12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/2

Euro exchange rates (1)

11 July 2005

(2005/C 172/02)

1 euro=

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,2006
JPY	Japanese yen	134,40
DKK	Danish krone	7,4561
GBP	Pound sterling	0,68800
SEK	Swedish krona	9,4744
CHF	Swiss franc	1,5554
ISK	Iceland króna	78,76
NOK	Norwegian krone	7,9120
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9559
CYP	Cyprus pound	0,5736
CZK	Czech koruna	30,166
EEK	Estonian kroon	15,6466
HUF	Hungarian forint	247,04
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,6961
MTL	Maltese lira	0,4293
PLN	Polish zloty	4,0850
RON	Romanian leu	3,5760
SIT	Slovenian tolar	239,48
SKK	Slovak koruna	38,879
TRY	Turkish lira	1,6125
AUD	Australian dollar	1,6129
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,4584
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	9,3392
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,7760
SGD	Singapore dollar	2,0381
KRW	South Korean won	1 252,95
ZAR	South African rand	8,2184
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	9,9368
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,3101
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	11 720,86
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,562
PHP	Philippine peso	67,510
RUB	Russian rouble	34,4780
THB	Thai baht	50,483

(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/3

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 172/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: Italy [Abruzzi]

Aid No: N 30/04

Title: Training aid for Finmek

Objective: Training

Legal basis:

Decreto della giunta regionale del 7.3.2003 n. 143 e decreto della giunta regionale del 29.12.2003

Budget: EUR 4 672 953

Aid intensity or amount: The aid intensity is 25 % for specific training projects and 50 % for general training projects. The maximum intensities concerned are increased by 10 percentage points when the training is given to disadvantaged workers.

Duration: The scheme began in July 2003 and will run for 22 months.

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption:

Member State: Denmark

Aid No: N 168/2004

Title: Technology Transfer Companies of Public Research Institutions

Objective: To promote the transfer of new knowledge and technology between public research institutions and trade and industry.

Legal basis:

Forslag til lov nr. L 177 om teknologioverførsel ved offentlige forskningsinstitutter

Amount: DKK 5 million per institutional company or up to 3 % of the institutional R & D turnover, for up to an estimated 10 institutional companies. The estimated total of the aid is DKK 199 million (approx EUR 27 million).

Duration: Initially ten years.

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: Denmark

Aid No: N 313/2004

Title: Recapitalisation of TV2/Danmark A/S

Objective: Financing of public service obligations

Aid amount: DKK 440 million

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: France

Aid No: N 386/2004

Title: Aid for restructuring SNCF Freight

Objective: To restructure SNCF Freight so that it will become viable again

Legal basis:

Lignes directrices communautaires pour les aides d'Etat au sauvetage et à la restructuration d'entreprises en difficulté

Budget: EUR 1 500 million

Duration: 2004 — 2006

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption:

Member State: Spain (Cataluña)

Aid No: N 500/2004

Title: Incentives to industrial investment in research, development and technological innovation for sectors highly exposed to international competition in Cataluña

Objective: Research and Technological Development

All sectors, with focus on NACE 17-Textiles, NACE DL-Electrical and optical equipment and NACE 34.1-Motor vehicles.

Legal basis:

Orden TRI/290/2004, de 4 de agosto, por la que se aprueban las bases reguladoras de incentivos a la inversión industrial en investigación, desarrollo e innovación tecnológica para sectores altamente expuestos a la competencia internacional, y se abre la convocatoria para el año 2004.

Budget: EUR 60 million

Intensity or amount: Up to 50 % of gross aid intensity for industrial research projects.

Up to 25 % for pre-competitive development activities.

10 % bonus for SMEs.

5 % bonus for Article 87(3)(c) regions.

Duration: Until 31.12.2007

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: Germany

Aid No: NN 85/2004

Title: Aid to the coal industry in 2001 and 2002, not notified

Objective: Coal

Legal basis:

Kohlekompromiss vom 13. November 1997; Haushaltsgesetze des Bundes und des Landes NRW für die Jahre 2001 und 2002

Budget: EUR 306,8 million

Aid intensity or amount: EUR 306,8 million

Duration: 2001 and 2002

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/5

Notice of initiation of a partial interim review of the countervailing measures applicable to imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film originating in India

(2005/C 172/04)

The Commission has received a request for a partial interim review pursuant to Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2026/97 on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Community (1) (‘the basic Regulation’), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 461/2004 (2).

1. Request for review

The request was lodged by the following Community producers: DuPont Teijin Films, Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH, Nuroll SpA and Toray Plastics Europe (‘the applicants’).

The request is limited in scope to the examination of subsidisation as far as Garware Polyester Ltd is concerned.

2. Product

The product under review is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film originating in India (‘the product concerned’), normally declared within CN codes ex 3920 62 19 and ex 3920 62 90. These CN codes are given only for information.

3. Existing measures

The measure currently in force for Garware Polyester Ltd is a definitive countervailing duty imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/1999 (3) imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film originating in India and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed. These measures are currently subject to an expiry review investigation (4) in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation.

4. Grounds for the review

The request pursuant to Article 19 of the basic Regulation is based on the prima facie evidence, provided by the applicants, that, as far as Garware Polyester Ltd is concerned, the circumstances with regard to subsidisation have changed significantly.

The applicants allege that the existing measure on imports of the product under review from Garware Polyester Ltd at its present level is no longer sufficient to counteract the subsidisation which is causing injury. The applicants have provided sufficient evidence in accordance with Article 19(2) of the basic Regulation that the subsidy amount has increased well above the 3,8 % of the definitive countervailing duty which is currently applicable for Garware Polyester Ltd.

It is alleged that Garware Polyester Ltd benefits from a number of subsidies granted by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra. These alleged subsidies consist of, among others, the duty entitlement passbook scheme, the export promotion capital goods scheme, the package scheme of incentives of the Government of Maharashtra, special import licences and export credits.

It is alleged that the above schemes are subsidies since they involve a financial contribution from the Government of India or other regional governments and confer a benefit to Garware Polyester Ltd. They are alleged to be contingent upon export performance and therefore specific and countervailable or to be otherwise specific and countervailable.

5. Procedure

Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of a partial interim review, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 19 of the basic Regulation.

(a) Questionnaires

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to Garware Polyester Ltd and to the Indian authorities. This information and supporting evidence should reach the Commission within the time limit set in point 6(a).

