10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/1

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Communication from the Commission concerning the prolongation of the application of the Community framework for State aid for research and development and innovation

2013/C 360/01

According to its point 10.3, second paragraph, the Community framework for State aid for research and development and innovation (‘the R&D&I Framework’) (1) is applicable until 31 December 2013.

In its communication on EU State Aid Modernisation of 8 May 2012 (2), the Commission launched an ambitious reform programme which includes identifying common principles for assessing the compatibility of aid with the internal market. As a consequence, the various State aid guidelines and frameworks are being revised and streamlined to ensure consistency with those common principles.

The revision of the R&D&I Framework takes place in the context of the overall process to modernise State aid rules, and is in particular closely interlinked with the parallel development of the future General Block Exemption Regulation. In order to ensure a consistent approach across all State aid instruments, and having regard to the need for continuity and legal certainty in the treatment of State aid for research and development and innovation, the Commission has therefore decided to continue to apply the R&D&I Framework until 30 June 2014.

In the light of the extension of its period of validity, Member States may also want to prolong those aid schemes authorised by the Commission after assessment under the R&D&I Framework, and which would otherwise lapse on 31 December 2013, for a similar period. In order to reduce the related administrative burden, the prolongation of all such schemes can be subject of a single notification under the simplified procedure laid down in Article 4 of the Implementing Regulation (3).

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(1)  OJ C 323, 31.12.2006, p. 1.

(2)  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on EU State Aid Modernisation (SAM), COM(2012) 209 final.

(3)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 of 21 April 2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p. 1).

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/2

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 360/02

Date of adoption of the decision	14.8.2013
Reference number of State Aid	SA.36731 (13/N)
Member State	Poland
Region	Pomorskie	Article 107(3)(a)
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	WNS Global Services (UK) Limited (Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością) Oddział w Polsce
Legal basis	Projekt umowy ramowej o udzielenie dotacji celowej pomiędzy WNS Global Services (UK) Limited (Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością) Oddział w Polsce a Ministrem Gospodarki „Program wspierania inwestycji o istotnym znaczeniu dla gospodarki polskiej na lata 2011–2020”, przyjęty przez Radę Ministrów w dniu 5 lipca 2011 r. na podstawie art. 19 ust. 2 ustawy z dnia 6 grudnia 2006 r. o zasadach prowadzenia polityki rozwoju (Dz.U. z 2009 r. nr 84, poz. 712 i nr 157, poz. 1241), zmieniony uchwałą Rady Ministrów z dnia 20 marca 2012 r., zwany dalej „Programem”
Type of measure	Ad hoc aid	WNS Global Services (UK) Limited (Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością) Oddział w Polsce
Objective	Regional development, Employment
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Overall budget: PLN 2,22 million
Intensity	2,55 %
Duration (period)	Until 31.12.2015
Economic sectors	Business and other management consultancy activities
Name and address of the granting authority	Minister Gospodarki Plac Trzech Krzyży 3/5 00-507 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/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm

Date of adoption of the decision	23.8.2013
Reference number of State Aid	SA.36814 (13/N)
Member State	Poland
Region	Dolnośląskie	Article 107(3)(a)
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	BNY Mellon Poland Sp. z o.o.
Legal basis	Projekt umowy ramowej o udzielenie dotacji celowej pomiędzy BNY Mellon (Poland) Sp. z o.o. a Ministrem Gospodarki „Program wspierania inwestycji o istotnym znaczeniu dla gospodarki polskiej na lata 2011–2020”, przyjęty przez Radę Ministrów w dniu 5 lipca 2011 r. na podstawie art. 19 ust. 2 ustawy z dnia 6 grudnia 2006 r. o zasadach prowadzenia polityki rozwoju (Dz.U. z 2009 r. nr 84, poz. 712 i nr 157, poz. 1241), zmieniony uchwałą Rady Ministrów z dnia 20 marca 2012 r.
Type of measure	Ad hoc aid	BNY Mellon Poland Sp. z o.o.
Objective	Regional development, Employment
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Overall budget: PLN 2,79 million
Intensity	4,72 %
Duration (period)	Until 31.12.2015
Economic sectors	Business and other management consultancy activities
Name and address of the granting authority	Minister Gospodarki Plac Trzech Krzyży 3/5 00-507 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/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm

Date of adoption of the decision	2.8.2013
Reference number of State Aid	SA.36900 (13/N)
Member State	Austria
Region	Steiermark	—
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Neufassung des Venture Capital Programms des Landes Steiermark
Legal basis	Beschluss der steiermärkischen Landesregierung GZ FA14C 17-33/02-77 vom 10. Juni 2001
Type of measure	Scheme	—
Objective	Risk capital
Form of aid	Provision of risk capital
Budget	Overall budget: EUR 4,98 million   Annual budget: EUR 0,71 million
Intensity	100 %
Duration (period)	Until 31.12.2020
Economic sectors	All economic sectors eligible to receive aid
Name and address of the granting authority	Steirische Beteiligungsfinanzierungsgesellschaft m. b. H. (StBFG) Nikolaiplatz 3 8020 Graz ÖSTERREICH
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/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm

Date of adoption of the decision	9.9.2013
Reference number of State Aid	SA.37077 (13/N)
Member State	Poland
Region	Kujawsko-Pomorskie	Article 107(3)(a)
Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)	Itella Information Sp. z o.o.
Legal basis	— Projekt umowy ramowej o udzielenie dotacji celowej pomiędzy Itella Information Sp. z o.o. a Ministrem Gospodarki — „Program wspierania inwestycji o istotnym znaczeniu dla gospodarki polskiej na lata 2011–2020”, przyjęty przez Radę Ministrów w dniu 5 lipca 2011 r. na podstawie art. 19 ust. 2 ustawy z dnia 6 grudnia 2006 r. o zasadach prowadzenia polityki rozwoju (Dz.U. z 2009 r. nr 84, poz. 712 i nr 157, poz. 1241) zmieniony uchwałą Rady Ministrów z dnia 20 marca 2012 r.
Type of measure	Ad hoc aid	Itella Information Sp. z o.o.
Objective	Regional development, Employment
Form of aid	Direct grant
Budget	Overall budget: PLN 1,44 million
Intensity	5,74 %
Duration (period)	—
Economic sectors	Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy
Name and address of the granting authority	Minister Gospodarki Plac Trzech Krzyży 3/5 00-507 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/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/6

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.7065 — Triton/Bosch Rexroth Pneumatics Holding)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 360/03

On 3 December 2013, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

—	in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

—	in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32013M7065. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law.

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/6

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.7045 — AP/Pastor Vida)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 360/04

On 4 December 2013, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

—	in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

—	in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32013M7045. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law.

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/7

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.7084 — Medtronic Vascular/Backston/JV)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 360/05

On 3 December 2013, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

—	in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

—	in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32013M7084. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law.

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/7

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.7086 — Fondo Strategico Italiano/Ansaldo Energia)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 360/06

On 3 December 2013, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

—	in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

—	in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32013M7086. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law.

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/8

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COUNCIL DECISION

of 2 December 2013

appointing the members and alternate members of the Governing Board of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

2013/C 360/07

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2062/94 of 18 July 1994 establishing a European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (1), and in particular Article 8 thereof,

Having regard to the lists of nominations for appointment submitted to the Council by the Governments of the Member States and by the employees’ and the employers’ organisations,

Having regard to the lists of members and alternate members of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work,

Whereas:

(1)	By its Decision of 22 November 2010 (2), the Council appointed the members and alternate members of the Governing Board of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the period from 8 November 2010 to 7 November 2013.

(2)	The members and alternate members of the Governing Board of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work should be appointed for a period of three years,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following shall be appointed members and alternate members of the Governing Board of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the period ending on 7 November 2016:

