25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/1

---

Euro exchange rates (1)

24 May 2005

(2005/C 126/01)

1 euro=

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,2617
JPY	Japanese yen	135,39
DKK	Danish krone	7,4484
GBP	Pound sterling	0,68765
SEK	Swedish krona	9,1812
CHF	Swiss franc	1,5467
ISK	Iceland króna	81,03
NOK	Norwegian krone	8,0885
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9620
CYP	Cyprus pound	0,5767
CZK	Czech koruna	30,351
EEK	Estonian kroon	15,6466
HUF	Hungarian forint	253,90
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,6960
MTL	Maltese lira	0,4293
PLN	Polish zloty	4,1808
ROL	Romanian leu	36 163
SIT	Slovenian tolar	239,48
SKK	Slovak koruna	38,975
TRY	Turkish lira	1,7504
AUD	Australian dollar	1,6527
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,5893
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	9,8146
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,7662
SGD	Singapore dollar	2,0877
KRW	South Korean won	1 262,84
ZAR	South African rand	8,2052
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	10,4425
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,3130
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	11 948,30
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,794
PHP	Philippine peso	68,794
RUB	Russian rouble	35,3360
THB	Thai baht	50,487

---

(1)  

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

---

25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/2

---

Information procedure — Technical rules

(2005/C 126/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services. (OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 37; OJ L 217, 5.8.1998, p. 18).

Notifications of draft national technical rules received by the Commission

Reference (1)	Title	End of three-month standstill period (2)
2005/0188/NL	Regulation by the State Secretary for Housing, Planning and the Environment on subsidies for the replacement or retrofitting of diesel engines in inland waterway vessels (Subsidy scheme concerning diesel engines for inland waterway vessels)	(4)
2005/0189/SK	Slovak Republic Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health Decree, issuing the chapter of the Slovak Republic Foodstuffs Code dealing with spices	27.7.2005
2005/0190/F	Draft technical specifications of Régie Gaz-Electricité de Sallanches, applicable to gas distribution pipelines, implementing Decree No 2004-555 of 15 June 2004 on the technical specifications applicable to the pipelines and connections of gas transmission, distribution and storage installations	28.7.2005
2005/0191/A	Specification of works for water engineering areas, version 05	28.7.2005
2005/0192/F	Draft technical specifications of Régie Gaz-Electricité de Bonneville, applicable to gas distribution pipelines, implementing Decree No 2004-555 of 15 June 2004 on the technical specifications applicable to the pipelines and connections of gas transmission, distribution and storage installations	28.7.2005
2005/0193/F	Draft technical specifications of la Régie municipale Gaz Electricité de Carmaux, applicable to gas distribution pipelines, implementing Decree No 2004-555 of 15 June 2004 on the technical specifications applicable to the pipelines and connections of gas transmission, distribution and storage installations	28.7.2005
2005/0194/PL	Draft Regulation of the Minister for Infrastructure setting out general technical requirements for the use of railway vehicles	28.7.2005
2005/0195/B	Draft Royal Decree establishing the specifications and registration of reading equipment for the electronic ID card and social ID card	29.7.2005
2005/0196/UK	The Motor Vehicle (Replacement Catalytic Converters) Regulations 2005	29.7.2005
2005/0197/D	Act on the simplification of monitoring under waste law	29.7.2005
2005/0198/IRL	Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) Regulations, 2005	29.7.2005
2005/0199/D	Order on the simplification of monitoring under waste law	29.7.2005
2005/0200/CZ	Draft — Drugs Act	3.8.2005
2005/0201/UK	IR 2036 — UK Interface Requirement 2036 (Version 2.0) for Mobile Data Asset Tracking Services	4.8.2005
2005/0202/D	Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia [HAB 2005]	4.8.2005

The Commission draws attention to the judgement delivered on 30 April 1996 in the ‘CIA Security’ case (C-194/94 — ECR I, p. 2201), in which the Court of Justice ruled that Articles 8 and 9 of Directive 98/34/EC (formerly 83/189/EEC) are to be interpreted as meaning that individuals may rely on them before national courts which must decline to apply a national technical regulation which has not been notified in accordance with the Directive.

This judgement confirms the Commission's communication of 1 October 1986 (OJ C 245, 1.10.1986, p. 4).

Accordingly, breach of the obligation to notify renders the technical regulations concerned inapplicable, and consequently unenforceable against individuals.