(b) Collection of information and holding of hearings

All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information other than questionnaire replies and to provide supporting evidence. This information and supporting evidence must reach the Commission within the time limit set in point 6(a).

Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested parties, provided that they make a request showing that there are particular reasons why they should be heard. This request must be made within the time limit set in point 6(b).

6. Time limits

(a) For parties to make themselves known, to submit questionnaire replies and any other information

All interested parties, if their representations are to be taken into account during the investigation, must make themselves known by contacting the Commission, present their views and submit questionnaire replies or any other information within 40 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. Attention is drawn to the fact that the exercise of most procedural rights set out in the basic Regulation depends on the party's making itself known within the aforementioned period.

(b) Hearings

All interested parties may also apply to be heard by the Commission within the same 40-day time limit.

7. Written submissions, questionnaire replies and correspondence

All submissions and requests made by interested parties must be made in writing (not in electronic format, unless otherwise specified) and must indicate the name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax, and/or telex numbers of the interested party. All written submissions, including the information requested in this notice, questionnaire replies and correspondence provided by interested parties on a confidential basis shall be labelled as ‘Limited’ (5) and, in accordance with Article 29(2) of the basic Regulation, shall be accompanied by a non-confidential version, which will be labelled ‘For inspection by interested parties’.

Commission address for correspondence:

European Commission

Directorate General for Trade

Directorate B

Office: J-79 5/16

B-1049 Brussels

Fax (32-2) 295 65 05

8. Non-cooperation

In cases in which any interested party refuses access to or does not provide the necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, provisional or final findings, affirmative or negative, may be made in accordance with Article 28 of the basic Regulation, on the basis of the facts available.

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information shall be disregarded and use may be made of the facts available. If an interested party does not cooperate or cooperates only partially and findings are therefore based on facts available in accordance with Article 28 of the basic Regulation, the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

(1) OJ L 288, 21.10.97, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 12.

(3) OJ L 316, 10.12.1999, p. 1.

(4) OJ C 306, 10.12.2004, p. 2.

(5) This means that the document is for internal use only. It is protected pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43). It is a confidential document pursuant to Article 29 of the basic Regulation and Article 12 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/7

Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(2005/C 172/05)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Articles 7 and 12d of the abovementioned Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in a Member State, in a WTO member country or in a third country recognized in accordance with Article 12(3) within a time limit of six months from the date of this publication. The arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under 4.6, and are considered to justify the application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

SUMMARY

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2081/92

‘HUILE D'OLIVE DE NICE’

EC No: FR/00322/29.10.2003

PDO (X) PGI ( )

This summary has been drawn up for information purposes only. For full details, in particular for the producers of the PDO or PGI concerned, please consult the complete version of the product specification obtainable at national level or from the European Commission (1).

1. Responsible department in the Member State:

Name:	Institut National des Appellations d'Origine
Address:	138, Champs-Élysées, F-75008 Paris From 1 January 2005: 51, rue d'Anjou, F-75008 Paris
Tel.:	01 53 89 80 00
Fax:	01 42 25 57 97

2. Group:

2.1

Name:

Syndicat Interprofessionnel de l'Olive de Nice

2.2

Address:

Box 116, Min Fleurs 6, F-06296 Nice Cedex 3

Tel.:

04 97 25 76 40

Fax:

04 97 25 76 59

2.3	Composition:

—	Members: all natural and legal persons producing, processing, packing and marketing ‘Olive de Nice’ registered designation of origin olives and olive paste and ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’ registered designation of origin olive oil.

—	Management board: the 12-member board is made up of six growers, three cooperatives, two private processors and one packer.

3. Type of product:

Group 1.5 Olive oil

4. Specification:

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1 Name: ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’

4.2 Description: Huile d'olive de Nice is a sweet oil with a discreet but fine aroma reminiscent of ripe apple and nuts (hazelnut, almond). It is produced essentially from the Cailletier variety of olive and has a maximum oleic acid content of 1,5 g per 100 g.

4.3 Geographical area: The geographical area covers 99 municipalities in the department of Alpes-Maritimes: Aiglun, Antibes, Aspremont, Auribeau-sur-Siagne, Le Bar-sur-Loup, Beaulieu-sur-mer, Bendejun, Berre-les-Alpes, Biot, Blauzasc, La Bollène-Vésubie, Bonson, Bouyon, Breil-sur-Roya, Le Broc, Cabris, Cagnes sur mer, Cannes, Le Cannet, Cantaron, Carros, Castagniers, Castellar, Castillon, Châteauneuf-Villevieille, Châteauneuf-de-Grasse, Clans, Coaraze, La Colle sur Loup, Colomars, Conségudes, Contes, Cuébris, Drap, Duranus, L'Escarène, Eze, Falicon, Les Ferres, Fontan, Gattières, La Gaude, Gilette, Gorbio, Gourdon, Grasse, Lantosque, Levens, Lucéram, Malaussène, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Massoins, Menton, Mouans-Sartoux, Mougins, Nice, Opio, Pégomas, Peille, Peillon, Peymeinade, Pierrefeu, Revest-les-Roches, Roquebillière, Roquefort-les-Pins, Roquestéron, Roquestéron-Grasse, La Roquette-sur Siagne, La Roquette-sur-Var, Le Rouret, Saint-André, Saint-Blaise, Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne, Saint-Jeannet, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Saint-Martin-du-Var, Saint-Paul, Sainte-Agnès, Saorge, Sigale, Sospel, Spéracédès, Le Tignet, Toudon, Touet-Escarène, La Tour-sur-Tinée, Tourette-du-Château, Tourette-Levens, Tourette-sur-Loup, Tournefort, La Trinité, La Turbie, Utelle, Valbonne, Vallauris, Vence, Villars-sur-Var, Villefranche-sur-mer, Villeneuve-Loubet.

The area is consistent with the traditional siting of olive groves and cultivation of the Cailletier variety (the presence of this variety in olive groves is a sound indicator of the geographical context typical of the designation) and the locating of processing plants and is based on the original characteristics of the natural environment (topography, pedology, climatology).

The area's northern boundaries are contiguous overall with the northernmost limits of the cultivation of olive trees and the southern limits of the ‘alpine, subalpine, mountain’ temperature and rainfall zone. These limits are precise because with altitude, and also latitude, cold becomes a restricting factor.

