24.1.2012

Official Journal of the European Union

C 19/1

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 19/01

Date of adoption of the decision

23.11.2011

Reference number of State Aid

N 552/10

Member State

Denmark

Region

—

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Forlængelse af miljøstøtteordning for godstransport på jernbane

Legal basis

Lov om jernbanevirksomhed m.v.; bekendtgørelse om baneafgigter of miljøtilskud til godstransport på jernbane.

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Sectoral development

Form of aid

Direct grant

Budget

Annual budget: DKK 22,9 million

Intensity

33 %

Duration (period)

2011-2013

Economic sectors

Railways

Name and address of the granting authority

Banedanmark

Amerika Plads 15

2100 København Ø

DANMARK

Other information

—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/state_aids_texts_en.htm

Date of adoption of the decision

10.11.2011

Reference number of State Aid

SA.30851 (11/N), SA.33438 (11/N), SA.33439 (11/N), SA.33440 (11/N), SA.33441 (11/N)

Member State

Poland

Region

—

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Sieć szerokopasmowa Polski Wschodniej

Legal basis

Ustawa o wspieraniu rozwoju sieci i usług telekomunikacyjnych (z dnia 7 maja 2010 r.), rozporządzenie Ministra Rozwoju Regionalnego w sprawie udzielania przez Polską Agencję Rozwoju Przedsiębiorczości pomocy finansowej w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Innowacyjna Gospodarka, 2007–2013, uchwała Rady Ministrów z dnia 25 lipca 2006 r. w sprawie przyjęcia Programu Operacyjnego Rozwój Polski Wschodniej

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Sectoral development, Regional development

Form of aid

Ad hoc contracts

Budget

Overall budget: PLN 1 444 million

Intensity

—

Duration (period)

Until 31.12.2020

Economic sectors

Post and telecommunications

Name and address of the granting authority

Ministerstwo Rozwoju Regionalnego

ul. Wspólna 2/4

00-926 Warszawa

POLSKA/POLAND

Other information

—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/state_aids_texts_en.htm

Date of adoption of the decision

9.12.2011

Reference number of State Aid

SA.33767 (11/N)

Member State

Italy

Region

Campania

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Aiuto al salvataggio di FIREMA Trasporti SpA

Legal basis

Nuova disciplina dell'amministrazione straordinaria delle grandi imprese in stato di insolvenza, a norma dell'articolo 1 della legge 30 luglio 1998 n. 274. D.lgs. 8 luglio 1999 n. 270; decreto legge 23 dicembre 2003 n. 347, conertito nella legge 18 febbraio 2004 n. 39 e ss.mm.; decreto del Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze 23 dicembre 2004, n. 319, regolamento recante le condizioni e le modalità di prestazione della garanzia statale sui finanziamenti a favore delle grandi imprese in stato di insolvenza, ai sensi dell'articolo 101 del D.lvo 270/1999

Type of measure

Individual aid

Objective

Rescue of firms in difficulty

Form of aid

Guarantee

Budget

Annual budget: EUR 29 million

Overall budget: EUR 29 million

Intensity

100 %

Duration (period)

1.12.2011-30.4.2012

Economic sectors

Transport, Manufacturing industry

Name and address of the granting authority

Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico

Via Molise 2

00196 Roma RM

ITALIA

Other information

—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/state_aids_texts_en.htm

Date of adoption of the decision

2.12.2011

Reference number of State Aid

SA.33859 (11/N)

Member State

Germany

Region

—

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Breitbandversorgung ländlicher Räume in Deutschland — Änderung der Rahmenregelung N 368/09

Legal basis

Gesetz über die Gemeinschaftsaufgabe „Verbesserung der Agrarstruktur und des Küstenschutzes“ (GAK) und GAK-Rahmenplan 2010 bis 2013 Grundsätze für die Förderung der integrierten ländlichen Entwicklung, Teil B: Breitbandversorgung ländlicher Räume

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Regional development

Form of aid

Direct grant

Budget

Annual budget: EUR 30 million

Overall budget: EUR 90 million

Intensity

—

Duration (period)

Until 31.12.2013

Economic sectors

Post and telecommunications

Name and address of the granting authority

Fachministerien der Länder

Other information

—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/state_aids_texts_en.htm

24.1.2012

Official Journal of the European Union

C 19/5

Notice for the attention of the persons and entities to which restrictive measures provided for in Council Decision 2011/782/CFSP, as implemented by Council Implementing Decision 2012/37/CFSP, and in Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012, as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 55/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Syria apply

2012/C 19/02

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

The following information is brought to the attention of the persons and entities that appear in Annex I to Council Decision 2011/782/CFSP, as implemented by Council Implementing Decision 2012/37/CFSP (1), and in Annex II to Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 (2), as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 55/2012 (3) concerning restrictive measures against Syria.