For more information on the notification procedure, please write to:

European Commission

DG Enterprise and Industry, Unit C3

B–1049 Brussels

e-mail: Dir83-189-Central@cec.eu.int

Also consult the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/tris/

If you require any further information on these notifications, please contact the national departments listed below:

LIST OF NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DIRECTIVE 98/34/EC

BELGIUM

BELNotif

Qualité et Sécurité

SPF Economie, PME, Classes moyennes et Energie

NG III – 4ème étage

boulevard du Roi Albert II / 16

B-1000 Bruxelles

Ms Pascaline Descamps

Tel.: (32) 2 206 46 89

Fax: (32) 2 206 57 46

E-mail: pascaline.descamps@mineco.fgov.be

paolo.caruso@mineco.fgov.be

General e-mail: belnotif@mineco.fgov.be

Website: http://www.mineco.fgov.be

CZECH REPUBLIC

Czech Office for Standards, Metrology and Testing

Gorazdova 24

P.O. BOX 49

CZ-128 01 Praha 2

Ms Helena Fofonková

Tel.: (420) 224 907 125

Fax: (420) 224 907 122

E-mail: fofonkova@unmz.cz

General e-mail: eu9834@unmz.cz

Website: http://www.unmz.cz

DENMARK

Erhvervs- og Boligstyrelsen

Dahlerups Pakhus

Langelinie Allé 17

DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø (or DK-2100 Copenhagen OE)

Tel.: (45) 35 46 66 89 (direct)

Fax: (45) 35 46 62 03

E-mail: Ms Birgitte Spühler Hansen - bsh@ebst.dk

Mutual mailbox for notification messages - noti@ebst.dk

Website: http://www.ebst.dk/Notifikationer

GERMANY

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit

Referat XA2

Scharnhorststr. 34 - 37

D-10115 Berlin

Ms Christina Jäckel

Tel.: (49) 30 2014 6353

Fax: (49) 30 2014 5379

E-mail: infonorm@bmwa.bund.de

Website: http://www.bmwa.bund.de

ESTONIA

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications

Harju str. 11

EE-15072 Tallinn

Mr Margus Alver

Tel.: (372) 6 256 405

Fax: (372) 6 313 660

E-mail: margus.alver@mkm.ee

General e-mail: el.teavitamine@mkm.ee

GREECE

Ministry of Development

General Secretariat of Industry

Mesogeion 119

GR-101 92 ATHENS

Tel.: (30) 210 696 98 63

Fax: (30) 210 696 91 06

ELOT

Acharnon 313

GR-111 45 ATHENS

Tel.: (30) 210 212 03 01

Fax: (30) 210 228 62 19

E-mail: 83189in@elot.gr

Website: http://www.elot.gr

SPAIN

Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores

Secretaría de Estado de Asuntos Europeos

Direccion General de Coordinacion del Mercado Interior y otras Políticas Comunitarias

Subdireccion General de Asuntos Industriales, Energéticos, de Transportes y Comunicaciones y de Medio Ambiente

C/Padilla, 46, Planta 2a, Despacho: 6218

E-28006 MADRID

Mr Angel Silván Torregrosa

Tel.: (34) 91 379 83 32

Ms Esther Pérez Peláez

Technical Advisor

E-mail: esther.perez@ue.mae.es

Tel.: (34) 91 379 84 64

Fax: (34) 91 379 84 01

E-mail: d83-189@ue.mae.es

FRANCE

Délégation interministérielle aux normes

Direction générale de l'Industrie, des Technologies de l'information et des Postes (DiGITIP)

Service des politiques d'innovation et de compétitivité (SPIC)

Sous-direction de la normalisation, de la qualité et de la propriété industrielle (SQUALPI)