The Mediterranean Sea forms the southern boundary.

The eastern boundary consists of the border between France and Italy.

The western boundaries along with the Valley of La Siagne come up against the Var olive groves and taken as a whole coincide with the limits beyond which the Cailletier variety is not cultivated.

4.4 Proof of origin: The oils may be marketed under the ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’ registered designation of origin only if a certificate of approval issued by the Institut national des designations d'origine is obtained on the conditions laid down in the orders and decrees governing the approval of olive products qualifying for a registered designation of origin.

All operations involved in the production of the raw material and its preparation must be undertaken within the defined geographical area.

For the production of the raw material, the procedure entails:

identifying the parcel: this means producing a list of parcels recognised as suitable for the production of oil with the ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’ designation, i.e. parcels declared by the producer that comply with the requirements regarding siting and the rules of production (variety, growing system in the vineyard),

a harvest declaration: drawn up annually by the grower who declares the area in production, the quantity of olives grown in compliance with the specified yield, and the purpose for which the olives are intended.

For manufacturing, the procedure entails:

a declaration of manufacture: drawn up by the manufacturer who makes an annual declaration of the total quantity of product prepared;

an application for a certificate of approval: identifying the premises where the products are stored together with all containers of the products claimed.

The procedure includes an analytical and organoleptic examination to verify observance of the quality and identity of the products.

Lastly, producers and manufacturers who are issued with a certificate of approval are obliged to make an annual stock declaration.

4.5 Method of production:

Variety and growing system in the olive grove

The oil comes exclusively from olives of the Cailletier variety.

However, within each olive grove, the presence of pollinating varieties and old local varieties of olive trees, in particular Arabanier, Blanquetier, Blavet, Nostral and Ribeyrou, is permitted provided they are spaced out in a coordinated way and represent not more than 5 % of the number of trees in each cultivation unit in question. The use of olives obtained from pollinating varieties and old local varieties is only permitted for the production of olive oil only on condition that the proportion of these olives does not exceed 5 % by volume of the olives used.

The area available for each tree must be not less than 24 m2.

The olive trees must be pruned at least once every two years and the prunings must be removed from the groves before the next harvest.

Annual crops are authorised only in irrigated olive groves where the trees are less than five years old.

The olive groves must be maintained each year. However, no tilling may take place in any olive groves from 1 September to the end of harvesting, other than for the sowing of green manure, which is permitted up to 30 October.

Irrigation is allowed during the growing period until the colours begin to turn.

Harvesting

Save in exceptional circumstance, the yield from olive groves must not be more than six tonnes of olives per hectare for all uses.

Harvesting of the olives starts on a date fixed by order of the prefect on a proposal from the Institut national des appellations d'origine.

This must take place not earlier than the onset of ripening, i.e. when at least half the olives are wine-coloured.

The olives must be picked directly from the tree and no leaf detachment product may be used, or harvested in the traditional way by beating the tree or shaking down the fruit with a pole or by mechanical means. The fruit must be collected in nets or other receptacles placed beneath the trees.

Olives collected from the ground or which have fallen into the nets or other receptacles before harvesting must be kept separate from the olives to be used for producing oil protected by the designation.

Storage and transportation must take place in crates or slatted pallets.

Manufacturing conditions

The olives must be processed within seven days of harvest. The oil is extracted using only mechanical procedures and the paste is heated to no more than 30 °C. The only procedures authorised are washing, decantation, centrifugation and filtration. Other than water, no adjuvants may be used to facilitate extraction of the oil. The oil obtained must be virgin olive oil with a maximum free acid content, expressed as oleic acid, of 1,5 grams per 100 grams.

4.6 Link: Oil covered by the ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’ registered designation of origin reflects simultaneously a natural environment, a history and expertise.

Natural environment

France's olive-growing zone is located at the boundary in climatic terms for the cultivation of the olive tree. The progress of olive cultivation across the territory has the appearance of colonisation by selection and adaptation. In difficult climatic circumstances, and for a given type of soil, only a variety that is perfectly attuned to the natural environment can establish itself and succeed in producing fruit. This has been achieved by the Cailletier variety for the ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’ registered designation of origin.

The olive groves of Nice are sited amidst rugged hills on carbonate soils. They occupy elevated areas, subcoastal plateaux and the slopes of major hill systems on land arranged in terraces.

The climate of the olive-growing area is a Mediterranean one balanced by the occasional presence of a mountain climate, with mild temperatures, more abundant rainfall than in Lower Provence, excellent sunshine, and above all winds that are not strong.

In these circumstances, notable for the absence of strong winds, the Cailletier variety has become established over centuries as the dominant variety in Nice's olive groves.

The variety is so closely associated with the olive-growing landscape of Nice that its synonyms are: Petite olive de Nice, Olivier de Grasse (the name of a municipality close to Nice) and Grassenc.

History

For over two thousand years the olive tree has been part of the landscape of Alpes-Maritimes where it grows in 102 of the department's 163 municipalities. A witness to this are the olive groves producing fruit planted with trees several hundred years old and mills, of which there are still five operating according to the système génois (described in the Annex), such as the moulin de Contes dating from the XIIIth century and with a preservation order on it, still driven by a water wheel and wooden gears.

Originally located in coastal areas and hills following successive Phoenician, Greek and Roman invasions, olive cultivation developed over centuries in medium-elevation and upland areas to an altitude of 700 m.

Because of its oil, cultivation of the olive tree has always been essential for the population of the ‘Comté de Nice’ and the Côte d'Azur (see attached bibliography for the Tinée Valley).

Nice was even a ‘stronghold’ of the international trade in ‘Riviera’ type olive oil from the late XIXth century up to the Second World War (see attached old labels).

Olive growing declined sharply in Alpes-Maritimes after the Second World War and the disastrous extremely cold periods in 1929 and 1956.

For more than 25 years, driven by the activities of the professional organisations, the more efficient olive cultivation of Alpes-Maritimes has held steady and is expanding in the area behind the coast where it has been able to win back hillsides from flower cultivation.

The introduction and later the propagation over centuries of the sole ‘Cailletier’ variety, better known as ‘olive de Nice’, can be understood as the outcome of its adaptation to the environment and the qualitative and commercial recognition of the products produced from it.

Expertise

Holdings that live principally on olive growing have always been few in number even if today more and more are deriving income from its products.

