15.2.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 38/1

15.2.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 38/2

1.

On 3 February 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking ABN Amro Capital France SA (‘ABN Amro’, France) (controlled by ABN Group (Netherlands)) and Astorg Partners (‘Astorg’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the OFIC Group (‘OFIC’, France) by way of purchase of shares through an ad hoc acquisition vehicle (simplified limited company under French law).

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M. 4143 — AACF/Astorg/OFIC, to the following address:

15.2.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 38/3

1.

On 3 February 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Toyota Tsusho Corporation (‘Toyota Tsusho’, Japan) enters into a full merger within the meaning of Article 3(1)(a) of the Council Regulation with the undertaking Tomen Corporation (‘Tomen’, Japan) by way of exchange of and purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4093 — Toyota Tsusho/Tomen to the following address:

15.2.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 38/4

1.

On 6 February 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings The Coca-Cola Company (‘TCCC’, USA) and Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. (‘CCHBC’, Greece) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Limited Liability Company Fresh & Co. Fabrika Za Peradu Voća d.o.o. (‘Fresh & Co.’ Serbia) by purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4140 — The Coca-Cola Company/Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company/Fresh & Co., to the following address:

15.2.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 38/5

15.2.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 38/6

1.

On 7 February 2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4, and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which NEC Corporation (‘NEC’; Japan) will acquire within the meaning of 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation, sole control over Philips Business Communications (‘PBC’; Netherlands) by way of a transfer of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4072 — NEC/Philips Business Communications, to the following address:

15.2.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 38/7

—

Select high-quality integrated masters courses which are offered by a consortium of at least three higher education institutions in at least three participating countries (Action 1);

—

Give scholarships to highly qualified graduate students and scholars from third countries to follow or participate in the selected masters courses (Action 2);

—

Select high-quality partnerships between selected masters courses and third-country higher education institutions (Action 3);

—

Select projects of at least three institutions in at least three participating countries aiming to improve accessibility and enhance the profile and visibility of higher education in the European Union (Action 4).

—

Action 1: higher education institutions in the 25 EU Member States, the countries of the European Economic Area/European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and the candidate countries for accession to the EU (Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, and Turkey). As regards institutions from the candidate countries for accession to the EU (Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, and Turkey), they will be able to participate under the present call for proposals for Action 1 only if the official participation of these countries in the programme has been formalised through the relevant instruments governing the relations between the European Community and those countries before the selection decision is taken (October 2006). Otherwise, institutions coming from those countries are not eligible for Action 1 under the present call for proposals;

—

Action 2: individuals from third countries, i.e. any country other than the countries mentioned under Action 1 above;

—

Action 3: higher education institutions from all countries of the world;

—

Action 4: institutions from all countries of the world.

—

Action 1: each grant will amount to EUR 15 000 annually. Masters courses must start between August and December 2007;

—

Action 2: each scholarship will amount to EUR 21 000 annually for each third-country student and EUR 13 000 for each third-country scholar. Scholarships are for masters courses starting in the academic year 2007/2008;

—

Action 3: each grant will amount to a minimum of EUR 5 000 and a maximum of 15 000 annually plus allocations for student and scholar mobility. Partnerships must start between August and December 2007. The maximum duration of partnerships is 3 years;

—

Action 4: grants will vary according to the project size. Projects must start in November or December 2006. The maximum duration of projects is 3 years.

—

Action 1: 30 April 2006

—

Action 4: 31 May 2006

—

Action 3: 30 November 2006

—

Action 2: 28 February 2007

15.2.2006   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 38/9

1.

In accordance with Decision No 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 27 June 2002, concerning the sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002 to 2006) (2), the Council adopted on 30 September 2002 the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: ‘Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area’ (2002-2006) (3) (referred to as ‘the specific programme’).

In accordance with Article 5(1) of the specific programme, the Commission of the European Communities (referred to as ‘the Commission’) has adopted on 9 December 2002 a work programme (4) (referred to as ‘the work programme’) setting out in greater detail the objectives and scientific and technological priorities of the specific programme, and the timetable for implementation.

