14.6.2013

Official Journal of the European Union

C 168/2

Council conclusions on the social dimension of higher education

2013/C 168/02

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

IN THE CONTEXT OF:

1.	Articles 165 and 166 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

2.	the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy, in particular the headline target of increasing the proportion of 30-34 year olds having completed tertiary or equivalent education to at least 40 %;

the Council conclusions of 12 May 2009 establishing a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (‘ET 2020’) (1), which identified the promotion of equity, social cohesion and active citizenship as one of its four strategic objectives and emphasised that education and training policy should enable all citizens, irrespective of their personal, social or economic circumstances, to acquire, update and develop over a lifetime both job-specific skills and key skills and competences;

the Council conclusions of 11 May 2010 on the social dimension of education and training (2), which stressed the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for access to quality education, as well as equity in treatment and outcomes that are independent of socio-economic background and other factors which may lead to educational disadvantage, and which recognised the economic and social rationale for raising overall education attainment levels and developing high levels of skills and noted that the provision of key skills and competences for all will play a crucial role in improving citizens’ employability, social inclusion and personal fulfilment;

the Council conclusions of 28 November 2011 on the modernisation of higher education (3), which invited the Member States to promote the systematic development of effective strategies to ensure access for under-represented groups and increase efforts to minimise higher education drop-out rates by improving the quality, relevance and attractiveness of courses, in particular through student-centred learning and by providing relevant post-entry support, guidance and counselling;

the Bucharest communiqué from Ministers attending the Bologna Process Ministerial Conference of 26 and 27 April 2012, in which they agreed to adopt national measures to widen overall access to quality higher education and reiterated the objective that the student body entering and graduating from higher education should reflect the diversity of Europe’s populations, along with the specific treatment of the social dimension in higher education in the 2012 Bologna Process implementation report, examining available statistical information on the impact of students’ background on participation in higher education and different policy approaches to widening access;

the Communication of 20 November 2012 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better socio-economic outcomes (4), which in its accompanying staff working document (5) promotes the development and strengthening of partnerships and flexible pathways for lifelong skills development;

the Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (6), whereby Member States agreed to have arrangements in place for the validation of such learning, with a view to ensuring that individuals are given the opportunity to make use of what they have learned outside formal education and training for their careers as well as for the purpose of further learning, including in higher education;

9.	the 2013 Annual Growth Survey, which identifies education as a key driver for growth and competitiveness, alongside innovation and research and development, and underlines the key role of investment in human capital for tackling unemployment and preparing for economic recovery;

10.

the ‘ET 2020’ peer learning activity on policies and practice to reduce drop-out and improve completion rates in higher education, held in Prague in March 2013, which focused on approaches at national, institutional and European level to improve completion rates and adapt institutional realities to a more diverse student body, underpinned by evidence and analysis,

AGREES THAT:

while the challenges facing Europe today cannot be resolved by education and training alone, it is critical both in economic and social terms to equip people with the high-level skills and competences that Europe needs, including by striving to secure more equitable access to, participation in and completion of higher education. There are still too many capable individuals who do not participate in higher education for social, cultural or economic reasons or due to insufficient systems of support and guidance.

europe’s economic recovery and drive for sustainable growth, including through enhanced research and innovation, are increasingly dependent on its capacity to develop the skills of all its citizens, demonstrating the interdependence of social and economic objectives. In parallel with efforts to improve skills through vocational education and training, high-quality higher education and lifelong learning also have a crucial role to play in enhancing employability and increasing competitiveness, while at the same time promoting the personal and professional development of students and graduates, and stimulating social solidarity and civic engagement.

the Bologna Process and subsequent development of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the EU agenda for the modernisation of higher education and the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy all demonstrate that European cooperation and shared policy responses have a valuable contribution to make in confronting common challenges through the exchange of good practice, comparative evidence-based policy analysis and the provision of funding support, as well as through helping to provide sustainable mechanisms to facilitate greater mobility of diverse student groups,

INVITES THE MEMBER STATES, WITH DUE REGARD FOR SUBSIDIARITY AND THE AUTONOMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, TO:

adopt national objectives which are aimed at increasing the access, participation and completion rates of under-represented and disadvantaged groups in higher education, with a view to progressing towards the Bologna Process goal that the student body entering, participating in and completing higher education at all levels should reflect the diversity of Member States’ populations;

encourage cooperation between education providers at all levels, including those providing non-formal and informal learning, and other relevant stakeholders, in order to identify the particular groups that may be under-represented in higher education, as well as to promote greater participation of under-represented groups within the teaching profession itself across all sectors of education;

facilitate the development of proactive strategies and related structures at institutional level, including outreach activities and lifelong learning opportunities, the provision of information on educational and labour market-related opportunities and outcomes, guidance on appropriate course choice, peer mentoring, and counselling and support services;

promote permeability and the development of flexible and transparent progression routes into higher education, in particular from vocational education and training and from non-formal and informal learning, facilitated by transparency tools such as national qualifications frameworks linked to the European Qualifications Framework;

increase opportunities for flexible learning by diversifying the way in which learning content is delivered, for instance by adopting student-centred approaches to teaching and learning, by expanding part-time provision, by developing credit-based traineeships, by modularising programmes and distance learning through the use of ICT and by developing quality-assured open educational resources;

6.	explore how funding mechanisms might provide incentives for institutions to develop and deliver quality-assured, flexible learning opportunities;

7.	examine how the overall structure of institutional funding and student financial supports impacts on the participation of under-represented and disadvantaged groups in higher education and consider how financial supports can be best targeted to improve access, participation and completion rates;

work together with higher education institutions and other relevant stakeholders to increase higher education completion rates by improving the quality of the teaching and learning process, in particular through more flexible delivery and the provision of relevant post-entry supports, and by improving the attractiveness of courses and labour market relevance;

9.	examine and seek to reduce any regional and geographical disparities within Member States in terms of access to, participation in, and completion of higher education;

10.

engage in the systematic collection of relevant comparable data — while making optimum use of existing resources — in order to enhance the evidence base for policy development and to enable the effective monitoring of national objectives on access, participation and completion rates among under-represented and disadvantaged groups in higher education,

WELCOMES THE COMMISSION'S INTENTION TO:

strengthen the evidence base for ‘Europe 2020’ in support of Member States' action to increase access, participation and completion rates in higher education by:

(a)

embarking on a mapping study of policies on access and drop-out and completion rates in higher education with a view to analysing the effectiveness of different national and institutional approaches and how structural, institutional, personal, socio-cultural and socio-economic factors influence drop-out and completion;

(b)	pursuing joint work with Eurostat on a feasibility study to improve the methodology for collecting administrative data on the duration of studies and completion rates in higher education;

(c)	developing a study on the influence of different models of funding, or cost-sharing, on the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of higher education in line with commitments in the 2011 agenda for the modernisation of higher education (7),

AND INVITES THE MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION TO:

pursue work on the social dimension of higher education, for instance by developing peer learning and evidence-based policy analysis on this topic through engagement in the open method of coordination, as well as through working within the Bologna Process and with appropriate bodies and existing initiatives;

use the results and the outcomes of the studies and other work being carried out by the Commission and other relevant sources as a basis for further debate and policy consideration in examining issues of access, participation, completion and the impact of different funding models in relation to higher education;

3.	strengthen synergies between the EU and the Bologna Process in realising the social dimension of higher education by optimising funding support under the post-2013 Union programme in the field of education, training, youth and sport;

4.	utilise the financial support under the youth employment initiative for the provision of targeted opportunities in higher education for disadvantaged or unemployed young people under the age of 25, in order to enable them to acquire employment-specific skills.

(1) OJ C 119, 28.5.2009, p. 2.

(2) OJ C 135, 26.5.2010, p. 2.

(3) OJ C 372, 20.12.2011, p. 36.

(4) 14871/12.

(5) 14871/12 ADD 6.

(6) OJ C 398, 22.12.2012, p. 1.

(7) See footnote 3.

14.6.2013

Official Journal of the European Union

C 168/5

Council conclusions on the contribution of quality youth work to the development, well-being and social inclusion of young people

2013/C 168/03

THE COUNCIL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

RECALLING THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND TO THIS ISSUE, IN PARTICULAR:

European cooperation in the youth field (1) which identifies well-being and social inclusion as two of its eight fields of action and emphasises the support and development of youth work as a cross-sectoral response in meeting the overall objectives of the framework; and which recommends an increasing focus on social inclusion, health and well-being of young people;

2.	the Communication from the Commission ‘Europe 2020’ as endorsed by the European Council which recognises the role of youth work as a provider of non-formal learning opportunities to all young people;

3.	Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (2);

4.	the Joint Conclusions of the EU Youth Conference organised by the Irish Presidency, 11-13 March 2013 (3);

BUILDING UPON:

the Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 19 November 2010, on youth work which calls for better understanding of and an enhanced role, specifically in relation to the promotion, support and development of youth work on a range of levels,

ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:

Young people actively contribute to the social infrastructure and to the vibrancy of communities, both geographical and communities of interest. Young people comprise a diverse and dynamic population with different realities, needs, demands and aspirations. Demography, biography, diversity, transitions and opportunities are issues which impact directly on, and occasionally define, young people. Therefore, youth policy should be reflective of and responsive to such issues, be both enabling and empowering and promote equal opportunities for all young people.