On the terraces where the olive trees are grown, known locally as ‘planches’, cereals and market garden crops were also cultivated. The shaking down of the olives using poles made of hazelnut or chestnut wood took place in winter from January to March, as the soil was not cultivated during that period. The custom has always been, therefore, to harvest the olives when they are turning colour or ripe.

The special characteristic of the Cailletier variety is that it has two uses, with qualities suitable for the preparation of oil and for pickling. The variety has always been known for its ability to produce a sweet oil, particularly as the olives are harvested late.

It is also interesting to note that the late harvesting of ripe, dry olives is particularly well suited to milling using the ‘système génois’, with the addition of water (easily available in this mountain area) to the stone trough improving the results, producing a sweeter oil.

This expertise, the result of a centuries-long tradition, is apparent:

in the knowledge of their groves shown by the growers who, through their experience are able to direct the production of their parcels (geographical location, age of grove, ripening potential, etc.) or of a given tree in a grove (size of tree, olive crop, size of olives, uniformity of ripeness, etc.) towards oil or pickled-olive production;

at harvesting, which involves a single operation per tree, by the visual selection of the olives to be used for oil production or for pickling according to size, degree of ripeness and colouring, or smoothness (pickling) or crumpled appearance (oil production) of their skin, etc.

To sum up, oils bearing the ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’ Registered Designation of Origin draw their original character from:

the depths of their natural environment, with its predominantly Mediterranean climate balanced by moderate winds;

a variety that has found its environmental niche and comprises most of the trees planted in groves sited on hill terraces;

the customs of harvesting by beating and shaking down large-sized trees in a single operation, and the late harvesting, after the colour turns, of finely shaded fruit;

the expertise of the olive growers and processors;

manufacturing techniques appropriate to the variety and which emphasise preserving the characteristic features of the raw material.

4.7 Inspection body:

Name:	I.N.A.O.
Address:	138, Champs Élysées, F-75008 Paris From 1 January 2005: 51, rue d'Anjou, F-75008 Paris
Name:	D.G.C.C.R.F.
Address:	59, Bd V.Auriol, F-75703 Paris Cedex 13

4.8 Labelling: In addition to the compulsory information provided for in the rules on the labelling and presentation of food, the following must appear on the labelling of oils qualifying for the ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’ registered designation of origin:

the name of the designation: ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’,

the words: ‘appellation d'origine contrôlée’ or ‘AOC’. Where the name of an undertaking or brand appears on the labelling, independently of the address, the name of the designation is repeated between the words ‘appellation’ and ‘contrôlée’.

The above information must be grouped in the same visual field and on the same label.

It must be indicated in conspicuous, clearly legible and indelible characters of a sufficient size to stand out from the label on which they are printed so as to be clearly distinguishable from all other written or graphic information.

4.9 National requirements: Order concerning the ‘Huile d'olive de Nice’ registered designation of origin.

(1) European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture, Agricultural product quality policy, B-1049 Brussels.

12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/13

Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(2005/C 172/06)

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

‘ACEITE DE LA RIOJA’

EC No: ES/00312/21.08.2003

PDO (X) PGI ( )

This note is a summary produced for information. For full details, interested parties and in particular the producers of the products covered by the PDO and the PGI in question are invited to consult the full version of the specifications at national services and associations or at the competent services of the European Commission (1).

1. Responsible department in the Member State:

Name:	Subdirección General de Systems de Calidad Diferenciada — Dirección General de Alimentación — Secretaría General de Agriculture y Alimentación del Ministerio de Agriculture, Pesca y Alimentación de España.
Address:	Infanta Isabel, 1, E-28071 Madrid
Tel.:	(34-941) 347 53 94
Fax:	(34-941) 347 54 10

2. Group:

2.1.

Name:

‘Asolrioja’ Association de Trujales y Olivicultores de La Rioja.

2.2

Address:

C/ Gran Vía, no 14, 8oA. Logroño, La Rioja

Tel.:

655 93 89 80

2.3	Composition:

producer/processor (X) other ( )

3. Type of product:

Extra virgin olive oil. Class 1.5.- Oils and fats (butter, margarine, oil, etc.).

4. Specification:

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. Name: ‘Aceite de La Rioja’

4.2. Description: Product obtained from the fruit of the olive tree (olives) using exclusively mechanical methods or procedures, including pressing, in conditions which, particularly as regards heat, do not alter the nature of the oil or its excellent taste and free fatty acid content expressed as oleic acid of not more than 0,8 grams per 100, excluding oils obtained using solvents or by reesterification and any mixing with oils of other types or olive oil obtained by different methods.

The protected oils are extra virgin olive oils, clear in appearance, with no cloudiness, turbidity or dirt which detracts from their transparency. They are green in colour, with lights which may range from intense light green to intense dark green. They have no defects and sufficiently marked positive features. Their taste is fruity early in the season, with hints of almond, no bitterness, sweet and slightly savoury.

Once it has matured, La Rioja olive oil has the following physical and chemical characteristics: Acidity not exceeding 0,8, ultraviolet absorption (K270) not exceeding 0,20, ultraviolet absorption (K232), not exceeding 2,50, peroxide index mEq O2 not exceeding 15, humidity and volatile mater when heated to 105 °C not exceeding 0,1 per 100, impurities insoluble in petroleum ether not exceeding 0,1 per 100, average organoleptic defect evaluation (Md), Md = 0 and average organoleptic evaluation of fruitiness (Mf), Mf > 0.

4.3. Geographical area: The area of production corresponds to that of conservation, extraction and packaging and covers the 503 388 ha of the Autonomous Community of La Rioja.

4.4. Proof of origin: Holdings and/or plantations, oil mills and packaging plants located in the designated area from which the raw material is derived and where it is processed must be entered in the corresponding registers of the ‘Asolrioja’ Association.

These holdings and/or plantations, oil mills and/or packaging plants must also have their own self-inspection system and be subject to outside checks by the I.C.A.R. and/or an outside inspection body under contract to the ‘Asolrioja’ Association, which will ensure recognition by the relevant authority (Department of agriculture, livestock raising and rural development of the Government of La Rioja) of compliance with standard UNE EN 45.004, providing impartial checks that the protected extra virgin olive oil meets the requirements set out in the Regulation and the specification.