The Council of the European Union has decided that the persons and entities that appear in the above-mentioned Annexes should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures provided for in Council Decision 2011/782/CFSP and in Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Syria. The grounds for designations of those persons and entities appear in the relevant entries in those Annexes.

The attention of the persons and entities concerned is drawn to the possibility of making an application to the competent authorities of the relevant Member State(s) as indicated in the web-sites in Annex III to Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012, in order to obtain an authorisation to use frozen funds for basic needs or specific payments (cf. Article 16 of the Regulation).

The persons and entities concerned may submit a request to the Council, together with supporting documentation, that the decision to include them on the above-mentioned list should be reconsidered, to the following address:

Council of the European Union

General Secretariat

DG K Coordination

Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175

1048 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

The attention of the persons and entities concerned is also drawn to the possibility of challenging the Council's Decision before the General Court of the European Union, in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 275, second paragraph, and Article 263, fourth and sixth paragraphs, of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.2012, p. 33.

(2) OJ L 16, 19.1.2012, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 19, 24.1.2012, p. 6.

24.1.2012

Official Journal of the European Union

C 19/7

Euro exchange rates (1)

23 January 2012

2012/C 19/04

1 euro =

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,3017
JPY	Japanese yen	100,10
DKK	Danish krone	7,4358
GBP	Pound sterling	0,83625
SEK	Swedish krona	8,7791
CHF	Swiss franc	1,2061
ISK	Iceland króna
NOK	Norwegian krone	7,6645
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CZK	Czech koruna	25,349
HUF	Hungarian forint	301,89
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,6986
PLN	Polish zloty	4,2853
RON	Romanian leu	4,3423
TRY	Turkish lira	2,3690
AUD	Australian dollar	1,2332
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,3129
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	10,1013
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,6008
SGD	Singapore dollar	1,6478
KRW	South Korean won	1 471,31
ZAR	South African rand	10,3027
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	8,2179
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,5703
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	11 644,38
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,0130
PHP	Philippine peso	56,344
RUB	Russian rouble	40,3340
THB	Thai baht	40,860
BRL	Brazilian real	2,2825
MXN	Mexican peso	17,0627
INR	Indian rupee	65,0780

(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

24.1.2012

Official Journal of the European Union

C 19/9

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6441 — Senoble/Agrial/Senagral JV)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 19/06

On 16 January 2012, 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 Senoble and Agrial acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the newly created undertaking Senagral (France) by way of contribution of assets and purchase of shares of a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—	Senoble manufactures and sells fresh dairy products (yoghurt, fresh cheese, cream, dairy desserts),

—	Agrial is an agriculture and food cooperative group operating in the following sectors: input, animal feed, rural distribution, farm equipment and livestock-farming and crop-growing sectors (milk, beef and veal, pigmeat, poultry, cereals, seeds, vegetables and beverages),

—	Senagral will be a joint venture manufacturing and selling branded fresh dairy products in France, Germany and Benelux.

3.	On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

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 (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6441 — Senoble/Agrial/Senagral JV, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

24.1.2012

Official Journal of the European Union

C 19/10

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6481 — H.I.G. Europe Capital Partners/General Atlantic/FNZ Group)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 19/07

On 17 January 2012, 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 H.I.G. Europe Capital Partners, L.P. (‘H.I.G. Europe Capital’, Luxembourg) and General Atlantic LLC (‘General Atlantic’, USA) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Kiwi Holdco Cayco Ltd. (‘Holdco’) and its subsidiaries (collectively the ‘FNZ Group’, UK) by way of purchase of shares.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—	H.I.G. Europe Capital: global private equity investment firm,

—	General Atlantic: equity firm providing capital and strategic support for growth companies,

—	FNZ Group: provider of integrated wealth management platforms.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6481 — H.I.G. Europe Capital Partners/General Atlantic/FNZ Group, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

(2) OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).