‘Youth work’ is a broad term covering a broad scope of activities of a social, cultural, educational or political nature by, with and for young people. Increasingly, such activities also include sport and services for young people. Youth work belongs to the area of ‘out-of-school’ education, as well as specific leisure time activities managed by professional or voluntary youth workers and youth leaders. Youth work is organised in different ways (by youth-led organisations, organisations for youth, informal groups or through youth services and public authorities). It is delivered in different forms and settings (e.g. open-access, group-based, programme-based, outreach and detached) and is given shape at local, regional, national and European level.

Youth work focuses on the personal and social development of young people and has an extended reach which accesses and engages young people based on their needs and interests and takes account of their environment. Such coverage and reach complements other policy responses for young people and therefore youth work can offer young people points of contact, association and progression.

9.	Social inclusion requires a comprehensive and cross-sectoral approach to address the multi-faceted nature of marginalisation and exclusion in society.

10.	Youth work plays an important role in preventing social exclusion and enhancing social inclusion. Youth work offers developmental spaces and opportunities for all young people and ‘is based on non-formal and informal learning process (4) and on voluntary participation’ (5).

11.

Effective youth work and youth initiatives seek to empower young people and encourage their active participation in society. It equips them with skills, competences and experiences for life, thereby maximising the protective factors which enhance the development, well-being, autonomy and social inclusion of all young people, including those with fewer opportunities.

12.

Quality youth work is a commitment to continually ensuring and enhancing optimum youth work provision and practice for young people. It’s about youth organisations, youth services and youth workers working with relevant stakeholders to plan and deliver activities and programmes that are relevant and responsive to young people's interests, needs and experiences, and which are evidence-informed and outcomes-focused. The result of quality youth work should be that young people derive maximum benefit from their participation in youth work,

CONSIDER THAT:

13.

Social inclusion should accommodate and include all young people and the issues they face, with special emphasis on those with fewer opportunities.

The potential of youth work to contribute to policy objectives including social inclusion can be further optimised through a quality-focused and evidence-informed approach which places young people centre-stage in the design and the delivery of youth work provision. This approach supports young people’s participation, development and progression in a way which affirms their strengths, enhances resilience and competences and recognises their potential to build individual, communal and social capital. Quality youth work is a universal theme which benefits young people, improves the practice of youth work, and contributes to broader policy aims.

(a)	Youth work engages young people during a significant developmental period of their lives, and therefore it is ideally positioned to enhance the development (personal, social, educational, vocational and occupational), well-being and social inclusion of young people.

(b)

Youth work offers experiences and opportunities for all young people and operates as both an open-access activity and as a targeted support that can enhance the competences of young people while addressing the barriers they encounter, and may have a particular role for young people with fewer opportunities and those young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

(c)	The organisation of youth work is diverse. This richness and diversity (sectoral, organisational and thematic) should be acknowledged.

(d)

Youth work should have a clearly defined position on the continuum of education and lifelong learning and spanning the areas of non-formal and informal learning. Such a position should acknowledge the potential of youth work in meeting the needs of young people to an even greater extent than at present and value the role of youth work in building an inclusive society.

(e)	A quality approach informed by evidence can be an important tool to enhance the accessibility, visibility, impact and the effectiveness of youth work policy and provision.

(f)

Quality youth work may include appropriate assessment systems, based on self-assessment or peer-assessment, and where feasible, validated by external assessment. Such systems assist youth work organisations, programmes and activities, and can improve organisational capacity and effectiveness, and provide clarity to the public regarding the offer and impact of youth work.

(g)	Quality systems ensure that the voice of young people is central in the design and delivery of youth work that organisations, programmes and activities are responsive and relevant to the needs and aspirations of young people.

(h)	Quality systems assist youth workers in improving their practice and skills development through creating a structure and space for reflection, dialogue and action.

(i)

Youth work, through its emphasis on personal and social development, contributes to a range of policy outcomes for young people, most notably in the areas of education and training, health, employment, and participation in culture and sport. While recognising the distinctive functions of youth work, greater emphasis could be placed on identifying the contribution youth work can make to these broader policy areas,

IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES TO ENSURE AND ENHANCE QUALITY YOUTH WORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, WELL-BEING AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF YOUNG PEOPLE:

14.

In aiming to ensure that youth work is relevant and responsive to both the interests and needs of young people and to optimise its role in contributing to their development, well-being and social inclusion, the following priorities have been identified:

(a)	promote the complementary position of youth work in the continuum of education and lifelong learning which aims to enhance the experience of young people and equip them for life;

(b)

support greater alignment of youth policy (how priorities are set), provision (how organisations, programmes and activities are organised), and practice (how organisations, programmes and activities are delivered) through emphasising closer collaboration and knowledge exchange between the policy, research, practice and youth communities to ensure more coordinated, evidence-informed youth work responses;

(c)	promote mechanisms to ensure that youth work is quality-based, outcomes-focused and evidence-informed;

(d)

develop supportive quality frameworks, including assessment tools, for use in youth work as a means to maximise the impact for young people’s development, well-being and social inclusion. Such frameworks should be implemented, supported and communicated appropriately and involve all stakeholders including young people;

(e)	work to ensure that youth work initiatives (provision and practice) are informed by the voice and aspirations of young people themselves, thus providing an inclusive space for young people to develop and be empowered;

(f)

while respecting the distinctive integrity and impact of youth work, determine and recognise the personal, social and professional skills and competences deriving from the young people’s participation in youth work to make visible the impact of youth work to related policy areas and practice disciplines,

INVITE THE MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPHERES OF COMPETENCE AND WITH DUE REGARD FOR THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY TO:

15.	promote, through the open method of coordination, a strengthening of relationships, both in policy and practice, with youth-related areas such as health, education and training, employment, culture and sport;

16.	promote, in youth work provision and practice, an emphasis on quality and the attainment of youth work outcomes which contribute to the development, well-being and social inclusion of young people;

17.

support greater collaboration amongst all youth work stakeholders (in particular researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations, practitioners and young people) to determine the impact of quality youth work, for young people themselves, the youth sector and related policy areas, e.g. through the development of evidence of the impact of quality youth work and by facilitating and improving the recognition and validation of non-formal and informal learning at national and EU levels;

18.	encourage and support young people through education, civil society and quality youth initiatives to participate in democratic life and to make use of existing and new tools to contribute to policy development, thereby enhancing their development, well-being and social inclusion;

19.	promote, through quality youth work opportunities and programmes, experiential learning and skills development, including transferable skills for young people, and the recognition and validation of such skills and competences;

20.	support the youth sector in developing its structures, working methods and channels of communication so as to reach out to more young people, especially those at risk of social exclusion;

21.	stimulate and support volunteer-led involvement in youth provision to promote diversity, social inclusion and build social capital;

22.	promote the contribution of quality youth work by maximising funding opportunities to support effective youth work;

23.	encourage, through the relevant programmes, platforms and resource repositories, the European and international exchange of good practices, training, skills acquisition and peer-learning in relation to quality-focused youth work;

24.

establish a thematic expert group to examine youth work quality systems in EU Member States with a view to exploring how common indicators or frameworks may be developed. The work of this group will be informed by the forthcoming study of the European Commission. This will culminate in a report outlining recommendations to be presented to the Youth Working Party. A draft outline of the suggested terms of reference and membership of this thematic expert group is contained in the Annex,

INVITE THE COMMISSION TO:

25.	seek to build on the findings of its forthcoming study on the value of youth work in identifying what initiatives are required to promote quality-based and effective youth work;

26.	take account of other research studies and initiatives in this area. Disseminate the findings and develop learning for the policy, research, practice and youth communities, and for related policy areas;

27.	consider a suitable follow-up to the forthcoming study on the value of youth work and the outcome of the thematic expert group on quality youth work.

(1) Council Resolution of 27 November 2009 on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018) (OJ C 311, 19.12.2009, p. 1) and the 2012 Joint Report of the Council and the Commission on the implementation of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (‘EU Youth Strategy 2010-2018’) (OJ C 394, 20.12.2012, p. 5).

(2) OJ C 398, 22.12.2012, p. 1.

(3) 7808/13.

(4) ‘Non-formal learning and informal learning’ as defined in the Council Recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (OJ C 398, 22.12.2012).

(5) Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 19 November 2010, on youth work, p. 3.

ANNEX

Draft terms of reference and suggested membership criteria for thematic expert group to be established by European Union Member States and the Commission

Purpose

To examine youth work quality systems in EU Member States and explore how common indicators or frameworks may be developed. This will include an illustration of the practice, process and product of youth work and the impact of youth work for the engagement, development and progression of young people.

Membership

—	The participation of Member States in this thematic expert group will be voluntary. Member States may join at any time.

—	Member States should nominate, via the Commission, individuals with experience and expertise in the thematic area. Nominees will ensure that national authorities and other relevant stakeholders are informed of the progress of the expert group.

—	The thematic expert group may invite additional nominees to the group if required.

—	The thematic expert group may also invite representatives of youth stakeholders and representatives from non-EU ‘Youth in Action’ or subsequent programme countries as it deems appropriate.

Working procedures

—	The work of the thematic expert group will be task-focused and time-bound (a maximum of 18 months duration). Detailed terms of reference and a concise programme of work with measurable and achievable outputs will be developed by the group.

—	A chair and co-chair will be nominated by the group at the initial meeting of the thematic expert group.

—	All meetings will be held in Brussels; however, Member States may host occasional meetings, if desired.

—	The Commission will provide expertise, logistical and secretarial support in the establishment and running of this expert group.

—	The group will provide the Youth Working Party regular updates of the progress.

—	A final report of the expert group including recommendations will be presented to the Youth Working Party to inform the development of youth work policy and provision.