Each holding and/or plantation, oil mill and/or packaging plant must apply to the Association for entry in the ‘Control plan’ and the I.C.A.R and/or the authorised outside inspection body evaluates it by means of a registration audit. If this is satisfactory, the body concerned may be entered in the corresponding register of the Association, which will ensure that it is continuously updated. Subsequently, the I.C.A.R. and/or the outside inspection body draws up an ‘Audit plan’ leading to a report to be evaluated by the Food Quality Institute. If its decision is favourable, Product certification is granted, ensuring that only extra virgin olive oil which has passed all the checks provided for will be marketed. There is also a Coordination Council to ensure the impartiality of both the Association itself and of the I.C.A.R and/or the authorised outside inspection body.

The traceability of the product is guaranteed by its identification at each of the stages of production and marketing.

4.5. Method of production: The state of health of the fruit, the date of harvesting and the increasingly modern processing techniques mean that the area of production boasts a good quality of fruit and so the oil obtained from it. The productivity and shade density of the olive tree will be appropriate to the state of growth of the plantation. Harvesting is always carried out carefully, with the sole aim of producing the protected oils from healthy fruit collected direct from the tree and of an appropriate degree of ripeness.

All the mills and/or packaging plants have systems to guarantee the separate unloading of fruit intended for the preparation of La Rioja extra virgin olive oil or of that oil and the rest, so avoiding any possible mixing. They also have appropriate areas for storing the olives or the protected oil before it handling. The olives are milled within no more than 48 hours of harvesting, so preventing them from rotting and becoming more acid. The temperature during extraction never exceeds 30 °C during pressing and 45 °C during the centrifugation process.

Pressing time never exceeds 60 minutes and the temperature never exceeds 30 °C; there is only one pressing cycle.

La Rioja extra virgin olive oil is never refined.

The protected oil is stored in conditions which guarantee its conservation, preferably in stainless steel vats, presses or metal tanks lined with ceramic, epoxy resins or other food-grade inert material. These tanks are hermetically sealed and kept at a gentle and constant storage temperature never exceeding 22 °C.

The olive oil is packaged only if it has the physical and chemical characteristics listed under 4.2 and passes a taste test set by a Grading Committee.

To preserve the quality and ensure the traceability and inspection of the protected product, all the processes of production, reception, processing and packaging take place in the designated geographical area.

4.6. Link: Historic link: Olive oil, now a key element of the Mediterranean diet, has been a basic food in La Rioja, as well as being used for poultices and as rubbing oil, collected by the faithful for use in lamps in shrines and consumed or rubbed on painful spots while invoking virgins. For years olives preserved and prepared in the houses of farmers in La Rioja have served as an aperitif and a good snack when kept in cold water with salt, thyme, garlic and orange peel.

However, the Romans were the first to extract olive oil by pressing in La Rioja. An indication of this is the Roman counterweight found at Murillo de Río Leza and the oil store at a mill site in Alfaro, where two large oil stains may be seen.

There are written references to olive cultivation in the Province in the eighteenth century, as the only well-ordered crop, and to mills for processing, of which there were 42 in La Rioja, which fell to 39 in 1861, rose to 64 in 1945 and then in 1953 to 81 mills, one residue mills, four factories producing industrial soap and six producing ordinary soap, all of which used olive oil. In that century Berceo notes that oil from La Rioja was being exported to the Indies and northern Europe.

Madoz's ‘Diccionario Geográfico Estadístico Histórico de España y sus Posesiones de Ultramar’ (Historical statistical dictionary of Spain and its overseas possessions), mentions the importance of oil exports from Alfaro in 1846-50.

Natural factors: Olive trees in La Rioja are normally to be found on dry soils with little humus in their upper layers, rich in lime, clay and sand and with no impermeable layers, so having good drainage, limiting growth, particularly in the hot season, and so a correct hormonal balance which affects the future quality of the olives produced here by increasing the content of the fruit in oil, polyphenols, anthocyanins and aromas and lowering pH, malic acid, potassium and grassy flavours. A more fertile type of soil would result in excessive growth and, worse, growth spilling over into the period when the olives are ripening, so delaying ripening and preventing adequate maturing. There would also be more shade problems because of the greater density of foliage and abundance of vegetation and more fungal diseases resulting in lower quality.

The predominant climate in the protected geographical area, temperate Mediterranean with some continental features, mild winters, long hot summers and low rainfall which is, however, sufficient for this crop to grow correctly in drought, good light and slight fluctuations in temperature between day and night, is ideal for development of the olive tree, resulting in increased oil content, better aroma and lower total acidity.

The low winter temperatures at cold times, which are also necessary to ensure the subsequent flowering and fruiting of the tree, occur when it is in its state of vegetative rest with no leaves or fruit, a time when it can resist temperatures down to -10 °C. After its winter rest, the olive requires light and temperatures between 10 °C and 25 °C to develop correctly. The Mediterranean climate in the designated area provides adequate light and warmth but is not so fierce as to prevent photosynthesis and loss of leaves where evaporation from them cannot be compensated for from the roots.

The thermal gap which occurs only during maturation has a positive influence on the synthesis of anthocyanins.

Another factor which is also very important in securing a good harvest and so good oil is the olive grower, who adds care to all the region's natural assets. The olive growers in the area have considerable knowledge of the olive tree and use traditional cultivation techniques designed to result in a balanced grove perfectly designed to produce quality olive oil.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name:	Instituto de Calidad Agroalimentaria de La Rioja.
Address:	Avda. de La Paz, 8-10, E-26071, Logroño (La Rioja)
Tel.:	941 29 16 00
Fax:	941 29 16 02

4.8. Labelling: Labels must bear the wording Denominación de origen Protegida ‘Aceite de La Rioja’

4.9. National requirements:

—	Basic Law No 3/1982 of 9 June 1982, Statute of Autonomy of La Rioja (amended by Basic Laws Nos 3/1994 of 24 March 1994 and 2/1999 of 7 January 1999).

—	Law No 3/1995 of 8 March 1995 on the legal arrangements for the government and public administration of the Autonomous Community of La Rioja.

—	Law No 30/1992 of 26 November 1992. Legal arrangements for the public administration and joint administrative procedure.

—	Order of 25 January 1994 laying down the correspondence between Spanish legislation and Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on designation of origin and geographical indications for agricultural and food products.

—	Royal Decree No 1643/1999 of 22 October 1999 laying down the procedure for applying for entry on the Community Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications.

(1) European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, Agricultural Products Quality Policy Unit, B-1049 Brussels.

