1.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/1

(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,

1.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/3

(1)

Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 states that the import duty on products falling within CN codes 1001 10 00, 1001 90 91, ex 1001 90 99 (high quality common wheat), 1002, ex 1005 other than hybrid seed, and ex 1007 other than hybrids for sowing, is to be equal to the intervention price valid for such products on importation and increased by 55 %, minus the cif import price applicable to the consignment in question. However, that duty may not exceed the rate of duty in the Common Customs Tariff.

(2)

Article 10(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 lays down that, for the purposes of calculating the import duty referred to in paragraph 2 of that Article, representative cif import prices are to be established on a regular basis for the products in question.

(3)

Under Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1249/96, the price to be used for the calculation of the import duty on products of CN codes 1001 10 00, 1001 90 91, ex 1001 90 99 (high quality common wheat), 1002 00, 1005 10 90, 1005 90 00 and 1007 00 90 is the daily cif representative import price determined as specified in Article 4 of that Regulation.

(4)

Import duties should be fixed for the period from 1 March 2007, and should apply until new import duties are fixed and enter into force,

1.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/6

(1)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 (2) lays down a management system for tariff quotas. To reduce the administrative burden and costs at importation and to promote uniformity of treatment, provision has been made that certain tariff quotas are to be considered as critical. Experience with the system and improved use of electronic exchange of data between the Member States and the Commission have shown that the criteria used in determining the critical status can be further relaxed without a risk to the Community's own resources. Accordingly a tariff quota should be considered as critical where 90 % of the initial quota volume, instead of 75 % as in the current system, has been used.

(2)

The need to carry out surveillance of goods in order to obtain data related to imports and exports has increased considerably. As a consequence, in cases of surveillance of goods, Member States should provide to the Commission, more frequently than under the current system, data on customs declarations for release for free circulation or on export declarations. Where such data are not available or are only partially available on the date of the customs declaration under a simplified procedure, they should be provided afterwards.

(3)

Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,

1.

In Article 308a(10), the term ‘ECU 10’ is replaced by ‘10 euro’.

2.

Article 308c is amended as follows:

3.

Article 308d is replaced by the following:

‘Article 308d

1.   Where Community surveillance is to be carried out, the Member States shall provide to the Commission at least once every week data on customs declarations for release for free circulation or on export declarations.

The Member States shall cooperate with the Commission to determine which data are required from customs declarations for release for free circulation or from export declarations.

2.   The data provided under paragraph 1 by individual Member States shall be treated as confidential.

However, aggregate data for each Member State shall be available for authorised users in all Member States.

The Member States shall cooperate with the Commission to set up the practical rules on authorised access to the aggregate data.

3.   In respect of certain goods surveillance shall be carried out on a confidential basis.

4.   Where under the simplified procedures referred to in Articles 253 to 267 and Articles 280 to 289, the data referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article are not available, the Member States shall provide to the Commission the data available at the date of acceptance of the complete or supplementary declaration.’

1.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/8

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 established a common framework for the systematic production of Community statistics on income and living conditions, encompassing comparable and timely cross-sectional and longitudinal data on income, and on the level and composition of poverty and social exclusion at national and European Union levels.

(2)

Under Article 15(2)(f) of Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003, implementing measures are necessary for the list of target secondary areas and variables to be included every year in the cross-sectional component of EU-SILC. For the year 2008, the list of target secondary variables included in the module on over-indebtedness and financial exclusion should be laid down. This should be accompanied by the provision of variable codes and definitions.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Statistical Programme Committee,

1.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/16

(1)

The Commission has received a request pursuant to Article13(3) of the basic Regulation to investigate the possible circumvention of the anti-dumping measures imposed on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India.

(2)

The request was lodged on 15 January 2007 by the European Carbon and Graphite Association (ECGA) on behalf of Community producers of certain graphite electrode systems.

(3)

The product concerned by the possible circumvention is graphite electrodes of a kind used for electric furnaces, with an apparent density of 1,65 g/cm3 or more and an electrical resistance of 6,0 μΩ.m or less, falling within CN code ex 8545 11 00 (Taric code 8545110010) and nipples used for such electrodes, falling within CN code ex 8545 90 90 (Taric code 8545909010) whether imported together or separately originating in India (the product concerned). These codes are given for information only.

(4)

The product under investigation is artificial graphite rods of a diameter of 75 mm or more originating in India (the product under investigation), normally declared under CN code ex 3801 10 00 (TARIC code 3801100010). This code is given for information only. The product under investigation is an intermediate product in the manufacturing of the product concerned, and it already embodies the basic characteristics of the latter product.

