31.1.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 27/1

OPINION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 17 December 2007

at the request of the Council of the European Union on a proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting

(CON/2007/42)

(2008/C 27/01)

Introduction and legal basis

On 23 October 2007, the European Central Bank (ECB) received a request from the Council of the European Union for an opinion on a proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (1) (hereinafter the ‘proposed Regulation’).

The ECB's competence to deliver an opinion is based on the third sentence of Article 123(4) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, which is the legal basis for the proposed Regulation. The ECB's competence to deliver an opinion is also based on the first indent of Article 105(4) of the Treaty, in combination with Article 106 of the Treaty, as the proposed Regulation relates to the protection of euro banknotes and coins. In accordance with the first sentence of Article 17.5 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Central Bank, the Governing Council has adopted this opinion.

1. General observations

1.1

As mentioned in the explanatory memorandum for the proposed Regulation, the ECB has recently issued Recommendation ECB/2006/13 of 6 October 2006 on the adoption of certain measures to protect euro banknotes more effectively against counterfeiting (2) (hereinafter the ‘ECB Recommendation’). In the ECB Recommendation, the ECB takes the stance that while, generally, criminal law and the rules of criminal procedure do not fall within the competence of the Community, they may do so when necessary to ensure the effectiveness of Community law (3). The ECB specifically recommended that the Commission should ‘consider proposing an extension of the powers of NACs (national analysis centres for counterfeits) and of NCBs (national central banks) that are not NACs, so that they may retain identified and analysed examples of counterfeit notes and also request and legitimately transport such notes intra-EU for the purposes of (testing under) the Framework (for the detection of counterfeits and fitness sorting by credit institutions and other professional cash handlers). In particular, Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 should be amended, and Article 4(3) accordingly deleted. As a minimum, this latter paragraph should be amended so that the full application of Article 4(2) is not prevented by the use or retention of counterfeit notes as evidence in criminal proceedings, except when such an application is impossible, taking into account the quantity and type of seized counterfeits’. These recommendations have not been taken into account in the proposed Regulation.

1.2

In principle, the ECB welcomes any use of a first pillar act adopted under the Treaty to protect the euro against counterfeiting, rather than a third pillar act based on police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, as first pillar acts provide the only appropriate legal means for protecting the euro against counterfeiting within the framework of the Community's economic and monetary union (4).

2. Specific observations

2.1

The proposed broadening of the scope of the title of Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 of 28 June 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (5), so as to impose an obligation to transmit new and old classes of counterfeit notes for purposes other than identification, partially follows the ECB Recommendation. However, the proposed amendment to Article 4(2) does not prevent suspected counterfeit notes from being used or retained in criminal proceedings, pursuant to Article 4(3), thus contradicting the broadening of the scope of the title thereof and jeopardising the effectiveness of the amended provision. Indeed, the application of the provision continues to be entirely dependent both on national criminal law and on the discretion of judicial or prosecution authorities. It is conceivable that samples of new or particularly dangerous counterfeits could be discovered in one country, through a single seizure, and that the judicial or prosecution authorities will refuse to release or be prevented by virtue of national criminal law from releasing any of them for the purpose of testing, and thus frustrate the spirit of the new provision. As stated in paragraph 2 of the ECB Recommendation, the ECB does not wish to prejudice the rights of suspects and defendants in criminal proceedings. However, in this respect the balance of interests established by Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 and maintained by the proposed Regulation is tipped against the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. To ensure such protection, the ECB and the NCBs should as a rule be entitled to receive samples of banknotes used or retained as evidence in criminal proceedings, the sole exception being when this is impossible, taking into account the quantity and type of seized counterfeits.

2.2

As mentioned in the explanatory memorandum for the proposed Regulation, the ECB has already adopted a framework for the detection of counterfeit notes (6), which Eurosystem NCBs have to implement in their national legal frameworks. The ECB did this in fulfilment of its responsibilities under Article 106(1) of the Treaty and Article 16 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, to ensure the integrity and preservation of euro banknotes in circulation and, by extension, the public's trust in euro banknotes. This should be more fully reflected in the proposed amendment to Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001, by making express reference to the ECB's competence in the field of establishing sorting standards for both the circulation fitness and authenticity checks of euro notes and the existing Eurosystem work undertaken for this.

2.3

The proposed amendment to Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 imposes upon ‘credit institutions, and any other institutions engaged in the sorting and distribution to the public of notes and coins as a professional activity’ the obligation to ensure that the notes and coins they receive are checked for authenticity and counterfeits are detected. While the object of the obligation is clear and desirable, the wording ‘other institutions engaged in the sorting and distribution to the public of notes and coins as a professional activity’ leaves out of its scope other organisations which operate self-service devices supplying euro banknotes to the public, even if not as a professional activity. Indeed, the practical implementation of the ECB Framework at national level has revealed the narrowness of the term, especially as regards retailers who re-fill automated teller machines (cash points). This narrow scope as to the addressees of the obligation in Article 6 may create a loophole through which euro notes and coins will not be checked in compliance with ECB and Commission procedures, to the detriment of the public at large and of the credit institutions in the euro area, which will be subject to stricter standards. A broader definition would thus be the most adequate solution.

2.4

The proposed Regulation will add to Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 a provision requiring the Member States to make the laws, regulations and administrative provisions for applying the obligation of credit and other institutions to ensure that euro notes and coins are checked for authenticity and that counterfeits are detected, in line with procedures to be defined by the ECB and the Commission. Member States would be required to adopt these laws, regulations and administrative provisions by 31 December 2009 at the latest, and to forthwith inform the ECB and the Commission thereof. The ECB is of the opinion that, as the ECB and the Commission are responsible for laying down the procedures underpinning this obligation, it is the ECB and the Commission that should stipulate the deadlines for their implementation, both for practical and legal reasons. From a practical point of view, imposing deadlines for implementation requires expert knowledge of the know-how and capabilities of the local operators. The migration costs and costs for manufacturing and obtaining the new detectors required must also be considered. Hence, the single deadline of the proposed Regulation might prove inflexible. From a legal point of view, the body which has the competence to establish the procedures with respect to sorting standards for both fitness and authenticity checks of euro notes or coins should be the body to establish the deadlines for their application. It is therefore suggested that this deadline should be deleted from the proposed Regulation, and instead it should be provided that the deadlines for applying this obligation, in line with the procedures to be defined by the ECB and Commission, should be laid down in those same procedures.

2.5

As regards the inclusion of coins under the scope of the Regulation on the same level as banknotes, and conscious of its competence on matters related to euro banknotes, the ECB would observe that this approach could have the drawback of endangering retail payment in Member States, as the technical feasibility of the proposed checking requirement for coins is — unlike the one for banknotes — yet uncertain.