24.1.2012

Official Journal of the European Union

C 19/11

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

2012/C 19/08

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months of the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘ΜΑΝΤΑΡIΝΙ ΧIΟΥ’ (MANDARINI CHIOU)

EC No: EL-PGI-0005-0709-27.06.2008

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name:

‘Μανταρίνι Χίου’ (Mandarini Chiou)

2. Member State or third country:

Greece

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1. Type of Product:

Class 1.6 —

Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

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

Mandarini Chiou is a mandarin of the common Chios variety (common Mediterranean variety) of the species Citrus deliciosa tenore and has the following properties:

Physical properties

Shape	:	flattened spherical shape
Weight	:	60-150 g
Size	:	55-70 mm
Peel	:	1,5-3,5 mm, easily separated from the flesh
Number of carpels	:	7-14, easily separated
Number of pips	:	8-24 small, polyembryonic endosperms

Organoleptic characteristics

The fruit is an orangey-yellow colour with tender, tasty, slightly orange flesh with an intense aroma and a fairly rough membrane.

Chemical properties

Juice content	:	33-45 %
Sugar content	:	> 9,0 Brix
Acidity	:	0,7-1,75 %
Sugar/acid (maturity index)	:	5,4-15

Essential oils

These include α-Thujene, α-Pinene, Camphene, β-Pinene, β-Myrcene, ο-Methylanisol, p-Cymene, d-Limonene, γ-Terpinene, Linalol and β-Caryophyllene. The main constituent, with the highest concentration, is d-Limonene, followed by γ-Terpinene. The essential oils are extracted from the whole fruit or exclusively from the peel using mechanical means and the quantity produced depends on a number of factors, such as the degree of ripeness of the fruit, its size and the method used.

3.3. Raw materials (for processed products only):

—

3.4. Feed (for products of animal origin only):

—

3.5. Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area:

Mandarini Chiou must be grown, harvested, sorted and graded on the islands of Chios, Psara and Inousses.

3.6. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.:

—

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling:

Mandarini Chiou processed into confectionery, juices and other products such as essential oils must be labelled in accordance with the ‘Commission Communication — Guidelines on the labelling of foodstuffs using protected designations of origin (PDOs) or protected geographical indications (PGIs) as ingredients’ (OJ C 341, 16.12.2010, pp. 3 and 4).

4. Concise definition of the geographical area:

Protection of the name is requested for the islands of Chios, Psara and Inousses.

5. Link with the geographical area:

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area:

Soil — the geological substratum is made up of alluvial deposits from the disintegration of limestone. Most of the soils are loamy and rich in total active calcium (CaCO3), two favourable factors for the growing of Mandarini Chiou.

Climate — the area’s climate is characterised by:

—	annual Etesian winds (Meltemi winds, which in the Mediterranean area are found only in the Aegean) that help maintain stable temperatures (producing a milder climate and generally protecting the fruit from frost) and disperse any clouds,

—	a high level of sunshine throughout the year (Chios has more hours without cloud than anywhere else in Greece) and particularly during the period of the annual winds, when the hours of sunshine are greatest, and

—	a small temperature range throughout the year and, consequently, short, mild winters and cool summers.

The climate described above together with (a) the maintenance of high surface-water temperatures (> 22 °C), even in autumn, (b) the terrain, which allows greater exposure to the sun, and (c) the properties of the soils, as described in the previous point, have influenced the size and quality of the fruit grown, producing a high sugar content. The high exposure to the sun and the high daytime temperatures promote photosynthesis and the high night-time temperatures aid the rapid breakdown of acids, giving an increased maturity index

Formula

and consequently a sweet taste and an intense aroma.

Human factors — Mandarini Chiou has been grown continually over many decades, with practices being adapted as necessary, and has led to the construction of suitable buildings and the development of practices totally adapted to production. These can be summarised as follows:

—	The special architecture of many of the buildings/homes of the owners of agricultural holdings, which stand inside the orchards and are usually two-storied to permit better monitoring of the crop.

—	The irrigation system, which uses ditches and capstans to draw water of excellent quality from wells. It should be noted that the island’s irrigation system was developed in the 14th century by the Genoese, who also built drainage systems not found anywhere else in the world at that time.

—

The intelligent harvesting methods that were developed. According to many sources, the growers of Chios were alone among the Greeks in knowing the correct method of cutting the fruit from the tree, i.e. using shears and then cutting the stalks close to the fruit, leaving only the stem, so as to avoid long stalks causing any damage to the fruit during their transportation in buckets and crates.

