapevine product categories

Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

Still white wines

Although the white wines only account for a small proportion of the wine produced, they have a strong identity with mainly floral aromas, tempered by notes of citrus fruits. Thanks to their structure and nervousness, they are full-bodied on the palate with long-lasting aromas.

The white wines are produced from the Bourboulenc B, Clairette B, Grenache Blanc B, Marsanne B, Roussanne B and Viognier B varieties.

Minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume: 12 %

On bottling:

—	fermentable sugar content ≤ 3 g/l if minimum alcoholic strength by volume ≤ 14 %

—	fermentable sugar content ≤ 4 g/l if minimum alcoholic strength by volume > 14 %

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): 14

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre):

The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.

Still red wines

The red wines, which account for the vast majority of the wine produced, are influenced by the different soil types present and are produced mainly from the Grenache N, Mourvèdre N and Syrah N varieties.

They nevertheless stand out for their strong identity, which is often enhanced by a relatively long ageing period, although this is not a requirement. The aromas are complex, dominated by red or black fruit, often with hints of overripeness, candied fruits or jam.

Ageing gives the wines more hints of spices and animal (leather, game, etc.). They are generous, full-bodied and well-structured on the palate, with an imposing but not aggressive tannic structure. They are powerful, round and elegant wines that improve with age.

Minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume: 12,5 %

On bottling:

—	fermentable sugar content ≤ 3 g/l if minimum alcoholic strength by volume ≤ 14 %

—	fermentable sugar content ≤ 4 g/l if minimum alcoholic strength by volume > 14 %

—	malic acid content ≤ 0,4 g/l

—	colour intensity (OD 420 nm + OD 520 nm + OD 620 nm) ≥ 5

—	total polyphenol index (OD 280 nm) ≥ 45

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): 14

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre):

The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.

Still rosé wines

The rosé wines, which are produced in quantities as small as the white wines, have a relatively intense colour, are rich and powerful, dominated by fruits, and are also produced largely from the Grenache N, Mourvèdre N and Syrah N varieties. They stand out for their long-lasting aroma.

Minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume: 12 %

On bottling:

—	fermentable sugar content ≤ 3 g/l if minimum alcoholic strength by volume ≤ 14 %

—	fermentable sugar content ≤ 4 g/l if minimum alcoholic strength by volume > 14 %

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): 14

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre):

The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.

5. Wine-making practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Oenological practices

Restriction applicable to wine-making

The use of wood chips is forbidden.

The use of oenological charcoal to make the rosé wines is forbidden, whether alone or mixed in preparations.

Distance between rows and space between plants

Cultivation method

The distance between the rows must not exceed 2,50 m.

The area available for each plant must not exceed 2,50 m2. The distance between the plants in the same row must be between 0,85 m and 1,20 m.

Pruning of the vine

Cultivation method

The vines are pruned short (using the ‘Gobelet’ or ‘Cordon de Royat’ method), with a maximum of six spurs. Each spur has a maximum of two buds.

The formation or regeneration period for the ‘Cordon de Royat’ method is limited to two years. During this period, the ‘Guyot’ method, with a rod with a maximum of eight buds and a spur with a maximum of two buds, may be used.

The Viognier B variety may be pruned:

—	either using the ‘single Guyot’ method, with a maximum of eight buds on the rod and one or two spurs with a maximum of two buds on each spur;

—	or using the ‘double Guyot’ method, with a maximum of six buds on each rod and one or two spurs with a maximum of two buds on each spur.

Irrigation

Cultivation method

Irrigation may be authorised.

b. Maximum yields

40 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and aged on the territory of the following municipalities in the department of Vaucluse: Sarrians, Vacqueyras.

7. Main wine grapes

Viognier B

Bourboulenc B

Grenache N

Grenache blanc B

Clairette B

Cinsaut N

Mourvèdre N

Marsanne B

Syrah N

Roussanne B

8. Description of the link(s)

At the heart of the southern vineyards of the Rhône valley and recognised as a ‘Cru des Côtes du Rhône’, the area of the ‘Vacqueyras’ controlled designation of origin is one of the areas surrounding the remarkable limestone massif of the Dentelles de Montmirail. This ‘admirable mountain’ (‘mons mirabilis’), is the closest alpine landscape to the Rhône valley, which it partly cuts through from east to west.

The geographical area falls within the municipalities of Vacqueyras and Sarrians, in the department of Vaucluse. ‘Vacqueyras’ thoroughly lives up to its ancient name: ‘Vallis Quadreria’ or ‘Valley of Stones’, where the vineyards were mainly situated on wide terraces along the Ouvèze river at an altitude of between 60 and 160 m. The climate is Mediterranean, hot and dry, with plenty of sunshine. However, this is contrasted by a low but very irregular annual rainfall, sometimes with heavy rain around the equinoxes. The geographical area is also under the influence of the Mistral, a strong, cold northerly wind, for a significant proportion of the year (more than 100 days).

The natural conditions for a unique grape harvest potential — highly permeable soils (sand, pebbly sandstone, water-worn pebbles) often coupled with a clayey matrix that acts as a useful water reserve during dry periods — are combined with a Mediterranean climate tempered by the proximity of the Dentelles de Montmirail, which provides good conditions for ripening the grapes without excessive temperatures and enables the beneficial effects of the Mistral to act on the concentration and protect the vines against cryptogamic diseases, and with human factors that have been revealed over generations through the expertise of the operators in planting the vine varieties and blending the grapes. The wines bearing the ‘Vacqueyras’ controlled designation of origin bear witness to the uniqueness of this area.

These interactions are particularly evident in the red wines, which are complex blends between the power and tannic structure obtained from grapes grown in water-worn pebbles, the finesse and fruity aromas of grapes grown in more sandy soils and the harmony and balance of grapes grown in pebbly sandstone. On the strength of this potential, the expertise applied enables the identity of the red wines to be maintained while respecting the unique nature of the raw material.

Quite exceptionally for this wine-growing area, the particular identity of the wines produced has also been recognised for the white and rosé wines, which benefit here from the same qualitative aspects linked to both the natural conditions and production practices.

Reputation, expertise, practices and wine quality can all be seen in the ‘Vacqueyras’ vineyards, thanks to a significant and well-preserved rural heritage linked to agricultural activity.

9. Essential further conditions

Broader geographical unit

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

The labels of wines with the controlled designation of origin may specify the larger geographical unit ‘Cru des Côtes du Rhône’ or ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’. The conditions for using the larger geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ are specified in the agreement signed between the protection and management bodies concerned with regard to the conditions for use of this larger geographical unit.

Area in immediate proximity

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area

Description of the condition:

The area in immediate proximity, defined by derogation for the making, development and ageing of the wines, comprises the territory of the following municipalities:

Department of Ardèche: 2 municipalities;

Department of Drôme: 5 municipalities;

Department of Rhône: 3 municipalities;

Department of Vaucluse: 59 municipalities.

The list of municipalities in each department is given in detail in the product specification.

10. Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-5cae91ee-7281-49fb-a01b-3d1fff4f78ec

30.6.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/17

Summary of Commission Decision

of 4 December 2013

relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement

(Case AT.39914 — Euro Interest Rate Derivatives)

(notified under document C(2013) 8512)

(Only the English text is authentic)

(2017/C 206/07)

On 4 December 2013, the Commission adopted a decision relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (the ‘Treaty’) and Article 53 of the Agreement creating the European Economic Area (the ‘EEA Agreement’). In accordance with the provisions of Article 30 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (1) , the Commission herewith publishes the names of the parties and the main content of the decision, including any penalties imposed, having regard to the legitimate interest of undertakings in the protection of their business secrets.

1. INTRODUCTION

(1)

The addressees of the Decision participated in a single and continuous infringement of Article 101 of the Treaty and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement. The object of the infringement was the restriction and/or distortion of competition in the sector of Euro Interest Rate Derivatives linked to the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (‘Euribor’) and/or the Euro Over-Night Index Average (‘EONIA’) (hereinafter ‘EIRD’ or ‘EIRDs’).