2.6

As it is not completely clear whether the reference of Regulation (EC) No 1339/2001 of 28 June 2001 extending the effects of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting to those Member States which have not adopted the euro as their single currency (7) to Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 is a dynamic one, there is a need for another proposal for a Regulation, extending to non euro area Member States the effects of the proposed Regulation (8), in particular as regards the amendments to Articles 4 and 5. However, in the context of the ‘procedures to be defined by the European Central Bank’ to which the proposed Regulation will include a reference in Article 6(1) of amended Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001, as noted above, the ECB is best placed to decide upon the implementation of its procedures in relation to euro banknotes. In this respect and in the light of the limits of the geographic area in which the euro is legal tender, the ECB decided in July 2006 (9) that these procedures will become effective in newly participating Member States once they adopt the euro.

3. Drafting proposals

Where the above advice would lead to changes in the proposed Regulation, drafting proposals are set out in the Annex.

Done at Frankfurt am Main, 17 December 2007.

The President of the ECB

Jean-Claude TRICHET

(1) COM(2007) 525 final.

(2) OJ C 257, 25.10.2006, p. 16.

(3) Judgement of 13 September 2005, Case C-176/03, Commission v Council [2005] ECR I-7879 and Judgement of 23 October 2007, Case C-440/05 (not yet published) Commission v Council [2007] ECR I-0000.

(4) See also Recommendation ECB/1998/7 of 7 July 1998 regarding the adoption of certain measures to enhance the legal protection of euro banknotes and coins.

(5) OJ L 181, 4.7.2001, p. 6.

(6) See the Framework for the detection of counterfeits and fitness sorting by credit institutions and other professional cash handlers, available on the ECB's website at:

www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/recyclingeurobanknotes2005en.pdf

(7) OJ L 181, 4.7.2001, p. 11.

(8) This has recently been the case with other texts amending legal instruments relating to the protection of the euro, i.e. Council Decision 2006/849/EC of 20 November 2006 amending and extending Decision 2001/923/EC establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the Pericles programme) (OJ L 330, 28.11.2006, p. 28) and Council Decision 2006/850/EC of 20 November 2006 extending to the non-participating Member States the application of Decision 2006/849/EC amending and extending Decision 2001/923/EC establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the Pericles programme) (OJ L 330, 28.11.2006, p. 30).

(9) See the ECB document ‘Transitional regime for the implementation of the banknote recycling framework in the new participating Member States’ available on the ECB's website at:

www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/other/recyclingeurobanknotesframework2006en.pdf

ANNEX

DRAFTING PROPOSALS

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendments proposed by the ECB (1)

Amendment 1

Article 1(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 is amended as follows:

1.	Article 4 is amended as follows:

1.	Article 4 is amended as follows:

(a)	the title is replaced by the following:

(a)	the title is replaced by the following:

‘Obligation to transmit counterfeit notes’;

(b)

at the end of paragraph 2 the following sentence is added:

‘For the purpose of facilitating the control for authenticity of circulating euro notes, the transport of counterfeit notes amongst the competent national authorities as well as the institutions and bodies of the European Union shall be permitted.’

(b)

at the end of paragraph 2 the following sentence is added:

(c)	paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: ‘Paragraph 2 shall be applied in such a way that it does not prevent suspected counterfeit notes from being used or retained as evidence in criminal proceedings, taking into account the quantity and type of seized counterfeits.’

Justification — See paragraph 2.1 of the opinion

Amendment 2

Article 1(3)(a)

3.	Article 6 is amended as follows:

3.	Article 6 is amended as follows:

(a)	paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

(a)	paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1. Credit institutions, and any other institutions engaged in the sorting and distribution to the public of notes and coins as a professional activity, including establishments whose activity consists in exchanging notes and coins of different currencies, such as bureaux de change, shall be obliged to ensure that euro notes and coins which they have received and which they intend to put back into circulation are checked for authenticity and counterfeits are detected. This verification shall be carried out in line with procedures to be defined by the European Central Bank and the Commission for euro notes and coins respectively.

The institutions referred to in the first subparagraph shall be obliged to withdraw from circulation all euro notes and coins received by them which they know or have sufficient reason to believe to be counterfeit. They shall immediately hand them over to the competent national authorities.’

‘1. Credit institutions, and any other institutions engaged in the sorting and distribution to the public of notes and coins as a professional activity, including:

—	establishments whose professional activity consists in exchanging notes and coins of different currencies, such as bureaux de change, and

—	retailers and other economic agents, such as casinos, engaged as a subsidiary activity in the sorting and distribution of notes to the public by means of automated teller machines

shall be obliged to ensure that euro notes and coins which they have received and which they intend to put back into circulation are checked for authenticity and counterfeits are detected. The ise verification checks shall be carried out in line with procedures to be defined by the European Central Bank and the Commission for euro notes and coins respectively, according to their respective competences and taking into account the particularities of euro notes and coins respectively.

The institutions, retailers and other economic agents referred to in the first subparagraph shall be obliged to withdraw from circulation all euro notes and coins received by them which they know or have sufficient reason to believe to be counterfeit. They shall immediately hand them over to the competent national authorities.’

Justification — See paragraph 2.3 of the opinion

Amendment 3

Article 1(3)(b)

(b)	at the end of paragraph 3 the following subparagraph is added:

(b)	at the end of paragraph 3 the following subparagraph is added:

‘By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of paragraph 3, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions for applying the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be adopted by 31 December 2009 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission and the European Central Bank thereof.’

‘By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of paragraph 3, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions for applying the procedures mentioned in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be adopted by 31 December 2009 at the latest in accordance with the deadlines laid down in such procedures. They Member States shall forthwith inform the Commission and the European Central Bank thereof.’

Justification — See paragraph 2.4 of the opinion

Amendment 4

Article 2

This Regulation shall have effect in the participating Member States as defined in the first indent of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 (14).

The procedures referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 shall have effect in the participating Member States as stipulated in the second subparagraph of Article 6(3) thereof.

(14)	OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 1.

(14)	OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 1.

Justification — See paragraph 2.5 of the opinion

(1) Bold in the body of the text indicates where the ECB proposes inserting new text. Strikethrough in the body of the text indicates where the ECB proposes deleting the text.

31.1.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 27/6

Rules of Procedure of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union

(2008/C 27/02)

These Rules of Procedure are designed to facilitate and improve the work of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union, hereinafter referred to as COSAC, established in Paris 16-17 November 1989.

They may be applied to the meetings of other parliamentary Committees convened by the Parliament holding the Presidency of the EU.

On the basis of the XXVII COSAC in Copenhagen from 16-18 October 2002 it was decided at the extraordinary XXVIII COSAC in Brussels on 27 January 2003 to strengthen co-operation between the National Parliaments in the EU, to extend the rules of procedure with new rules for voting and to adopt guidelines for effective parliamentary scrutiny of governments in connection with Community issues (Copenhagen Parliamentary Guidelines).

The members of COSAC intend to work for the implementation of the Copenhagen Parliamentary Guidelines in accordance with their own parliamentary practice (1). The guidelines are laid down in a separate declaration.