12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/18

Commission notice on current State aid recovery interest rates and reference/discount rates for 25 Member States applicable as from 1 January 2005

Published in accordance with Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 of 21 April 2004 (OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p. 1) and the Commission notice on the method for setting the reference and discount rates (OJ C 273, 9.9.1997, p. 3)

(2005/C 172/07)

From	To	AT	BE	CY	CZ	DE	DK	EE	EL	ES	FI	FR	HU	IE	IT	LT	LU	LV	MT	NL	PL	PT	SE	SI	SK	UK
1.7.2005	…	4,08	4,08	7,53	4,05	4,08	4,23	5,50	4,08	4,08	4,08	4,08	8,59	4,08	4,08	6,49	4,08	6,64	7,00	4,08	6,24	4,08	3,96	5,10	7,55	5,81
1.6.2005	30.6.2005	4,08	4,08	7,53	4,05	4,08	4,23	5,50	4,08	4,08	4,08	4,08	8,59	4,08	4,08	6,49	4,08	6,64	7,00	4,08	6,24	4,08	4,69	5,10	7,55	5,81
1.4.2005	31.5.2005	4,08	4,08	6,33	4,05	4,08	4,23	5,50	4,08	4,08	4,08	4,08	8,59	4,08	4,08	6,49	4,08	6,64	7,00	4,08	7,62	4,08	4,69	5,10	7,55	5,81
1.1.2005	31.3.2005	4,08	4,08	6,33	4,86	4,08	4,23	5,50	4,08	4,08	4,08	4,08	8,59	4,08	4,08	6,49	4,08	6,64	7,00	4,08	7,62	4,08	4,69	5,10	7,55	5,81

12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/21

COM documents other than legislative proposals adopted by the Commission

(2005/C 172/10)

Document	Part	Date	Title
COM(2005) 51	1	17.2.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council: EDF Performance Review and Proposal for the Release of the Remaining Conditional Balances of the 9th European Development Fund
COM(2005) 63		23.2.2005	Report from the Commission based on Article 34 of the Council Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States
COM(2005) 75		7.3.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: European Initiative for Growth Feasibility report on EU loan guarantee instrument for TEN-Transport projects
COM(2005) 94		16.3.2005	Communication from the Commission: Green Paper ‘Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between the generations’
COM(2005) 115	1	6.4.2005	Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the regions — Healthier, safer, more confident citizens: a Health and Consumer protection Strategy
COM(2005) 120		31.3.2005	Communication from the Commission: Restructuring and employment — Anticipating and accompanying restructuring in order to develop employment: the role of the European Union
COM(2005) 132		12.4.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee: Speeding up progress towards the Millennium Development Goals — The European Union's contribution
COM(2005) 134		12.4.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee: Policy Coherence for Development — Accelerating progress towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals
COM(2005) 153		20.4.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Reinforcing EU Disaster and Crisis Response in third countries
COM(2005) 172		27.4.2005	Communication from the Commission: Compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights in Commission legislative proposals
COM(2005) 175		29.4.2005	Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the Development, Validation and Legal Acceptance of Alternative Methods to Animal Tests in the Field of Cosmetics (2004)
COM(2005) 195		19.5.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Communication on the mutual recognition of judicial decisions in criminal matters and the strengthening of mutual trust between Member States
COM(2005) 207		30.5.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Reports from Member States on behaviours which seriously infringed the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2003
COM(2005) 208		23.5.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament — European Space Policy — Preliminary Elements
COM(2005) 217	1	25.5.2005	Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities
COM(2005) 217	2	25.5.2005	Recommendation of the Commission on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities
COM(2005) 218		25.5.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament — Draft Declaration on Guiding Principles for Sustainable Development
COM(2005) 222	1	25.5.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council concerning the negotiation of the accession of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) to an international Framework Agreement among the Members of the Generation IV International Forum in the field of nuclear-related research
COM(2005) 223		31.5.2005	Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the progress of the pilot studies referred to in Article 4(3) and Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002 on waste statistics
COM(2005) 233		3.6.2005	Report from the Commission Annual Report on research and technological development activities of the European Union in 2003
COM(2005) 243		7.6.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee — Nanosciences and nanotechnologies: An action plan for Europe 2005-2009
COM(2005) 245		8.6.2005	Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of macro-financial assistance to third countries in 2004
COM(2005) 269		22.6.2005	Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Implementing the Community Strategy to Reduce CO2 Emissions from Cars: Fifth annual Communication on the effectiveness of the strategy

These texts are available on EUR-Lex: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/

12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/24

Legislative proposals adopted by the Commission

(2005/C 172/12)