—

The techniques and practices for applying fertiliser that were developed, inter alia, the general use of manure from the cattle, sheep, goats and poultry that the citrus-fruit growers farmed together with their fruit trees. The use of manure, although remaining one of the main methods for nourishing the trees, is tending to disappear as manure is no longer available in sufficient quantities.

—	The techniques and practices adopted to protect the trees against frost, including controlled fires, tichoyiria (enclosure walls) and the high planting density used, with a minimum distance between trees of 2 to 2,5 m (around 100 trees per 1 000 m2).

5.2. Specificity of the product:

Mandarini Chiou is one of the most celebrated traditional agricultural products of Greece and, together with ‘Mastiha Chiou PDO’ (Chios mastic) is the Prefecture’s most important product. It is greatly sought after for its particular flavour and its characteristic intense aroma. The variety of mandarins grown in Chios is unique. It is said to be among the best and most aromatic in the world. Even unripe mandarins are so fragrant that anyone eating them is amazed by the persistence of their aroma. The aroma from orchards planted with Mandarini Chiou is so intense that Chios has become known both in Greece and abroad as ‘fragrant’ Chios. This comes as no surprise to visitors, since it is said that the perfumes arising from the district of Kampos can be smelled even out at sea, from the very first moment visitors begin their journey to the green heart of the island.

The application for Mandarini Chiou to be registered as a PGI product is based on its reputation, which derives from a particular quality. The term ‘Mandarini Chiou’ was established on the fresh-fruit market at the end of the 19th century to identify and request an original, sought-after product with a characteristic intense aroma and a particular flavour, grown on Chios in a way that contributed to the product’s special commercial value.

In order to preserve the fruit’s special properties Mandarini Chiou used to be wrapped in paper after harvesting. This procedure was invented by growers in Chios and was used nowhere else in Greece. The earliest written evidence for wrapping the mandarins in paper in Chios is from the French writer A. Testevuide in the French travel review ‘Le Tour du Monde’ in 1878.

5.3. Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI):

The product’s excellent reputation is the result of a combination of its innate properties and effective human intervention.

In any case, Mandarini Chiou is held in great esteem by consumers, both in Greece and abroad, principally because of its characteristic aroma and its special flavour, factors that in the past were instrumental in the flourishing of the local economy and the development of trade with European countries (Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Poland and Germany). References to the above can be found in the writings of many famous travellers (Galland, Testevuide, Ζοlontas, Τοmbazis, Sgouros and Sotiriadou).

The physical environment has also made an important contribution to the product’s reputation, particularly the area’s soil and climate, while the propagation of the product’s special characteristics has been greatly facilitated by the integration of mandarin growing into the islands' wider economic and commercial environment.

Finally, it should be noted that the reputation of Mandarini Chiou is due, to a great extent, to the special characteristics of the agricultural area in which it is grown — it is not by chance that the island is known as ‘fragrant’ Chios.

Publication reference of the specification:

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

http://www.minagric.gr/greek/data/Allin1_for%20CD01.pdf

(1) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

		ISSN 1977-091X doi:10.3000/1977091X.C_2012.019.eng
Official Journal of the European Union		C 19

English edition	Information and Notices	Volume 55 24 January 2012

Notice No	Contents	page
	II Information
	INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	European Commission
2012/C 019/01	Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU — Cases where the Commission raises no objections ( 1 )	1

	IV Notices
	NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	Council
2012/C 019/02	Notice for the attention of the persons and entities to which restrictive measures provided for in Council Decision 2011/782/CFSP, as implemented by Council Implementing Decision 2012/37/CFSP, and in Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012, as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 55/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Syria apply	5

	Council European Commission
2012/C 019/03	Council and Commission Declaration	6

	European Commission
2012/C 019/04	Euro exchange rates	7

	V Announcements
	PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY
	European Commission
2012/C 019/05	Notice of the expiry of certain anti-dumping measures	8

	PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY
	European Commission
2012/C 019/06	Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.6441 — Senoble/Agrial/Senagral JV) ( 1 )	9

2012/C 019/07	Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.6481 — H.I.G. Europe Capital Partners/General Atlantic/FNZ Group) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )	10

	OTHER ACTS
	European Commission
2012/C 019/08	Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs	11

Product	Country(ies) of origin or exportation	Measures	Reference	Date of expiry (3)
Furfuryl alcohol	People's Republic of China	Anti-dumping duty	Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1202/2009 (OJ L 323, 10.12.2009, p. 48) as last amended by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 195/2010 (OJ L 60, 10.3.2010, p. 1)	10.12.2011