14.6.2013

Official Journal of the European Union

C 168/10

Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on dual careers for athletes

2013/C 168/04

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES,

RECALLING:

that the Council on 20 May 2011 established a European Union Work Plan for Sport for 2011-2014 which highlighted the role of education, training and qualifications in sport and created the Expert Group ‘Education and Training in Sport’ to prepare a proposal for European guidelines on dual careers,

WELCOMING:

The EU Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes, which were prepared by the Member States and the Commission Expert Group on Education and Training in Sport upon a proposal from the ad-hoc group of experts on dual careers and which encourage a number of policy actions in support of dual careers in sport (1),

CONSIDERING THAT:

For the purposes of these Council conclusions the term ‘athlete’ should be understood to mean a ‘talented athlete’ or an ‘elite athlete’, both male and female, including disabled athletes respecting the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

—	The term ‘talented athlete’ should be understood to mean an athlete recognised by a sport organisation, governing body or the State as an athlete who has the potential to develop an elite sporting career.

—	The term ‘elite athlete’ should be understood to mean an athlete who has a professional contract with a sport employer or sport organisation or has a recognised status by a sport organisation, governing body or the State as an elite athlete based on proven success and achievements.

The term ‘dual career’ should be understood to mean that an athlete can combine, without unreasonable personal effort, their sporting career with education and/or work in a flexible way through high-quality training in order to protect their moral, health, educational and professional interests, without compromising either objective, with a particular focus on the continued formal education of young athletes.

Top level sporting achievement must be capable of being combined with education and a career where athletes can leverage their strengths to further contribute to society. Athletes obtain knowledge, skills and competences through their involvement in sport; the Council Recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (2) provides a basis for Member States to recognise and validate these.

4.	Promotion of dual careers contributes to several of the aims of the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy (3) (prevention of early school leaving, more graduates in higher education, higher employability) and makes sport policies more efficient by keeping more athletes in the sport system.

5.	Increasingly, athletes regularly train and/or compete abroad which makes combining a sporting career with school, study or a career outside of sport more complex. These athletes represent one of the most internationally mobile parts of the European population.

Athletes make an important contribution to the image of sport and physical activity, convey to society positive values such as fairness and dedication to achievement and serve as role models for recruiting young athletes. Further, they are important representatives of their home countries. In this context, all sporting organisations and governments have a responsibility to enable athletes to succeed in a dual career to ensure that they are not disadvantaged after their sporting career has ended (4).

Sport for children must always be carried out in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Particular care should be taken to ensure that children’s involvement in preparation for high-level sport is not counterproductive or detrimental to their physical, social or emotional well-being (4).

The main challenges in relation to the quality of education and supporting services for athletes involved in high-level sport in Europe are:

—	the safeguarding of the development of athletes, especially including in early specialisation sports (carried out in compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) and of young people in education and training,

—	the balance between sports training and education and, at a later stage of life, the balance between sports training and employment,

—	the end-of-sporting-career phase of athletes, including those who leave the sport system earlier than planned (4).

In order to compete at a high level, a substantial number of athletes are forced to supplement their sport funding, often through family support, student loans or through part-time or full-time employment. Some athletes are lost to sport because their sporting careers are difficult to combine with education and/or work.

10.

There are substantial benefits for athletes in being able to combine sporting career with education and/or work, including health-related benefits (e.g. balanced lifestyle and reduced stress), developmental benefits (e.g. development of skills applicable in sport, education and other spheres of life), social benefits (expanded social networks and social support systems), and enhanced future employment prospects,

IN THIS CONTEXT, INVITE THE EU MEMBER STATES, SPORT ORGANISATIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS, ACTING WITHIN THEIR COMPETENCES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY HAVING REGARD TO THE AUTONOMY OF SPORTS ORGANISATIONS, TO:

on the basis of the principles contained in the EU Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes, develop a policy framework and/or national guidelines for dual careers involving key stakeholders, e.g. ministries for sport, health, education, employment, defence, youth, home affairs and finance and others, sport organisations, governing bodies, educational institutions, businesses, chambers of commerce and labour and athletes’ representative bodies;

2.	promote cooperation and agreements in the development and implementation of dual careers between all relevant stakeholders;

3.	encourage cross-sectoral cooperation and support innovative measures and research aimed at identifying and solving the problems facing athletes in both education and in the workplace;

4.	promote the exchange of good practice and experience on dual careers among Member States at local, regional and national level;

5.	ensure that measures in support of dual careers, where they exist, are applied equally for male and female athletes and taking into account the special needs of athletes with a disability;

6.	encourage sports organisations and educational institutions to ensure that only suitably qualified or trained staff work or volunteer in support of athletes undertaking a dual career;

7.	promote the use of quality standards in sport academies and high performance training centres for example with regard to dual careers staff, safety and security arrangements and transparency about the rights of athletes;

regarding education for athletes:

—

allow adapted pathways for athletes within related policy and/or legal frameworks to combine their sporting activities with education, possibly within the context of networks of educational institutions. Adapted academic cycles, individual learning pathways, distance learning and e-learning, supplementary tutoring and flexibility on exam timetables may be helpful in this regard,

—	consider the benefits of putting in place a quality accreditation system at national level for dual careers services within training centres, sport schools, sport academies, sport clubs, sport federations and/or universities,

—	consider supporting educational institutions at national level and between Member States to cooperate in relation to adapted education programmes and work as a matter of priority on establishing equivalence between qualification levels, as described in the European Qualifications Framework,

—	consider measures which facilitate and promote the geographical mobility of athletes to allow the combination of their sporting careers with education programmes abroad,

—	promote the development of training programmes and/or qualifications in the sports sector for athletes, through encouraging relationships between education providers and sporting organisation,

—	continue work through the National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) to align sports courses, qualifications and certification for professions in dual career supporting services onto the European Qualifications Framework (EQF);

regarding work for athletes:

—	support specific events (seminars, conferences, workshops, networking events, job markets) for athletes highlighting the importance of dual career and informing them of relevant available services and supports for work,

—	consider the establishment of specific dual career programmes for athletes working in public services, which would serve also as a best practice example for other employers,

—	consider the potential for measures to redress the disadvantages athletes may face as regards their irregular participation in the labour market,

—	promote guidance and support for retiring elite athletes so that they can prepare for, initiate and develop a career in the wider labour market when their sporting career ends,

—	include dual careers on the agenda of social dialogue at national and EU level;

10.

regarding health of athletes:

—

consider supporting, where appropriate, cooperation between sports, health and educational authorities to provide health and psychological assistance to athletes through education programmes in the areas of life skills, healthy living, nutrition, injury-prevention and recovery techniques, giving special consideration to the moral integrity of minors and the transition at the end of a sporting career,

—

public health authorities and private insurance providers are invited to consider, as appropriate, insurance provisions which would provide employers, athlete-workers and retired athletes with added employee protection regarding sport-related injuries, giving special consideration to the transition at the end of a sporting career;

11.

regarding finances of athletes:

—	explore, where appropriate, the establishment, or further development, of systems of financial support for student-athletes which reflect the different stages of the dual career,

—

consider, where appropriate, the development of specific dual career scholarships in education and training institutions allowing athletes to combine education and sport. These scholarships could consist of financial assistance for certain sport-related expenses, payment of tuition fees for specific education programmes or supporting services giving special consideration to the transition at the end of a sporting career,

HAVING REGARD TO THE AUTONOMY OF SPORTS ORGANISATIONS CALL ON SPORTING ORGANISATIONS TO:

ensure support for the success of dual careers of athletes at all internal levels (e.g. by appointing qualified advisers to assist athletes from the start to the end of their sporting careers; by responsible trainers and support personnel taking into account the demands of education and/or work; by scheduling national and international sport events in a way that takes the demands of athletes’ education and/or work into account and also protects athletes from excessive strain) (5);

2.	develop, lead or participate fully in the networks and mechanisms established in Member States and/or public sports authorities to develop and implement dual career services for athletes;

3.	consider the nomination of specific ‘dual career athlete ambassadors’ to demonstrate that it is possible to be successful at the highest level in sport, while also succeeding in education and/or work;

4.	cooperate with chambers of commerce and labour and businesses to raise awareness of what positive attributes and advantages athletes can bring to employers while also encouraging flexible working arrangements for athletes;

5.	encourage the negotiation of sponsorship deals with companies that allow athletes access to work experience, privileged recruitment and flexible working arrangements in the sponsoring company or its partner companies;

6.	involve, where appropriate, athletes’ representative bodies in the policy development and actions in the field of dual careers,

INVITE THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO:

on the basis of the EU Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes, consider appropriate follow up in the framework of the second work plan on sport of the Council, including looking at ways to measure the implementation of policy actions in the field of dual careers across the EU, which can be used by Member States on a voluntary basis;

2.	provide support to dual careers networks, which bring together athlete associations, businesses and chambers of commerce and labour, sport organisations, educational institutions, national and local authorities and coaches to allow for the exchange of information and best practice at EU level;

3.	promote and support the sharing of best practices in the EU regarding dual careers of athletes, inter alia through support for projects and the dissemination of their results under relevant funding schemes and programmes;

support a monitoring system and/or research based on the international dimension of dual career programmes, in particular regarding the effects of transitions in athletes’ lives, the safeguarding of the development of athletes in early specialisation sports, the effectiveness of measures and supporting services in the Member States and the re-entry process of elite athletes into the labour market;

support the development of a set of minimum quality requirements at European level in cooperation with stakeholders in this field, which could function as a reference point for national dual career services and facilities, providing transparency and guarantees on quality, safety and security for athletes, including athletes abroad.