These Rules of Procedure, which were adopted by the XXIX COSAC in Athens on 5-6 May 2003, replace the rules of procedure that were adopted in Helsinki on 11-12 October 1999.

1. TASKS AND COMPETENCES FOR COSAC

COSAC enables a regular exchange of views, without prejudicing the competences of the parliamentary bodies of the European Union.

The Protocol on the Role of National Parliaments in the European Union to the Amsterdam Treaty amending the Treaty on the European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts, empower COSAC to make any contribution it deems appropriate for the attention of the institutions of the European Union and to examine Union legislative activities, proposals and initiatives.

Contributions made by COSAC shall in no way bind National Parliaments or prejudge their position.

2. FREQUENCY AND DATES OF MEETINGS

2.1. Ordinary meetings

One ordinary meeting of COSAC shall be held during each Presidency of the Council of the European Union taking account of different parliamentary practices of Member States, of election periods and of the dates of public holidays in Member States. The date of the next meeting shall be fixed and announced by the date of the preceding meeting at the latest.

2.2. Extraordinary meetings

Extraordinary meetings of COSAC shall be held, if deemed necessary, by an absolute majority of the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees of the National Parliaments and of the appropriate body of the European Parliament.

2.3. Meetings of the Chairpersons

A preparatory meeting of the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees and of the representative of the European Parliament shall be held prior to meetings of COSAC, in agreement with the presidential Troika. Each delegation consists of two members of its Parliament.

2.4. Extraordinary meetings of the Chairpersons

Extraordinary meetings of the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees and the appropriate body of the European Parliament shall be held, if proposed, by the Presidency, after consulting the Presidential Troika, or, if deemed necessary, by an absolute majority of the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees of the National Parliaments and of the appropriate body of the European Parliament.

2.5. The Presidential Troika of COSAC

The Presidential Troika of COSAC consists of the Presidency, the preceding Presidency, the next Presidency, and the European Parliament. Each delegation consists of two members of its Parliament.

Agendas for Troika meetings shall be circulated to all National Parliaments and to the European Parliament not less than two weeks before meetings, and minutes of Troika meetings shall be circulated to all the National Parliaments and to the European Parliament not more than two weeks after such meetings.

2.6. Working groups

COSAC may decide to set up a working group to study a particular issue linked with the activities of the European Union. Such a working group shall also be set up, if deemed necessary, by an absolute majority of the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees of the National Parliaments and of the appropriate body of the European Parliament. The Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs Committee of the Parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency shall act as the Chairperson of the working group. The Secretariat of the Parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency shall provide the secretariat for the working group.

2.7. Planning of the meetings

COSAC shall establish a rolling, long term, calendar of its meetings.

3. PLACE OF MEETINGS

Meetings shall take place in the Member State holding the Presidency. Extraordinary meetings, meetings of the Chairpersons, meetings of the Troïka and meetings of working groups may be held elsewhere.

4. COMPOSITION

4.1. Ordinary and extraordinary meetings

Each National Parliament shall be represented by a maximum of six members of its Community and European Affairs Committee(s). The European Parliament shall be represented by six Members. Each Parliament shall determine the composition of its own delegation.

4.2. Observers from the Parliaments of applicant countries

Three observers from the Parliaments of each applicant country shall be invited to ordinary and extraordinary meetings.

4.3. Other observers, specialists and special guests

The Presidency shall invite observers from the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, and it may invite observers from the embassies of the Member States of the European Union, and, after consulting the Presidential Troika, specialists and special guests.

4.4. Public access to meetings

Meetings of COSAC shall be public, unless otherwise determined.

5. CONVOCATION

Ordinary meetings and meetings of the Chairpersons and of working groups shall be convened by the Secretariat of the Parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency.

Extraordinary meetings shall be convened by the Secretariat of the Parliament of the Member State where the meeting takes place.

6. DESIGNATION OF MEETINGS

The designation of ordinary and extraordinary meetings shall be ‘Conference of the Community and European Affairs Committees (of the European Union's National Parliaments of the Member States and the European Parliament) — COSAC’, with the name preceded by the number of the meeting in sequence, followed by the date and place of the meeting.

7. AGENDA

7.1.

Before the last ordinary meeting of each year the delegations shall indicate the subjects they propose be dealt with the following year. This matter shall be discussed at the end of the meeting. The Presidential Troika, paying due account to the provisions of Part II of the Protocol to the Amsterdam Treaty on the Role of National Parliaments in the European Union, proposes, at the beginning of each Presidency, one or several subjects drawn from the working programme of the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, and the European Commission, or from proposals made during the meeting referred to above.

7.1.A.

The principal business on every draft Agenda shall be derived from COSAC's role as a body for exchanging information, in particular on the practical aspects of parliamentary scrutiny.

7.2.

A draft agenda shall be drawn up by the Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs Committee of the host Parliament, after consulting Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees and the representative of the European Parliament. National delegations may propose to the Presidency that a specific item is put on the agenda.

7.3.	The meeting itself shall decide on its final agenda.

8. PREPARATION OF MEETINGS

8.1.	The national delegations may send documents relating to items on the agenda to the secretariat of the host Parliament.

8.2.	The national delegation of the Member State holding the Presidency may draw up discussion documents for the conference.

9. LANGUAGES

9.1.	Each delegation is responsible for translating any document, which it submits into English or French.

9.2.	Participating Parliaments will receive conference documents in English or French. Each Parliament is responsible for translation into its national language.

9.3.	Simultaneous interpretation into the official languages of the EU is provided in the meetings.

9.4.	The contributions of COSAC are drawn up in a single original in English and French, each of these texts being equally authentic.

10. COSAC CONTRIBUTIONS

10.1.

COSAC may address contributions to the institutions of the European Union pursuant to the Amsterdam Treaty Protocol on the Role of National Parliaments in the European Union.

10.2.

Each national delegation may propose that a Contribution be adopted by COSAC. A draft contribution shall be drawn up if proposed by the Presidency, after consulting the Presidential Troika, or if deemed necessary by an absolute majority of the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees of the National Parliaments and of the appropriate body of the European Parliament, or if decided in a meeting of COSAC.

10.3.

The draft of a contribution shall be communicated to the delegations in good time before the relevant meeting of COSAC to give them a reasonable period for scrutiny and remarks.

10.4.

The final draft of a contribution shall be prepared at the preparatory meeting of the Chairpersons preceding the relevant meeting of COSAC. It shall embrace the observations and remarks by all delegations, including possible declarations concerning the vote.

10.5.

In general COSAC shall seek to adopt contributions by broad consensus. If this is not possible, contributions shall be adopted with a qualified majority of at least 3/4 of the votes cast. The majority of 3/4 of the votes cast must at the same time constitute at least half of all votes.

10.6.

Each delegation has two votes.