(5)

The measures currently in force and possibly being circumvented are anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1629/2004 (2).

(6)

The request contains sufficient prima facie evidence that the anti-dumping measures on imports of the product concerned are being circumvented by means of imports of the product under investigation.

(7)

The evidence submitted is as follows:

(8)

In the light of the above, the Commission has concluded that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an investigation pursuant to Article 13 of the basic Regulation and to make imports of the product under investigation subject to registration, in accordance with Article 14(5) of the basic Regulation.

(9)

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the exporters/producers and to the associations of exporters/producers in India, to the importers and to the associations of importers in the Community which cooperated in the investigation that led to the existing measures and to the authorities of India. Information, as appropriate, may also be sought from the Community industry.

(10)

In any event, all interested parties should contact the Commission forthwith, but not later than the time limit set in Article 3 of this Regulation in order to find out whether they are listed in the request and, if necessary, request a questionnaire within the time limit set in Article 3(1) of this Regulation, given that the time limit set in Article 3(2) of this Regulation applies to all interested parties.

(11)

The authorities of India will be notified of the initiation of the investigation and provided with a copy of the request.

(12)

All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known in writing and to provide supporting evidence. Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested parties, provided that they make a request in writing and show that there are particular reasons why they should be heard.

(13)

In accordance with Article 13(4) of the basic Regulation, imports of the product under investigation may be exempted from registration or measures if such importation does not constitute circumvention.

(14)

Since the possible circumvention takes place inside the Community, exemptions may be granted, in accordance with Article 13(4) of the basic Regulation, to importers of the product under investigation that can show that they are not related to producers subject to the measures. Importers wishing to obtain an exemption should submit a request duly supported by evidence within the time limit indicated in Article 3(3) of this Regulation.

(15)

Pursuant to Article 14(5) of the basic Regulation, imports of the product under investigation should be made subject to registration in order to ensure that, should the investigation result in findings of circumvention, anti-dumping duties of an appropriate amount can be levied retroactively from the date of registration of such imports originating in India.

(16)

In the interest of sound administration, time limits should be stated within which:

(17)

Attention is drawn to the fact that the exercise of most procedural rights set out in the basic Regulation depends on the party's making itself known within the time limits mentioned in Article 3 of this Regulation.

(18)

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

(19)

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information shall be disregarded and use may be made of the facts available. If an interested party does not cooperate or cooperates only partially and findings are therefore based on the 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,

European Commission

Directorate General for Trade

Directorate H

Office: J-79 5/16

B-1049 Brussels

Fax (32-2) 295 65 05

1.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/19

(1)

The Commission has received a request pursuant to Article 23(2) of the basic Regulation to investigate the alleged circumvention of the countervailing measures imposed on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India.

(2)

The request was lodged on 15 January 2007 by the European Carbon and Graphite Association (ECGA) on behalf of Community producers of certain graphite electrode systems.

(3)

The product concerned by the possible circumvention is graphite electrodes of a kind used for electric furnaces, with an apparent density of 1,65 g/cm3 or more and an electrical resistance of 6,0 μΩ.m or less, falling within CN code ex 8545 11 00 (TARIC code 8545110010) and nipples used for such electrodes, falling within CN code ex 8545 90 90 (TARIC code 8545909010) whether imported together or separately originating in India (‘the product concerned’). These codes are given for information only.

(4)

The product under investigation is artificial graphite rods of a diameter of 75 mm or more originating in India (‘the product under investigation’), normally declared under CN code ex 3801 10 00 (TARIC 3801100010). This code is given for information only. The product under investigation is an intermediate product in the manufacturing of the product concerned, and it already embodies the basic characteristics of the latter product.

(5)

The measures currently in force and allegedly being circumvented are countervailing measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1628/2004 (2).

(6)

The request contains sufficient prima facie evidence that the countervailing measures on imports of the product concerned are being circumvented by means of imports of the product under investigation.

(7)

The evidence submitted is as follows:

(8)

In the light of the above, the Commission has concluded that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an investigation pursuant to Article 23 of the basic Regulation and to make imports of the product under investigation subject to registration, in accordance with Article 24(5) of the basic Regulation.

(9)

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the exporters/producers and to the associations of exporters/producers in India, to the importers and to the associations of importers in the Community which cooperated in the investigation that led to the existing measures, and to the authorities of India. Information, as appropriate, may also be sought from the Community industry.