(1) Doc. 17208/12.

(2) OJ C 398, 22.12.2012, p. 1.

(3) COM(2010) 2020 final.

(4) Scrutiny reservation by IT.

(5) Scrutiny reservation by IT.

14.6.2013

Official Journal of the European Union

C 168/14

SESAR JOINT UNDERTAKING

BUDGET 2013 AND STAFF ESTABLISHMENT PLAN 2013

2013/C 168/06

BUDGET 2013

STATEMENT OF REVENUE

(EUR)

Title/Chapter

Programme estimates

Sep. '09

Commitment appropriations

Payment appropriations

Year 2011

Budget 2012

Rev. Bud. II subj. to approv.

Budget 2013

Year 2011

Budget 2012

Rev. Bud. II subj. to approv.

Budget 2013

1.	European Union contribution

700 000 000

109 994 680

110 123 600

59 881 720

18 000 000

91 170 000

69 713 000

91 631 020

1.1.	7th research and development framework programme

350 000 000

59 994 680

60 123 600

59 881 720

9 000 000

46 170 000

34 887 000

46 631 020

1.2.	Trans-European network programme

350 000 000

50 000 000

9 000 000

45 000 000

34 826 000

45 000 000

2.	Contribution from Eurocontrol

165 000 000

21 007 543

14 456 000

41 456 000

12 790 000

11 165 408

14 456 000

34 418 200

12 790 000

2.1.	Contribution in cash

165 000 000

21 007 543

14 456 000

41 456 000

12 790 000

11 165 408

14 456 000

34 418 200

12 790 000

3.	Contributions from other members

30 774 983

4 842 725

4 396 426

4 246 361

4 599 776

4 396 426

4 246 361

3.1.	Contribution in cash

30 774 983

4 842 725

4 396 426

4 246 361

4 599 776

4 396 426

4 246 361

4.	Other revenue

56 747

100 000

206 283

100 000

4.1.	Revenue from interests yielded

56 747

400 000

636 640

400 000

4.2.	Revenue from taxes recovered

4.3.	Programme revenues from non-members

4.4.	Interest to be returned to the EU

300 000

430 357

300 000

Budget outturn previous year

11 767 877

488 760

57 183 031

15 571 258

TOTAL REVENUE

895 774 983

147 669 572

129 076 026

156 564 786

77 018 081

91 154 498

110 122 426

124 198 884

108 767 381

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE

(EUR)

Title/Chapter

Programme estimates

Sep. '09

Commitment appropriations

Payment appropriations

Year 2011

Budget 2012

Rev. Bud. II subj. to approv.

Budget 2013

Year 2011

Budget 2012

Rev. Bud. II subj. to approv.

Budget 2013

1.	Staff expenditure

55 000 000

5 420 000

6 085 000

5 556 000

5 970 000

4 729 025

6 085 000

5 556 000

5 970 000

1.1.	Staff expenditure as per staff establishment plan

50 000 000

2 630 000

3 350 000

3 000 000

3 460 000

2 502 472

3 350 000

3 000 000

3 460 000

1.2.	Contract agents, interim staff

380 000

350 000

380 000

281 631

350 000

380 000

1.3.	Secondments from members

5 000 000

1 890 000

1 450 000

1 550 000

1 300 000

1 410 637

1 450 000

1 550 000

1 300 000

1.4.	Seconded national experts

150 000

160 000

90 000

170 000

99 001

160 000

90 000

170 000

1.5.	Mission costs

192 000

600 000

391 000

500 000

308 177

600 000

391 000

500 000

1.6.	Other staff expenditure

178 000

175 000

160 000

127 107

175 000

160 000

2.	Administrative expenditure

45 774 983

3 110 035

3 290 000

3 231 500

3 274 600

2 906 687

3 290 000

3 231 500

3 274 600

2.1.	Rental of buildings and associated costs

708 213

794 000

854 648

905 600

705 304

794 000

854 648

905 600

2.2.	Movable property and associated costs

30 000

50 000

39 094

50 000

2.3.	PR and events

299 686

300 000

333 743

300 000

2.4.	Postage and telecommunications

173 225

180 000

243 000

151 892

180 000

243 000

2.5.	Administrative board expenditure

25 000

30 000

17 500

30 000

7 499

30 000

17 500

30 000

2.6.	Current administrative expenditure

221 666

340 000

263 882

300 000

136 793

340 000

263 882

300 000

2.7.	IT expenditure and technical facilities

1 575 637

1 500 000

1 500 470

1 350 000

1 487 779

1 500 000

1 500 470

1 350 000

2.8.	Administrative support services

76 608

96 000

65 000

96 000

44 583

96 000

65 000

96 000

3.	Operating expenditure

795 000 000

138 650 777

119 701 026

147 777 286

67 773 481

67 947 528

100 747 426

115 411 384

99 522 781

3.1.	Studies/development conducted by the SJU

179 500 345

26 520 000

23 913 000

29 824 000

18 482 604

43 748 366

28 000 000

31 782 560

3.2.	Studies/development conducted by Eurocontrol

702 853

3.3.	Studies/development conducted by the members

615 499 655

112 130 777

95 788 026

123 864 286

37 949 481

48 762 071

56 999 060

87 411 384

67 740 221

TOTAL EXPENDITURE

895 774 983

147 180 812

129 076 026

156 564 786

77 018 081

75 583 240

110 122 426

124 198 884

108 767 381

BALANCE OF BUDGET OUTTURN

488 760

15 571 258

ANNEX I

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION AND EXPENDITURE

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION

(EUR)

Title/Chapter

Programme estimates

Sep. '09

Commitment appropriations

Year 2011

Budget 2012

Rev. Bud. II subj. to approv.

Budget 2013

1. European Union contribution

1.1.	Seventh research and development framework programme

1.2.	Trans-European network programme

2.	Contribution from Eurocontrol

535 000 000

69 800 000

74 805 000

75 500 000

2.1.	Contribution in cash

2.2.	Contribution in kind

535 000 000

69 800 000

74 805 000

75 500 000

3.	Contributions from other members

615 499 655

112 130 777

95 788 026

123 864 286

37 949 481

3.1.	Contribution in cash

3.2.	Contribution in kind

615 499 655

112 130 777

95 788 026

123 864 286

37 949 481

4.	Other revenue

53 725 363

4.1.	Revenue from interests yielded

4.2.	Revenue from taxes recovered

4.3.	Programme revenues from non-members

53 725 363

4.4.	Interest to be returned to the EU

Budget outturn previous year

TOTAL REVENUE

1 204 225 018

181 930 777

170 593 026

198 669 286

113 449 481

IN-KIND EXPENDITURE

(EUR)

Title/Chapter

Programme estimates

Sep. '09

Commitment appropriations

Year 2011

Budget 2012

Rev. Bud. II subj. to approv.

Budget 2013

1. Staff expenditure

1.1.	Staff expenditure as per staff establishment plan

1.2.	Contract agents, interim staff

1.3.	Secondments from members

1.4.	Seconded national experts

1.5.	Mission costs

1.6.	Other staff expenditure

2. Administrative expenditure

2.1.	Rental of buildings and associated costs

2.2.	Movable property and associated costs

2.3.	PR and events

2.4.	Postage and telecommunications

2.5.	Administrative board expenditure

2.6.	Current administrative expenditure

2.7.	IT expenditure and technical facilities

2.8.	Administrative support services

3.	Operating expenditure

1 204 225 018

181 930 777

170 593 026

198 669 286

113 449 481

3.1.	Studies/development conducted by the SJU

53 725 363

3.2.	Studies/development conducted by Eurocontrol

535 000 000

69 800 000

74 805 000

75 500 000

3.3.	Studies/development conducted by the members

615 499 655

112 130 777

95 788 026

123 864 286

37 949 481

TOTAL EXPENDITURE

1 204 225 018

181 930 777

170 593 026

198 669 286

113 449 481

BALANCE OF BUDGET OUTTURN

ANNEX II

TOTAL

REVENUE (cash and in-kind)

(EUR)

Title/Chapter

Programme estimates

Sep. '09

Commitment appropriations

Year 2011

Budget 2012

Rev. Bud/ II subj. to approv.

Budget 2013

1.	European Union contribution

700 000 000

109 994 680

110 123 600

59 881 720

1.1.	Seventh research and development framework programme

350 000 000

59 994 680

60 123 600

59 881 720

1.2.	Trans-European network programme

350 000 000

50 000 000

2.	Contribution from Eurocontrol

700 000 000

90 807 543

89 261 000

116 261 000

88 290 000

2.1.	Contribution in cash

165 000 000

21 007 543

14 456 000

41 456 000

12 790 000

2.2.	Contribution in kind

535 000 000

69 800 000

74 805 000

75 500 000

3.	Contributions from other members

646 274 638

116 973 502

100 184 452

128 260 712

42 195 842

3.1.	Contribution in cash

30 774 983

4 842 725

4 396 426

4 246 361

3.2.	Contribution in kind

615 499 655

112 130 777

95 788 026

123 864 286

37 949 481

4.	Other revenue

53 725 363

56 747

100 000

4.1.	Revenue from interests yielded

56 747

400 000

4.2.	Revenue from taxes recovered

4.3.	Programme revenues from non-members

53 725 363

4.4.	Interest to be returned to the EU

300 000

Budget outturn previous year

11 767 877

488 760

TOTAL REVENUE

2 100 000 000

329 600 349

299 669 052

355 234 072

190 467 562

EXPENDITURE (cash and in-kind)

(EUR)

Title/Chapter

Programme estimates

Sep. '09

Commitment appropriations

Year 2011

Budget 2012

Rev. Bud. II subj. to approv.