DiGITIP 5

12, rue Villiot

F-75572 Paris Cedex 12

Ms Suzanne Piau

Tel.: (33) 1 53 44 97 04

Fax: (33) 1 53 44 98 88

E-mail: suzanne.piau@industrie.gouv.fr

Ms Françoise Ouvrard

Tel.: (33) 1 53 44 97 05

Fax: (33) 1 53 44 98 88

E-mail: francoise.ouvrard@industrie.gouv.fr

IRELAND

NSAI

Glasnevin

Dublin 9

Ireland

Mr Tony Losty

Tel.: (353) 1 807 38 80

Fax: (353) 1 807 38 38

E-mail: tony.losty@nsai.ie

Website: http://www.nsai.ie

ITALY

Ministero delle attività produttive

Dipartimento per le imprese

Direzione Generale per lo sviluppo produttivo e la competitività

Ufficio F1 - Ispettorato tecnico dell'industria

Via Molise 2

I-00187 Roma

Mr Vincenzo Correggia

Tel.: (39) 06 47 05 22 05

Fax: (39) 06 47 88 78 05

E-mail: vincenzo.correggia@minindustria.it

Mr Enrico Castiglioni

Tel.: (39) 06 47 05 26 69

Fax: (39) 06 47 88 77 48

E-mail: enrico.castiglioni@minindustria.it

E-mail: ispettoratotecnico@minindustria.flexmail.it

Website: http://www.minindustria.it

CYPRUS

Cyprus Organization for the Promotion of Quality

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism

13, A. Araouzou street

CY-1421 Nicosia

Tel.: (357) 22 409 313 or (357) 22 375 053

Fax: (357) 22 754 103

Mr Antonis Ioannou

Tel.: (357) 22 409 409

Fax: (357) 22 754 103

E-mail: aioannou@cys.mcit.gov.cy

Ms Thea Andreou

Tel.: (357) 22 409 404

Fax: (357) 22 754 103

E-mail: tandreou@cys.mcit.gov.cy

General e-mail: dir9834@cys.mcit.gov.cy

Website: http://www.cys.mcit.gov.cy

LATVIA

Division of the Commercial Normative, SOLVIT and Notification

Internal Market Department of the

Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia

55, Brvibas str.

Riga

LV-1519

Ms Agra Ločmele

Senior Officer of the Division of the Commercial Normative, SOLVIT and Notification

E-mail: agra.locmele@em.gov.lv

Tel.: (371) 7031236

Fax: (371) 7280882

E-mail: notification@em.gov.lv

LITHUANIA

Lithuanian Standards Board

T. Kosciuskos g. 30

LT-01100 Vilnius

Ms Daiva Lesickiene

Tel.: (370) 5 2709347

Fax: (370) 5 2709367

E-mail: dir9834@lsd.lt

Website: http://www.lsd.lt

LUXEMBOURG

SEE - Service de l'Energie de l'Etat

34, avenue de la Porte-Neuve

B.P. 10

L-2010 Luxembourg

Mr J.P. Hoffmann

Tel.: (352) 46 97 46 1

Fax: (352) 22 25 24

E-mail: see.direction@eg.etat.lu

Website: http://www.see.lu

HUNGARY

Hungarian Notification Centre –

Ministry of Economy and Transport

Budapest

Honvéd u. 13-15.