(10)

In any event, all interested parties should contact the Commission forthwith, but not later than the time limit set in Article 3 of this Regulation in order to find out whether they are listed in the request and, if necessary, request a questionnaire within the time limit set in Article 3(1) of this Regulation, given that the time limit set in Article 3(2) of this Regulation applies to all interested parties.

(11)

The authorities in India will be notified of the initiation of the investigation and provided with a copy of the request.

(12)

All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known in writing and to provide supporting evidence. Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested parties, provided that they make a request in writing and show that there are particular reasons why they should be heard.

(13)

In accordance with Article 23(3) of the basic Regulation, imports of the product under investigation may be exempted from registration or measures if the importation does not constitute circumvention.

(14)

Since the possible circumvention takes place inside the Community, exemptions may be granted, in accordance with Article 23(3) of the basic Regulation, to importers of the product under investigation that can show that they are not related to producers subject to the measures. Importers wishing to obtain an exemption should submit a request duly supported by evidence within the time limit indicated in Article 3(3) of this Regulation.

(15)

Pursuant to Article 24(5) of the basic Regulation, imports of the product under investigation should be made subject to registration in order to ensure that, should the investigation result in findings of circumvention, countervailing duties of an appropriate amount can be levied retroactively from the date of registration of such imports originating in India.

(16)

In the interest of sound administration, time limits should be stated within which:

(17)

Attention is drawn to the fact that the exercise of most procedural rights set out in the basic Regulation depends on the party's making itself known within the time limits mentioned in Article 3 of this Regulation.

(18)

In cases in which any interested party refuses access to or otherwise does not provide necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, provisional or final findings, affirmative or negative, may be made in accordance with Article 28 of the basic Regulation, on the basis of the facts available.

(19)

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information shall be disregarded and use may be made of the facts available. If an interested party does not cooperate or cooperates only partially and findings are therefore based on the facts available in accordance with Article 28 of the basic Regulation, the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated,

European Commission

Directorate General for Trade

Directorate H

J-79 5/16

B-1049 Brussels

Fax (32-2) 295 65 05.

1.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/22

(1)

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Argentine Republic relating to the modification of concessions in the schedules of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the course of accession to the European Community (2), approved by Council Decision 2006/930/EC (3), provides for the opening of tariff rate quotas for wine.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (4), has codified the management rules for tariff quotas designed to be used following the chronological order of dates of acceptance of customs declarations.

(3)

In accordance with the commitments taken by the Community pursuant to the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2007.

(4)

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

(a)

a tariff rate quota 20 000 hl (erga omnes) for wine (tariff item numbers 2204 29 65 and 2204 29 75), in quota rate 8 EUR/hl (order number 09.0095),

(b)

a tariff rate quota 40 000 hl (erga omnes) for wine (tariff item numbers 2204 21 79 and 2204 21 80), in quota rate 10 EUR/hl (order number 09.0097).

1.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/23

(1)

Article 30 of Directive 2004/17/EC provides that contracts intended to enable the performance of one of the activities to which the Directive applies shall not be subject to the Directive if, in the Member State in which it is carried out, the activity is directly exposed to competition on markets to which access is not restricted. Direct exposure to competition is assessed on the basis of objective criteria, taking account of the specific characteristics of the sector concerned. Access is deemed to be unrestricted if the Member State has implemented and applied the relevant Community legislation opening a given sector or a part of it.

(2)

This legislation is listed in Annex XI of Directive 2004/17/EC, which, for the electricity sector, refers to Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (2). Directive 96/92/EC has been superseded by Directive 2003/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 96/92/EC (3), which requires an even higher degree of market opening. In respect of the gas sector, Annex XI refers to Directive 98/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas (4). Directive 98/30/EC has been superseded by Directive 2003/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas and repealing Directive 98/30/EC (5), which requires an even higher degree of market opening.

(3)

Under Article 62(2)(2) of Directive 2004/17/EC, Title III of that Directive setting out the rules on service design contests does not apply to contests organised for the pursuit, in the Member State concerned, of an activity to which the applicability of Article 30(1) of the Directive has been established by a Commission decision or has been deemed applicable under the second or third subparagraph of Article 30(4) or the fourth subparagraph of Article 30(5).

(4)

The request submitted by the United Kingdom concerns the supply, both wholesale and retail, of electricity and gas in England, Scotland and Wales. Although there may be some similarities, the respective characteristics, in particular the very limited degree of substitutability, nevertheless render it appropriate to consider that there are two different product markets, one for gas and one for electricity, rather than one product market for ‘energy’.

