ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 167

European flag  

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 61
15 May 2018


Notice No

Contents

page

 

II   Information

 

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

 

European Commission

2018/C 167/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.8845 — TA Associates/Rotschild/Datix) ( 1 )

1


 

IV   Notices

 

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

 

Council

2018/C 167/02

Council Decision of 14 May 2018 adopting the Council’s position on draft amending budget No 1 of the European Union for the financial year 2018

2

2018/C 167/03

Notice for the attention of the persons subject to the restrictive measures provided for in Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, as amended by Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/706, and in Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/705 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine

3

2018/C 167/04

Notice for the attention of the data subjects to whom the restrictive measures provided for in Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014, as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/705 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine apply

4

 

European Commission

2018/C 167/05

Euro exchange rates

5


 

V   Announcements

 

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

 

European Commission

2018/C 167/06

Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating in the People's Republic of China

6

 

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

 

European Commission

2018/C 167/07

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8914 — One Equity Partners/Walki Holding) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )

19

2018/C 167/08

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8918 — AEA Investors/BCI/Springs) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )

21


 

Corrigenda

2018/C 167/09

Corrigendum to the prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8856 — Archer Daniels Midland/Cargill/JV Egypt) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( OJ C 143, 24.4.2018 )

23


 


 

(1)   Text with EEA relevance.

EN

 


II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/1


Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.8845 — TA Associates/Rotschild/Datix)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 167/01)

On 10 April 2018, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). 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/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32018M8845. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law.


(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.


IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

Council

15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/2


COUNCIL DECISION

of 14 May 2018

adopting the Council’s position on draft amending budget No 1 of the European Union for the financial year 2018

(2018/C 167/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 314 thereof, in conjunction with the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 106a thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (1) and in particular Article 41 thereof,

Whereas:

the Union’s budget for the financial year 2018 was definitively adopted on 30 November 2017 (2),

on 22 February 2018, the Commission submitted a proposal containing draft amending budget No 1 to the general budget for the financial year 2018,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The Council’s position on draft amending budget No 1 of the European Union for the financial year 2018 was adopted on 14 May 2018.

The full text can be accessed for consultation or downloading on the Council’s website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/

Done at Brussels, 14 May 2018.

For the Council

The President

E. ZAHARIEVA


(1)  OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.

(2)  OJ L 57, 28.2.2018, p. 1.


15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/3


Notice for the attention of the persons subject to the restrictive measures provided for in Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, as amended by Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/706, and in Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/705 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine

(2018/C 167/03)

The following information is brought to the attention of the persons that appear in the Annex to Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP (1), as amended by Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/706 (2), and in Annex I to Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 (3), as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/705 (4) concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

The Council of the European Union has decided that the persons that appear in the above-mentioned Annexes should be included in the list of persons subject to restrictive measures provided for in Decision 2014/145/CFSP and in Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. The grounds for designations of those persons appear in the relevant entries in those Annexes.

The attention of the persons concerned is drawn to the possibility of making an application to the competent authorities of the relevant Member State(s) as indicated in the web sites in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 269/2014, in order to obtain an authorisation to use frozen funds for basic needs or specific payments (cf. Article 4 of the Regulation).

The persons concerned may submit a request to the Council, together with supporting documentation, that the decision to include them on the above-mentioned list should be reconsidered, to the following address before 1 June 2018:

Council of the European Union

General Secretariat

DG C 1C

Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175

1048 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Email: sanctions@consilium.europa.eu

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


(1)  OJ L 78, 17.3.2014, p. 16.

(2)  OJ L 118 I, 14.5.2018, p. 3.

(3)  OJ L 78, 17.3.2014, p. 6.

(4)  OJ L 118 I, 14.5.2018, p. 1.


15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/4


Notice for the attention of the data subjects to whom the restrictive measures provided for in Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014, as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/705 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine apply

(2018/C 167/04)

The attention of data subjects is drawn to the following information in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1):

The legal basis for this processing operation is Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 (2), as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/705 (3).

The controller of this processing operation is the Council of the European Union represented by the Director-General of DG C (Foreign Affairs, Enlargement, Civil Protection) of the General Secretariat of the Council and the department entrusted with the processing operation is the Unit 1C of DG C that can be contacted at:

Council of the European Union

General Secretariat

DG C 1C

Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175

1048 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Email: sanctions@consilium.europa.eu

The purpose of the processing operation is the establishment and updating of the list of persons subject to restrictive measures in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 269/2014, as implemented by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/705.