10.7.

After adoption, the contribution is published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

11. ROLE OF THE PRESIDENCY

11.1.

The Community and European Affairs Committee of the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union shall hold the Presidency of COSAC during that Presidency.

11.2.

The secretariat of the host Parliament shall prepare the documents for the meetings. It shall be assisted by the COSAC Secretariat.

11.3.

The Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs Committee of the host Parliament shall open the debate.

11.4.

The Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs Committee of the host Parliament shall propose a timetable for the meeting and the length of speeches, which shall be four minutes, unless the meeting determines otherwise.

11.5.

The Secretariat of the host Parliament shall draw up brief minutes of the meeting. The draft is provided by the COSAC Secretariat.

11.6.

The Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs Committee of the host Parliament shall present the debate's conclusions, as drawn up by the Presidential Troika.

11.7.

The secretariat of the Parliament holding the Presidency shall provide the secretariat for the activities of COSAC during its term. The secretariats of National Parliaments and of the European Parliament shall provide assistance.

11 bis. THE COSAC SECRETARIAT

The COSAC Secretariat shall be composed of officials from the Parliaments of the Presidential Troika, and a permanent member who supports the Secretariat in its activities.

The officials from the Parliaments of the Presidential Troika shall be appointed by each of the relevant Parliaments for a non renewable period of eighteen months.

The permanent member shall be appointed by the COSAC Chairpersons on the proposal of the Presidential Troika. He or she shall be an official of a National Parliament and shall remain in office for two years with the possibility of one renewal.

The COSAC Secretariat shall assist the Presidency and the secretariat of the host Parliament in all its tasks. The members of the COSAC Secretariat shall perform their duties under the political responsibility of the COSAC Presidency and the Presidential Troika or according to the decisions taken by COSAC meetings. The permanent member shall coordinate the activities of the COSAC Secretariat under the direction of the Parliament holding the Presidency.

The cost for seconding the permanent member of the Secretariat to Brussels and other necessary technical costs of the Secretariat are jointly borne by Parliaments wishing to contribute. The amount and the terms of payment for the co-financed expenditure are defined in an agreement among the participating Parliaments.

12. DEBATE CONCLUSIONS

If the meeting decides to issue a communiqué, a draft, annexed with possible contributions adopted, shall be drawn up by the Presidential Troika.

13. ECIPIENTS OF COMMUNIQUÉS

Communiqués shall be sent to the Parliaments of the Member States and the European Parliament, to the Council of the European Union, and to the European Commission by the secretariat of the host Parliament.

14. REVISION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE

14.1.

Proposals for a revision of the Rules of Procedure must be sent, in writing, from one or several delegations of one or several Parliaments to all National Parliaments of the Member States and to the European Parliament at least a month before the meeting of COSAC.

14.2.

Proposals for a revision of the rules should be put on the agenda of the first meeting of COSAC following the presentation of the proposal.

14.3.

Adoption of the proposal requires unanimity between the delegations present at the meeting. Abstentions by delegations shall not prevent the adoption of the proposal.

14.4.

Quorum is at least 2/3 of the delegations.

14.5.

Each delegation has one vote.

15. ENTRY INTO FORCE

These Rules of Procedure shall enter into force as soon as they are published in the Official Journal of the European Union. They are drawn up in a single original in English and French, each of these texts being equally authentic.

The text of these Rules of Procedure shall, for the authentication thereof, be drawn up in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovenian, Slovak, Spanish and Swedish. The translations shall be agreed between the National Parliaments using those languages and the European Parliament. In any question relating to the interpretation of these Rules only the English and French versions shall have official status.

(1) As stated in the protocol on the role of National Parliaments, it is up to each National Parliament to decide the extent to which the guidelines published as the ‘Copenhagen Parliamentary Guidelines’ in the Official Journal of the European Union C 154 of 2 July 2003 should be implemented.

APPENDICES

Declaration by the European Parliament on Rule 10.5 of the Rules of Procedure

The European Parliament can abstain in any vote on a contribution which is also addressed to it.

31.1.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 27/12

Euro exchange rates (1)

30 January 2008

(2008/C 27/03)

1 euro=

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,4810
JPY	Japanese yen	158,39
DKK	Danish krone	7,4525
GBP	Pound sterling	0,74340
SEK	Swedish krona	9,4399
CHF	Swiss franc	1,6135
ISK	Iceland króna	95,24
NOK	Norwegian krone	8,0450
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CZK	Czech koruna	26,006
EEK	Estonian kroon	15,6466
HUF	Hungarian forint	257,86
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,6977
PLN	Polish zloty	3,6115
RON	Romanian leu	3,7105
SKK	Slovak koruna	33,661
TRY	Turkish lira	1,7445
AUD	Australian dollar	1,6654
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,4724
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	11,5551
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,9013
SGD	Singapore dollar	2,1019
KRW	South Korean won	1 399,55
ZAR	South African rand	10,7628
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	10,6508
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,2344
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	13 754,79
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,7910
PHP	Philippine peso	60,084
RUB	Russian rouble	36,2270
THB	Thai baht	46,689
BRL	Brazilian real	2,6310
MXN	Mexican peso	16,0577

(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

31.1.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 27/13

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL SECURITY FOR MIGRANT WORKERS

(2008/C 27/04)

The annual average costs do not take into account the reduction of 20 % provided for in Articles 94(2) and 95(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 (1).

The net monthly average costs have been reduced by 20 %.

AVERAGE COSTS OF BENEFITS IN KIND — 2005 (2)

I. Application of Article 94 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to the benefits in kind provided in 2005 to members of the family as referred to in Article 19(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (3) will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

Annual

Net monthly

Belgium

EUR 1 345,80

EUR 89,72

Estonia (per capita)

—	Workers' family members under 63

—	Pensioners under 63

—	Pensioners' family members under 63

EEK 3 600,97

EEK 240,06

Greece

EUR 1 113,47

EUR 74,23

Portugal

EUR 968,37

EUR 64,56

Slovak Republic (per capita)

—	Workers' family members under 65

—	Pensioners under 65

—	Pensioners' family members under 65

SKK 9 557,44

SKK 637,16

Sweden

SEK 14 883,31

SEK 992,22

II. Application of Article 95 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 2005 under Articles 28 and 28a of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs (only per capita from 2002):

Annual

Net monthly

Belgium

EUR 4 418,62

EUR 294,57

Estonia (per capita)

—	Workers' family members aged 63 and over

—	Pensioners aged 63 and over

—	Pensioners' family members aged 63 and over

EEK 8 740,21

EEK 582,68

Greece

EUR 2 259,85

EUR 150,66

Portugal

EUR 1 748,76

EUR 116,58

Slovak Republic (per capita)