(5)

Given the unified character of the markets for electricity of the three geographical areas concerned by the present request and the limited capacity (6) of the connections between the United Kingdom networks and those of other areas of the Community, England, Scotland and Wales should be considered to constitute the relevant market for electricity for the purposes of evaluating the conditions laid down in Article 30(1) of Directive 2004/17/EC. In respect of gas, it should also be concluded that the relevant geographic market is Great Britain, since, as noted by the British Office of Fair Trade, ‘this is the limit of the gas trading regime: although gas is traded with continental Europe through the Bacton-Zeebrugge interconnector, quantities traded are relatively small.’ The same applies to quantities traded between Great Britain and Northern Ireland (not covered by this Decision) and Ireland. These conclusions are consistent with one of the findings of the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Report on progress in creating the internal gas and electricity market (7), hereinafter referred to as the ‘2005 Report’, that ‘in economic terms … electricity and gas markets in the EU remain national in economic scope’.

(6)

This assessment, and any other contained in this Decision, is made solely for the purposes of Directive 2004/17/EC and is without prejudice to the application of the rules on competition.

(7)

In respect of electricity, the United Kingdom has implemented and applied not only Directive 96/92/EC but also Directive 2003/54. Concerning gas, the United Kingdom has also implemented not only Directive 98/30/EC, but also Directive 2003/55/EC. Consequently, and in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 30(3), access to the market should be deemed not to be restricted, both in respect of electricity and gas.

(8)

Direct exposure to competition should be evaluated on the basis of various indicators, none of which are, per se, decisive. In the 2005 Report, the Commission stated that ‘many national markets display a high degree of concentration of the industry, impeding the development of effective competition’ (8). Consequently, it considered that ‘one indicator for the degree of competition on national markets is the total market share of the biggest three producers (electricity) and wholesale suppliers (gas)’ (9). According to the latest available information, the aggregate market share of the three largest electricity generators of the total production is 39 % (10), while the aggregate market share of the three largest gas shippers in percentage of the wholesale market is 36 % (11). Both these levels must be considered to be at a satisfactorily low level and should be taken as an indication of direct exposure to competition.

(9)

The degree of liquidity is also a good indicator of competition, as the conditions of competition in electricity and gas supply are greatly influenced by liquidity in wholesale markets. The United Kingdom wholesale market for electricity is characterised by being a bilateral trading market, with brokered deals. There is also more than one power exchange, although UKPX has the largest volume. Some of the principal actors on the wholesale market are the owners of generation capacity, with ownership of generation capacity being rather diverse with eight companies sharing around 70 % of capacity. For the United Kingdom, liquidity multiple term trading amounts to around three times the amount consumed (12). This degree of liquidity should be considered as being satisfactory, i.e. it is such as to constitute an indicator of a well-functioning and competitive wholesale market. For the gas sector, liquidity multiple term trading should also be considered to be at a satisfactory level, as it also amounts to two to three times total consumption (13). At the retail levels as well, there are a sufficient number of actors, as there are six main suppliers active in the household market with additional companies active in the large user sector. (14) The gas markets are also characterised by a sufficient number of active players and can be summarised as follows: ‘The (United Kingdom) gas market has a high level of competition with around 10 companies active in the wholesale market. As with electricity, six companies account for the majority of the domestic supply market … (of which) … five are new entrants to the gas supply market. Larger users buy direct from the wholesale market, which also includes many major oil companies’ (15). These factors should therefore be taken as an indication of direct exposure to competition.

(10)

The workings of the balancing markets should also be considered as indicators, not only in respect of production but also for the wholesale and retail markets. In fact, ‘any market participant who cannot easily match its generation portfolio to the characteristics of its customers may find itself exposed to the difference between the price at which the TSO (transmission system operator) will sell imbalance energy, and the price at which it will buy back excess production. These prices may either be directly imposed by the regulator on the TSO; or alternatively a market based mechanism will be used in which the price is determined by bids from other producers to regulate their production upwards or downwards … a key difficulty for small market participants arises where there is the risk of a large spread between the buying price from the TSO and the selling price. This occurs in a number of Member States and is likely to be detrimental to the development of competition. A high spread may be indicative of an insufficient level of competition in the balancing market which may be dominated by only one or two main generators. Such difficulties are made worse where network users are unable to adjust their positions close to real time’ (16). Since the introduction of the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements (BETTA) there has been a unified balancing market for England, Scotland and Wales. Furthermore, its main characteristics (market based pricing, half-hourly gate closures and a fairly low spread) are such that it should be taken as an indicator of direct exposure to competition. Similarly for gas, balancing prices are derived on the basis of a market mechanism operated by the TSO. Imbalances are settled on a daily basis and there is not usually a significant spread between the buy and sell price. This non discriminatory mechanism does not act as a barrier to suppliers.