In accordance with Article 9(1) of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 16 December 2002, concerning the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in, and for the dissemination of research results for, the implementation of the European Community Sixth Framework Programme (2002 to 2006) (5) (referred to as ‘the rules for participation’), proposals for indirect RTD actions should be submitted under the terms of calls for proposals.

2.

The present call for proposals for indirect RTD actions (referred to as ‘the call’) comprises the present general part and the specific conditions that are described in the annex. The annex indicates in particular, the dates of closure for the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions, an indicative date for the completion of the evaluations, the indicative budget, the instruments and the areas concerned, the evaluation criteria for the evaluation of proposals for indirect RTD actions, the minimum number of participants, and any applicable restrictions.

3.

Natural or legal persons fulfilling the conditions stated in the rules for participation and that do not fall under any of the exclusion cases in the rules for participation or in Article 114(2) of the Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (6) (referred to as ‘the proposers’) are invited to submit to the Commission proposals for indirect RTD actions subject to the conditions in the rules for participation and in the call concerned being fulfilled.

The conditions of participation of the proposers will be verified within the framework of the negotiation of the indirect RTD action. Before that however, proposers will have signed a declaration stating that they do not fall under any of the cases given by Article 93(1) of the Financial Regulation. They will also have given the Commission the information listed in Article 173(2) of the Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002, of 23 December 2002, laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (7).

The European Community has adopted an equal opportunities policy and, on this basis, women are particularly encouraged to either submit proposals for indirect RTD actions or participate in the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions.

4.

The Commission makes available to proposers guides for proposers relating to the call which contain information on the preparation and the submission of a proposal for an indirect RTD action. The Commission also makes available Guidelines on Proposal Evaluation and Selection Procedures (8). These guides and guidelines, as well as the work programme and other information relating to the calls, can be obtained from the Commission via the following addresses:

5.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions are invited to be submitted only as an electronic proposal via the web-based Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS (9)). In exceptional cases, however, a co-ordinator may request permission from the Commission to submit on paper in advance of a call deadline. This should be done by writing to one of the following addresses:

The request must be accompanied by an explanation of why the exception is being sought. Proposers wishing to use paper submission take the responsibility for ensuring that such requests for exemption and the associated procedures are completed in time for them to meet the call deadline.

All proposals for indirect RTD actions must contain two parts: the forms (Part A) and the content (Part B).

Proposals for indirect RTD actions must be prepared on-line and submitted on-line. Part B of proposals for indirect RTD actions can only be submitted in PDF (‘portable document format’, compatible with Adobe Version 3 or higher with embedded fonts). Compressed (‘zipped’) files will be excluded.

The EPSS software tool (for on-line usage) is available via the Cordis website http://cordis.europa.eu.int/

Proposals for indirect RTD actions that are submitted on-line and which are incomplete, illegible or contain viruses will be excluded.

Versions of proposals for indirect RTD actions submitted on a removable electronic storage medium (eg, cd-rom, diskette), by email or by fax will be excluded.

Any proposal for indirect RTD actions that has been allowed to be submitted on paper and which is incomplete will be excluded.

Further details on the various proposal submission procedures are given in Annex J of the Guidelines on Proposal Evaluation and Selection Procedures.

6.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions have to reach the Commission at the latest on the closure date and at the time specified in the call concerned. Proposals for indirect RTD actions arriving after this date and time will be excluded.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions not satisfying the conditions relating to the minimum number of participants indicated in the call concerned will be excluded.

This also applies regarding any additional eligibility criteria given in the work programme.

7.

In the case of successive submissions of the same proposal for an indirect RTD action, the Commission will examine the last version received before the closure date and time specified in the call concerned.

8.

If foreseen in the relevant call, proposals for indirect RTD actions could be evaluated in the framework of a future evaluation.

9.

In all correspondence relating to a call (e.g. when requesting information, or submitting a proposal for an indirect RTD action), proposers are invited to cite the relevant call identifier.