I.   GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES

Country	Members	Alternates
Belgium	Mr Jan BATEN	Ms Véronique CRUTZEN
Bulgaria	Ms Darina KONOVA	Ms Vaska SEMERDZHIEVA
Czech Republic	Mr Jaroslav HLAVÍN	Ms Anežka SIXTOVÁ
Denmark	Ms Charlotte SKJOLDAGER	Ms Annemarie KNUDSEN
Germany	Mr Kai SCHÄFER	Ms Ellen ZWINK
Estonia	Ms Kristel PLANGI	Mr Rein REISBERG
Ireland	Ms Margaret LAWLOR	Ms Paula GOUGH
Greece	Mr Antonios CHRISTODOULOU	Ms Stamatia PISIMISI
Croatia	Mr Zdravko MURATTI	Ms Inga ŽIC
Spain	Ms María Dolores LIMÓN TAMÉS	Mr Mario GRAU RÍOS
France	Ms Sophie BARON	Mr Olivier MEUNIER
Italy	Mr Paolo ONELLI	Ms Carla ANTONUCCI
Cyprus	Mr Anastassios YIANNAKI	Mr Aristodemos ECONOMIDES
Latvia	Mr Renārs LŪSIS	Ms Jolanta GEDUŠA
Lithuania	Ms Aldona SABAITIENĖ	Ms Vilija KONDROTIENĖ
Luxembourg	Mr Robert HUBERTY	Mr Raoul SCHMIDT
Hungary
Malta	Mr Mark GAUCI	Mr Vincent ATTARD
Netherlands	Mr Rob TRIEMSTRA	Mr Martin G. DEN HELD
Austria	Ms Gertrud BREINDL	Ms Anna RITZBERGER-MOSER
Poland	Ms Danuta KORADECKA	Mr Daniel Andrzej PODGÓRSKI
Portugal	Mr Antόnio SANTOS	Mr Carlos PEREIRA
Romania	Mr Niculae VOINOIU	Mr Marian TĂNASE
Slovenia	Ms Tatjana PETRIČEK	Mr Jože HAUKO
Slovakia	Ms Laurencia JANČUROVÁ	Ms Eleonόra FABIÁNOVÁ
Finland	Mr Leo SUOMAA	Mr Wiking HUSBERG
Sweden	Mr Mikael SJÖBERG	Mr Per EWALDSSON
United Kingdom	Mr Clive FLEMING	Mr Stuart BRISTOW

II.   REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYEES’ ORGANISATIONS

Country	Members	Alternates
Belgium	Mr François PHILIPS	Mr Herman FONCK
Bulgaria	Mr Aleksander ZAGOROV	Mr Ivan KOKALOV
Czech Republic	Mr Miroslav KOSINA	Ms Radka SOKOLOVÁ
Denmark	Mr Jan KAHR FREDERIKSEN	Mr Stephan AGGER
Germany
Estonia	Mr Argo SOON	Ms Aija MAASIKAS
Ireland	Mr Sylvester CRONIN	Ms Esther LYNCH
Greece	Mr Andreas STOIMENIDIS	Mr Ioannis ADAMAKIS
Croatia	Ms Gordana PALAJSA	Mr Marko PALADA
Spain	Mr Pedro J. LINARES	Ms Marisa RUFINO
France
Italy	Mr Marco LUPI	Mr Sebastiano CALLERI
Cyprus
Latvia	Mr Ziedonis ANTAPSONS	Mr Mārtiņš PUŽULS
Lithuania
Luxembourg	Mr Serge SCHIMOFF	Mr Marcel GOEREND
Hungary	Mr Károly GYÖRGY	Mr Szilárd SOMLAI
Malta	Mr Anthony CASARU	Mr Joseph CARABOTT
Netherlands	Mr H. VAN STEENBERGEN	Ms Sonja BALJEU
Austria	Ms Julia NEDJELIK-LISCHKA	Mr Alexander HEIDER
Poland	Mr Dariusz GOC	Ms Marzena FLIS
Portugal		Mr Fernando José MACHADO GOMES
Romania	Mr Corneliu CONSTANTINOAIA	Mr Adrian CLIPII
Slovenia
Slovakia	Mr Bohuslav BENDÍK	Mr Alexander ŤAŽÍK
Finland	Mr Erkki AUVINEN	Ms Paula ILVESKIVI
Sweden	Ms Christina JÄRNSTEDT
United Kingdom	Mr Hugh ROBERTSON