(2)

The Euribor is a benchmark interest rate intended to reflect the cost of interbank lending in Euros which is widely used in the international money markets. The Euribor is defined as an index of ‘the rate at which Euro interbank term deposits are offered by one prime bank to another prime bank within the euro zone’ (2) and it is based on the panel banks’ individual quotes of the rates at which each of them believes that a hypothetical prime bank would lend funds to another prime bank (3). Indeed, according to the European Banking Federation’s Euribor Code of Conduct, ‘panel banks provide daily quotes of the rate (…) that each panel bank believes one prime bank is quoting to another prime bank for interbank term deposits within the euro zone’ (4).

(3)

The Euribor is calculated (5) on the basis of submissions by participating ‘panel banks’ (6) sent on every trading day between 10.45 am and 11.00 am Brussels time to Thomson Reuters, which serves as the calculation agent to the European Banking Federation (‘EBF’). Each panel bank has submitters which are responsible for proposing the quote submissions on behalf of the given panel bank. Submitters operate normally within the treasury department of the given panel bank. The Euribor is determined and published at 11.00 am each business day Brussels time (10.00 am London time). Each panel bank provides a contribution for each of the 15 different Euribor interest rates (one for each maturity ranging from one week to 12 months – referred to as ‘tenors’).

(4)

The Euribor does not have an overnight tenor. This role is taken by the EONIA which is an overnight interest rate computed with the help of the European Central Bank as a weighted average of all overnight unsecured lending transactions of certain banks in the interbank market. The banks contributing to EONIA are the same as the panel banks contributing to Euribor.

(5)

The different Euribor tenors (such as 1 month, 3, 6 or 12 months) serve as pricing components for Euribor-based EIRDs. For EIRDs, the respective Euribor tenor which is maturing or resetting on a specific date may affect either the cash flow a bank receives from the counterparty to the EIRD, or the cash flow a bank needs to pay to the counterparty on that date. Depending on the trading positions/exposures entered into on its behalf by its traders, a bank may either have an interest in a high Euribor fixing (when it receives an amount calculated on the basis of Euribor), a low fixing (when it needs to pay an amount calculated on the basis of Euribor) or to be ‘flat’ (when it does not have a significant position in either direction).

(6)

Euribor rates are, inter alia, reflected in the pricing of EIRDs, which are globally traded financial products used by corporations, financial institutions, hedge funds, and other undertakings to manage their interest rate risk exposure (hedging, for both borrowers and investors) or for speculation purposes (7). The most common basic EIRDs are: (i) forward rate agreements, (ii) interest rate swaps, (iii) interest rate options and (iv) interest rate futures. EIRDs may be traded over the counter (‘OTC’) or, in the case of interest rate futures, through exchanges.

(7)

The Decision is addressed to (hereinafter ‘the addressees’):

—	Barclays plc, Barclays Bank plc, Barclays Directors Limited, Barclays Group Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Services Limited and Barclays Services Jersey Limited (together referred to as ‘Barclays’);

—	Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Services (Jersey) Limited and DB Group Services (UK) Limited (together referred to as ‘Deutsche Bank’);

—	Société Générale; and

—	The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (together referred to as ‘RBS’).

(8)

This Decision is based on matters of fact as accepted only by Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Société Générale and RBS in the settlement procedure. This Decision does not establish any liability of any non-settling party for any participation in an infringement of EU competition law in this case.

(9)

Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Société Générale have been Euribor panel banks during the whole period of their respective involvement in the infringement. The RBS group included a panel bank as from 17 October 2007 onwards following the implementation of the take-over of parts of ABN Amro.

2. CASE DESCRIPTION

2.1. Procedure

(10)

The case was opened on the basis of an immunity application by Barclays on 14 June 2011. Between 18 and 21 October 2011 the Commission carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of various banks in London and Paris. The Commission also sent out a series of requests for information. Following the inspections, the Commission received leniency applications from RBS, Deutsche Bank and Société Générale.

(11)

By decisions of 5 March 2013 and 29 October 2013, the Commission initiated proceedings pursuant to Article 11(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 against the addressees of the Decision and three other banks, with a view to engaging in settlement discussions with them. Settlement meetings with the parties took place and the addressees of the Decision subsequently submitted to the Commission their formal requests to settle pursuant to Article 10a(2) of Regulation (EC) No 773/2004.

(12)

On 29 October 2013, the Commission adopted a Statement of Objections addressed to Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Société Générale and RBS and all four parties confirmed that it reflected the contents of their settlement submissions and that they remained committed to following the settlement procedure. The Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions issued a favourable opinion on 29 November 2013 and the Commission adopted the Decision on 4 December 2013.

2.2. Description of the conduct

(13)

The parties, through the conduct of certain of their employees, have participated in arrangements in the EIRD sector which consisted of the following practices between different parties:

(a)	On occasions, certain traders employed by different parties communicated and/or received preferences for an unchanged, low or high fixing of certain Euribor tenors. These preferences depended on their trading positions/exposures.

(b)	On occasions, certain traders of different parties communicated and/or received from each other detailed, not publicly known/available information on the trading positions or on the intentions for future Euribor submissions for certain tenors of at least one of their respective banks.

(c)	On occasions, certain traders also explored possibilities to align their EIRD trading positions on the basis of such information as described under (a) or (b).

(d)	On occasions, certain traders also explored possibilities to align at least one of their banks’ future Euribor submissions on the basis of such information as described under (a) or (b).

(e)	On occasions, at least one of the traders involved in such discussions approached the respective bank’s Euribor submitters, or stated that such an approach would be made, to request a submission to the EBF’s calculation agent towards a certain direction or at a specific level.

(f)

On occasions, at least one of the traders involved in such discussions stated that he would report back, or reported back on the submitter’s reply before the point in time when the daily Euribor submissions had to be submitted to the calculation agent or, in those instances where that trader had already discussed this with the submitter, passed on such information received from the submitter to the trader of a different party.

(g)	On occasions, at least one trader of a party disclosed to a trader of another party other detailed and sensitive information about his bank’s trading or pricing strategy regarding EIRDs.

(14)

In addition, on occasions certain traders employed by different parties discussed the outcome of the Euribor rate setting, including specific banks’ submissions, after the Euribor rates of a day had been set and published.

(15)

Each party has at least participated in some of these forms of conduct. This occurred throughout the period of the settling parties’ respective involvement in the infringement, although not every settling party participated in all instances of the collusion and the intensity of the collusive contacts varied over the period of the infringement.

(16)

The collusive activity occurred through bilateral contacts, mainly through on-line chats, e-mails and on-line messages or over the telephone.

2.3. Individual involvement in the conduct

(17)

Between 29 September 2005 and 30 May 2008, Barclays engaged in bilateral practices falling under at least some of the practices enumerated in recital 13 with Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, RBS and three other banks, for the duration of each party’s respective period of involvement.

(18)

Between 29 September 2005 and 30 May 2008, Deutsche Bank engaged in bilateral practices falling under at least some of the practices enumerated in recital 13 with Barclays, RBS and one other bank, for the duration of each party’s respective period of involvement.

(19)

Between 31 March 2006 and 30 May 2008, Société Générale engaged in bilateral practices falling under at least some of the practices enumerated in recital 13 with Barclays and RBS, for the duration of each party’s respective period of involvement.

(20)

Between 26 September 2007 and 30 May 2008, RBS engaged in bilateral practices falling under at least some of the practices enumerated in recital 13 with Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Société Générale.

(21)

As noted in point (8) above, this Decision does not establish any liability of any non-settling party for any participation in an infringement of EU competition law in this case.

2.4. Geographic scope

(22)

The geographic scope of the infringement covered at least the whole EEA.

2.5. Remedies

(23)

The Decision applies the 2006 Guidelines on Fines (8). The Decision imposes fines on the entities of Deutsche Bank, Société Générale and RBS listed in point (7) above.

2.5.1. Basic amount of the Fine

(24)

The basic amount of the fine to be imposed on the undertakings concerned is to be set by reference to the value of sales, the fact that the infringement is by its very nature amongst the most harmful restrictions of competition, the duration and geographic scope of the cartel, the fact that the collusive activities related to financial benchmarks, the paramount importance the affected rates have for the financial services sector within the internal market and the Member States and an additional amount to deter undertakings from entering into such illegal practices.