The data subjects are the natural persons who fulfil listing criteria as laid down in that Regulation.

The personal data collected includes data necessary for the correct identification of the person concerned, the Statement of Reasons and any other data related thereto.

The personal data collected may be shared as necessary with the European External Action Service and the Commission.

Without prejudice to restrictions provided for in Article 20(1)(a) and (d) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001, requests for access, as well as requests for rectification or objection will be answered in accordance with section 5 of Council Decision 2004/644/EC (4).

Personal data will be retained for 5 years from the moment the data subject has been removed from the list of persons subject to the asset freeze or the validity of the measure has expired, or for the duration of court proceedings in the event they had been started.

Data subjects may have recourse to the European Data Protection Supervisor in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.


(1)  OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

(2)  OJ L 78, 17.3.2014, p. 6.

(3)  OJ L 118 I, 14.5.2018, p. 1.

(4)  OJ L 296, 21.9.2004, p. 16.


European Commission

15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/5


Euro exchange rates (1)

14 May 2018

(2018/C 167/05)

1 euro =


 

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,1988

JPY

Japanese yen

131,27

DKK

Danish krone

7,4505

GBP

Pound sterling

0,88240

SEK

Swedish krona

10,2958

CHF

Swiss franc

1,1965

ISK

Iceland króna

122,20

NOK

Norwegian krone

9,5653

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

25,488

HUF

Hungarian forint

315,37

PLN

Polish zloty

4,2629

RON

Romanian leu

4,6290

TRY

Turkish lira

5,1748

AUD

Australian dollar

1,5861

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,5301

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,4103

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,7246

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,5980

KRW

South Korean won

1 280,74

ZAR

South African rand

14,6926

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,5973

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,3835

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

16 747,24

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,7359

PHP

Philippine peso

62,861

RUB

Russian rouble

73,8057

THB

Thai baht

38,170

BRL

Brazilian real

4,2927

MXN

Mexican peso

23,1847

INR

Indian rupee

80,9545


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


V Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

European Commission

15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/6


Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating in the People's Republic of China

(2018/C 167/06)

Following the publication of a Notice of impending expiry (1) of the anti-dumping measures in force on the imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating in the People's Republic of China (‘the country concerned’), the European Commission (‘the Commission’) has received a request for review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Union (2) (‘the basic Regulation’).

1.   Request for review

The request was lodged on 16 February 2018 by the FEPF – European Federation for Table-and Ornamentalware (‘the applicant’) representing more than 30 % of the total Union production of ceramic tableware and kitchenware.

2.   Product under review

The product subject to this review is ceramic tableware and kitchenware, excluding ceramic condiment or spice mills and their ceramic grinding parts, ceramic coffee mills, ceramic knife sharpeners, ceramic sharpeners, ceramic kitchen tools to be used for cutting, grinding, grating, slicing, scraping and peeling, and cordierite ceramic pizza-stones of a kind used for baking pizza or bread, currently falling within CN codes ex 6911 10 00, ex 6912 00 21, ex 6912 00 23, ex 6912 00 25 and ex 6912 00 29 (TARIC codes 6911100090, 6912002111, 6912002191, 6912002310, 6912002510 and 6912002910), and originating in the People's Republic of China (‘the product under review’).

3.   Existing measures

The measures currently in force are a definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 412/2013 (3).

4.   Grounds for the review

The request is based on the grounds that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in continuation of dumping and a continuation or recurrence of injury to the Union industry.

4.1.    Allegation of likelihood of continuation of dumping

The applicant claimed that it is not appropriate to use domestic prices and costs in the country concerned due to the existence of significant distortions within the meaning of point (b) of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation.

To substantiate the allegations of significant distortions, the applicant referred to a research report dated 9 November 2017 to describe the specific market circumstances in the table- and kitchenware ceramics industry in the country concerned. The report contains evidence of significantly distortive involvement of the State through various plans and programmes. The report also contains evidence of financial advantages and rebates related to innovation, exports, land, capital and labour for the production of the product under review.