—	Workers' family members aged 65 and over

—	Pensioners aged 65 and over

—	Pensioners' family members aged 65 and over

SKK 29 456,20

SKK 1 963,75

Sweden

SEK 40 616,29

SEK 2 707,75

AVERAGE COSTS OF BENEFITS IN KIND — 2006

I. Application of Article 94 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to the benefits in kind provided in 2006 to members of the family as referred to in Article 19(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

Annual

Net monthly

Czech Republic (per capita)

—	Workers' family members under 65

—	Pensioners under 65

—	Pensioners' family members under 65

CZK 12 345,67

CZK 823,04

Estonia (per capita)

—	Workers' family members under 63

—	Pensioners under 63

—	Pensioners' family members under 63

EEK 4 030,80

EEK 268,72

Spain

EUR 1 100,92

EUR 73,39

Latvia

LVL 225,89

LVL 15,06

Austria

EUR 1 706,33

EUR 113,76

Slovenia (per capita — per family member of a worker)

SIT 135 000,07

EUR (563,35)

SIT 9 000,00

EUR (37,56)

Liechtenstein

CHF 3 938,15

CHF 262,54

Switzerland

CHF 2 485,62

CHF 165,71

II. Application of Article 95 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 2006 under Articles 28 and 28a of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs (only per capita from 2002):

Annual

Net monthly

Czech Republic (per capita)

—	Workers' family members aged 65 and over

—	Pensioners aged 65 and over

—	Pensioners' family members aged 65 and over

CZK 37 757,45

CZK 2 517,16

Estonia (per capita)

—	Workers' family members aged 63 and over

—	Pensioners aged 63 and over

—	Pensioners' family members aged 63 and over

EEK 9 998,22

EEK 666,55

Spain

EUR 3 081,00

EUR 205,40

Latvia

LVL 267,57

LVL 17,84

Austria

EUR 4 214,30

EUR 280,95

Slovenia

SIT 366 516,10

(EUR 1 529,44)

SIT 24 434,41

(EUR 101,96)

Liechtenstein

CHF 8 474,61

CHF 564,97

Switzerland

CHF 6 577,30

CHF 438,49

(1) OJ L 74, 27.3.1972, p. 1.

(2) Average costs 2005:

Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and Czech Republic (OJ C 55, 10.3.2007)

Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands (OJ C 171, 24.7.2007).

(3) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2.

31.1.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 27/17

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to national regional investment aid

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 27/06)

Aid No

XR 10/07

Member State

Denmark

Region

Bornholms regionskommune

Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement

Bornholms Erhvervsfond

Legal basis

Aktstykke 155 fra Handelsministeriet af 17.12.1971

Aktstykke 365 fra Industriministeriet af 15.6.1993

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Annual budget

EUR 0,30 million

Maximum aid intensity

15 %

In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

1.1.2007

Duration

31.12.2013

Economic sectors

All sectors eligible for regional investment aid

Name and address of the granting authority

Bornholms Erhvervsfond

Ullasvej 15

DK-3700 Rønne

Tlf. (45) 56 95 73 00

E-mail: cg@bornholm.biz

Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme

http://www.erhvervsfonden.dk

Other information

—

Aid No

XR 27/07

Member State

Denmark

Region

Læsø kommune, Ærø kommune, Langeland kommune, Lolland kommune, Samsø kommune, Bornholms regionskommune; Aarø, Agersø, Anholt, Askø, Avernakø, Baagø, Barsø, Birkholm, Bjørnø, Drejø, Egholm, Endelave, Fejø, Femø, Fur, Hjarnø, Hjortø, Lyø, Mandø, Nekselø, Omø, Orø, Sejerø, Skarø, Strynø, Tunø, Venø

Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement

Innovation og Viden — dansk regionalfondsprogram under målet om regional konkurrenceevne og beskæftigelse

Flere og bedre job — dansk socialfondsprogram under målet om regional konkurrenceevne og beskæftigelse

Legal basis

Lov nr. 1599 af 20.12.2006 om administration af tilskud fra Den Europæiske Regionalfond og Den Europæiske Socialfond

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Annual budget

EUR 2 million

Maximum aid intensity

15 %

In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

1.1.2007

Duration

31.12.2013

Economic sectors

All sectors eligible for regional investment aid

Name and address of the granting authority

Erhvervs- og Byggestyrelsen

Langelinie Allé 17

DK-2100 København Ø

Tlf. (45) 35 46 60 00

E-mail: ebst@ebst.dk

Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme

http://www.ebst.dk/file/5467/Regionalfondsprogram

http://www.ebst.dk/file/5469/Socialfondsprogram

Other information

—

Aid No

XR 54/07

Member State

Finland

Region

87(3)(c)

Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement

Investointituki

Legal basis

Laki yritystoiminnan tukemisesta 1068/2000, valtioneuvoston asetus yritystoiminnan tukemisesta 1200/2000

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Annual budget

EUR 20 million

Overall budget

Paid over: 1 year

Maximum aid intensity

15 %

In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

13.2.2007

Duration

31.8.2007

Economic sectors

All sectors eligible for regional investment aid

Name and address of the granting authority

Kauppa- ja teollisuusministeriö

PL 32

FI-00023 Valtioneuvosto

Sähköposti: kirjaamo@ktm.fi

Puhelin (vaihde): (358-9) 160 01

Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme

Laki yritystoiminnan tukemisesta 1068/2000

(http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2000/20001068),

valtioneuvoston asetus yritystoiminnan tukemisesta 1200/2000

(http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2000/20001200)

Other information

—

Aid No

XR 120/07

Member State

Finland

Region

87(3)(c)

Title of aid scheme or the name of the undertaking receiving ad hoc aid supplement

Yrityksen kehittämisavustus

Legal basis

Laki valtionavustuksesta yritystoiminnan kehittämiseksi (1336/2006), valtioneuvoston asetus valtionavustuksesta yritystoiminnan kehittämiseksi (675/2007)

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Annual budget

EUR 70 million

Maximum aid intensity

15 %

In conformity with Article 4 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

18.6.2007

Duration

31.12.2013

Economic sectors

All sectors eligible for regional investment aid

Name and address of the granting authority

Kauppa- ja teollisuusministeriö

PL 32

FI-00023 Valtioneuvosto

Sähköposti: kirjaamo@ktm.fi

Puhelin (vaihde): (358-9) 160 01

Internet address of the publication of the aid scheme

Laki valtionavustuksesta yritystoiminnan kehittämiseksi (1336/2006)

(http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2006/20061336)

Asetus valtionavustuksesta yritystoiminnan kehittämiseksi (675/2007)

(http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2007/20070675)

Other information

—

31.1.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 27/20

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 27/07)

Aid No

XS 287/07

Member State

Italy

Region

Regione Piemonte — Provincia di Novara

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Interventi per l'innovazione e l'ammodernamento delle piccole e medie imprese: PMI operanti in tutti i settori (fatti salvi i regolamenti o le direttive comunitarie specifici adottati a norma del trattato CE e relativi alla concessione di aiuti di Stato in determinati settori)

Legal basis

Delibera della Giunta Camerale CCIAA Novara n. 64 del 17.9.2007 ai sensi del regolamento (CE) n. 70/2001

Budget

EUR 400 000

Maximum aid intensity

Investments: 15 % of eligible expenditure up to a maximum of EUR 10 000 for microenterprises and small businesses, 7,5 % of eligible expenditure up to a maximum of EUR 10 000 for medium-sized enterprises.