III.   REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYERS’ ORGANISATIONS

Country	Members	Alternates
Belgium	Mr Kris DE MEESTER	Mr Thierry VANMOL
Bulgaria	Mr Georgi STOEV
Czech Republic	Mr Karel PETRŽELKA	Mr Martin RÖHRICH
Denmark		Ms Christina SODE HASLUND
Germany	Mr Eckhard METZE	Mr Stefan ENGEL
Estonia	Mr Marek SEPP	Ms Marju PEÄRNBERG
Ireland	Ms Theresa DOYLE	Mr Carl ANDERS
Greece	Mr Christos KAVALOPOULOS	Mr Pavlos KYRIAKONGONAS
Croatia	Mr Nenad SEIFERT	Ms Admira RIBIČIĊ
Spain	Ms Marina GORDON ORTIZ
France
Italy	Ms Fabiola LEUZZI
Cyprus	Mr Polyvios POLYVIOU	Mr Emilios MICHAEL
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg	Mr François ENGELS	Mr Pierre BLAISE
Hungary
Malta
Netherlands	Mr W.M.J.M. VAN MIERLO	Mr R. VAN BEEK
Austria	Ms Christa SCHWENG	Ms Julia ENZELSBERGER
Poland
Portugal	Mr Manuel Marcelino PENA COSTA	Mr Luís HENRIQUE
Romania	Mr Ovidiu NICOLESCU	Mr Octavian Alexandru BOJAN
Slovenia	Mr Igor ANTAUER
Slovakia	Mr Rόbert MEITNER
Finland	Mr Jan SCHUGK	Mr Rauno TOIVONEN
Sweden	Ms Bodil MELLBLOM	Ms Cecilia ANDERSSON
United Kingdom	Ms Lena TOCHTERMANN	Ms Hannah MURPHY

Article 2

The Council will appoint the members and alternate members not yet nominated at a later date.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

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(1)  OJ L 216, 20.8.1994, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 322, 27.11.2010, p. 3.

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/12

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Euro exchange rates (1)

9 December 2013

2013/C 360/08

1 euro =

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,3722
JPY	Japanese yen	141,33
DKK	Danish krone	7,4602
GBP	Pound sterling	0,83765
SEK	Swedish krona	8,9554
CHF	Swiss franc	1,2231
ISK	Iceland króna
NOK	Norwegian krone	8,4285
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9558
CZK	Czech koruna	27,498
HUF	Hungarian forint	301,57
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,7031
PLN	Polish zloty	4,1867
RON	Romanian leu	4,4482
TRY	Turkish lira	2,7864
AUD	Australian dollar	1,5101
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,4633
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	10,6396
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,6587
SGD	Singapore dollar	1,7139
KRW	South Korean won	1 440,61
ZAR	South African rand	14,1802
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	8,3330
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,6445
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	16 240,30
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,4031
PHP	Philippine peso	60,531
RUB	Russian rouble	44,9260
THB	Thai baht	44,089
BRL	Brazilian real	3,1885
MXN	Mexican peso	17,6094
INR	Indian rupee	83,8890

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

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/13

---

COMMISSION DECISION

of 9 December 2013

amending Decision 2010/206/EU appointing the members of the group for technical advice on organic production and drawing up the pool list

2013/C 360/09

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Commission Decision 2009/427/EC of 3 June 2009 establishing the expert group for technical advice on organic production (1), and in particular Article 4(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

By Decision 2009/427/EC the Commission has set up the expert group for technical advice on organic production (‘the group’). By Commission Decision 2010/206/EU (2) the permanent members of the group have been appointed and the pool list has been drawn up for a period of application of that Decision ending on 31 December 2013.

(2)

Technical advice on organic production has an important role to play in the light of the evolution of the organic sector. It is also necessary to ensure continuity in relation to the work of the group. The application of Decision 2010/206/EU should therefore be extended and the mandate of the permanent members should be renewed for a second three-year term.

(3)

In accordance with Decision 2009/427/EC, it is necessary to fix a three-year period for the mandate of the permanent members and the period of application of this Decision. However, substance and practices authorisation procedure, including technical advice, will need to be adapted to forthcoming legislative developments relating to the organic production, if necessary within short time limits. The permanent members of the group should therefore be prepared for a possible review of their mandate in the light of the on-going review of the organic legislation.