The applicant also referred to the Commission staff working document dated 20 December 2017, titled ‘Report on Significant Distortions in the Economy of the PRC for the purposes of the trade defence investigations’ (4), describing the specific market circumstances in the country concerned and, in particular, the market distortions for the ceramic sector, electricity, and raw materials.

As a result, in view of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation, the allegation of continuation of dumping is based on a comparison of a constructed normal value on the basis of costs of production and sale reflecting undistorted prices or benchmarks in an appropriate representative country, with the export price (at ex-works level) of the product under review from the country concerned when sold for export to the Union. On that basis, the dumping margins calculated are significant for the country concerned.

In light of the information available, the Commission considers that there is sufficient evidence pursuant to Article 5(9) of the basic Regulation tending to show that, due to significant distortions affecting prices and costs, the use of domestic prices and costs in the country concerned is inappropriate, thus warranting the initiation of an investigation on the basis of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation.

4.2.    Allegation of likelihood of continuation or recurrence of injury

The applicant alleges likelihood of continuation of injury. The applicant provided evidence that dumped imports to the Union of the product under review from the country concerned have remained significant in absolute terms and in terms of market shares allowing the Chinese importing producers to maintain their dominant position in the Union market and keeping the EU producers in a fragile situation.

The applicant also alleges likelihood of recurrence of injury. In this respect, the applicant has also provided evidence that, should measures be allowed to lapse, the current import level of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union is likely to increase due to (i) the existence of unused capacity of the exporting producers in the country concerned and (ii) the attractiveness of the Union market in terms of volume and prices. In the absence of measures, Chinese export prices would be at a level low enough to injure the Union industry.

In addition, the applicant alleges that any substantial increase of imports at dumped prices from the country concerned would be likely to cause further injury to the Union industry should measures be allowed to lapse.

5.   Procedure

Having determined, after consulting the Committee established by Article 15(1) of the basic Regulation, that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an expiry review, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation.

The expiry review will determine whether the expiry of the measures would be likely to lead to a continuation of dumping of the product under review originating in the country concerned and a continuation or recurrence of injury to the Union industry.

5.1.    Review investigation period and period considered

The investigation of a continuation of dumping will cover the period from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 (‘the review investigation period’). The examination of trends relevant for the assessment of the likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury will cover the period from 1 January 2014 to the end of the investigation period (‘the period considered’).

5.2.    Procedure for the determination of a likelihood of continuation of dumping

In an expiry review, the Commission examines exports that were made to the Union in the review investigation period and, irrespective of exports to the Union, considers whether the situation of the companies producing and selling the product under review in the country concerned is such that exports at dumped prices to the Union would be likely to continue or recur if measures expire.

Therefore, all producers of the product under review from the country concerned, irrespective of whether or not they exported (5) the product under review to the Union in the review investigation period, are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.2.1.   Investigating producers in the country concerned

In view of the potentially large number of producers in the country concerned involved in this expiry review and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission may limit the producers to be investigated to a reasonable number by selecting a sample (this process is also referred to as ‘sampling’). The sampling will be carried out in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling is necessary, and if so, to select a sample, all producers, or representatives acting on their behalf, including the ones who did not cooperate in the investigation leading to the measures subject to this review, are hereby requested to make themselves known to the Commission. Those parties have to do so within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified, by providing the Commission with the information on their company(ies) requested in Annex I to this Notice.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for the selection of the sample of producers, the Commission will also contact the authorities of the country concerned and may contact any known associations of producers.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample, excluding the information requested above, must do so within 21 days of the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

If a sample is necessary, the producers will be selected based on the largest representative volume of production, sales or exports which can reasonably be investigated within the time available. All known producers, the authorities of the country concerned and associations of producers will be notified by the Commission, via the authorities of the country concerned if appropriate, of the companies selected to be in the sample.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation with regard to producers, the Commission will send questionnaires to the producers selected to be in the sample, to any known association of producers and to the authorities of the country concerned.

All producers selected to be in the sample will have to submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

Without prejudice to the possible application of Article 18 of the basic Regulation, companies that have agreed to their possible inclusion in the sample but are not selected to be in the sample will be considered to be cooperating (‘non-sampled cooperating producers’).