Budget 2013

1.	Staff expenditure

55 000 000

5 420 000

6 085 000

5 556 000

5 970 000

1.1.	Staff expenditure as per staff establishment plan

50 000 000

2 630 000

3 350 000

3 000 000

3 460 000

1.2.	Contract agents, interim staff

380 000

350 000

380 000

1.3.	Secondments from members

5 000 000

1 890 000

1 450 000

1 550 000

1 300 000

1.4.	Seconded national experts

150 000

160 000

90 000

170 000

1.5.	Mission costs

192 000

600 000

391 000

500 000

1.6.	Other staff expenditure

178 000

175 000

160 000

2.	Administrative expenditure

45 774 983

3 110 035

3 290 000

3 231 500

3 274 600

2.1.	Rental of buildings and associated costs

708 213

794 000

854 648

905 600

2.2.	Movable property and associated costs

30 000

50 000

2.3.	PR and events

299 686

300 000

2.4.	Postage and telecommunications

173 225

180 000

243 000

2.5.	Administrative board expenditure

25 000

30 000

17 500

30 000

2.6.	Current administrative expenditure

221 666

340 000

263 882

300 000

2.7.	IT expenditure and technical facilities

1 575 637

1 500 000

1 500 470

1 350 000

2.8.	Administrative support services

76 608

96 000

65 000

96 000

3.	Operating expenditure

1 999 225 017

320 581 554

290 294 052

346 446 572

181 222 962

3.1.	Studies/development conducted by the SJU

233 225 707

26 520 000

23 913 000

29 824 000

3.2.	Studies/development conducted by Eurocontrol

535 000 000

69 800 000

74 805 000

75 500 000

3.3.	Studies/development conducted by the members

1 230 999 310

224 261 554

191 576 052

247 728 572

75 898 962

TOTAL EXPENDITURE

2 100 000 000

329 111 589

299 669 052

355 234 072

190 467 562

BALANCE OF BUDGET OUTTURN

488,760

STAFF ESTABLISHMENT PLAN 2013

Budget 2013
SJU STAFF	GRADE	TA	CA	SEC	ENDs	Total
Executive Director	AD 14	1				1
Deputy ED Administration and Finance	AD 12	1				1
Chief Technology and Innovation	AD 12	1				1
Chief Strategies and International Relations	AD 12	1				1
Chief Regulatory Affairs	AD 12	1				1
Chief Corporate Communication	AD 10	1				1
Chief Economics and Environment	AD 10	1				1
Advisor to the Executive Director	AD 10	1				1
Senior Advisor for Military Affairs	AD 10	1				1
Head of Legal Affairs and Contracts Sector	n/a			1		1
Head of Finance and Budget Sector	AD 8	1				1
Deputy ED Operations and Programme	n/a			1		1
Head ATM Systems	AD 8	1				1
Systems Engineer	AD 8	1				1
Liaison Officer	AD 10	1				1
Legal and Contract Adviser	AD 7	1				1
Finance and Administration Officer	AD 7	1				1
Environment Officer	AD 7	1				1
Head Validation/Verification	AD 7			1		1
ATM Expert	AD 6	1				1
Advisor Validation/Verification	n/a			1		1
ATM Expert	AD 6	1				1
Financial Officer	AD 6	1				1
ATM Systems Engineer	n/a			1		1
Communication Associate	AD 5	1				1
Economist	AD 5	1				1
HR Legal Officer	n/a		1			1
Project Auditor	AD 5	1				1
Advisor DAF	n/a		1			1
Internal Auditor	AD 5	1				1
Senior Programme Management and Quality Expert	n/a			1		1
Programme Management and Quality Expert	n/a			1		1
ATM Programme Expert	n/a			1		1
Human Resources Officer	AST 7	1				1
Financial Accountant	AST 5	1				1
Administrative Assistant	AST 3	1				1
Legal Officer	n/a		1			1
Secretary — Programme Director	AST 1	1				1
Secretary to the Executive Director	AST 1	1				1
TOTAL		28	3	8		39
END
Expert ConOps and Validation					1	1
END					1	1
Advisor Institutional Affairs					1	1
TOTAL					3	3

14.6.2013

Official Journal of the European Union

C 168/22

Communication of the Commission published pursuant to Article 27(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 in Case AT.39398 — VISA MIF

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 168/07

1. INTRODUCTION

According to Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (1), the Commission may decide — in cases where it intends to adopt a decision requiring that an infringement is brought to an end and the parties concerned offer commitments to meet the concerns expressed to them by the Commission in its preliminary assessment — to make those commitments binding on the undertakings. Such a decision may be adopted for a specified period and shall conclude that there are no longer grounds for action by the Commission. According to Article 27(4) of the same Regulation, the Commission shall publish a concise summary of the case and the main content of the commitments. Interested parties may submit their observations within the time limit fixed by the Commission.

2. SUMMARY OF THE CASE

2.	On 3 April 2009, the Commission adopted a statement of objections against Visa Europe Limited (‘Visa Europe’), Visa Inc. and Visa International Services Association.

The statement of objections outlined the Commission's preliminary view that Visa Europe, Visa Inc. and Visa International Services Association have infringed Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement by setting multilaterally agreed interchange fees (‘MIFs’) that apply to cross-border and certain domestic point of sale transactions with VISA, VISA Electron and V PAY consumer payment cards within the EEA.

Interchange fees are in effect paid by a merchant's bank (‘acquirer’) to a cardholder's bank (‘issuer’) for each transaction made at a merchant outlet with a payment card. When a cardholder uses a payment card to buy goods or services from a merchant, the merchant in effect pays a merchant service charge to its acquirer. The acquirer keeps part of this charge (the acquirer's margin), and the rest is passed on to the issuer (the MIF) and the scheme operator (in this case, Visa Europe and Visa Inc.). In practice, a large part of the merchant service charge is determined by the MIF.

The statement of objections expressed the preliminary view that the MIFs have as their object and effect an appreciable restriction of competition in the acquiring markets to the detriment of merchants and indirectly their customers. The MIFs appeared to inflate the base on which acquirers set merchant service charges by creating an important cost element common to all acquirers. According to the Commission's preliminary view, the MIFs were not objectively necessary. The restrictive effect in the acquiring markets was further reinforced by the effect of the MIFs on the network and issuing markets as well as by other network rules and practices (‘honour all cards’ rule, ‘no discrimination’ rule and blending). Furthermore, according to the Commission's preliminary views set out in the statement of objections, the MIFs did not meet the requirements for receiving an exception under Article 101(3) of the TFEU of producing efficiencies with a fair share of the resulting benefit being passed on to consumers.

On 8 December 2010, the Commission adopted a decision pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (the ‘commitment decision’). The decision made legally binding on Visa Europe for four years the commitments to: (i) cap at 0,20 % the weighted average MIF applicable to consumer debit transactions covered by the proceedings and (ii) maintain and/or introduce a number of changes to their network rules (‘transparency measures’).

The commitments however did not cover MIFs for consumer credit cards in respect of which the Commission issued a supplementary statement of objections on 31 July 2012. The supplementary statement of objections, which constitutes a preliminary assessment within the meaning of Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003, expanded the statement of objections and reflected the changes in the scope of the procedure, namely it applies only to consumer credit card MIFs. It also extended the scope of proceedings to the direct application of inter-regional (or international) MIFs where merchants are located in the EEA and it identifies a potential infringement with respect to Visa Europe's rules on cross-border acquiring.

Accordingly, the proceedings now cover (reproduced only in a summarised way):

—	intra-regional multilaterally agreed credit interchange fees set by Visa Europe (‘intra-regional MIFs’) applying either directly to cross-border transactions or by default to domestic transactions (2),

—	country-specific credit MIFs set by Visa Europe (3),

—	the potential default application of inter-regional MIFs in the absence of equivalent interchange fees and their direct application to transactions when using cards issued outside the EEA at merchants located in the EEA (4),

—	the rules relating to cross-border acquiring as a restriction of competition.

The proceedings address the network rules of Visa Europe related to the MIFs already included in the statement of objections, namely the ‘honour all cards’ rule, the ‘no discrimination’ rule and the widespread practice of blending of merchant service charges (‘MSCs’). The latter rules are assessed not as potential infringements of the competition rules in themselves, but in their capacity of enhancing the restrictive effect of the MIFs.

10.	The supplementary statement of objections was also sent to Visa Inc. and Visa International Service Association on 24 April 2013.

3. THE MAIN CONTENT OF THE OFFERED COMMITMENTS

11.

Visa Europe, as one of the parties subject to the proceedings, does not agree with the Commission’s preliminary assessment. It has nevertheless offered commitments pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003, to meet the Commission’s competition concerns. The commitments are briefly summarised below and published in full in English on the website of the Directorate-General for Competition at:

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/index_en.html

12.	Visa Europe commits to cap its yearly weighted average intra-EEA credit MIFs applicable to transactions with its consumer credit cards at a level of 0,3 % two months following the notification of the commitment decision to Visa Europe.

13.	The cap will also apply individually in each of those EEA countries for which Visa Europe directly sets specific domestic consumer credit MIF rates and in those EEA countries where the intra-EEA credit MIFs apply to domestic transactions in the absence of other MIFs.

14.