H-1055

Mr Zsolt Fazekas

E-mail: fazekaszs@gkm.hu

Tel.: (36) 1 374 2873

Fax: (36) 1 473 1622

E-mail: notification@gkm.hu

Website: http://www.gkm.hu/dokk/main/gkm

MALTA

Malta Standards Authority

Level 2

Evans Building

Merchants Street

VLT 03

MT-Valletta

Tel.: (356) 2124 2420

Fax: (356) 2124 2406

Ms Lorna Cachia

E-mail: lorna.cachia@msa.org.mt

General e-mail: notification@msa.org.mt

Website: http://www.msa.org.mt

NETHERLANDS

Ministerie van Financiën

Belastingsdienst/Douane Noord

Team bijzondere klantbehandeling

Centrale Dienst voor In-en uitvoer

Engelse Kamp 2

Postbus 30003

9700 RD Groningen

Nederland

Mr Ebel van der Heide

Tel.: (31) 50 5 23 21 34

Ms Hennie Boekema

Tel.: (31) 50 5 23 21 35

Ms Tineke Elzer

Tel.: (31) 50 5 23 21 33

Fax: (31) 50 5 23 21 59

General e-mail: Enquiry.Point@tiscali-business.nl

Enquiry.Point2@tiscali-business.nl

AUSTRIA

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit

Abteilung C2/1

Stubenring 1

A-1010 Wien

Ms Brigitte Wikgolm

Tel.: (43) 1 711 00 58 96

Fax: (43) 1 715 96 51 or (43) 1 712 06 80

E-mail: not9834@bmwa.gv.at

Website: http://www.bmwa.gv.at

POLAND

Ministry of Economy and Labour

Department for European and Multilateral Relations

Plac Trzech Krzyży 3/5

PL-00-507 Warszawa

Ms Barbara Nieciak

Tel.: (48) 22 693 54 07

Fax: (48) 22 693 40 28

E-mail: barnie@mg.gov.pl

Ms Agata Gągor

Tel.: (48) 22 693 56 90

General e-mail: notyfikacja@mg.gov.pl

PORTUGAL

Instituto Portugês da Qualidade

Rua Antonio Gião, 2

P-2829-513 Caparica

Ms Cândida Pires

Tel.: (351) 21 294 82 36 or 81 00

Fax: (351) 21 294 82 23

E-mail: c.pires@mail.ipq.pt

General e-mail: not9834@mail.ipq.pt

Website: http://www.ipq.pt

SLOVENIA

SIST – Slovenian Institute for Standardization

Contact point for 98/34/EC and WTO-TBT Enquiry Point

Šmartinska 140

SLO-1000 Ljubljana

Tel.: (386) 1 478 3041

Fax: (386) 1 478 3098

E-mail: contact@sist.si

Ms Vesna Stražišar

SLOVAKIA

Ms Kvetoslava Steinlova

Director of the Department of European Integration,

Office of Standards, Metrology and Testing of the Slovak Republic

Stefanovicova 3

SK-814 39 Bratislava

Tel.: (421) 2 5249 3521

Fax: (421) 2 5249 1050

E-mail: steinlova@normoff.gov.sk

FINLAND

Kauppa-ja teollisuusministeriö

(Ministry of Trade and Industry)

Visitor address:

Aleksanterinkatu 4

FIN-00171 Helsinki

and

Katakatu 3

FIN-00120 Helsinki

Postal address:

PO Box 32

FIN-00023 Government

Mr Henri Backman

Tel.: (358) 9 1606 36 27

Fax: (358) 9 1606 46 22

E-mail: henri.backman@ktm.fi

Ms Katri Amper

General e-mail: maaraykset.tekniset@ktm.fi

Website: http://www.ktm.fi

SWEDEN

Kommerskollegium

(National Board of Trade)

Box 6803

Drottninggatan 89

S – 113 86 Stockholm

Ms Kerstin Carlsson

Tel.: (46) 86 90 48 82 or (46) 86 90 48 00

Fax: (46) 86 90 48 40 or (46) 83 06 759

E-mail: kerstin.carlsson@kommers.se

General e-mail: 9834@kommers.se

Website: http://www.kommers.se

UNITED KINGDOM

Department of Trade and Industry

Standards and Technical Regulations Directorate 2

151 Buckingham Palace Road

London SW1 W 9SS

United Kingdom

Mr Philip Plumb

Tel.: (44) 2072151488

Fax: (44) 2072151529

E-mail: philip.plumb@dti.gsi.gov.uk

General e-mail: 9834@dti.gsi.gov.uk

Website: http://www.dti.gov.uk/strd

EFTA - ESA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

Rue Belliard 35

B-1040 Bruxelles

Ms Adinda Batsleer

Tel.: (32) 2 286 18 61

Fax: (32) 2 286 18 00

E-mail: aba@eftasurv.int

Ms Tuija Ristiluoma

Tel.: (32) 2 286 18 71

Fax: (32) 2 286 18 00

E-mail: tri@eftasurv.int

General e-mail: DRAFTTECHREGESA@eftasurv.int

Website: http://www.eftasurv.int

EFTA

Goods Unit

EFTA Secretariat

Rue de Trêves 74

B-1040 Bruxelles

Ms Kathleen Byrne

Tel.: (32) 2 286 17 34

Fax: (32) 2 286 17 42

E-mail: kathleen.byrne@efta.int

General e-mail: DRAFTTECHREGEFTA@efta.int

Website: http://www.efta.int

TURKEY

Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade

General Directorate of Standardisation for Foreign Trade

Inönü Bulvari no 36

06510

Emek - Ankara

Mr Saadettin Doğan

Tel.: (90) 312 212 58 99

(90) 312 204 81 02

Fax: (90) 312 212 87 68

E-mail: dtsabbil@dtm.gov.tr

Website: http://www.dtm.gov.tr

---

(1)  Year — registration number — Member State of origin.

(2)  Period during which the draft may not be adopted.

(3)  No standstill period since the Commission accepts the grounds of urgent adoption invoked by the notifying Member State.