5.2.2.   Additional procedure with regard to the country concerned

In accordance with point (e) of Article 2(6a), the Commission will, shortly after initiation by means of a note to the file for inspection by interested parties, inform parties to the investigation about the relevant sources that it intends to use for the purpose of determining normal value pursuant to Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation. This will cover all sources, including the selection of an appropriate representative third country where appropriate. Parties to the investigation shall be given 10 days to comment from the date at which that note is added to the file for inspection by interested parties. According to the information available to the Commission, a possible representative third country is Brazil. With the aim of finally selecting the appropriate representative third country, the Commission will examine whether there is a similar level of economic development as the exporting country, whether there is production and sales of the product under review and whether relevant data are readily available. Where there is more than one such country, preference will be given, where appropriate, to countries with an adequate level of social and environmental protection.

With regard to the relevant sources, the Commission invites all producers in the country concerned to provide the information requested in Annex III to this Notice within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation with regard to the alleged significant distortions within the meaning of point (b) of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation, the Commission will also send a questionnaire to the Government of the country concerned.

Subject to the provisions of this Notice, all interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information and provide supporting evidence regarding the application of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation.

Unless otherwise specified, such information and supporting evidence must reach the Commission within 37 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

5.2.3.   Investigating unrelated importers  (6)  (7)

Unrelated importers of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union, including those that did not cooperate in the investigation leading to the measures in force, are invited to participate in this investigation.

In view of the potentially large number of unrelated importers involved in this expiry review and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission may limit to a reasonable number the unrelated importers that will be investigated by selecting a sample (this process is also referred to as ‘sampling’). The sampling will be carried out in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all unrelated importers, or representatives acting on their behalf, including the ones who did not cooperate in the investigation leading to the measures subject to the present review, are hereby requested to make themselves known to the Commission. Those parties must do so within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified, by providing the Commission with the information on their company(ies) requested in Annex II to this Notice.

In order to obtain information it deems necessary for the selection of the sample of unrelated importers, the Commission may also contact any known associations of importers.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample, excluding the information requested above, must do so within 21 days of the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

If a sample is necessary, the importers may be selected based on the largest representative volume of sales of the product under review in the Union which can reasonably be investigated within the time available. All known unrelated importers and associations of importers will be notified by the Commission of the companies selected to be in the sample.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the sampled unrelated importers and to any known association of importers. Those parties must submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of the notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

5.3.    Procedure for the determination of a likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury

In order to establish whether there is a likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury to the Union industry, Union producers of the product under review are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.3.1.   Investigating Union producers

In view of the large number of Union producers involved in this expiry review and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission has decided to limit to a reasonable number the Union producers that will be investigated by selecting a sample (this process is also referred to as ‘sampling’). The sampling is carried out in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

The Commission has provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. Details can be found in the file for inspection by interested parties. Interested parties are hereby invited to consult the file (for this they should contact the Commission using the contact details provided in section 5.7 below). Other Union producers, or representatives acting on their behalf, including Union producers who did not cooperate in the investigation leading to the measures in force, that consider that there are reasons why they should be included in the sample must contact the Commission within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample must do so within 21 days of the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

All known Union producers and/or associations of Union producers will be notified by the Commission of the companies finally selected to be in the sample.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the sampled Union producers and to any known associations of Union producers. Those parties must submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of the notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

5.4.    Procedure for the assessment of Union interest

Should the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury be confirmed, a decision will be reached, pursuant to Article 21 of the basic Regulation, as to whether maintaining the anti-dumping measures would not be against the Union interest. Union producers, importers and their representative associations, users and their representative associations, and representative consumer organisations are invited to make themselves known within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. In order to participate in the investigation, the representative consumer organisations have to demonstrate, within the same deadline, that there is an objective link between their activities and the product under review.

Parties that make themselves known within the 15 days deadline may provide the Commission with information on the Union interest within 37 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. That information may be provided either in a free format or by completing a questionnaire prepared by the Commission. In any case, information submitted pursuant to Article 21 will only be taken into account if supported by factual evidence at the time of submission.

5.5.    Other written submissions

Subject to the provisions of this Notice, all interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information and provide supporting evidence.