Consultancy services: 50 % of eligible expenditure up to a maximum of EUR 5 000.

First participation in fairs: 50 % of eligible expenditure up to a maximum of EUR 3 000

Date of implementation

Applications to be submitted from 3 December 2007 to 31 December 2007

Applications to be examined for approval within 90 days of 31 December 2007

Duration

Accounts of expenditure to be produced within 10 days of 31 October 2008

Clearance by the end of 2008

Objective

To support action to modernise enterprises and to develop product and process innovation and environmentally sustainable development (General introduction and Article 2 of the Bando di contributo)

Economic sectors

All eligible sectors (all eligible sub-codes)

Name and address of the granting authority

Camera di Commercio di Novara

Via Avogadro, 4

I-28100 Novara

Website

www.no.camcom.it/contributi — Bando 0701 sez A

Other information

Referente CCIAA Novara

Petrera Michela — Responsabile del procedimento

Tel (39) 03 21 33 82 57

Fax. (39) 03 21 33 83 33

e-mail servizi.imprese@no.camcom.it

Aid No

XS 291/07

Member State

Germany

Region

Schleswig-Holstein

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Richtlinie für die Gewährung von Zuwendungen zur Förderung von Forschung, Entwicklung und Technologietransfer

Legal basis

Verwaltungsvorschriften zu § 44 Landeshaushaltsordnung Schleswig-Holstein (LHO)

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company

EUR 14,5 million, of which, EUR 9,5 million from ERDF and EUR 5 million from Land resources

Maximum aid intensity

Up to 90 % for universities and research/technology-transfer institutions

Up to 50 % for industrial research carried out by enterprises

Date of implementation

16 October 2006

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

31 December 2007

Objective of aid

The measure serves to assist the development and support of research, regional technology development and technology transfer, in order to:

—	convert research and development results into marketable products and accelerate procedures and services, thereby improving enterprises' ability to innovate and compete, and

—	encourage research institutions to align research work more closely to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, thereby making it more appealing for them to introduce new technologies or for new enterprises offering innovative technologies to locate in Germany

Economic sectors concerned

All sectors

Name and address of the granting authority

Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und Verkehr des Landes Schleswig-Holstein

Düsternbrooker Weg 94

D-24105 Kiel

Dr. Bernd Roß — VII 30

Kirstin Folger-Lüdersen — VII 308

Other information

Liquidation after grant by:

WTSH Wirtschaftsförderung und Technologietransfer Schleswig-Holstein GmbH

Lorentzendamm 24

D-24103 Kiel

Aid No

XS 293/07

Member State

Greece

Region

Αττικής (Δήμος Περάματος) (Attikis (Dimos Peramatos))

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

«Ενίσχυση της ανταγωνιστικότητας και της καινοτομίας των μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων του Περάματος, στους τομείς της μεταποίησης, του τουρισμού και των υπηρεσιών, στα πλαισια της κοινοτικής πρωτοβουλίιας URBAN II» («enishysi tis antagonistikotitas kai tis kainotomias ton mikromesaion epiheiriseon toy Peramatos, stoys tomeis tis metapoiisis, toy toyrismoy kai ton ypiresion, sta plaisia tis koinotikis protoboylias URBAN II»)

Legal basis

—	Άρθρο 35 του Ν.3016/2002 (ΦΕΚ 110 Α'/17-05-2002)

—	ΥΑ 30734/ΕΥΣ5781/25.07.2006 (ΦΕΚ1103/B'/11.08.2006)

—	ΚΥΑ 14871/EYΣ3047/20.4.2005 (ΦΕΚ575/ΤΒ/28.04.2005)

—	ΥΑ 39059/ΕΥΣ9047/14.10.2005 (ΦΕΚ1539/Β/8.11.2005)

—	ΚΥΑ18918/ΕΥΣ2503/30.04.2007 (ΦΕΚ704/Β/04.05.2007)

—	Arthro 35 toy N.3016/2002 (FEK 110 A'/17-05-2002)

—	YA 30734/EYS5781/25.07.2006 (FEK1103/B'/11.08.2006)

—	KYA 14871/EYS3047/20.4.2005 (FEK575/TB/28.04.2005)

—	YA 39059/EYS9047/14.10.2005 (FEK1539/B/8.11.2005)

—	KYA18918/EYS2503/30.04.2007 (FEK704/B/04.05.2007)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company

Aid scheme

Annual overall amount

EUR 1,6 million

Loans guaranteed

Individual aid

Overall aid amount

Loans guaranteed

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2) to (6) and Article 5 of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation

1.11.2007

(Expected starting date of signing contracts for granting the aid)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Until 31.12.2008

Objective of aid

Aid to SMEs

Yes

Economic sectors concerned

Limited to specific sectors

Yes

Aid will be granted to enterprises operating in sectors auxiliary to the ship repair sector (e.g. manufacture of instruments and appliances for measuring, checking, navigating and other purposes).

Excluded:

The shipbuilding and ship repair sector (Code 351 of the 2003 classification of sectors of economic activity (STAKOD) under the Framework on State aid to shipbuilding (OJ C 317, 30.12.2003))

Name and address of the granting authority

Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος/

Χωροταξίας και Δημοσίων Έργων

(Ypoyrgeio Periballontos

Horotaksias kai Dimosion Ergon)

Ειδική Υπηρεσία Διαχείρισης Ε.Π Κ.Π URBAN II

Μιχαλακοπούλου 87, GR-11528 Αθήνα

Τηλ. (30) 21 07 47 44 00

(Eidiki Ypiresia Diaheirisis E.P K.P URBAN II

Mihalakopoyloy 87, GR-11528 Athina

Til. (30) 21 07 47 44 00)

E-mail kmanola@mou.gr

Large individual aid grants

In conformity with Article 6 of the Regulation

Yes

Aid No

XS 299/07

Member State

Republic of Bulgaria

Region

Цялата територия на Република България, регион по чл. 87, ал. 3, б) „a“ от ДЕО (Tsyalata teritoriya na Republika Balgariya, region po chl. 87, al. 3, b) „a“ ot DEO)

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

2007BG161PO003/2.1.1-01/2007 „Технологична модернизация на предприятията“ (2007BG161PO003/2.1.1-01/2007 „Tehnologichna modernizatsiya na predpriyatiyata“)