(25)

The Commission normally takes into account the value of the sales made by the undertakings during the last full business year of their participation in the infringement (9). It may however depart from this practice, should another reference period be more appropriate in view of the characteristics of the case (10).

(26)

With respect to this infringement, the Commission calculated the annual value of sales for all the settling parties on the basis of the cash flows that each bank received from its respective portfolio of EIRDs entered into with EEA-located counterparties during the months corresponding to their respective participation in the infringement, discounted by a uniform factor to take account of the particularities of the EIRD industry, such as the netting inherent in this industry, meaning that banks both sell and buy derivatives so that the incoming payments are netted against outgoing payments, and the scale of price variations.

2.5.2. Adjustment to the basic amount: aggravating or mitigating circumstances

(27)

The Commission did not apply any aggravating or mitigating circumstances.

2.5.3. Application of the 10 % turnover limit

(28)

Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 provides that the fine imposed on each undertaking for each infringement shall not exceed 10 % of its total turnover relating to the business year preceding the date of the Commission decision.

(29)

In this case, none of the fines exceed 10 % of an undertaking’s total turnover relating to the business year preceding the date of this Decision.

2.5.4. Application of the 2006 Leniency Notice

(30)

The Commission granted full immunity from fines to Barclays. The Commission also granted a 50 % reduction of the fine to RBS, a 30 % reduction of the fine to Deutsche Bank and a 5 % reduction of the fine to Société Générale, for their respective cooperation in the investigation.

2.5.5. Application of the Settlement Notice

(31)

As a result of the application of the Settlement Notice, the amount of the fines to be imposed on all the settling parties was reduced by 10 % and this reduction was added to any leniency reward.

3. CONCLUSION

(32)

The following fines were imposed pursuant to Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003:

Undertaking	Fines (in EUR)
Barclays	0
Deutsche Bank	465 861 000
Société Générale	445 884 000
RBS	131 004 000

(1) OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 411/2004 (OJ L 68, 6.3.2004, p. 1).

(2) http://www.euribor-ebf.eu/euribor-org/about-euribor.html

(3) The details of the panel composition and submission procedural rules are described in the European Banking Federation’s Euribor Code of Conduct (http://www.euribor-ebf.eu/assets/files/Euribor_code_conduct.pdf).

(4) The European Banking Federation’s Euribor Code of Conduct, p. 17.

(5) The highest and lowest 15 % of all the panel bank submissions collected are eliminated. The remaining rates are averaged and rounded to three decimal places.

(6) At the time of the infringement, the number of panel banks was 44; currently there are 25.

(7) According to the Bank of International Settlements, the gross market value of outstanding EIRDs (http://www.bis.org/statistics/dt21a21b.pdf) was USD 9 067 billion in December 2012 and represent the largest segment or 48 % of the OTC interest rate derivatives the market.

(8) OJ C 210, 1.9.2006, p. 2.

(9) Point 13 of the Guidelines on fines.

(10) Case T-76/06, Plasticos Españoles (ASPLA) v Commission, not yet reported, paragraphs 111-113.

30.6.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/26

Call for contributions IX-2018/01 — ‘Contributions to European political parties’

(2017/C 206/13)

A. INTRODUCTION AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Under Article 10(4) of the Treaty on European Union ‘political parties at European level contribute to forming European political awareness and to expressing the will of citizens of the Union’.

In accordance with Article 224 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Council lay down the regulations governing political parties at European level and in particular the rules regarding their funding. These rules and regulations are laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (1).

The second subparagraph of Article 25(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 states: ‘The terms and conditions for contributions and grants shall be laid down by the Authorising Officer of the European Parliament in the call for contributions and the call for proposals.’

Hence, the European Parliament is launching this call for contributions with a view to awarding of contributions to European political parties (‘call’).

The basic legal framework is defined in the following legal acts:

a)	Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014;

b)	Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 12 June 2017 laying down the procedures for implementing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (2);

c)	Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (3) (‘Financial Regulation’);

d)	Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (4) (‘Rules of Application of the Financial Regulation’);

e)	Commission Delegated Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2015/2401 of 2 October 2015 on the content and functioning of the Register of European political parties and foundations (5);

f)	Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2246 of 3 December 2015 on detailed provisions for the registration number system applicable to the register of European political parties and European political foundations and information provided by standard extracts from the register (6);

g)	European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (7).

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE CALL

The objective of this call is to invite registered European political parties to submit applications for funding from the Union budget (‘funding applications’).

C. PURPOSE, CATEGORY AND FORM OF FUNDING

The purpose of the funding is to support the European political party’s statutory activities and objectives for the financial year from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 under the terms and conditions set out in the contribution decision by the responsible authorising officer.

The category of the funding is the contribution to European political parties, pursuant to Title VIII of Part II of the Financial Regulation (‘contribution’). The contribution takes the form of a reimbursement of a percentage of reimbursable costs actually incurred.

The maximum amount paid to the beneficiary by the European Parliament may not exceed 85 % of the reimbursable costs actually incurred.

D. BUDGET AVAILABLE

10.

The foreseen funding for the financial year 2018 under Article 402 of Parliament’s budget ‘Funding of European political parties’ amounts to EUR 32 447 000. The final available appropriations are subject to approval by the budgetary authority.

E. ADMISSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS

11.

Funding applications will be admissible if they

a)	are submitted in writing on the application form as annexed to this call;

b)	contain the commitment that the applicant agrees to the terms and conditions specified in Annex 1a to the Bureau Decision specified in paragraph 5(b) of this call;

c)	contain a letter of a legal representative certifying the authorisation to undertake legal obligations on behalf of the applicant;

are forwarded to the President of the European Parliament by 30 September 2017 to the following address:

President of the European Parliament

Attn. Mr Didier Kléthi, Director-General of Finance

SCH 05B031

L-2929 Luxembourg

12.

For the purpose of assessing the criteria for evaluation of the applications, the applicants must provide:

a)	the funding application form including all supporting documents required therein;

b)	the estimated budget, indicating the expenditure eligible for Union funding.

13.

Applications assessed as incomplete may be rejected.

F. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF FUNDING APPLICATIONS

F.1 Exclusion criteria

14.

Applicants shall be excluded from funding procedure, if they are:

a)	in one of the situations of exclusion referred to in Article 106(1), 106(2) or 107 of the Financial Regulation;

b)	subject of any of the sanctions provided for in Article 27(1) and in points (v) and (vi) of Article 27(2)(a) of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

F.2 Eligibility criteria

15.

In order to be eligible for Union funding, applicants must satisfy the conditions laid down in Articles 17 and 18 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, i.e. the applicant

a)	must be registered in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014;

b)	must be represented in the European Parliament by at least one of its members;

c)	must comply with the obligations listed in Article 23 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, i.e. it must have submitted the annual financial statements (8), external audit report and the list of donors, as specified therein;

must be represented in at least one quarter of the Member States by members of the European Parliament, of national parliaments, of regional parliaments or of regional assemblies, or it or its member parties must have received, in at least one quarter of the Member States, at least three per cent of the votes cast in each of those Member States at the most recent elections to the European Parliament;

e)	must have participated in elections to the European Parliament, or have expressed publicly the intention to participate in the next elections to the European Parliament.

16.

A member of the European Parliament shall be considered as a member of only one European political party, which shall, where relevant, be the one to which his or her national or regional political party is affiliated on the final date for the submission of funding applications. Pursuant to Article 17(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, this provision is established for the purposes of determining eligibility for Union funding in accordance with Article 17(1), Article 3(1)(b) and the application of Article 19(1) of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 and for the purpose of evaluating the eligibility of funding as stated in the eligibility criteria specified in paragraph 15 of this call.

17.

Moreover, a multiple individual membership in several European political parties will result in excluding the member concerned for the purpose of:

a)	evaluating the eligibility of funding application as stated in the eligibility criteria specified in paragraph 15 of this call; or

b)	calculating the funding amount pursuant to Article 19 of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

F.3 Award criteria and distribution of funding

18.

In accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, the respective available appropriations shall be distributed annually. They shall be distributed among the European political parties whose applications for funding have been approved in the light of the eligibility and exclusion criteria, on the basis of the following distribution key:

a)	15 % will be distributed in equal shares among the beneficiary European political parties;

b)	85 % will be distributed in proportion to their share of elected members of the European Parliament among the beneficiary European political parties.