Unless otherwise specified, such information and supporting evidence must reach the Commission within 37 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

5.6.    Possibility to be heard by the Commission investigation services

All interested parties may request to be heard by the Commission investigation services. Any request to be heard must be made in writing and must specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation the request must be submitted within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. Thereafter, a request to be heard must be submitted within the specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties.

5.7.    Instructions for making written submissions and sending completed questionnaires and correspondence

Information submitted to the Commission for the purpose of trade defence investigations shall be free from copyrights. Interested parties, before submitting to the Commission information and/or data which is subject to third party copyrights, must request specific permission to the copyright holder explicitly allowing a) the Commission to use the information and data for the purpose of this trade defence proceeding and b) to provide the information and/or data to interested parties to this investigation in a form that allows them to exercise their rights of defence.

All written submissions, including the information requested in this Notice, completed questionnaires and correspondence provided by interested parties for which confidential treatment is requested shall be labelled ‘Limited’ (8). Parties submitting information in the course of this investigation are invited to reason their request for confidential treatment.

Interested parties providing ‘Limited’ information are required to furnish non-confidential summaries of it pursuant to Article 19(2) of the basic Regulation, which will be labelled ‘For inspection by interested parties’. Those summaries must be sufficiently detailed to permit a reasonable understanding of the substance of the information submitted in confidence. If a party providing confidential information fails to show good cause for a confidential treatment request or does not furnish a non-confidential summary of it in the requested format and quality, the Commission may disregard such information unless it can be satisfactorily demonstrated from appropriate sources that the information is correct.

Interested parties are invited to make all submissions and requests by email including scanned powers of attorney and certification sheets, with the exception of voluminous replies which shall be submitted on a CD-ROM or DVD by hand or by registered mail. By using email, interested parties express their agreement with the rules applicable to electronic submissions contained in the document ‘CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN TRADE DEFENCE CASES’ published on the website of the Directorate-General for Trade: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/june/tradoc_148003.pdf The interested parties must indicate their name, address, telephone and a valid email address and they should ensure that the provided email address is a functioning official business email which is checked on a daily basis. Once contact details are provided, the Commission will communicate with interested parties by email only, unless they explicitly request to receive all documents from the Commission by another means of communication or unless the nature of the document to be sent requires the use of a registered mail. For further rules and information concerning correspondence with the Commission including principles that apply to submissions by email, interested parties should consult the communication instructions with interested parties referred to above.

Commission address for correspondence:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Trade

Directorate H

Office: CHAR 04/039

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Email

:

TRADE-R687-TABLEWARE-DUMPING@ec.europa.eu

TRADE-R687-TABLEWARE-INJURY@ec.europa.eu

6.   Non-cooperation

In cases where any interested party refuses access to or does not provide the necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, findings, affirmative or negative, may be made on the basis of facts available, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation.

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information may be disregarded and use may be made of facts available.

If an interested party does not cooperate or cooperates only partially and findings are therefore based on facts available in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

Failure to give a computerised response shall not be deemed to constitute non-cooperation, provided that the interested party shows that presenting the response as requested would result in an unreasonable extra burden or unreasonable additional cost. The interested party should immediately contact the Commission.

7.   Hearing Officer

Interested parties may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer in trade proceedings. The Hearing Officer acts as an interface between the interested parties and the Commission investigation services. The Hearing Officer reviews requests for access to the file, disputes regarding the confidentiality of documents, requests for extension of time limits and requests by third parties to be heard. The Hearing Officer may organise a hearing with an individual interested party and mediate to ensure that the interested parties' rights of defence are being fully exercised.

A request for a hearing with the Hearing Officer should be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation the request must be submitted within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

For further information and contact details interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer's web pages on DG Trade's website: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/trade-policy-and-you/contacts/hearing-officer/

8.   Schedule of the investigation

The investigation will be concluded, pursuant to Article 11(5) of the basic Regulation within 15 months of the date of the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

9.   Possibility to request a review under Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation

As this expiry review is initiated in accordance with the provisions of Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation, the findings thereof will not lead to the existing measures being amended but will lead to those measures being repealed or maintained in accordance with Article 11(6) of the basic Regulation.