Document	Part	Date	Title
COM(2005) 51	2	17.2.2005	Proposal for a Council decision concerning the mobilisation of a second allocation of EUR 250 million from the conditional EUR 1 billion under the 9th EDF to be used for the second instalment of the ACP-EU Water Facility
COM(2005) 51	3	17.2.2005	Proposal for a Council decision concerning the release and use of EUR 18 million from the conditional EUR 1 billion under the 9th EDF to be used to cover the financing of the National Indicative Programme of Timor Leste during the period 2006-2007
COM(2005) 51	4	17.2.2005	Proposal for a Council decision concerning the release and use of the remaining EUR 482 million of the conditional EUR 1 billion under the 9th European Development Fund for cooperation with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
COM(2005) 51	5	17.2.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the position to be adopted by the Community within the ACP-EC Council of Ministers regarding a decision on the use of the reserve of the long-term development envelope as well as of resources from the Investment Facility of the ninth European Development Fund for the financing of the EU Energy Initiative, for the contributions to the International Commodity Risk Management Financing Facility, the adaptation to the new EU feed and food sanitary and phyto sanitary rules, the strengthening of the African Union and a contribution to the Education for All Fast Track Initiative
COM(2005) 51	6	17.2.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the position to be adopted by the Community within the ACP-EC Council of Ministers regarding a decision on the use of the long-term development envelope as well as resources from the Investment Facility of the ninth European Development Fund for the second allocation of the ACP-EU Water Facility
COM(2005) 106		31.3.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 297/95 on fees payable to the European Medicines Agency
COM(2005) 113		6.4.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a Rapid Response and Preparedness Instrument for major emergencies
COM(2005) 115	2	6.4.2005	Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Programme of Community action in the field of Health and Consumer protection 2007-2013
COM(2005) 116		6.4.2005	Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing for the period 2007-2013 the programme ‘Citizens for Europe’ to promote active European citizenship
COM(2005) 117		6.4.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation establishing Community financial measures for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and in the area of the Law of the Sea
COM(2005) 131	1	8.4.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the signing of a Protocol to the Agreement between the European Community, the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway, concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway
COM(2005) 131	2	8.4.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Agreement between the European Community, the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway
COM(2005) 140		14.4.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the fulfilment of the conditions laid down in Article 3 of the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part, with regard to an extension of the period foreseen in Article 9(4) of Protocol 2 to the Europe Agreement
COM(2005) 154		20.4.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1466/97 on the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies
COM(2005) 168		26.4.2005	Proposal for a Council decision concerning the provisional prohibition of the use and sale in Austria of genetically modified maize (Zea mays L. line MON 810) pursuant to Directive 2001/18/EC
COM(2005) 182		4.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 131/2004 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Sudan
COM(2005) 183	1	4.5.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the signing of an Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the revision of the Agreement on mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation
COM(2005) 183	2	4.5.2005	Proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the revision of the Agreement on mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation
COM(2005) 185	1	3.5.2005	Proposal for a Council decision concerning the signing, on behalf of the European Community, of the Agreement amending the Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part
COM(2005) 185	2	3.5.2005	Proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion of the Agreement amending the Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part
COM(2005) 187		12.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the tuna fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros on fishing off the Comoros for the period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2010
COM(2005) 190	1	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90 on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network as regards the term of office of the Executive Director
COM(2005) 190	2	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training as regards the Director's term of office
COM(2005) 190	3	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 on the creation of a European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions as regards the term of office of the director and deputy director
COM(2005) 190	4	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90 establishing a European Training Foundation as regards the Director's term of office
COM(2005) 190	6	13.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 40/94 as regards the term of office of the President of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market
COM(2005) 190	7	13.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 as regards the term of office of the President of the Community Plant Variety Office
COM(2005) 190	8	13.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2965/94 setting up a Translation Centre for bodies of the European Union as regards the Director's term of office
COM(2005) 190	9	13.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1035/97 establishing a European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia as regards the Director's term of office
COM(2005) 190	10	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 as regards the term of office of the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority
COM(2005) 190	11	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 establishing a European Centre for disease prevention and control as regards the Director's term of office
COM(2005) 190	12	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 as regards the term of office of the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency
COM(2005) 190	13	13.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004 Council as regards the term of office of the Executive Director of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority
COM(2005) 190	14	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 2062/94 establishing a European Agency for Health and Safety at Work as regards the Director's term of office
COM(2005) 190	15	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 establishing a European Maritime Safety Agency as regards the Executive Director's term of office
COM(2005) 190	16	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 as regards the term of office of the Executive Director and the Directors of the European Aviation Safety Agency
COM(2005) 190	17	13.5.2005	Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 establishing a European Railway Agency as regards the term of office of the Executive Director
COM(2005) 190	18	13.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 as regards the term of office of the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union
COM(2005) 191	1	13.5.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the signature of the Additional Protocol to the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Economic Community and Turkey following the enlargement of the European Union
COM(2005) 191	2	13.5.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Additional Protocol to the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Economic Community and Turkey following the enlargement of the European Union
COM(2005) 193		17.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation extending the definitive anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1470/2001 on imports of integrated electronic compact fluorescent lamps (CFL-i) originating in the People's Republic of China to imports of the same product consigned from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of the Philippines
COM(2005) 194		18.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs
COM(2005) 197		19.5.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation on administering certain restrictions on imports of certain steel products from the Republic of Kazakhstan
COM(2005) 222	2	25.5.2005	Proposal for a Council decision concerning the negotiation of the accession of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) to an international Framework Agreement among the Members of the Generation IV International Forum in the field of nuclear-related research
COM(2005) 226		1.6.2005	Proposal for a Council decision the equivalence of checks on practices for the maintenance of varieties carried out in certain third countries
COM(2005) 238		6.6.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 3317/94 as regards the transmission of applications for fishing licences to third countries
COM(2005) 254		15.6.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products
COM(2005) 264	1	21.6.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the signature and provisional application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Australia on certain aspects of air services
COM(2005) 264	2	21.6.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Australia on certain aspects of air services
COM(2005) 268		21.6.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation terminating the new exporter review of Council Regulation (EC) No 1995/2000 imposing definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) originating, inter alia, in Algeria
COM(2005) 270		23.6.2005	Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of an agreement between the European Community and the Government of Ukraine on trade in certain steel products
COM(2005) 271		23.6.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation on administering certain restrictions on imports of certain steel products from Ukraine
COM(2005) 273		21.6.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation adopting autonomous and transitional measures to open a Community tariff quota for the import of live bovine animals originating in Switzerland
COM(2005) 283		27.6.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting definitely the provisional duty imposed on imports of hand pallet trucks and their essential parts originating in the People's Republic of China
COM(2005) 289		21.6.2005	Proposal for a Council regulation (EC, Euratom) repealing Regulation No 6/66/Euratom, 121/66/EEC of the Councils, Regulation No 7/66/Euratom, 122/66/EEC of the Councils and Regulation No 174/65/EEC, 14/65/Euratom of the Councils

These texts are available on EUR-Lex: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/

12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/29

CALL FOR PROPOSALS — DG EAC No 24/05

‘PROMOTION OF ACTIVE EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP’

Support to town twinning actions

Conferences, training seminars and information campaigns 2006

(2005/C 172/13)

1. OBJECTIVES — PROJECT FORMATS

The call for proposals is designed to support projects in the framework of town twinning in EU member states and in other eligible countries, which will contribute to raising European awareness, foster new and existing links and networks between local authorities, strengthen the dialogue between the citizens of the European Union as well as promote the town twinning idea and disseminate best practice in town twinning in Europe.

This call for proposals concerns actions in the framework of town-twinning such as conferences, training seminars and information campaigns. A separate call for proposals will be published concerning meetings of citizens between twinned towns.

The call for proposals is aimed at supporting projects in the following three formats:

Format 1: Thematic conferences in the framework of town-twinning aimed at raising awareness of European policies. Conferences must involve participants from municipalities from at least two eligible countries from which at least one is an EU Member State.

Format 2: Training seminars on town twinning targeted at the people responsible for town twinning to enable them to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for organising twinning projects with a high quality European content.