G. SHARED CONTROL BY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND AUTHORITY

19.

Article 24(1) and (2) (9), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 foresee shared control between the European Parliament and the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations (10) (‘Authority’).

20.

Where pursuant to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, control is foreseen by the Authority, the European Parliament will forward the funding applications to the Authority. The Authority will communicate to the European Parliament the result of this control.

H. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

21.

Applicants are obliged to notify the European Parliament of any changes as regards the documents submitted or any information referred to in the application within two weeks of such a change. Failing such notification, the authorising officer may make the decision based on the information available, notwithstanding any information provided at a later stage.

22.

The burden of proof rests with the applicants to prove that they continue to fulfil the necessary criteria.

23.

The terms and conditions as regards Union funding to be awarded under this call are laid down in Annex 1a to the Bureau Decision specified in paragraph 5(b) of this call. In particular, any beneficiary of the contribution:

a)	must continue to fulfil the condition specified in Article 3(1)(b) (11) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 during the period for which the funding is requested. Otherwise, pursuant to Article 30 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 the contribution decision shall be terminated;

b)	must fulfil the condition specified in Article 3(1)(d) (12) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 during the period for which the funding is requested. Otherwise, pursuant to Article 30 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 the contribution decision shall be terminated;

must fulfil the condition specified in Article 17(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, i.e. must be represented in the European Parliament by at least one of its members, during the period for which the funding is requested. Otherwise, pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 19(2) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, the contribution decision shall be terminated.

24.

The submission of the funding application implies acceptance of the General Terms and Conditions referred to in paragraph 23 of this call. These General Terms and Conditions bind the beneficiary to whom the funding is awarded and are stipulated in the contribution decision.

I. TIMETABLE

25.

The table below outlines the indicative timetable for awarding of contributions to European political parties:

	Stages	Date or period
a)	Publication of the call	By 30 June 2017
b)	Deadline for submitting funding applications	30 September 2017
c)	Evaluation period	October to December 2017
d)	Information to applicants	January 2018
e)	Notification of contribution decision	January to February 2018
f)	Payment of pre-financing (13)	January to February 2018

J. DISCLOSURE AND PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

26.

The European Parliament shall publish, including on the internet, any information pursuant to Article 32 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

27.

Any personal data collected in the context of the present call shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 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 (14) pursuant to Article 33 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

28.

Such data shall be processed for the purpose of evaluating the funding applications and safeguarding the financial interests of the Union. This is without prejudice to the possible transfer of this data to the bodies responsible for carrying out verification and audit tasks in accordance with Union law, such as internal audit services of the European Parliament, the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations, the European Court of Auditors, or the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

29.

On the basis of a written request, the beneficiary may obtain access to its personal data and rectify any inaccurate or incomplete data. The beneficiary may submit any request concerning the processing of its personal data to the European Parliament’s Directorate-General for Finance or the European Parliament’s Personal Data Protection Unit. The beneficiary may, at any time, lodge a complaint to the European Data Protection Supervisor concerning the processing of its personal data.

30.

Personal data may be registered in the Early Detection and Exclusion System by the European Parliament, should the beneficiary be in one of the situations mentioned in Article 106(1) and 107 of the Financial Regulation.

K. CONTACT

31.

Any questions relating to this call should be sent by email, quoting the publication reference, to the following address: fin.part.fond.pol@europarl.europa.eu

L. ANNEXES

32.

In addition to the basic legislation specified in paragraph 5(b) of this call, the following annexes to this call are available on the European Parliament’s internet site (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/tenders/invitations.htm):

a)	Funding application form, including declaration on acceptance of general terms and conditions (template);

b)	Estimated budget (template).

(1) OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 205, 29.6.2017, p. 2.

(3) OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.

(4) OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1.

(5) OJ L 333, 19.12.2015, p. 50.

(6) OJ L 318, 4.12.2015, p. 28.

(7) European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure of January 2017.

(8) Unless the applicant was not subject to the control under Article 23 of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 (for example: newly created, etc.)

(9) Article 24(1)-(2) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 — General rules on control:

‘1.	Control of compliance by European political parties and European political foundations with their obligations under this Regulation shall be exercised, in cooperation, by the Authority, by the Authorising Officer of the European Parliament and by the competent Member States.

The Authority shall control compliance by European political parties and European political foundations with their obligations under this Regulation, in particular in relation to Article 3, points (a), (b), and (d) to (f) of Article 4(1), points (a) to (e) and (g) of Article 5(1), Article 9(5) and (6), and Articles 20, 21 and 22.

The Authorising Officer of the European Parliament shall control compliance by European political parties and European political foundations with the obligations relating to Union funding under this Regulation in accordance with the Financial Regulation. In carrying out such controls, the European Parliament shall take the necessary measures in the fields of the prevention of and the fight against fraud affecting the financial interests of the Union.’

(10) Established pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

(11) Article 3(1)(b) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014:

‘it or its members must be, or be represented by, in at least one quarter of the Member States, members of the European Parliament, of national parliaments, of regional parliaments or of regional assemblies, or it or its member parties must have received, in at least one quarter of the Member States, at least three per cent of the votes cast in each of those Member States at the most recent elections to the European Parliament;’.

(12) Article 3(1)(d) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014:

‘it or its members must have participated in elections to the European Parliament, or have expressed publicly the intention to participate in the next elections to the European Parliament;’.

(13) Within 30 days following the date of the notification of the contribution decision

(14) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

ANNEX a

Text of image

FUNDING APPLICATION FORM

CONTRIBUTIONS (1) TO EUROPEAN POLITICAL PARTIES

FOR FINANCIAL YEAR [INSERT]

COMPOSITION OF FUNDING APPLICATION

The following table is intended to help you prepare your funding application. It can be used as a checklist to make sure that you have included all the requisite documents.

Document number

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUPPLIED

Documents which must be supplied but are not included in this model of the funding application

Original covering letter indicating the contribution amount requested for financial year n signed by the legal representative

☐

Letter of the legal representative certifying the authorisation to undertake legal obligations on behalf of the applicant (1)

☐

Standard extract from the Register of European political parties and European political foundations (2)

☐

List of all members together with an up-to-date (*) proof of their membership (3).

☐

List of Members of the European Parliament (4)

☐

Interim financial statements as of (not earlier than) June of year n-1, signed off by a certified accountant (5)

☐

Documents which must be supplied and are included in this model of the funding application

Financial identification form

☐

Declaration on general terms and conditions as well as exclusion criteria

☐

Other templates

Individual membership confirmation form

(*) For the up-to-date proof of membership referred to in document No 4 the applicant must use the document No 9

(1) For example with reference to relevant provisions the statutes of the applicant

(2) As provided for in Annex II of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2246 (OJ L 318, 4.12.2015, p. 31).

(3) For individual members (natural persons) the proof of membership must indicate the name, forename, parliament of which the person is a member (regional, national or European Parliament). The proof of membership must be accompanied by a copy of the identity card of the member concerned.

For legal persons, the applicant must provide a proof of membership certified by the legal representative of the member.

(4) Here direct and indirect members are to be listed. Direct members are individual members of the applicant. Indirect members are members of the member parties of the applicant.

(5) Unless the applicant proves that this is not applicable (for example newly created, etc.). The accountant must be qualified in the Member State of the seat of the applicant. The proof of the qualification must be annexed to the interim financial statements.

(1) The category of the funding is the contribution to European political parties, pursuant to Title VIII of Part II of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1).