If any interested party considers that a review of the measures is warranted so as to allow for the possibility to amend the measures, that party may request a review pursuant to Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation.

Parties wishing to request such a review, which would be carried out independently of the expiry review mentioned in this Notice, may contact the Commission at the address given above.

10.   Processing of personal data

Any personal data collected in this investigation will be treated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (9).


(1)  OJ C 268, 12.8.2017, p. 5.

(2)  OJ L 131, 15.5.2013, p. 1.

(3)  Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 412/2013 of 13 May 2013 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating in the People's Republic of China (OJ L 131, 15.5.2013, p. 1).

(4)  SWD(2017)483 final/2 available at: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2017/december/tradoc_156474.pdf.

(5)  A producer is any company in the country concerned which produces the product under review, including any of its related companies involved in the production, domestic sales or exports of the product under review.

(6)  Only importers not related to producers can be sampled. Importers that are related to producers have to fill in Annex I to the questionnaire for these exporting producers. In accordance with Article 127 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code, two persons shall be deemed to be related if: (a) they are officers or directors of the other person's business; (b) they are legally recognised partners in business; (c) they are employer and employee; (d) a third party directly or indirectly owns, controls or holds 5 % or more of the outstanding voting stock or shares of both of them; (e) one of them directly or indirectly controls the other; (f) both of them are directly or indirectly controlled by a third person; (g) together they control a third person directly or indirectly; or (h) they are members of the same family (OJ L 343, 29.12.2015, p. 558). Persons shall be deemed to be members of the same family only if they stand in any of the following relationships to one another: (i) husband and wife, (ii) parent and child, (iii) brother and sister (whether by whole or half blood), (iv) grandparent and grandchild, (v) uncle or aunt and nephew or niece, (vi) parent-in-law and son-in-law or daughter-in-law, (vii) brother-in-law and sister-in-law. In accordance with Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code, ‘person’ means a natural person, a legal person, and any association of persons which is not a legal person but which is recognised under Union or national law as having the capacity to perform legal acts (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1).

(7)  The data provided by unrelated importers may also be used in relation to aspects of this investigation other than the determination of dumping.

(8)  A ‘Limited’ document is a document which is considered confidential pursuant to Article 19 of the basic Regulation and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-Dumping Agreement). It is also a document protected pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43).

(9)  OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.


ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

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ANNEX III

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PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/19


Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8914 — One Equity Partners/Walki Holding)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 167/07)

1.

On 27 April 2018, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

One Equity Partners VII, LP (‘OEP’, Cayman Islands),

Walki Holding Oy (‘Walki’, Finland).

OEP acquires — indirectly through its subsidiary OEP FiberPack Cayman Co. Ltd — within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Walki.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for OEP: private equity funds,

—   for Walki: technical laminates and protective packaging materials.

3.

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

Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

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

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.8914 — One Equity Partners/Walki Holding

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË


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

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.


15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/21


Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8918 — AEA Investors/BCI/Springs)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2018/C 167/08)

1.

On 4 May 2018, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

AEA Investors LP (together with its affiliates ‘AEA’, United States),

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (together with its affiliates ‘BCI’, Canada), and

SIWF Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries ‘Springs’, United States).

AEA and BCI acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Springs.

The concentration is accomplished by way of a purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for AEA: private equity fund with investments in various sectors, in particular value added industrial products, specialty chemicals, consumer/retail and services,

—   for BCI: investing on behalf of public sector clients in fixed income, mortgages, public and private equity, real estate, infrastructure and renewable resources,

—   for Springs: manufacture and supply of a variety of window coverings, e.g. blinds, shades, shutters, draperies and retractable awnings. Springs distributes its products under the brands Bali, Graber, SWFcontract, Horizons, MechoSystems, Sunsetter, Mariak, and Patrician.

3.

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

Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

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

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.8918 — AEA Investors/BCI/Springs

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË


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

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.


Corrigenda

15.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 167/23


Corrigendum to the prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8856 — Archer Daniels Midland/Cargill/JV Egypt) — Candidate case for simplified procedure

( Official Journal of the European Union C 143 of 24 April 2018 )

(2018/C 167/09)

On page 10, point 1, first line:

for:

‘On 17 April 2018’,

read:

‘On 16 April 2018’.