Visa Europe also proposes to ensure that, as from 1 January 2015,

—	the 0,3 % credit MIF cap also applies to all MIFs set by Visa Europe regarding transactions carried out with merchants located within the EEA with Visa consumer credit cards issued in non-EEA countries belonging to the Visa Europe territory (5) (‘intra-Visa Europe non-EEA credit MIFs’), and

—	the 0,2 % debit MIF cap also applies to all MIFs set by Visa Europe regarding transactions carried out with merchants located within the EEA with Visa consumer debit cards issued in non-EEA countries belonging to the Visa Europe territory (‘intra-Visa Europe non-EEA debit MIFs’).

15.

Visa Europe commits to amend its rules on cross-border acquiring from 1 January 2015 to allow cross-border acquirers to offer either the domestic debit MIF or the domestic credit MIF applicable in the location of the merchant or a MIF rate of 0,2 % for consumer debit transactions and 0,3 % for consumer credit transactions, subject to certain conditions.

16.

Visa Europe commits to continue to implement further transparency measures. In particular, Visa Europe commits:

—

to introduce a rule which requires acquirers to offer merchants merchant service charge pricing on a ‘MIF plus plus’ basis for an administrative fee (in other words, acquirers must, if requested, clearly break down in their contracts and invoices the MSC into three components, namely the MIF, all the other applicable payment system fees and the acquirer’s fee). Visa Europe will require acquirers to implement this rule within 12 months following the notification of the commitment decision to Visa Europe with regard to all new agreements and within 18 months for existing contracts,

—	to introduce a simplified MIF structure for MIFs set by Visa Europe to provide for a reduction of at least 25 % in the number of fee categories to aid transparency and comparison between rates.

17.	Visa Europe shall appoint a monitoring trustee to monitor Visa Europe’s compliance with the commitments. Before appointment, the Commission shall have the power to approve or reject the proposed trustee.

18.	The commitments will be valid for a period of four years from the date of notification of the commitment decision to Visa Europe.

19.	These commitments only apply to Visa Europe. The current antitrust investigation (see above, point 7) will remain open towards Visa Inc. and Visa International Services Association pending further assessment by the Commission, possibly including any comments made in response to this notice.

4. INVITATION TO MAKE COMMENTS

20.	Subject to market testing, the Commission intends to adopt a decision under Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 declaring the commitments summarised above and published on the Internet, on the website of the Directorate-General for Competition, to be binding.

21.

In accordance with Article 27(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003, the Commission invites interested third parties to submit their observations on the proposed commitments. These observations must reach the Commission not later than one month following the date of this publication. Interested third parties are also asked to submit a non-confidential version of their comments, in which any information they claim to be business secrets and other confidential information should be deleted and replaced as required by a non-confidential summary or by the words ‘business secrets’ or ‘confidential’.

22.	Answers and comments should preferably be reasoned and should set out the relevant facts. If you identify a problem with any part of the proposed commitments, the Commission would also invite you to suggest a possible solution.

23.

Observations can be sent to the Commission under reference number AT.39398 VISA MIF either by e-mail (COMP-GREFFE-ANTITRUST@ec.europa.eu), by fax (+32 22950128) or by post, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Antitrust Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

(1) OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1. With effect from 1 December 2009, Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty have become Articles 101 and, respectively, 102 of the TFEU. The two sets of provisions are in substance identical. For the purposes of this notice, references to Articles 101 and 102 of the TFEU should be understood as references to Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty when applicable.

(2) Currently Latvia.

(3) Currently in Belgium, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands and Sweden, in the absence of other interchange fees.

(4) In the commitments, these are referred to as international MIFs and intra-Visa Europe non-EEA MIFs.

(5) The Visa Europe territory includes the EEA, Andorra, Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Israel, Monaco, San Marino, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Switzerland, Turkey and Vatican City.

14.6.2013

Official Journal of the European Union

C 168/26

Publication of an amendment application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

2013/C 168/08

This publication confers the right to oppose the amendment application, pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).

AMENDMENT APPLICATION

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (2)

AMENDMENT APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 9

‘CÍTRICOS VALENCIANOS’/‘CÍTRICS VALENCIANS’

EC No: ES-PGI-0105-0152-31.01.2011

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment

—		Name of product
—	☒	Description of product
—	☒	Geographical area
—		Proof of origin
—		Method of production
—		Link
—		Labelling
—		National requirements
—		Other (to be specified)

2. Type of amendment(s)

—	☒	Amendment to Single Document or Summary Sheet
—		Amendment to Specification of registered PDO or PGI for which neither the Single Document nor the Summary sheet have been published
—		Amendment to specification that requires no amendment to the published single document (Article 9(3) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)
—		Temporary amendment to specification resulting from imposition of obligatory sanitary or phytosanitary measures by public authorities (Article 9(4) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

3. Amendment(s)

3.1. Description of product

Inclusion of new authorised varieties

The fact that around 60 % of Valencian citrus fruit is produced from November to February results in stagnation on the market and loss of income.

As a result of collaboration with the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA) (Valencian Agricultural Research Institute) which is a world leader in citrus-related research and technology and at the forefront of the development of new varieties, rootstock and pest and disease control which benefit citrus production, and the sector's commercial dynamism, it has been possible to bring supply into line with demand by developing new varieties — earlier and later ones — of good organoleptic quality, without affecting the link with tradition and its roots or the growing method.

The new varieties proposed for inclusion in the specification have adapted perfectly to the Mediterranean climate with its mild winters and summers that are not too hot, where there is a well-defined temperature difference between day and night and the winds are neither hot nor dry, so the local environment confers on them distinct characteristics that differentiate them from the same varieties grown elsewhere.

In short, the area's climate gives ‘Cítricos Valencianos’ their specific characteristics. The taste, colour and aroma of the fruit are influenced by the temperature conditions in the Valencian citrus growing areas.

The varieties proposed for inclusion in the Regulatory Council Single Document and which are listed in the Register of Commercial Varieties published by the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs in the Boletin Oficial del Estado are:

Mandarins:

Satsuma group: Iwasaki;

Clementine group: Beatriz, Capola Mioro, Clemenpons, Clemenrubí, Loretina, Nour;

Hybrid group: Moncada.

Oranges:

Navel group: Barnfield Late, Caracara, Chislett Summer, Fukumoto, Powell Summer and Rohde Summer;

Common group: Valencia Delta Seedless, Valencia Midknight and Barberina:

Blood orange group: Sanguinelli.

Lemons: Eureka.

3.2. Geographical area

Climate change in the production area has led to the development of ecosystems which are suitable for citrus production using the same growing methods and producing fruit of the same organoleptic quality. This means that certain municipalities can be now included and others are in decline as regards the production of quality citrus fruit covered by the ‘Cítricos Valencianos’ PGI.

The new production area for ‘Cítricos Valencianos’ PGI is the alluvial soil of the river basins that irrigate the plains of the Mediterranean coast, between the coast and the mountains. The summers are mild and the winds predominantly humid, which is an additional benefit for the fruit, affecting mainly its appearance.

The greater number of district-level divisions make it possible to define more closely the geographical area in the framework of the European Union.

CASTELLÓ/CASTELLÓN: El Baix Maestrat — added: Cervera del Maestre and Traiguera; La Plana Alta — added: les Coves de Vinromà and Vilanova d’Alcolea; La Plana Baixa — added: Alfondeguilla and Eslida; L’Alt Millars — added: Espadilla, Toga, Torrechiva and Vallat; L’Alt Palància — added: Navajas.

VALÈNCIA/VALENCIA: L’Horta Oest — deleted: Mislata; L’Horta Sud — added: Llocnou de la Corona; deleted: Benetússer; El Camp de Túria — added: l’Eliana, Loriguilla and San Antonio de Benagéber; El Serrans — added: Chulilla, Losa del Obispo, Sot de Chera and Villar del Arzobispo; La Foia de Bunyol — added: Dos Aguas and Yátova; La Ribera Baixa — added: Benicull de Xúquer; La Vall d’Albaida — added: Agullent, Aielo de Malferit, Aielo de Rugat, Albaida, Alfarrasí, Atzeneta d’Albaida, Beniatjar, Benissoda, Carrícola, Castelló de Rugat, Montaverner, Montitxelvo/Montichelvo, l’Olleria, Ontinyent, Otos, el Palomar, La Pobla del Duc and Rugat; deleted: Bellús.

ALACANT/ALICANTE: La Marina Alta — added: els Poblets; La Marina Baixa — deleted: Relleu; L’Alacantí. — deleted: Busot, Xixona; El Vinalopó Mitjà — Aspe is deleted and therefore so is the district; El Baix Segura — added: Los Montesinos and San Isidro.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (3)

‘CÍTRICOS VALENCIANOS’/‘CÍTRICS VALENCIANS’

EC No: ES-PGI-0105-0152-31.01.2011

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name

‘Cítricos Valencianos’/‘Cítrics Valencians’

2. Member State or third country

Spain

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

Fruit of the orange (Citrus sinensis, L.), mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and lemon (Citrus limon L.) trees.

The following citrus fruit will be protected by the ‘Cítricos Valencianos’ PGI:

—	oranges: Navel, Common and Blood orange varieties listed in the table below which have the characteristics specified therein,

—	mandarins: Satsuma, Clementine and Hybrid varieties listed in the table below which have the characteristics specified therein,

—	lemons: the varieties listed in the table below which have the characteristics specified therein.

