(1)

In the Combined Nomenclature set out in Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 (1), the CN codes for monitors are 8471 and 8528.

(2)

For the classification of monitors outside CN code 8528, certain conditions are to be met. The convergence of information technology, consumer electronics industries and new technologies has created a situation where it is becoming impossible, when classifying monitors, to determine, by reference to simple technical characteristics, the main purpose of a particular monitor. It follows from the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Communities that classification cannot be based on actual use. The correct classification of individual products is to be based on objective and quantifiable data. It is currently not feasible to establish unambiguous criteria meeting this requirement.

(3)

Trade data indicate that currently monitors using liquid crystal display technology, with a diagonal measurement of the screen of 48,5 cm or less and a screen aspect ratio of 4:3 or 5:4, are mainly used as output units of automatic data-processing machines. However, such monitors are frequently also capable of reproducing video images from a source other than an automatic data-processing machine and therefore do not meet the condition of being solely or principally for use with such machines. Such monitors are therefore not covered by the Agreement on trade in information technology products (2) or by the Communication on its implementation, both of which were approved on behalf of the Community by Council Decision 97/359/EC of 24 March 1997 concerning the elimination of duties on information technology products (3).

(4)

It is in the interest of the Community to suspend totally, for a limited period, the autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties for monitors using liquid crystal display technology, with a diagonal measurement of the screen of 48,5 cm or less and a screen aspect ratio of 4:3 or 5:4 and classifiable under CN code 8528 21 90. This measure should therefore expire by 31 December 2006, unless the Council decides to prolong it.

(5)

Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6)

Since the amendment introduced by this Regulation is to be applied from the same date as the Combined Nomenclature for 2005 laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1810/2004 (4), this Regulation should enter into force immediately and apply from 1 January 2005,

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the standard values for imports from third countries, in respect of the products and periods stipulated in the Annex thereto.

(2)

In compliance with the above criteria, the standard import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the Annex to this Regulation,

(1)

Under Commission Regulation (EC) No 824/2000 of 19 April 2000 establishing procedures for the taking-over of cereals by intervention agencies and laying down methods of analysis for determining the quality of cereals (2), should an offer be admissible, operators are be informed as soon as possible of the delivery schedule. To this end, under Article 4(3) of that Regulation the final delivery to the intervention centre for which the offer is made must take place not later than the end of the fourth month following the month during which the offer was received.

(2)

The 2004/2005 marketing year is the first year of application of the intervention mechanism for cereals in the Member States which joined the European Community on 1 May 2004.

(3)

Good weather conditions led to a bumper harvest in 2004 in the new Member States, resulting in domestic market prices well below the intervention price. As a result, since the intervention period was opened in November 2004, relatively large quantities of cereals have been offered for intervention. Due to the large quantities offered for intervention and their geographical spread, it is not possible to comply with the delivery deadline of 31 March 2005. To allow sufficient quantities of cereals offered to be taken over, the delivery period should be extended, and a derogation should therefore be made from Regulation (EC) No 824/2000.

(4)

Given the urgency of the market situation, which requires immediate measures, provision should be made for the immediate application of the measures provided for in this Regulation.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,

(1)

The accounts of the ECB and of the national central banks of the Eurosystem are to be audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union.

(2)

According to a recent change in Portuguese law the auditing of accounts must now be carried out exclusively by revisores oficiais de contas (certified auditors). The Governing Council of the ECB therefore recommended that the Council of the European Union approve the replacement of PricewaterhouseCoopers — Auditores e Consultores, Lda. as external auditor of the Banco de Portugal by PricewaterhouseCoopers & Associados — Sociedade de Revisores Oficiais de Contas, Lda., since the former does not have the status of certified auditor.

(3)

The Governing Council of the ECB recommended no change in the duration of the external auditor’s mandate.

(4)

It is appropriate to follow the recommendation of the Governing Council of the ECB and to amend Decision 1999/70/EC of 25 January 1999 concerning the external auditors of the national central banks (2) accordingly,