Text of image

Document No 8

DECLARATION ON GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS WELL AS EXCLUSION CRITERIA

I, the undersigned, the legal representative of [insert applicant’s name] certify that:

I have read and agree to the General Terms and Conditions as stipulated in the model contribution decision;

the applicant is not in one of the situations referred to in Article 106(1) (*) and 107 (*) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Financial Regulation’) (1);

the applicant is not subject of any of the sanctions provided for in Article 27(1) (*) of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 and in points (v) and (vi) of Article 27(2)(a) (*) of the same Regulation (2);

the applicant organisation has the financial and organisational capacity to implement the contribution decision;

the information supplied in this application and its annexes is accurate and no information has been withheld, either in full or in part, from the European Parliament;

(*) The Articles listed above are referred to below:

Article 106(1) of the Financial Regulation:

Candidates or tenderers shall be excluded from participation in procurement procedures if:

(a) they are bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the courts, have entered into an arrangement with creditors, have suspended business activities, are the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or are in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations;

(b) they or persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control over them have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a judgment of a competent authority of a Member State which has the force of res judicata;

(c) they have been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which the contracting authority can justify including by decisions of the EIB and international organisations;

(d) they are not in compliance with their obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established or with those of the country of the contracting authority or those of the country where the contract is to be performed;

(e) they or persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control over them have been the subject of a judgment which has the force of res judicata for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organisation, money laundering or any other illegal activity, where such illegal activity is detrimental to the Union’s financial interests;

(f) they are subject to an administrative penalty referred to in Article 109(1).

Points (a) to (d) of the first subparagraph shall not apply in the case of the purchase of supplies on particularly advantageous terms from a supplier which is definitively winding up its business activities or from the receivers or liquidators of a bankruptcy, through an arrangement with creditors, or through a similar procedure under national law.

Points (b) and (e) of the first subparagraph shall not apply where the candidates or tenderers can demonstrate that adequate measures have been adopted against the persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control over them, who are subject to a judgement as referred to in points (b) or (e) of the first subparagraph.

Article 107(1) of the Financial Regulation:

A contract shall not be awarded to candidates or tenderers who, during the procurement procedure for that contract:

(a) are subject to a conflict of interests;

(b) are guilty of misrepresenting the information required by the contracting authority as a condition in the procurement procedure or fail to supply this information;

In accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 the applicant may not be the subject of any of the sanctions provided for in Article 27(1) and in points (a)(v) and (vi) of Article 27(2).

Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 — Article 27(1):

In accordance with Article 16, the Authority shall decide to remove a European political party or a European political foundation from the Register by way of sanction in any of the following situations:

(a) where the party or foundation in question has been found by a judgment having the force of res judicata to have engaged in illegal activities detrimental to the financial interests of the Union as defined in Article 106(1) of the Financial Regulation;

(b) where it is established, in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 10(2) to (5), that it no longer fulfils one or more of the conditions set out in points (a), (c) and (e) of Article 3(1) or in Article 3(2); or

(c) where a request by a Member State for de-registration on grounds of serious failure to fulfil obligations under national law meets the requirements set out in point (b) of Article 16(3).

Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 — Article 27(2)(a)(v) and (vi):

The Authority shall impose financial sanctions in the following situations:

(a) non-quantifiable infringements:

(v) where a European political party or a European political foundation has been found by a judgment having the force of res judicata to have engaged in illegal activities detrimental to the financial interests of the Union as defined in Article 106(1) of the Financial Regulation;

(vi) where the European political party or the European political foundation concerned has at any time intentionally omitted to provide information or has intentionally provided incorrect or misleading information, or where the bodies authorised by this Regulation to audit or conduct checks on the beneficiaries of funding from the general budget of the European Union detect inaccuracies in the annual financial statements which are regarded as constituting material omissions or misstatements of items in accordance with the international accounting standards defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002

(1) Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p.1).

(2) Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (‘Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014’, (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1).

Text of image

Document No 9

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP CONFIRMATION FORM

I, the undersigned

[name and forename],

born [birthdate],

address [street, number, postal code, country],

member of the parliament [name of European Parliament or national/regional parliament or regional assembly]

declare that (*)

1. I am a member of:

a. European political party [name, registration number (1): EUPP XXX] from [date]

b. national political party [name]

c. European political foundation [name, registration number: EUPF XXX] from [date]

2. I understand that this declaration may be part of the application for funding from the Union budget of the European political party, referred to above. I am aware of the basis on which the funding of European political parties and European political foundation is distributed across the beneficiaries according to Article 19 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 (2).

3. I am not a member of any other European political party

4. I resigned from the European political party [name, registration number] on [date] and my resignation is effective as of [date].

5. I understand that my personal data will be processed for auditing, control and transparency purposes within the meaning of Article 32 and 33 of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

Signature

Date/Place

........................................................................

Annex: copy of the valid identity card or passport

(*) cross out if not applicable

(1) In the same format as provided for in Annex I of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2246 (OJ L 318, 4.12.2015, p. 30).

ANNEX b

ESTIMATED BUDGET

Costs

Reimbursable costs

Budget

Actual

A.1: Personnel costs

Salaries

2.	Contributions

3.	Professional training

4.	Staff missions expenses

5.	Other personnel costs

A.2: Infrastructure and operating costs

1.	Rent, charges and maintenance costs

2.	Costs relating to installation, operation and maintenance of equipment

3.	Depreciation of movable and immovable property

4.	Stationery and office supplies

5.	Postal and telecommunications charges

6.	Printing, translation and reproduction costs

7.	Other infrastructure costs

A.3: Administrative costs

1.	Documentation costs (newspapers, press agencies, databases)

2.	Costs of studies and research

3.	Legal costs

4.	Accounting and audit costs

5.	Miscellaneous administrative costs

6.	Support to associated entities

A.4: Meetings and representation costs

1.	Costs of meetings

2.	Participation in seminars and conferences

3.	Representation costs

4.	Costs of invitations

5.	Other meeting-related costs

A.5: Information and publication costs

1.	Publication costs

2.	Creation and operation of internet sites

3.	Publicity costs

4.	Communications equipment (gadgets)

5.	Seminar and exhibitions

6.	Election campaigns

7.	Other information-related costs

A. TOTAL REIMBURSABLE COSTS

Non-reimbursable costs

1.	Allocations to other provisions

2.	Financial charges

3.	Exchange losses

4.	Doubtful claims on third parties

5.	Others (to be specified)

6.	Contributions in kind

B. TOTAL NON-REIMBURSABLE COSTS

C. TOTAL COSTS

Revenue

Budget

Actual

D.1-1. European Parliament funding carried over from year N-1

D.1-2. European Parliament funding awarded for year N

D.1-3. European Parliament funding carried over to year N+1

n/a

D.1. European Parliament funding used to cover 85 % of reimbursable costs in year N

D.2 membership fees

2.1	from member parties

2.2	from individual members

D.3 Donations

D.4 Other own resources

(to be specified)

D.5.. Contributions in kind

D. TOTAL REVENUE

E. profit/loss (D-C)

F. Allocation of own resources to the reserve account
G. Profit/loss for verifying compliance with the no-profit rule (F-G)
H. Interest from pre-financing

30.6.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/37

Call for proposals IX-2018/02 – ‘Grants to European political foundations’

(2017/C 206/14)

A. INTRODUCTION AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Under Article 10(4) of the Treaty on European Union, ‘political parties at European level contribute to forming European political awareness and to expressing the will of citizens of the Union’.

Pursuant to point (4) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, a European political foundation is ‘an entity which is formally affiliated with a European political party, which is registered with the Authority in accordance with the conditions and procedures laid down in this Regulation, and which through its activities, within the aims and fundamental values pursued by the Union, underpins and complements the objectives of the European political party’.

The second subparagraph of Article 25(1)of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 states: ‘The terms and conditions for contributions and grants shall be laid down by the Authorising Officer of the European Parliament in the call for contributions and the call for proposals.’

Hence, the European Parliament is launching this call for proposals with a view to awarding of grants to European political foundations (‘call’).

The basic legal framework is defined in the following legal acts:

a)	Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014;

b)	Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 12 June 2017 laying down the procedures for implementing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (2);

c)	Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (3) (‘Financial Regulation’);

d)	Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (‘Rules of Application of the Financial Regulation’) (4);

e)	Commission Delegated Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2015/2401 of 2 October 2015 on the content and functioning of the Register of European political parties and foundations (5);

f)	Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2246 of 3 December 2015 on detailed provisions for the registration number system applicable to the register of European political parties and European political foundations and information provided by standard extracts from the register (6);

g)	European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (7).

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE CALL

The objective of this call is to invite registered European political foundations to submit applications for funding from the Union budget (‘funding applications’).