GROUP	VARIETY	DIAMETER (mm)	% JUICE (4)	MATURITY INDEX (5)
SATSUMAS	CLAUSELLINA	54-78	40	7
	OKITSU	54-78	40	7
	OWARI	54-78	40	7
	IWASAKI	54-78	40	7
HYBRIDS	ELLENDALE	54-78	40	7,5
	FORTUNE	54-78	40	8
	KARA	54-78	40	7,5
	NOVA	54-78	40	7,5
	ORTANIQUE	54-78	40	8
	MONCADA	54-78	40	7,5
CLEMENTINES	ARRUFATINA	46-78	40	7,5
	CLEMENTARD	46-78	40	7,5
	CLEMENTINA FINA	46-78	40	7,5
	CLEMENULES	46-78	40	7,5
	ESBAL	46-78	40	7,5
	HERNANDINA	46-78	40	7,5
	MARISOL	46-78	40	7,5
	OROGRANDE	46-78	40	7,5
	ORONULES	46-78	40	7,5
	OROVAL	46-78	40	7,5
	TOMATERA	46-78	40	7,5
	LORETINA	46-78	40	7,5
	BEATRIZ	46-78	40	7,5
	CLEMENPONS	46-78	40	7,5
	NOUR	46-78	40	7,5
	CAPOLA (MIORO)	46-78	40	7,5
	CLEMENRUBÍ	46-78	40	7,5
NAVELS	LANE LATE	70-100	35	7
	NAVELATE	70-100	35	7
	NAVELINA	70-100	35	7
	NEWHALL	70-100	35	7
	WASHINGTON NAVEL	70-100	35	7
	CARACARA	70-100	35	7
	POWELL SUMMER	70-100	35	7
	BARNFIELD LATE	70-100	35	7
	CHISLETT SUMMER	70-100	35	7
	FUKUMOTO	70-100	35	7
	ROHDE SUMMER	70-100	35	7
COMMON ORANGES	SALUSTIANA	67-96	35	7
	VALENCIA LATE	67-96	35	7
	V. DELTA SEEDLESS	67-96	35	7
	V. MIDKNIGHT	67-96	35	7
	BARBERINA	67-96	35	7
BLOOD ORANGES	SANGUINELLI	60-96	35	7
LEMONS	FINO (MESERO)	48-67	25	—
	VERNA	48-67	30	—
	EUREKA	48-67	25	—

The citrus fruit covered by the PGI will be classed in the categories ‘Extra’ and ‘I’, in accordance with the relevant quality standard.

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

—

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

The product must be packed in food grade packaging.

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling

The PGI citrus fruit must be sold only in packaging bearing a numbered secondary label. Labels and secondary labels must bear the words: Indicación Geográfica Protegida ‘Cítricos Valencianos’ or ‘Citrics Valencians’.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

PGI ‘Cítricos Valencianos’ are produced in the following districts in the provinces of Castellón, Valencia and Alicante, authorised to grow PGI ‘Cítricos Valencianos’ citrus fruit.

CASTELLÓ/CASTELLÓN

El Baix Maestrat: Alcalà de Xivert, Benicarló, Càlig, Cervera del Maestre, Peníscola/Peñíscola, Sant Jordi/San Jorge, San Rafael del Río, Santa Magdalena de Pulpis, Traiguera and Vinaròs.

La Plana Alta: Almassora/Almazora, Benicàssim/Benicasim, Borriol, Cabanes, Castelló de la Plana/Castellón de la Plana, les Coves de Vinromà, Orpesa/Oropesa del Mar, Sant Joan de Moró, Torreblanca and Vilanova d’Alcolea.

La Plana Baixa: Alfondeguilla, Almenara, Alquerias del Niño Perdido, Artana, Betxí, Borriana/Burriana, Xilxes/Chilches, Eslida, La Llosa, Moncofa, Nules, Onda, Ribesalbes, Tales, La Vall d’Uixó, Vilareal and La Vilavella.

L’Alcalatén: l’Alcora.

L’Alt Millars: Argelita, Espadilla, Fanzara, Toga, Torrechiva and Vallat.

L’Alt Palància: Castellnovo, Geldo, Navajas, Segorbe, Soneja and Sot de Ferrer.

VALÈNCIA/VALENCIA

El Camp de Morvedre: Albalat dels Tarongers, Alfara de la Baronia, Algar de Palancia, Algimia de Alfara, Benavites, Benifairó de les Valls, Canet d’En Berenguer, Estivella, Faura, Gilet, Petrés, Quart de les Valls, Quartell, Sagunt/Sagunto, Segart and Torres Torres.

L’Horta Nord: Albalat dels Sorells, Alboraya, Albuixech, Alfara del Patriarca, Almàssera, Bonrepòs i Mirambell, Burjassot, Foios, Godella, Massalfassar, Massamagrell, Meliana, Moncada, Museros, La Pobla de Farnals, Puçol, Puig, Rafelbunyol/Rafelbuñol, Rocafort, Tavernes Blanques and Vinalesa.

L’Horta Oest: Alaquàs, Aldaia, Manises, Paterna, Picanya, Quart de Poblet, Torrent, Xirivella and València.

L’Horta Sud: Albal, Alcàsser, Alfafar, Beniparrell, Catarroja, Llocnou de la Corona, Massanassa, Paiporta, Picassent, Sedaví and Silla.

El Camp de Túria: Benaguasil, Benisanó, Bétera, Casinos, l’Eliana, Loriguilla, Llíria, Marines, Náquera, Olocau, La Pobla de Vallbona, Riba-roja de Túria, San Antonio de Benagéber, Serra and Vilamarxant.

Els Serrans: Bugarra, Chulilla, Domeño, Gestalgar, Loriguilla, Losa del Obispo, Pedralba, Sot de Chera and Villar del Arzobispo.

La Foia de Bunyol: Alborache, Buñol, Cheste, Chiva, Dos Aguas, Godelleta, Macastre and Yátova.

La Ribera Alta: Alberic, Alcàntera de Xúquer, l’Alcúdia, Alfarp, Algemesí, Alginet, Alzira, Alzira (La Garrofera), Antella, Beneixida, Benifaió, Benimodo, Benimuslem, Carcaixent, Càrcer, Carlet, Catadau, Cotes, l’Ènova, Gavarda, Guadassuar, Llombai, Manuel, Massalavés, Montserrat, Montroy, La Pobla Llarga, Rafelguaraf, Real, Sant Joanet, Sellent, Senyera, Sumacàrcer, Tous, Turís and Villanueva de Castellón.

La Ribera Baixa: Albalat de la Ribera, Almussafes, Benicull de Xúquer, Corbera, Cullera, Favara, Fortaleny, Llaurí, Polinyà de Xúquer, Riola, Sollana and Sueca.

La Canal de Navarrés: Anna, Bicorp, Bolbaite, Chella, Enguera, Navarrés and Quesa.

La Costera: l’Alcúdia de Crespins, Barxeta, Canals, Cerdà, Estubeny, Genovés, La Granja de la Costera, Llanera de Ranes, Llocnou d’En Fenollet, La Llosa de Ranes, Moixent/Mogente, Montesa, Novetlè/Novelé, Rotglà i Corberà, Torrella, Vallada, Vallés and Xàtiva (el Realenc).

La Safor: Ador, Alfauir, Almiserà, Almoines, l’Alqueria de la Comtessa, Barx, Bellreguard, Beniarjó, Benifairó de la Valldigna, Beniflá, Benirredrà, Castellonet de la Conquesta, Daimús, La Font d’En Carròs, Gandia, Guardamar de la Safor, Llocnou de Sant Jeroni, Miramar, Oliva, Palma de Gandía, Palmera, Piles, Potríes, Rafelcofer, Real de Gandía, Rótova, Simat de la Valldigna, Tavernes de la Valldigna, Villalonga, Xeraco and Xeresa.

La Vall d’Albaida: Agullent, Aielo de Malferit, Aielo de Rugat, Albaida, Alfarrasí, Atzeneta d’Albaida, Bèlgida, Beniatjar, Benicolet, Benigánim, Benissoda, Carrícola, Castelló de Rugat, Llutxent, Montaverner, Montitxelvo/Montichelvo, l’Olleria, Ontinyent, Otos, el Palomar, Pinet, La Pobla del Duc, Quatretonda, Rugat and Terrateig.

ALACANT/ALICANTE

La Marina Alta: Adsubia, Alcalalí, Beniarbeig, Benidoleig, Benigembla, Benimeli, Benissa, el Poble Nou de Benitatxell/Benitachell, Calp, Dénia, Gata de Gorgos, Xaló, Llíber, Murla, Ondara, Orba, Parcent, Pedreguer, Pego, els Poblets, el Ràfol d’Almúnia, Sagra, Sanet y Negrals, Senija, La Setla/Mira-rosa/Miraflor, Teulada, Tormos, Vall de Gallinera, La Vall de Laguar, el Verger and Xàbia/Jávea.

La Marina Baixa: l’Alfàs del Pi, Altea, Beniardá, Benidorm, Benimantell, Bolulla, Callosa d’En Sarrià, Confrides, Finestrat, el Castell de Guadalest, La Nucia, Orxeta, Polop, Sella, Tàrbena and La Vila Joiosa/Villajoyosa.

L’Alacantí: Aigües, Alacant/Alicante, el Campello, Mutxamel, Sant Vicent del Raspeig/San Vicente del Raspeig and Sant Joan d’Alacant.

El Baix Vinalopó: Crevillent, Elx/Elche and Santa Pola.

El Baix Segura: Albatera, Algorfa, Almoradí, Benejúzar, Benferri, Benijófar, Bigastro, Callosa de Segura, Catral, Cox, Daya Nueva, Daya Vieja, Dolores, Formentera del Segura, Granja de Rocamora, Guardamar del Segura, Jacarilla, Los Montesinos, Orihuela, Pilar de la Horadada, Rafal, Redován, Rojales, San Fulgencio, San Isidro, San Miguel de Salinas and Torrevieja.

