(1)

The representative prices and additional duties applicable to imports of white sugar, raw sugar and certain syrups for the 2010/11 marketing year are fixed by Commission Regulation (EU) No 867/2010 (3). These prices and duties have been last amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 18/2011 (4).

(2)

The data currently available to the Commission indicate that those amounts should be amended in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 951/2006,

(1)

The European Research Council (ERC) was established by Commission Decision 2007/134/EC (3).

(2)

According to the Specific Programme ‘Ideas’, an independent review was carried out of the ERC’s structures and mechanisms, against the criteria of scientific excellence, autonomy, efficiency and transparency and with the full involvement of the Scientific Council. The Review Panel suggested a number of adjustments in order to ensure a more effective European Research Council and a coherent presentation of the ERC’s activities to stakeholders.

(3)

On the basis of the review and the ambition to make the ERC fully sustainable, the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: ‘The European Research Council — meeting the challenge of world class excellence’ (4), sets out the aims for the second phase of the ERC’s development. It includes a number of specific actions to improve the ERC’s operations to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the ‘Ideas’ Specific Programme.

(4)

In accordance with that Communication, it is necessary to ensure a single clear and transparent vision and seamless liaison between the ERC’s strategy and operational implementation, reflecting the activities of both the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA), established by Commission Decision 2008/37/EC (5) and the Scientific Council, and to develop and implement a coherent and integrated communication strategy.

(5)

In order to recognise the personal commitment of the members of the Scientific Council, and especially the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons, it is appropriate to introduce an honorarium for their attendance at the Scientific Council plenary meetings. The honorarium should reflect their responsibilities and be benchmarked against similar provisions in similar entities and Member States. It is also appropriate to provide for the financing of a standing Identification Committee for the identification of future Scientific Council members.

(6)

It is necessary to continue the arrangements for the local support to the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairpersons of the Scientific Council, using the ‘Coordination and Support Action’ grant funding scheme of the Seventh Framework Programme.

(7)

The term of office of the founding members of the Scientific Council expires on 1 February 2011 and there is a need for the staged renewal of the Scientific Council, as provided for in Article 4(6) of Decision 2007/134/EC. The identification of new members was carried out by means of an independent Identification Committee and in accordance with the provisions of Article 4(4) of Decision 2007/134/EC, including a report to Parliament and Council. This Committee made recommendations for the staged renewal of the Scientific Council and these recommendations have been accepted.

(8)

Decision 2007/134/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,

1.

Article 1 is replaced by the following:

(*1)   OJ L 9, 12.1.2008, p. 15.’ "

2.

In Article 3 the following paragraph 3 is added:

3.

Article 4 is amended as follows:

4.

Article 5 is amended as follows:

5.

Article 6 is amended as follows:

6.

Article 8 is replaced by the following:

(*2)  Commission Decision C(2007) 5858.’ "

7.

Annex II is replaced as set out in the Annex to this Decision.

8.

Annexes III and IV, as set out in the Annex to this Decision, are added.

(1)

Member States should ensure that economic operators report to them on the compliance of bioliquids with the sustainability criteria established by Directive 2009/28/EC and on the compliance of biofuels with the sustainability criteria established by that Directive and Directive 98/70/EC, and also that economic operators provide information on certain additional environmental and social aspects.

(2)

As far as these additional environmental and social aspects are concerned, the Commission is required to establish the list of appropriate and relevant information to be reported.

(3)

Several voluntary schemes setting standards for the production of biomass products are in existence or under development that lay down requirements that cover, in part or whole, both the sustainability criteria and additional environmental and social aspects such as those to be covered by the Commission’s list. The Commission may recognise these voluntary schemes as reliable and acceptable sources of data for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with the criteria. It may, in addition, recognise them as containing accurate data in relation to the additional environmental and social aspects.

(4)

The greenhouse gas calculation for biofuels and bioliquids included in the sustainability scheme allows for the use of a bonus if biomass is obtained from restored degraded land.

(5)

The greenhouse gas calculation included in the sustainability scheme includes a factor reflecting emission savings from soil carbon accumulation via improved agricultural management.

(6)

Taking into account the need to ensure that the provision of information on environmental and social aspects does not represent an excessive administrative burden for economic operators, it is appropriate to lay down that this information should be provided in the form of a statement identifying whether or not the consignments of biofuels or bioliquids in question have been certified or accepted as fulfilling the requirements of a recognised voluntary scheme that includes such aspects; whether or not the bonus referred to in recital 4 is used; and whether or not the carbon accumulation factor referred to in recital 5 is used.

(7)

The bonus referred to in recital 4 and the carbon stock accumulation factor referred to in recital 5 concern crop cultivation. For that reason, it is not necessary for information on these matters to be submitted for biofuels and bioliquids made from wastes or residues,

(a)

whether the consignment has been certified or accepted as fulfilling the requirements of a voluntary scheme that has been recognised by the Commission, in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 18(4) of Directive 2009/28/EC and the second subparagraph of Article 7c(4) of Directive 98/70/EC, as containing accurate data for the purposes of information on measures taken for soil, water and air protection, the restoration of degraded land, the avoidance of excessive water consumption in areas where water is scarce and/or to take into account the issues referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 17(7) of Directive 2009/28/EC and the second subparagraph of Article 7b(7) of Directive 98/70/EC;

(b)

if the consignment has been certified or accepted as referred to in point (a), the name of the voluntary scheme in question;

(c)

whether the bonus referred to in Annex V, part C, points 7 and 8 of Directive 2009/28/EC and Annex IV, part C, points 7 and 8 of Directive 98/70/EC has been used in the greenhouse gas calculation referred to in Annex V, part C, point 1 of Directive 2009/28/EC and Annex IV, part C, point 1 of Directive 98/70/EC for the consignment;

(d)

whether the factor for emissions savings from soil carbon accumulation via improved agricultural management referred to in Annex V, part C, point 1 of Directive 2009/28/EC and Annex IV, part C, point 1 of Directive 98/70/EC has been used in the greenhouse gas calculation referred to in the same paragraph for the consignment.