(4)  No standstill period since the measure concerns technical specifications or other requirements or rules on services linked to fiscal or financial measures, pursuant to the third indent of the second paragraph of Article 1(11) of Directive 98/34/EC.

(5)  Information procedure closed.

---

25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/8

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3814 — RR Donnelley/Astron)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 126/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 10 May 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which RRD Inks Limited (‘RRD Inks’, UK) controlled by RR Donnelley & Sons Company (‘RRD’, US) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of Astron Group Limited (‘Astron’, UK) by way of purchase of shares.

2.	The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — for RR Donnelley: international printing services, printing of newspapers, magazines, catalogues, directories, books etc. in Europe, — for Astron: outsourcing of document related processes, document and data storage, printing activities.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under 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. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3814 — RR Donnelley/Astron, to the following address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition, Merger Registry J-70 B-1049 Brussels

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 56, 05.3.2005, p. 32.

---

25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/9

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3797 — CGE/AMGA/SMAT/SAP)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 126/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 17 May 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Compagnie Générale des Eaux (‘CGE’, France) belonging to the group Veolia Environment (‘VE’, France) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Societa' Azionaria per la Condotta di Acque potabili S.p.A (SAP, Italy), presently jointly controlled by Azienda Mediterranea Gas e Acqua S.p.A (‘AMGA’, Italy) and Societa' Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A. (‘SMAT’, Italy), by way of public bid announced on 4 May 2005.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — for AMGA: provision of water-related services constituting the so-called ‘water integrated cycle’, electricity production and sale, management of gas distribution network and telecomminucations. AMGA is active only in Italy; — for SMAT: provision of water-related services constituting the so-called ‘water integrated cycle’ in Italy; — for CGE: active in the water sector; energy services; waste management, processing and recycling; passengers transport services; — for SAP: provision of water-related services constituting the so called ‘water integrated cycle’ in Italy.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under 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. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M. 3797 — CGE/AMGA/SMAT/SAP to the following address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition, Merger Registry J-70 B-1049 Brussels

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

---

25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/10

---

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 126/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: France

Aid No: E 46/2001

Title: Exemption from tax on health insurance contracts

Objective: Social aid

Legal basis:

article 995-15o du code général des impôts

Duration: Unlimited

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of decision:

Member State: Finland

No of the aid: N 70/2004

Title: Exemption from the payment of the withholding income tax and compensation for social contributions for seafarers in the maritime transport

Objective: Safeguard employment of EEA seafarers on board of Finnish passenger vessels and preserve maritime know-how within the Community

Legal basis:

Laki n:o 542/2004, 24. kesäkuuta 2004, ja laki n:o 62/2004, 9. heinäkuuta 2004

Budget: around EUR 50 million per year

Duration: 5 years (2005-2009)

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: Austria

Aid No: N 140/2004

Title: Programme of aid for combined transport road-rail-ship

Objective: To develop combined transport, in order to achieve a traffic shift of freight from road transport to other modes of transport. The planned measures will help to achieve the national and EU Kyoto target.

Legal basis:

Allgemeine Rahmenrichtlinien für die Gewährung von Förderungen aus Bundesmitteln; 51. Verordnung des Bundesministers für Finanzen, Jahrgang 2004

Budget: EUR 18 million

Duration: 2003-2008

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of decision:

Member State: Belgium

Aid No: N 142/00

Title: Aid for shipping, dredging and towing

Objective: Through exemption from the payroll tax, the Belgian authorities wish to support the development of shipping, dredging and towing at sea and meet competition from outside the European Union.

Legal basis:

Loi du 24 décembre 1999/Wet van 24 december 1999

Budget: Aid to shipping and dredging: BEF 151 million (EUR 3,7 million) a year.

Aid to the towing sector: BEF 120 million (EUR 3 million) a year

Aid intensity or amount: Exemption from payroll tax for seamen liable to income tax in Belgium and employed on board ships bearing a certificate of registry and flying the flag of a Member State.

Duration: Unlimited

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: United Kingdom — Scotland

Aid No: N 307/2004

Title: Broadband in Scotland — Rural and remote areas

Objective: To support the provision of affordable broadband telecommunications services in rural and remote areas in Scotland (telecommunications sector).

Legal basis: Section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998

Budget: State intervention GBP 12-17 million

Aid intensity or amount: unknown. Subject to reverse payment mechanism.

Duration: 3 to 5 years.