Legal basis

Решение на МС № 965/16.12.2005, Оперативна програма „Развитие на конкурентоспособността на българската икономика“ 2007-2013 г., чл. 4 от Постановление 121 на МС от 31.5.2007 г. за определяне на реда за предоставяне на безвъзмездна финансова помощ по оперативните програми, съфинансирани от Структурните фондове и Кохезионния фонд на Европейския съюз, и по Програма ФАР на Европейския съюз, и Заповед № РД-16-944/16.10.2007 на министъра на икономиката и енергетиката (Reshenie na MS № 965/16.12.2005, Operativna programa „Razvitie na konkurentosposobnostta na balgarskata ikonomika“ 2007-2013 g., chl. 4 ot Postanovlenie 121 na MS ot 31.5.2007 g. za opredelyane na reda za predostavyane na bezvazmezdna finansova pomosht po operativnite programi, safinansirani ot Strukturnite fondove i Kohezionniya fond na Evropeyskiya sayuz, i po Programa FAR na Evropeyskiya sayuz, i Zapoved № RD-16-944/16.10.2007 na ministara na ikonomikata i energetikata)

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company

Aid scheme

Annual overall amount

EUR 25 000 000

Loans guaranteed

—

Individual aid

Overall aid amount

—

Loans guaranteed

—

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(6) and Article 5 of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation

17.10.2007

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Until 31.12.2010

Purpose of the aid

Aid to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Yes

Economic sectors concerned

Limited to specific sectors

Yes

Either

Shipbuilding

Yes

Synthetic fibres

Yes

Other manufacturing:

Sector D — ‘Manufacturing industry’, of the National Classification of Economic Activities, including the manufacture and processing of cork products

Yes

Other services:

Sector K — ‘Activities in the field of computer technology’, code 72 of the National Classification of Economic Activities only

Yes

Name and address of the granting authority

Министерство на икономиката и енергетиката

Дирекция „Европейски фондове за конкурентоспособност“

Управляващ орган на Оперативна програма „Развитие на конкурентоспособността на българската икономика“ 2007-2013 г.

(Ministerstvo na ikonomikata i energetikata

Direktsiya „Evropeyski fondove za konkurentosposobnost“

Upravlyavasht organ na Operativna programa „Razvitie na konkurentosposobnostta na balgarskata ikonomika“ 2007-2013 g.)

Ул. „Славянска“ 8, BG-1052 София

Тел. (359-2) 940 75 00; 940 75 01

Факс (359-2) 981 17 19

Ul. „Slavyanska“ 8, BG-1052 Sofia

Tel. (359-2) 940 75 00; 940 75 01

Faks (359-2) 981 17 19

Large individual aid grants

In conformity with Article 6 of the Regulation

No large individual aid grants are planned

Aid No

XS 300/07

Member State

Italy

Region

Sardegna

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

‘Contributi per impianti fotovoltaici’

Legal basis

Art. 24, L.R. 29 maggio 2007, n. 2

Deliberazioni Giunta Regionale n. 25/44 del 3.7.2007 e n. 36/2 del 18.9.2007

DDS n. 457 del 28.9.2007

Budget

EUR 10 000 000

Maximum aid intensity

The aid consists of a capital grant of at most 20 % gge of the eligible cost of the installation of a photovoltaic power system (or the maximum allowed under the Italian regional aid map in force when the aid is granted, if the amount is less than 20 %).

The aid is conditional on the investment remaining in the region for at least five years and on the recipient firm's own contribution being at least 25 %.

The grant is compatible with the measures to encourage the generation of electricity using photovoltaic power systems as set out in the Ministerial Decree of 28 July 2005, as amended by the Ministerial Decrees of 6 February 2006 and 19 February 2007 (the ‘energy account’).

This grant may not be combined with any other grant from the Region, the State or the Community

Date of implementation

Applications may be submitted from 9 October until 20 November 2007.

Aid will not be granted before 120 days from the closure of the invitation to tender

Duration

30 June 2008

Objective

As one of the actions to promote industry, the measure is intended to encourage the use of renewable energy by SMEs in Sardinia

Economic sectors

SMEs active in all production sectors are eligible apart from those involved in the generation and distribution of electricity. In addition, the following companies may not receive the aid and are therefore excluded from the invitation to tender (Article 2):

—	companies operating in sectors governed by specific Community Regulations or Directives that were adopted in accordance with the EC Treaty State aid provisions and are more or less restrictive than this Regulation,

—	fishery and aquaculture products covered by Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 and activities relating to the primary production of agriculture produce, the production or sale of products imitating or replacing milk or cheese products,

—	aid to activities relating to exports, i.e. aid directly related to quantities exported, the creation and management of a distribution network or other expenditure relating to export activities,

—	aid which is conditional on the use of indigenous products rather than imported goods,

—	aid covered by Council Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 on State aid to the coal industry,

—	companies in difficulty, as defined in the Community guidelines for rescue and restructuring of companies in difficulty published in OJ C 244 of 1 October 2004.

The applicant company must also meet the following eligibility criteria:

—	the conditions it applies to its own employees must at least be as good as those resulting from national industry-wide collective agreements,

—	it is not the subject of any ongoing enforcement procedures or seizures,

—	it is not the subject of any winding-up proceedings

Comments

If, when the list of aid applications is approved, the Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013 have not yet been published in the OJ, the deadlines for granting the aid will be suspended unless the applicant opts for de minimis aid under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1998/2006 of 15 December 2006

Name and address of the granting authority

Regione Autonoma della Sardegna Assesorato dell'Industria

Servizio Energia Viale Trento n. 69

I-09123 Cagliari

Other information

While EUR 10 000 000 has been earmarked for SMEs, the invitation to tender is also open to the following private persons, for whom the sum of EUR 5 000 000 has been allocated:

—	natural persons,

—	multi-occupied residential accommodation and/or buildings,

—	legal persons other than companies

31.1.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 27/26

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 27/08)

Aid No

XS 308/07

Member State

Italy

Region

Sicilia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Misura 311 — Diversificazione in attività non agricole

Legal basis

PSR Sicilia 2007/2013 — articoli 52 e 53 del regolamento (CE) n. 1698/2005

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company

Aid scheme

Planned average annual amount

EUR 10,8 million

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(6) of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation

1.1.2008

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Until 31 December 2013, unless the new exemption Regulation to replace Regulation (EC) No 70/2001, which expires on 30 June 2008, necessitates revision of the scheme to make it comply with the new rules

Objective

Aid to SMEs

Yes

Economic sectors concerned

Aid limited to certain sectors

Yes

Agri-tourism and other forms of diversification to non-agricultural activities

Name and address of the granting authority

Regione Siciliana — Assessorato Agricoltura e foreste — Dipartimento Interventi strutturali

Viale Regione Siciliana (angolo via Leonardo da Vinci)

I-90145 Palermo

Aid No

XS 309/07

Member State

Italy

Region

Sicilia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Misura 313 — Incentivazione delle attività turistiche