5. Link with the geographical area

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area

Historical

Of all the world's citrus production areas, it is the Valencian Community that has the most deeply rooted citrus-growing tradition. There are historical references to citrus growing in the Valencia region dating back hundreds of years. Francesc Eiximenis (1340–1409) mentioned the existence of orange and lemon groves in Regiment de la Cosa Pública, when describing the charms of Valencia. In ‘Journey through Spain and Portugal’ (1494) Münzer described Valencia as having ‘an abundance of oranges, lemons, citrons and innumerable other types of fruit tree and added that they were taken to see the city garden, excellently planted with lemon, orange, citron and palm trees’. Laguna, in his translation of Dioscorides' Materia Medica (1570), mentions oranges and lemons and says that ‘los valencianos llaman toronja a la naranja’ (that the Valencian word for orange is ‘toronja’, which means ‘grapefruit’ in present-day Castilian Spanish) At the end of the 18th century, the botanist Cabanilles mentioned Chinese oranges yielding 4 000tahullas (old unit of measurement), more than any other crop.

The first commercial plantations for the fresh market date from the end of the 18th century and have steadily expanded to reach a present day figure of approximately 85 000 ha of orange trees, 83 000 ha of mandarin trees and 15 000 ha of lemon trees. This has enabled specific growing techniques to be developed, based on the optimal adaptation of this crop to the agroclimatic context and focusing on the production of high-quality fruit.

The Orange Museum in Burriana (Castellón) testifies to the importance of orange growing in the Valencian Community.

Natural

In the Valencian Community, rainfall decreases from north to south, from some 450 mm in the north of Castellón to less than 300 mm in the south of Alicante.

Citrus fruit are grown in all three provinces of the Valencian Community, Alicante, Valencia and Castellón, and although the production areas were traditionally on the coast and in the river valleys because of the risk of frost inland, now, because climatic conditions have changed, the inland areas have also become suitable for citrus growing, with mild winters, summers that are not too hot, a well-defined temperature difference between day and night and winds that are neither hot nor dry.

5.2. Specificity of the product

Oranges

The Valencian grower's technical skill and expert knowledge of the crop, plus the soil and the climate, are factors which help produce fruit with distinct organoleptic characteristics, as regards both taste (acidity/sweetness) and colour (more intense orange), aromas and juiciness.

Valencian oranges have a thin skin, with few marks or external lesions.

No other area produces so many varieties, each with its characteristic colour and lingering aroma and fragrance.

Mandarins

The Valencian grower's technical skill and expert knowledge of the crop, plus the soil and the climate are factors which help produce fruit with distinct organoleptic characteristics, as regards both taste (acidity/sweetness) and colour (more intense orange), aromas and juiciness.

Valencian mandarins have a thin skin, with few marks or external lesions.

No other area produces so many varieties, each with its characteristic colour and lingering aroma and fragrance. This makes us the world's top exporter of mandarins.

Lemons

The Valencian grower's technical skill and expert knowledge of the crop, plus the soil and the climate, are factors which help produce fruit with distinct organoleptic characteristics: plenty of juice with a high acid content, the colour (a more intense yellow) and a remarkable fragrance.

Valencian lemons have a thin skin, with few marks or external lesions.

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)

Oranges

The local environment, where oranges have been grown ever since they were introduced by the Arabs, gives Valencian oranges distinct characteristics that distinguish them from oranges grown elsewhere and this is due to several factors.

Valencian oranges are not damaged on the tree by the hot, dry winds that prevail in other areas and as a result they have a thin skin, with few marks or external lesions.

The Valencian citrus-growing areas are located on the geographical limit for orange growing so far as temperature is concerned, and this favours the production of high-quality fruit for several reasons.

1.	The mild winters and summers that are not too hot mean that the lemons reach optimum maturity slowly and so they have a better acidity/sweetness ratio than oranges grown in hotter parts of the world (generally more cloyingly sweet with less flavour). As a result, they taste better.

2.	The well-defined temperature difference between night and day gives the oranges a more intense colour, both inside and outside. Valencian oranges are a typical shade of orange, which is generally more intense than that of oranges grown elsewhere.

3.	The mild temperatures also encourage the formation of essential oils in the skin, which in turn affect the aromatic fraction of the fruit.

The taste, colour and aroma of the fruit are therefore influenced by the temperature conditions in the Valencian citrus growing areas.

The Mediterranean climate characterised by summers that are not too hot and predominantly humid winds, also benefits the oranges, affecting mainly their appearance.

Mandarins

The local environment, where mandarins have been grown ever since they were introduced by the Arabs, gives Valencian mandarins distinct characteristics that distinguish them from mandarins grown elsewhere and this is due to several factors.

Valencian mandarins are not damaged on the tree by the hot, dry winds that prevail in other areas and as a result they have a thin skin, with few marks or external lesions.

The Valencian citrus-growing areas are located on the geographical limit for mandarin growing so far as temperature is concerned, and this favours the production of high-quality fruit for several reasons.

1.	The mild winters and summers that are not too hot mean that the mandarins reach optimum maturity slowly and so they have a better acidity/sweetness ratio than mandarins grown in hotter parts of the world (generally more cloyingly sweet with less flavour). As a result, they taste better.

2.	The well-defined temperature difference between night and day gives the mandarins a more intense colour, both inside and outside. Valencian mandarins are a typical shade of orange, which is generally more intense than that of mandarins grown elsewhere.

3.	The mild temperatures also encourage the formation of essential oils in the skin, which in turn affect the aromatic fraction of the fruit.

The taste, colour and aroma of the fruit are therefore influenced by the temperature conditions in the Valencian citrus growing areas.

The Mediterranean climate characterised by summers that are not too hot and predominantly humid winds, also benefits the mandarins, affecting mainly their appearance.

Lemons

The local environment, where lemons have been grown ever since they were introduced by the Arabs, gives Valencian mandarins distinct characteristics that distinguish them from lemons grown elsewhere and this is due to several factors.

Valencian lemons are not damaged on the tree by the hot, dry winds that prevail in other areas and as a result they have a thin skin, with few marks or external lesions.

The Valencian citrus-growing areas are located on the geographical limit for lemon growing so far as temperature is concerned, and this favours the production of high-quality fruit for several reasons.

1.	The mild winters and summers that are not too hot mean that the lemons reach optimum maturity slowly and so they have a better acid content than lemons grown in hotter parts of the world (which generally have less flavour).

2.	The well-defined temperature difference between night and day gives the lemons a more intense colour, both inside and outside. Valencian lemons are a typical shade of yellow, which is generally more intense than that of lemons grown elsewhere.

3.	The mild temperatures also encourage the formation of essential oils in the skin, which in turn affect the aromatic fraction of the fruit.

The acidity, colour and aroma of the fruit are therefore influenced by the temperature conditions in the Valencian citrus growing areas.

The Mediterranean climate characterised by summers that are not too hot and predominantly humid winds, also benefits the lemons, affecting mainly their appearance.

Publication reference of the specification

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (6))

Link to the specification posted on the website of the Conselleria:

http://www.agricultura.gva.es/web/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=311b8844-1ac9-4ac2-9301-e81705c4452f&groupId=16

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

(2) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

(3) Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

(4) In relation to the total weight of the fruit. Pressed manually.

(5) Minimum sugar/acid ration as defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 of 7 June 2011 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 in respect of the fruit and vegetables and processed fruit and vegetables sectors.

(6) See footnote 3.

		ISSN 1977-091X doi:10.3000/1977091X.C_2013.168.eng
Official Journal of the European Union		C 168

English edition	Information and Notices	Volume 56 14 June 2013

Notice No	Contents	page
	II Information
	INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	European Commission
2013/C 168/01	Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.6871 — Mohawk Industries/Spano Invest) ( 1 )	1

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,3315
JPY	Japanese yen	125,36
DKK	Danish krone	7,4591
GBP	Pound sterling	0,84950
SEK	Swedish krona	8,6765
CHF	Swiss franc	1,2290
ISK	Iceland króna
NOK	Norwegian krone	7,6770
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CZK	Czech koruna	25,728
HUF	Hungarian forint	294,85
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,7019
PLN	Polish zloty	4,2645
RON	Romanian leu	4,4715
TRY	Turkish lira	2,4897
AUD	Australian dollar	1,3919
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,3541
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	10,3387
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,6696
SGD	Singapore dollar	1,6669
KRW	South Korean won	1 510,58
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RUB	Russian rouble	42,7500
THB	Thai baht	40,997
BRL	Brazilian real	2,8511
MXN	Mexican peso	17,1166
INR	Indian rupee	77,3400

	IV Notices
	NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	Council
2013/C 168/02	Council conclusions on the social dimension of higher education	2

2013/C 168/03	Council conclusions on the contribution of quality youth work to the development, well-being and social inclusion of young people	5

2013/C 168/04	Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on dual careers for athletes	10

	European Commission
2013/C 168/05	Euro exchange rates	13

2013/C 168/06	SESAR Joint Undertaking — Budget 2013 and staff establishment plan 2013	14

	V Announcements
	PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY
	European Commission
2013/C 168/07	Communication of the Commission published pursuant to Article 27(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 in Case AT.39398 — VISA MIF ( 1 )	22

	OTHER ACTS
	European Commission
2013/C 168/08	Publication of an amendment application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs	26