Format 3: Information campaigns to promote town twinning — new element in the programme, launched to enable suitable organisations such as regional, national or European associations of local authorities to carry out new innovative actions supporting the development of town twinning.

Information campaigns must be targeted to municipalities and aimed at promoting the town twinning idea in Europe through disseminating information regarding the Town Twinning programme and emphasising the importance of the town twinning movement in Europe. Information campaigns must cover at least two eligible countries including at least one EU Member State.

2. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

To be eligible the applicant must be an organisation with legal status (legal personality) and be established in an eligible country.

Only the following types of organisations are eligible:

—	municipalities and their twinning associations/committees,

—	local and regional governments,

—	associations representing local authorities.

Eligible countries:

—	the 25 Member States of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom);

—	Bulgaria and Romania (1)

3. BUDGET AND PROJECT DURATION

The total amount available for the co-financing of projects within this call for proposals is estimated at EUR 2 500 000.

The grant awarded may not exceed 60 % of the total amount of the project's eligible costs in the detailed budget estimation.

The maximum amount of the grant may not exceed EUR 60 000 per project. The minimum grant is EUR 10 000.

The maximum duration of the projects is 10 months (from preparation to implementation and reporting).

4. DEADLINES

This call covers projects starting between 15 April 2006 and 31 December 2006.

The deadlines for submission of grant applications are as follows:

First phase: until 17 October 2005 for projects beginning between 15 April and 31 August 2006;

Second phase: until 1 March 2006 for projects beginning between 1 September and 31 December 2006;

5. FURTHER INFORMATION

The full text of the call for proposals and the application forms are available on the following website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/towntwinning/call/call_en.html

Applications must comply with the requirements set out in the full text of the call and be submitted using the form provided.

(1) Eligibility of Bulgaria depending on the ratification of the memorandum of understanding. Furthermore an EEA/EFTA country or candidate country Turkey will be eligible if, by the deadline for submission of grant applications, an agreement on participation in the programme has been concluded between the Country in concern and the Commission.

12.7.2005

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/31

CALL FOR PROPOSALS — DG EAC No 39/05

Culture 2000: Call for Proposals 2006

(2005/C 172/14)

1. OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION

The Culture 2000 programme contributes to the promotion of a cultural area common to the European Peoples. Each year the Community supports annual and multi-annual cultural events and projects carried out in partnership or in the forms of networks. The annual projects must involve cultural operators from at least three States and respectively the multi-annual projects must involve cultural operators from at least five States participating in the Culture 2000 programme.

Under Action 1 (annual projects) Culture 2000 Programme provides support in the field of music and performing arts, cultural heritage, plastic and visual arts, literature and books and translation.

Under Action 2 (multi-annual projects) Culture 2000 Programme provides support in the field of music and performing arts, cultural heritage, plastic and visual arts and literature and books.

2. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible candidates are public and private organisations with legal status, whose main activity lies in the cultural sphere.

Applications may be submitted by organisations established in one of the following countries:

—	the 25 countries of the European Union;

—	the three EEA/EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway);

—	the acceding countries Bulgaria and Romania; the candidate country Turkey.

However, it should be noted that Turkey's participation in the programme is subject to an agreement to be concluded between the Turkish government and the European Commission. Turkish organisations will be eligible as project leaders or co-organisers provided that such an agreement enters into force by the end of the selection process.

3. BUDGET AND PROJECT DURATION

The total budget for projects supported under this call for proposals is approximately EUR 28 million (Action 1 and Action 2).

The Funding requested for annual projects must range from EUR 50 000 to EUR 150 000 and may not exceed 50 % of the project's total eligible budget.

For translation projects, Community funding will cover the translator(s)' fees for all books within the application (minimum 4, maximum 10 eligible books) provided these do not exceed a total of EUR 50 000 or 60 % of the total operation costs.

Funding requested for multi-annual projects must be above EUR 50 000 but not more than EUR 300 000 per year and may not exceed 60 % of the total eligible budget.

The projects have to start before 15 November 2006.

The duration of annual projects must not be more than 12 months.

The duration of multi-annual projects must be a minimum of 24 months and must not be more than 36 months.

In exceptional circumstances and provided it is duly justified by the beneficiary, selected projects will have the possibility to extend the project duration by a maximum of 6 months through an amendment procedure.

4. DEADLINE

Applications must be sent to the Commission no later than:

17 October 2005 for annual and translation projects 28 October 2005 for multi-annual projects.

5. FURTHER INFORMATION

The specifications and the application forms are available on the following Commission's internet site:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/index_en.html

Applications must comply with the requirements set out in the specifications and be submitted using the forms provided.

		ISSN 1725-2423
Official Journal of the European Union		C 172

English edition	Information and Notices	Volume 48 12 July 2005

Notice No	Contents	page
	I Information
	Council
2005/C 172/1	Statement on Council Regulation (EC) No 851/2005 of 2 June 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 as regards the reciprocity mechanism	1

	Commission
2005/C 172/2	Euro exchange rates	2

2005/C 172/3	Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections ( 1 )	3

2005/C 172/4	Notice of initiation of a partial interim review of the countervailing measures applicable to imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film originating in India	5

2005/C 172/5	Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin	7

2005/C 172/6	Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin	13

2005/C 172/7	Commission notice on current State aid recovery interest rates and reference/discount rates for 25 Member States applicable as from 1 January 2005 — Published in accordance with Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 of 21 April 2004 (OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p. 1) and the Commission notice on the method for setting the reference and discount rates (OJ C 273, 9.9.1997, p. 3)	18

2005/C 172/8	Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3857 — SITA/Flughafen Düsseldorf/FDITG) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )	19

2005/C 172/9	Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3799 — Dexia/Kommunalkredit/JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )	20

2005/C 172/0	COM documents other than legislative proposals adopted by the Commission	21

2005/C 172/1	Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3839 — Access Industries/Basell) ( 1 )	23

	III Notices
	Commission
2005/C 172/3	Call for proposals — DG EAC No 24/05 — Promotion of active European citizenship — Support to town twinning actions — Conferences, training seminars and information campaigns 2006	29

2005/C 172/4	Call for Proposals — DG EAC No 39/05 — Culture 2000: Call for Proposals 2006	31

	II Preparatory Acts
	Commission
2005/C 172/2	Legislative proposals adopted by the Commission	24