Other information: The providers elected to provide the service is mandated to provide non-discriminatory open access to third party providers.

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: France

Aid No: N 421/2003

Title: Aid to the French coal industry to cover the costs of closure for the year 2003

Objective: to cover the costs of the ceasing of all underground hard coal mining activities in France, taking into account the social and regional consequences

Legal basis: Council Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 of 23 July 2002 on State aid to the coal industry

Budget: EUR 916,4 million

Duration: 2003

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: Belgium

Aid No: N 496/04

Title: Support for film and audiovisual production from the Flemish Community — Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds vzw

Objective: Cinema

Legal basis:

Decreet van 13 april 1999 houdende machtiging van de Vlaamse Regering om toe te treden tot en om mee te werken aan de oprichting van de vzw Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds

Budget: EUR 12 000 000 + EUR 500 000 for 2004

Aid intensity or amount: Variable; always less than 50 %

Duration: Until end 2005

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of decision:

Member State: France

Aid No: N 593/2000

Title: Refunding the maritime part of the trading income tax (local tax)

Objective: The refunding to commercial shipowners of the maritime part of the trading income tax is intended to make French shipping more competitive against competition from outside the European Union.

Legal basis: Circulaire ministérielle du 8 mars 1990, reconduite par les circulaires des 25 octobre 1995 et 19 janvier 1999.

Budget: For 2001, FRF 100 000 000 (EUR 15,2 million); as of 1993, FRF 92 000 000 (EUR 14,02 million)

Aid intensity or amount: 100 % of the maritime part of the trading income tax paid by each recipient undertaking during the previous tax year.

Duration: Unlimited

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: Germany

Aid No: N 644i/2002

Title: Development of municipal economic infrastructure pursuant to Part II, Section 7 of the Framework plan under the joint Federal Government/Länder scheme for improving regional economic structures:

Objective: Improve regional airport infrastructure in order to create adequate conditions for economic activities and investments by industry.

Legal basis:

Gemeinschaftsaufgabe (GA) ‘Verbesserung der regionalen Wirftschaftsstruktur’ vom 6 Oktober 1969 in Verbindung mit den einschlägigen Bestimmungen von Teil II Nummer 7 des jeweils geltenden Rahmenplans der GA.

Budget: Total aid under the joint scheme amount to approximately EUR 5 billion of which only a part is intended for the measure in question (estimated at EUR 10 million annually).

Duration: 2004 — 2006

Other information: Type of aid: Capital grants

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of decision:

Member State: France

Aid No: N 766/2000

Title: Refund to shipping companies of employers' compulsory social security contributions

Objective: To make French shipping more competitive against competition from outside the European Union

Legal basis: Circulaire ministérielle du 31 mars 1999

Budget: FRF 215 million (EUR 32,7 million) a year

Aid intensity or amount: Variable, up to 100 % of the contributions paid by the company in the previous year.

Duration: Unlimited

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

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25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/13

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3815 — 3i Group/Carema)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 126/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 17 May 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking 3i Group plc (‘3i Group’, UK) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Carema Vård och Omsorg AB (‘Carema’, Sweden) by way of purchase of shares.

2.	The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — for undertaking 3i Group: venture capital company, — for undertaking Carema: provider of health care and care services.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under 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. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No 32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3815 — 3i Group/Carema, to the following address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition, Merger Registry J-70 B-1049 Brussels

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/14

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Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(2005/C 126/07)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Articles 7 and 12d of the abovementioned Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in a Member State, in a WTO member country or in a third country recognized in accordance with Article 12(3) within a time limit of six months from the date of this publication. The arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under 4.6, and are considered to justify the application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

‘SALAME CREMONA’

EC No: IT/00265/27.12.2002

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

This summary has been drawn up for information purposes only. For full details, in particular the producers of the PDO or PGI concerned, please consult the complete version of the product specification obtainable at national level or from the European Commission (1).

1.   Responsible department in the Member State:

Name:	Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali
Address:	Via XX Settembre n. 20 — 00187 Roma
Tel.:	(06) 481 99 68
Fax:	(06) 42 01 31 26
E-mail:	qualita@politiche agricole.it

2.   Group:

2.1. Name:	Consorzio tutela del Salame Cremona
2.2. Address:	Via Lanaioli n. 1 — 26100 Cremona
Tel.-fax:	(0372) 59 82 51
2.3. Composition:	producer/processor (X) other ( )

3.   Type of product:

Meat preparations — Class 1.2.