Legal basis

PSR Sicilia 2007/2013 — articoli 52 e 55 del regolamento (CE) n. 1698/2005

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company

Aid scheme

Planned average annual amount

EUR 2 million

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Articles 4(2)-(6) and 5 of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation

1.1.2008

Duration of scheme or individual aid award

Objective

Aid to SMEs

Yes

Economic sectors concerned

Aid limited to certain sectors

Yes

Rural tourism

Name and address of the granting authority

Regione Siciliana — Assessorato Agricoltura e foreste — Dipartimento Interventi infrastrutturali

Viale Regione Siciliana (angolo via Leonardo da Vinci)

I-90145 Palermo

Aid No	XS 313/07
Member State	Germany
Region	Berlin, soweit nicht Fördergebiet nach Artikel 87 Absatz 3 Buchst c des EG-Vertrags (sog. D-Fördergebiet); die straßengenaue Abgrenzung vgl. http://www.businesslocationcenter.de/de/C/i/3/seite0.jsp?nav1=open&nav2=open
Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid	Investitionszulagengesetz 2007
Legal basis	§ 5a Investitionszulagengesetz 2007 in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung vom 23. Februar 2007 (BGBl. I S. 282 http://www.bgblportal.de/BGBL/bgbl1f/bgbl107s0282.pdf) zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 8a des Gesetzes zur weiteren Stärkung des bürgerschaftlichen Engagements vom 10. Oktober 2007 (BGBl. I S. 2332 http://www.bgblportal.de/BGBL/bgbl1f/bgbl107s2332.pdf)
Type of measure	Aid scheme
Budget	Annual budget: EUR 580 million Overall budget: —
Maximum aid intensity	In conformity with Articles 4(2)-(6) and 5 of the Regulation
Date of implementation	16.10.2007
Duration	31.12.2008
Objective	Small and medium-sized enterprises
Economic sectors	All manufacturing, Other services
Name and address of the granting authority	Every tax office (Finanzamt) in Germany

Aid No

XS 314/07

Member State

Spain

Region

Galicia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Ayudas a la implantación de servicios de asesoramiento y gestión a las explotaciones agrarias, y de asesoramiento en el sector forestal

Legal basi

Art. 25 del Reglamento (CE) no 1698/2005 del Consejo, de 20 de septiembre de 2005, relativo a la ayuda al desarrollo rural a través del Fondo Europeo Agrícola de Desarrollo Rural (FEADER), así como el art. 16 del Reglamento (CE) no 1974/2006, de la Comisión, que establece disposiciones de aplicación del anterior

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company

Aid scheme

Overall annual amount

EUR 2 million

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(6) and 5 of the Regulation

Yes

Galicia is one of the regions coming under Article 87(3)(a) of the EC Treaty and is included in the regional aid map with a basic aid intensity limit of 30 %, to be increased by 15 % for SMEs, making a possible maximum of 45 %

Date of implementation

1.1.2008

Duration

Until 31 December 2013, subject to the entry into force of the new Exemption Regulation replacing Regulation (EC) No 70/2001, which expires in June 2008; where appropriate, the scheme will be revised or amended to bring it into line with the new rules

Objective

Aid to SMEs

Yes

Economic sectors

Provision of advisory and management services to the agricultural sector and of advisory services to the forestry sector

Name and address of the granting authority

Director General de Producción, Industrias y Calidad Agroalimentaria de la Consellería del Medio Rural de la Xunta de Galicia

Tel. (34) 981 54 47 76

Edificio San Caetano, s/n

E-15773 Santiago de Compostela

http://mediorural.xunta.es

Tel. (34) 981 54 73 54

Fax (34) 981 54 73 81

Large individual aid grants

Other information

Rural development measure 115 on aid for the setting up of advisory, management and relief services, comes under axis 1 ‘Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector’ of the Galicia Rural Development Programme for 2007-2013 financed by the EAFRD.

For information on the Galicia Rural Development Programme for 2007-2013 and the content and scope of measure 115 see:

http://mediorural.xunta.es/desenvolvemento/pdr/arquivos/pdr_galiza.pdf

Aid No

XS 316/07

Member State

Spain

Region

Cataluña

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid

Incentivos para desarrollar nuevas oportunidades de negocio para empresas fuertemente expuestas a la competencia internacional

Legal basis

IUE/1255/2007, de 23 de abril, por la que se aprueban las bases reguladoras de incentivos para desarrollar nuevas oportunidades de negocio para empresas fuertemente expuestas a la competencia internacional y se abre la convocatoria para el año 2007 (DOGC núm. 4876 de 4.5.2007)

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Budget

Annual budget: EUR 2 million

Overall budget: —

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Articles 4(2)-(6) and 5 of the Regulation

Date of implementation

5.5.2007

Duration

31.12.2007

Objective

Small and medium-sized enterprises

Economic sectors

All sectors eligible for aid to SMEs

Name and address of the granting authority

Centro de Innovación y Desarrollo Empresarial (CIDEM)

Paseo de Grácia, 129

E-08008 Barcelona

		ISSN 1725-2423
Official Journal of the European Union		C 27

English edition	Information and Notices	Volume 51 31 January 2008

Notice No	Contents	page
	I Resolutions, recommendations and opinions
	OPINIONS
	European Central Bank
2008/C 027/01	Opinion of the European Central Bank of 17 December 2007 at the request of the Council of the European Union on a proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (CON/2007/42)	1

	II Information
	INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
	European Parliament
2008/C 027/02	Rules of Procedure of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union	6

	IV Notices
	NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
	Commission
2008/C 027/03	Euro exchange rates	12

2008/C 027/04	Administrative Commission on Social Security for migrant workers	13

2008/C 027/05	Communication from the Commission concerning the incorporation into Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 (Single CMO Regulation) of recent policy reforms in the milk and milk products and the sugar sectors	16

	NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES
2008/C 027/06	Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to national regional investment aid ( 1 )	17

2008/C 027/07	Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises ( 1 )	20

2008/C 027/08	Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises ( 1 )	26

	NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA
	EFTA Surveillance Authority
2008/C 027/09	Communication from the EFTA Surveillance Authority under Article 7 of the Act referred to at point 18 of Annex VII to the EEA Agreement (Council Directive 85/384/EEC of 10 June 1985 on the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications in architecture, including measures to facilitate the effective exercise of the right of establishment and freedom to provide services)	30

	V Announcements
	PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPETITION POLICY
	Commission
2008/C 027/10	Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.4972 — Permira/Arysta) ( 1 )	31

	Corrigenda
2008/C 027/11	Corrigendum to the information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1 d of Annex XV of the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to training aid) (OJ C 38, 22.2.2007 and EEA Supplement No 8 of 22 February 2007)	32

Country	Evidence of formal qualification	Body awarding the evidence of qualification	Certificate accompanying the evidence of qualification	Reference academic year
Liechtenstein	Master of Science in Architecture (MScArch)	Hochschule Liechtenstein	—	2002/2003