(4)	Due to the resignations of three permanent members of the group, it is appropriate to appoint three experts from the pool list in Annex II to Decision 2010/206/EU as permanent members. The lists in Annex I and Annex II to that Decision should therefore be updated.

(5)	Decision 2010/206/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Decision 2010/206/EU is amended as follows:

1.	In Article 2 the date of ‘31 December 2013’ is replaced by ‘31 December 2016’.

2.	Annex I is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.

3.	In Annex II, the following names are removed from the list: ‘— Keith BALL — Michel BOUILHOL — Roberto GARCÍA RUIZ’.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

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(1)  OJ L 139, 5.6.2009, p. 29.

(2)  Commission Decision 2010/206/EU of 28 September 2010 appointing the members of the group for technical advice on organic production and drawing up the pool list (OJ C 262, 29.9.2010, p. 3).

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/15

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Appointment of the Hearing Officer in trade proceedings

2013/C 360/10

With effect from 1 January 2014, the Commission appointed Mr Gerhard WELGE to the post of Hearing Officer, in accordance with Article 3 of the Decision of the President of the European Commission of 29 February 2012 on the function and terms of reference of the hearing officer in certain trade proceedings (OJ L 107, 19.4.2012, p. 5).

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/16

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Notification by the Czech Republic concerning visa reciprocity (1)

2013/C 360/11

Ambassador Martin Povejšil

Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU

Brussels, 19 November 2013

Ref. No 3494/2013-SZEU/JAV

Dear Director General,

I am pleased to inform you that on 14 November 2013 the Czech Republic was informed by the Government of Canada that as of that date, effective immediately, the Czech nationals will no longer require a visa while travelling to Canada. Based on this announcement, the Czech nationals could enter and stay in Canada for up to six months visa-free.

Herewith the Czech Republic would like to submit a notification in accordance with Article 1, paragraph 4, letter f) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement — please see attached in the annex.

Since the restoration of visa-free regime was always considered as a very sensitive issue for the Czech Republic, I would like to thank you for the support and cooperation in this matter.

[Complimentary close]

Mr Rafael Fernandez PITA

Director-General

Directorate-General D

General Secretariat of the Council

Brussels

Notification by the Czech Republic

In accordance with Article 1 paragraph 4 point f) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement as amended by the Council Regulation (EC) No 851/2005 of 2 June 2005, the Czech Republic hereby notifies that Canada has abolished the visa requirement for nationals of the Czech Republic with effect as of 14 November 2013.

Since 14 November 2013, nationals of the Czech Republic, holders of the Czech passports, are not required to have a visa to Canada for stays not exceeding six months.

Canada unilaterally introduced the visa requirement for nationals of the Czech Republic, holders of the Czech passports, as of 14 July 2009.

18 November 2013.

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(1)  This notification is published in conformity with Article 1(4)(f) of Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 (OJ L 81, 21.3.2001, p. 2).

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10.12.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 360/17

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Update of the list of national services responsible for border controls for the purposes of Article 15(2) of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (OJ C 247, 13.10.2006, p. 17; OJ C 77, 5.4.2007, p. 11; OJ C 153, 6.7.2007, p. 21; OJ C 331, 31.12.2008, p. 15; OJ C 87, 1.4.2010, p. 15; OJ C 180, 21.6.2012, p. 2; OJ C 98, 5.4.2013, p. 2; OJ C 256, 5.9.2013, p. 14)

2013/C 360/12

The publication of the list of national services responsible for border controls for the purposes of Article 15(2) of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) is based on the information communicated by the Member States to the Commission in conformity with Article 34 of the Schengen Borders Code.

In addition to the publication in the Official Journal, a monthly update is available on the website of the Directorate-General for Home Affairs.

SWITZERLAND

Amendment of the information published in OJ C 331, 31.12.2008

The national service responsible for border controls:

(a)	cantonal police force in the cantons of Geneva, Zürich, Bern, Soleure and Valais;

(b)	border guard service: the border guard service carries out checks on persons at the border as part of its normal duties and pursuant to agreements between the Federal Department of Finance and the cantons (Article 23(2) of the Ordinance on the entry and visa procedure, OPEV; RS 142.204).

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