(11)

Given the characteristics of the products concerned here (electricity and gas) and the scarcity or unavailability of suitable substitutable products or services, price competition and price formation assume greater importance when assessing the competitive state of the electricity and gas markets. The number of customers switching supplier is an indicator of genuine price competition and, thus, indirectly, ‘a natural indicator of the effectiveness of competition. If few customers are switching, there is likely to be a problem with the functioning of the market, even if the benefits from the possibility of renegotiating with the historical supplier should not be ignored’ (17). Furthermore, ‘the existence of regulated end-user prices is clearly a key determinant of customer behaviour … Although the retaining of controls may be justified in a period of transition, these will increasingly cause distortions as the need for investment approaches’ (18).

(12)

In the UK, the degree of switching for the three categories of users of electricity — large and very large industrial users, small and medium-sized industrial and business, and very small business and household users — is above 70 % for the first two groups and close to 50 % for the last category (19) and end-user price control was abolished in respect of electricity in 2002 (20). Concerning gas, the degree of switching for the three categories of users — large and very large industrial users including power plants, small and medium-sized industrial and business, and very small business and households — is above 70 % for the first two groups and close to 50 % for the last category (21). Price controls for all end users have been removed since 2002. The situation in the United Kingdom is therefore satisfactory as far as switching and end-user price control are concerned and should be taken as an indicator of direct exposure to competition.

(13)

In view of these indicators and given the overall picture of this sector in England, Scotland and Wales — in particular the extent to which networks have been unbundled from generation/supply and the effective regulation of network access — that emerges from the information submitted by the United Kingdom, the 2005 Report and the Technical Annex thereto as well as from the Preliminary Report, the condition of direct exposure to competition laid down in Article 30(1) of Directive 2004/17/EC should be considered to be met in respect of electricity and gas supply in England, Scotland and Wales. As noted in recital 7, the further condition of free access to the activity must be deemed to be met. Consequently, Directive 2004/17/EC should not apply when contracting entities award contracts intended to enable the supply of electricity and/or gas generation to be carried out in these geographical areas nor when they organise design contests for the pursuit of such an activity there. It is recalled that contracts awarded for the pursuit of other activities, such as the distribution of electricity and gas, continue to be subject to the provisions of Directive 2004/17/EC.

(14)

This Decision is based on the legal and factual situation as of November 2006 as it appears from the information submitted by the United Kingdom, the 2005 Report and the Technical Annex thereto. It may be revised, should significant changes in the legal or factual situation mean that the conditions for the applicability of Article 30(1) of Directive 2004/17/EC are no longer met.

(15)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Advisory Committee for Public Contracts,

1.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/27

(1)

In the event of outbreaks of certain animal diseases or suspicion thereof, the Commission is required to provide assistance to the Member States and to third countries by means of highly experienced veterinary epidemiology expertise. Veterinary expertise availability has also been raised in the context of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

(2)

The prompt availability of sound technical expertise in the veterinary field is necessary for the Commission to be able to fulfil its tasks, notably in the event of major outbreaks of those animal diseases.

(3)

Expertise and support are more efficiently provided by a specialised team of experts, such as a Community Emergency Veterinary Team, whose Members make themselves available to the Commission on request. Such a team should be established and their role and tasks be defined.

(4)

For the Community Emergency Veterinary Team to be able to provide the Commission with the veterinary technical assistance required, its members may be sent to the Member States or third countries concerned. In that case the members should operate in cooperation with the competent authorities of the Member State or third country concerned.

(5)

The Community Emergency Veterinary Team should work, as appropriate, in close cooperation with other international expert groups, such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in order to ensure that the available expertise are used in the most effective way,

(a)

scientific, technical and managerial on-the-spot assistance as regards the surveillance, monitoring, control and eradication of the diseases, in close cooperation and collaboration with the competent authorities of the Member State or third country concerned by outbreaks of disease or suspicion thereof;

(b)

specific scientific advice on the suitable diagnostic methods and epidemiological investigations in coordination with the concerned Community Reference Laboratory as listed in Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and with other reference laboratories, as appropriate;

(c)

specific assistance to ensure coordination among the veterinary services of the Member States and third countries and with the concerned Community Reference Laboratory as listed in Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 and other reference laboratories, as appropriate.

(a)

on request by the Commission, be available at any time at short notice;

(b)

not divulge information acquired as a result of the work of the team when they are informed that such information is confidential.