C. PURPOSE, CATEGORY AND FORM OF FUNDING

The purpose of the funding is to support the European political foundation’s work programme for the financial year from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 under the terms and conditions set out in the grant decision by the responsible authorising officer.

The category of the funding is the grant to European political foundations, pursuant to Title VI of Part I of the Financial Regulation (‘grant’ or ‘funding’). The grant takes the form of a reimbursement of a percentage of eligible costs actually incurred.

10.

The maximum amount paid to the beneficiary by the European Parliament may not exceed 85 % of the eligible costs actually incurred.

D. BUDGET AVAILABLE

11.

The foreseen funding for the financial year 2018 under Article 403 of Parliament’s budget ‘Funding of European political foundations’ amounts to EUR 19 323 000. The final available appropriations are subject to approval by the budgetary authority.

E. ADMISSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS

12.

Funding applications will be admissible if they

a)	are submitted in writing on the application form as annexed to this call;

b)	contain the commitment that the applicant agrees to the terms and conditions specified in Annex 1b to the Bureau Decision specified in paragraph 6(b) of this call;

c)	contain a letter of a legal representative certifying the authorization to undertake legal obligations on behalf of the applicant;

are forwarded to the President of the European Parliament by 30 September 2017 to the following address:

President of the European Parliament

Attn. Mr Didier Kléthi, Director-General of Finance

SCH 05B031

L-2929 Luxembourg

13.

For the purpose of assessing the criteria for evaluation of the applications, the applicants must provide:

a)	the funding application form including all supporting documents required therein;

b)	the estimated budget, indicating the expenditure eligible for Union funding;

c)	work programme.

14.

Applications assessed as incomplete may be rejected.

F. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF FUNDING APPLICATIONS

F.1 Exclusion criteria

15.

Applicants shall be excluded from funding procedure, if they are:

a)	in one of the situations of exclusion referred to in Article 106(1), 106(2) or 107 of the Financial Regulation.

b)	subject of any of the sanctions provided for in Article 27(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 and in points (v) and (vi) of Article 27(2)(a) of the same Regulation.

F.2 Eligibility criteria

16.

In order to be eligible for Union funding, applicants must satisfy the conditions laid down in Articles 17 and 18 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, i.e. the applicant

a)	must be registered in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014;

b)	must be affiliated to a European political party fulfilling all criteria for being awarded a contribution to European political parties (8);

c)	must comply with the obligations listed in Article 23 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, i.e. it must have submitted the annual financial statements (9), external audit report and the list of donors, as specified therein.

F.3 Selection criteria

17.

Pursuant to Article 202 of the Rules of Application of the Financial Regulation ‘the applicant must have stable and sufficient sources of funding to maintain his activity throughout (…) the year for which the grant is awarded and to participate in its funding. The applicant must have the professional competencies and qualifications required to complete the proposed action or work programme unless specifically provided otherwise in the basic act’.

F.4 Award criteria and distribution of funding

18.

In accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, the respective available appropriations shall be distributed annually. They shall be distributed among the European political foundations whose applications for funding have been approved in the light of the eligibility and exclusion criteria, on the basis of the following distribution key:

a)	15 % will be distributed in equal shares among the beneficiary European political foundations;

b)	85 % will be distributed in proportion to the share of elected members of the European Parliament among the beneficiary European political parties to which the applicants are affiliated.

G. SHARED CONTROL BY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND AUTHORITY

19.

Article 24, paragraphs 1 and 2 (10), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 foresee shared control between the European Parliament and the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations (11) (‘Authority’).

20.

H. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

21.

22.

The burden of proof rests with the applicants to prove that they continue to fulfil the necessary criteria.

23.

The terms and conditions as regards Union funding to be awarded under this call are laid down in Annex 1b to the Bureau Decision specified in paragraph 6(b) of this call.

24.

I. TIMETABLE

25.

The table below outlines the indicative timetable for awarding of grants to European political foundations:

	Stages	Date or period
a)	Publication of the call	By 30 June 2017
b)	Deadline for submitting funding applications	30 September 2017
c)	Evaluation period	October to December 2017
d)	Information to applicants	January 2018
e)	Notification of grant decision	January to February 2018
f)	Payment of pre-financing (12)	January to February 2018

J. DISCLOSURE AND PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

26.

The European Parliament shall publish, including on the internet, any information pursuant to Article 32 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

27.

Any personal data collected in the context of the present call shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 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 (13) pursuant to Article 33 of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

28.

29.

30.

K. CONTACT

31.

Any questions relating to this call should be sent by email, quoting the publication reference, to the following address: fin.part.fond.pol@europarl.europa.eu

L. ANNEXES

32.

In addition to the basic legislation specified in paragraph 6(b) of this call, the following annexes to this call are available on the European Parliament’s internet site (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/tenders/invitations.htm):

a)	Funding application form, including declaration on acceptance of general terms and conditions (template);

b)	Estimated budget (template).

(1) OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 205, 29.6.2017, p. 2.

(3) OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.

(4) OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1.

(5) OJ L 333, 19.12.2015, p. 50.

(6) OJ L 318, 4.12.2015, p. 28.

(7) European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure of January 2017.

(8) Pursuant to Title VIII of Part II of Financial Regulation.

(9) Unless the applicant was not subject to the control under Article 23 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 (for example: newly created, etc.).

(10) Article 24(1)-(2) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 — General rules on control:

‘1.	Control of compliance by European political parties and European political foundations with their obligations under this Regulation shall be exercised, in cooperation, by the Authority, by the Authorising Officer of the European Parliament and by the competent Member States.

(11) Established pursuant to Article 6 of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

(12) Within 30 days following the date of the notification of the grant decision

(13) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

ANNEX a

Text of image

FUNDING APPLICATION FORM

GRANTS (1) TO EUROPEAN POLITICAL FOUNDATIONS

FOR FINANCIAL YEAR [INSERT]

COMPOSITION OF FUNDING APPLICATION

The following table is intended to help you prepare your funding application. It can be used as a checklist to make sure that you have included all the requisite documents.

Document number

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUPPLIED

Documents which must be supplied but are not included in this model of the funding application

Original covering letter indicating the grant amount requested for financial year n signed by the legal representative

☐

Letter of the legal representative certifying the authorisation to undertake legal obligations on behalf of the applicant (1)

☐

Standard extract from the Register of European political parties and European political foundations (2)

☐

Work programme

☐

Interim financial statements as of (not earlier than) June of year n-1, signed off by a certified accountant (3)

☐

Documents which must be supplied and are included in this model of the funding application

Financial identification form

☐

Declaration on general terms and conditions as well as exclusion criteria

☐

(1) With reference to relevant provisions of the statutes of the applicant, where applicable.

(2) As provided for in Annex II of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2246 (OJ L 318, 4.12.2015, p. 31).

(3) Unless the applicant proves that this is not applicable (for example newly created, etc.). The accountant must be qualified in the Member State of the seat of the applicant. The proof of the qualification must be annexed to the interim financial statements.

(1) The category of the funding is the operating grant, pursuant to Title VI of Part I of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1).

Text of image

Document no 7

DECLARATION ON GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS WELL AS EXCLUSION CRITERIA

I, the undersigned, the legal representative of [insert applicant’s name] certify that:

I have read and agree to the General Terms and Conditions as stipulated in the model grant decision;

the applicant organisation has the financial and organisational capacity to implement the grant decision;

the information supplied in this application and its annexes is accurate and no information has been withheld, either in full or in part, from the European Parliament;

(*) The Articles listed above are referred to below:

Article 106(1) of the Financial Regulation:

Candidates or tenderers shall be excluded from participation in procurement procedures if:

(c) they have been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which the contracting authority can justify including by decisions of the EIB and international organisations;

(f) they are subject to an administrative penalty referred to in Article 109(1).

Article 107(1) of the Financial Regulation:

A contract shall not be awarded to candidates or tenderers who, during the procurement procedure for that contract:

(a) are subject to a conflict of interests;

(b) are guilty of misrepresenting the information required by the contracting authority as a condition in the procurement procedure or fail to supply this information;

Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 — Article 27(1):

(c) where a request by a Member State for de-registration on grounds of serious failure to fulfil obligations under national law meets the requirements set out in point (b) of Article 16(3).

Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 — Article 27(2)(a)(v) and (vi):

The Authority shall impose financial sanctions in the following situations:

(a) non-quantifiable infringements:

Text of image

ANNEX b

ESTIMATED BUDGET

Costs

Eligible costs

Budget

Actual

A.1: Personnel costs

Salaries

2.	Contributions

3.	Professional training

4.	Staff missions expenses

5.	Other personnel costs

A.2: Infrastructure and operating costs

1.	Rent, charges and maintenance costs

2.	Costs relating to installation, operation and maintenance of equipment

3.	Depreciation of movable and immovable property

4.	Stationery and office supplies

5.	Postal and telecommunications charges

6.	Printing, translation and reproduction costs

7.	Other infrastructure costs

A.3: Administrative costs

1.	Documentation costs (newspapers, press agencies, databases)

2.	Costs of studies and research

3.	Legal costs

4.	Accounting and audit costs

5.	Support to third parties

6.	Miscellaneous administrative costs

A.4: Meetings and representation costs

1.	Costs of meetings

2.	Participation in seminars and conferences

3.	Representation costs

4.	Costs of invitations

5.	Other meeting-related costs

A.5: Information and publication costs

1.	Publication costs

2.	Creation and operation of internet sites

3.	Publicity costs

4.	Communications equipment (gadgets)

5.	Seminar and exhibitions

6.	Other information-related costs

A.6: Allocation to ‘Provision to cover eligible costs of the first quarter of year N+1’

A. TOTAL ELIGIBLE COSTS

Ineligible costs

1.	Provisions

2.	Exchange losses

3.	Doubtful claims on third parties

4.	Contributions in kind

5.	Others (to be specified)

B. TOTAL INELIGIBLE COSTS

C. TOTAL COSTS

Revenue

Budget

Actual

D.1 Dissolution of ‘Provision to cover eligible costs of the first quarter of year N’

n/a

D.2 European Parliament funding

D.3 membership fees

3.1	from member foundations

3.2	from individual members

D.4 Donations

D.5 Other own resources

(to be listed)

D.6. Interest from pre-financing

D.7. Contributions in kind

D. TOTAL REVENUE

E. profit/loss (F-C)

F. Allocation of own resources to the reserve account
G. Profit/loss for verifying compliance with the no-profit rule (E-F)

30.6.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/50

Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2017/C 206/18)

The European Commission has approved this minor amendment in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (1).

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF A MINOR AMENDMENT

Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2)

‘CAROTA NOVELLA DI ISPICA’

EU No: PGI-IT-02291 – 22.2.2017

PDO ( ) PGI ( X ) TSG ( )

1. Applicant group and legitimate interest

Consorzio di tutela I.G.P. Carota Novella di Ispica

Address

Via Benedetto Spadaro 97

97014 Ispica (RG)

ITALIA

info@carotanovelladiispica.it; igpcarotanovellaispica@pec.it

The protection association Consorzio di tutela I.G.P. Carota Novella di Ispica is entitled to submit an amendment application pursuant to Article 13(1) of Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy Decree No 12511 of 14 October 2013.

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

3. Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment(s)

—	☐	Product description
—	☐	Proof of origin
—	☒	Production method
—	☒	Link
—	☐	Labelling
—	☒	Other: [Packaging]

4. Type of amendment(s)

—	☐	Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires no amendment to the published single document.
—	☒	Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires an amendment to the published single document.
—	☐	Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, for which a single document (or equivalent) has not been published.
—	☐	Amendment to product specification of registered TSG to be qualified as minor in accordance with the fourth subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

5. Amendment(s)

Production method

The following sentence in point 5.7 of Article 5 of the product specification:

‘The carrots are harvested on a daily basis from 20 February to 15 June.’

is amended as follows:

‘The carrots are harvested on a daily basis from 1 February to 15 June.’

Observations made by farmers in recent years have shown that the specific quality characteristics of ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ are fully developed as early as from the first of February. Therefore, so as not to exclude the product from the PGI certification system, the harvesting date set in the specification should be brought forward from 20 to 1 February.

Link

The above amendment also requires the following sentence of Article 6 of the product specification:

‘The Ispica carrot is a ‘new carrot’ which reaches commercial maturity from as early as the end of February (20 February) up to the beginning of June (15 June).’

to be amended as follows:

‘The Ispica carrot is a ‘new carrot’ which reaches commercial maturity from as early as the beginning of February (1 February) up to early June (15 June).’

The amendments set out in points 1 and 2 above are minor within the meaning of Article 53(2) as the essential characteristics of the product and the link with the production area are not affected; indeed, an early harvest is one of the main characteristics of the registered designation.

Packaging

The following points in Article 8 of the product specification:

‘—	polyethylene or polypropylene bag containing between 1 and 6 kg in weight;

—	‘stay fresh’ bag containing between 6 and 12 kg in weight.’

are amended as follows:

‘—	polyethylene or polypropylene bag containing between 0,5 and 6 kg in weight;

—	box with ‘stay fresh’ bag containing between 6 and 12 kg in weight.’

Setting a lower required weight for the bags has proved necessary to respond to demand from large retailers for carrot bags weighing less than the minimum currently laid down by the product specification.

It has been specified that the ‘stay fresh’ bag is contained in a box. Such a box makes the ‘stay fresh’ bag easy to handle. This amendment facilitates transport operations.

The amendment set out in point 3 should be considered as minor since it concerns only the manner in which ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ PGI is packaged.

6. Updated product specification (only for PDO and PGI)

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘CAROTA NOVELLA DI ISPICA’

EU No: PGI-IT-02291 – 22.2.2017

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

1. Name(s)

‘Carota Novella di Ispica’

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.6. Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

3.2. Description of product to which the name in (1) applies

‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ PGI (protected geographical indication) is the product obtained by growing the species Daucus carota L. The varieties used are based on the Nantes half-long carrot variety and appropriate hybrids such as Exelso, Dordogne, Nancò, Concerto, Romance, Naval, Chambor and Selene. Other hybrids may be used provided that they belong to the Nantes half-long variety and provided that the producers have proven through tests that they comply with the quality requirements for ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’. The use of new hybrids to produce ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ is permitted subject to favourable evaluation of the tests by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy which may request for that purpose the technical opinion of the inspection body or another body.

When placed on the market, the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ is cylindrical/conical in shape, with a diameter of between 15 and 40 mm and a weight of between 50 and 150 g, and does not have secondary roots, a root at the tip or cracking of the stem.

‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ reaches commercial maturity from as early as the beginning of February (1 February) up to early June (15 June). It is consequently available on the market in the winter-spring period, when it has the organoleptic properties typical of the fresh product. It adheres to the following specific chemical and nutritional parameters:

—	high glucide content: > 5 % fresh product (by weight);

—	beta-carotene content (depending on the production period): > 4 mg/100 g of fresh product;

—	mineral salt content: between 0,5 % and 0,9 %.

Organoleptic properties are assessed using the UNI 10957 (2003) method. The descriptors are quantified on a five-point scale in line with the UNI ISO 4121 system (1989) with 1 as the least intense and 5 as the most intense value.

The minimum values awarded by judges for each of the main descriptors are as follows:

—	intensity of colour 2,5

—	crunchiness 2,5

—	typical carrot smell 2,5

—	herbaceous aroma 2,5.

In addition, the skin is clear, the flesh tender and the core not too fibrous.

Only ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ in the commercial categories Extra and I, as defined by the UN/ECE standard concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of carrots, may obtain recognition.

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

—

3.4. Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

All steps in the production of ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’, from sowing to harvesting, must take place within the geographical area defined in point 4.

The carrots are harvested on a daily basis from 1 February to 15 June.

3.5. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

Once harvested, the fresh product is processed on a daily basis on the processing lines available on holdings. The chief phases which are typical of the carrot processing process are washing, removal of waste, sorting by size and packaging.

Processing and initial packaging must be carried out within the production area identified in point 4.3 in order to guarantee product quality, monitoring and traceability. Subsequent repackaging outside the geographical area is permitted.

‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ is packaged in packs sealed in such a way that opening the packaging will tear the seal. Only the following packaging combinations are permitted:

—	tray of up to 2 kg covered with protective film;

—	polyethylene or polypropylene bag containing between 0,5 and 6 kg in weight;

—	box with ‘stay fresh’ bag containing between 6 and 12 kg in weight.

3.6. Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

In addition to the EU graphic symbol and the information required by law, the packaging must carry on the label the following indications in clear and legible print:

—	the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ PGI logo;

—	the name, company/business name and address of the producer and packager;

—	the commercial category (‘Extra’ or ‘I’).

It is forbidden to add any description that is not expressly provided for. However, references to brand names may be used, on condition that they have no laudatory purport and are not such as to mislead the consumer.

The ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ logo is made up of a graphic image representing a carrot, topped by an irregular triangle pointing downwards. The graphic image sits to the left of the wording ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’. The initial capital N of the word ‘Novella’ intersects the carrot image about halfway up, with the words ‘di Ispica’ placed beneath ‘Novella’, all the text being green in colour. The ends of the characters are rounded.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ production area includes municipalities in the following provinces up to an altitude of 550 m above sea level:

—	Province of Ragusa: the municipalities of Acate, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Comiso, Ispica, Modica, Pozzallo, Ragusa, Santa Croce Camerina, Scicli, Vittoria;

—	Province of Siracusa: the municipalities of Noto, Pachino, Portopalo di Capo Passero, Rosolini;

—	Province of Catania: municipality of Caltagirone;

—	Province of Caltanissetta: municipality of Niscemi.

5. Link with the geographical area

Recognition of the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ protected geographical indication is justified on the grounds of its early harvesting.

‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ growing is characterised by favourable soil and climate conditions. The Ispica carrot is a ‘new carrot’ which reaches commercial maturity from as early as the beginning of February (1 February) up to early June (15 June). It is thus a novel, typically Sicilian product very closely linked to the territory on which it is grown. It should be added that ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ is sold on the market during the winter-spring period, taking advantage of the organoleptic properties that are typical of the fresh product, such as crunchiness, intense flavour and herbaceous aroma.

The ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ growing area is characterised by high average winter temperatures, long hours of sunlight and fertile soil. The quality parameters and the specific growing cycle are thus intimately linked to interacting physical and biochemical characteristics which make the Iblea area (SE Sicily) an essential harmonic system capable of maximising and characterising such properties.

The local geography facilitates cultivation as it provides optimal environmental conditions and, in particular, the temperate, dry climate of the coastal strip enable optimum general plant health to be maintained.

The area in which ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ is grown is generally free from excessive temperature drops, excessive rain and aridity. It has been shown that the temperatures recorded in the area favour very intense colouring, which is also to some extent a result of the amount of light from which the territory benefits between September and March, the very regular conformation and the optimisation of levels of sugar, beta carotene and mineral salt content which, considering the time of harvest, are a further characteristic feature of the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’. The land further complies with the requirements for growing, which ideally calls for medium soils tending towards loose, a non-coarse soil skeleton, well provided with nutritive elements, good depth and freshness characteristics, but is also feasible in soils tending towards sandy as long as they are supported by adequate fertilisation and irrigation.

These are the conditions that have led to the success of the ‘Carota di Ispica’. Indeed, old producers remember that European importers claimed to be able to recognise a load of ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ immediately upon opening the transport wagon thanks to the specific and intense aroma which developed.

The first documents recording Ispica carrot cultivation date back to 1955, followed a few years later by the first records of its being exported. Since the 1950s, Ispica carrot growing has extended gradually to cover the area defined in point 4, due on the one hand to the agricultural phenomenon of soil fatigue but, on the other, to the product’s great commercial success on national and foreign markets. Important evidence is provided by Pina Avveduto’s 1972 publication ‘La Coltivazione della Carota ad Ispica’ (Cultivation of the Ispica carrot). On the subject of the rapid expansion of Ispica carrot growing, the author writes, ‘Obviously, the rapid spread in cultivation of the new product was favoured by the ease of marketing it, since it was accepted and sought after by all national and international markets for its intrinsic merits […]. Our carrot was preferred on account of its early availability, quality in terms of shape (size), organoleptic properties (colour, flavour), chemical properties (carotene and glucose rich).’

Reference to publication of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)

The Ministry launched the national opposition procedure with the publication of the amendment application regarding ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ Protected Geographical Indication in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 298 of 22 December 2016.

The consolidated text of the product specification can be consulted on the following website:

http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/3335”

or alternatively:

by going directly to the homepage of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti DOP e IGP’ (at the top right-hand side of the screen), then on ‘Prodotti DOP, IGP e STG’ (on the left-hand side of the screen), and finally by clicking on ‘Disciplinari di produzione all’esame dell’UE’.

(1) OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 17.

(2) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

		ISSN 1977-091X
Official Journal of the European Union		C 206

English edition	Information and Notices	Volume 60 30 June 2017

Notice No	Contents	page
	II Information
	INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	European Commission
2017/C 206/01	Communication from the Commission amending the Annex to the Communication from the Commission to the Member States on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to short-term export-credit insurance	1

	IV Notices
	NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	Council
2017/C 206/02	Council conclusions on Encouraging Member States-driven Voluntary Cooperation between Health Systems	3
	European Commission
2017/C 206/03	Euro exchange rates	8
2017/C 206/04	Commission Implementing Decision of 29 June 2017 on the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of a request for amendment of a specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council [Vacqueyras (PDO)]	9
2017/C 206/05	Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive agreements and dominant position given at its meeting of 29 November 2013 regarding a draft decision relating to Case C.39914 — Euro Interest Rate Derivatives (Settlement) — Rapporteur: Netherlands	15
2017/C 206/06	Final Report of the Hearing Officer — Euro Interest Rate Derivatives (EIRD) (AT.39914)	16
2017/C 206/07	Summary of Commission Decision of 4 December 2013 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case AT.39914 — Euro Interest Rate Derivatives) (notified under document C(2013) 8512)	17
2017/C 206/08	New national side of euro coins intended for circulation	21
2017/C 206/09	New national side of euro coins intended for circulation	22
2017/C 206/10	New national side of euro coins intended for circulation	23
	NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES
2017/C 206/11	Commission notice pursuant to Article 16(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community — Modification of public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services ( 1 )	24
2017/C 206/12	Commission communication pursuant to Article 17(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community — Invitation to tender in respect of the operation of scheduled air services in accordance with public service obligations ( 1 )	25

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,1413
JPY	Japanese yen	128,59
DKK	Danish krone	7,4367
GBP	Pound sterling	0,87990
SEK	Swedish krona	9,7215
CHF	Swiss franc	1,0935
ISK	Iceland króna
NOK	Norwegian krone	9,5700
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CZK	Czech koruna	26,300
HUF	Hungarian forint	310,06
PLN	Polish zloty	4,2489
RON	Romanian leu	4,5744
TRY	Turkish lira	4,0143
AUD	Australian dollar	1,4868
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,4867
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	8,9107
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,5651
SGD	Singapore dollar	1,5751
KRW	South Korean won	1 304,08
ZAR	South African rand	14,8261
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	7,7412
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,4125
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	15 216,95
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,9002
PHP	Philippine peso	57,706
RUB	Russian rouble	67,3005
THB	Thai baht	38,787
BRL	Brazilian real	3,7476
MXN	Mexican peso	20,4700
INR	Indian rupee	73,7130

	V Announcements
	ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
	European Commission
2017/C 206/13	Call for contributions IX-2018/01 — Contributions to European political parties	26
2017/C 206/14	Call for proposals IX-2018/02 – Grants to European political foundations	37
	PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY
	European Commission
2017/C 206/15	Notice concerning the anti-dumping measures in force in respect of imports of certain grain-oriented flat-rolled products of silicon-electrical steel originating, inter alia, in the Russian Federation: modification of the name of a company subject to anti-dumping measures	47
	PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY
	European Commission
2017/C 206/16	Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8546 — Intermediate Capital Group/DomusVi Group) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )	48
2017/C 206/17	Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8309 — Volvo Car Corporation/First Rent A Car) ( 1 )	49
	OTHER ACTS
	European Commission
2017/C 206/18	Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs	50