4.   Specification:

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2)):

4.1.   Name: ‘Salame Cremona’

4.2.   Description: ‘Salame Cremona’ is an uncooked cured and matured sausage product, with the following characteristics when released for consumption:

Physical and morphological features

A weight of not less than 500 gr after maturing

Diameter of not less than 65 mm when prepared

Length of not less than 150 mm when prepared

Chemical and physico-chemical features

Microbiological features

Mesophilic total colony units: > 1 × 107 per gram, with a prevalence of lactic acid bacteria and coccus.

Organoleptic features

Appearance: cylindrical, with irregular features.

Consistency: should be compact and tender

Appearance on slicing: slices are compact and homogenous, with typical binding of fragments of muscle and fat, so that the edges are not clearly visible (so-called ‘smelmato’ appearance). There is no visible gristle.

Colour: deep red

Smell: typical spicy fragrance.

4.3.   Geographical area: The area where Salame Cremona is manufactured comprises the regions of Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Piedmont and Veneto.

4.4.   Proof of origin: The main historical documents, which provide clear and specific evidence of the origin of the product and its link with the region, date back to 1231 and are preserved in the Cremona State Archive. They confirm trade between the territory of Cremona and neighbouring states in pork and meat products. A series of Renaissance documents in the ‘Litterarum’ and ‘Fragmentorum’ of the state Archive prove conclusively not only the presence but also the importance of salame in the area identified in the specification. Reports drafted when Bishop Cesare Speciano (1599-1606) visited the convents mention in the section on ‘day-to-day life’ that ‘on days when meat is eaten’ a certain quantity of salame was also distributed. Even today, the traditional presence of Salame Cremona is gaining in importance in the main agricultural and food fairs of Lombardy and the Po Valley.

Socio-economic references demonstrate the presence of a large number of producers engaged in the processing of pork in the plain of the Po, an industry which spread thanks to its integration with the dairy and cheese industry and cereal growing (especially maize).

4.5.   Method of production: The production process may be summed up as follows: the raw materials for the product must come from pigs born, raised and slaughtered in one of the following regions: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Tuscany, Marche, Abruzzi, Lazio and Molise. They may be of the traditional Large White Italian and Landrace Italian breeds, as improved by the Italian herd book, or progeny of sows of those breeds; progeny of sows of the Duroc Italian breed, as improved by the Italian herd book; progeny of sows of other breeds or cross-bred sows provided they come from selection or crossing schemes whose purposes are not incompatible with those of the Italian herd book for the production of heavy pigs.

The pigs are sent for slaughter between the end of their ninth month and their 15th month. The average weight of each individual sent for slaughter must lie between 144 and 176 kg.

The pork used for mincing consists of muscle tissue from carcases and pieces of striated muscle and fat.

Ingredients: Salt, spices, peppercorns and roughly milled pepper, garlic crushed and worked into the mixture.

The following may also be used: still white or red wine, sugar and/or dextrose and/or fructose and/or lactose, starter ferment, sodium and/or potassium nitrite, ascorbic acid and its sodium salt.

Mechanically recovered meat is prohibited.

Preparation: The pieces of muscle and fat are carefully trimmed, with removal of the larger bits of connective tissue, soft fat, lymph nodes and nerves. The meat is ground in mincers using blades with 6 mm holes. During mincing, the meat must be at a temperature higher than 0 °C. The meat is salted during slaughter, the other ingredients and flavourings are added to the minced meat. The ingredients are mixed in a vacuum machine or at atmospheric pressure for a long period. Salame Cremona is packed into natural porcine, bovine, equine or ovine casings of an initial diameter of 65 mm or more. The sausage is manually or mechanically fastened with string. The product may be kept in storage chambers for up to one day at a temperature between 2 °C and 10 °C. The product is warm-dried (temperature between 15 °C and 25 °C).

Maturing takes place in premises where there is adequate air circulation at a temperature between 11 °C and 16 °C for a period of at least five weeks.

The period of maturing varies, according to the initial diameter of the casing

Salame Cremona may be released for consumption by the piece, in vacuum packs or in protective atmosphere packs, whole or in thick or thin slices. Producer who wish to use the PGI must respect the rules deposited with the European Union in every particular.

Production, packaging and slicing must be carried out under the supervision of the control body referred to in Article 7 of the specification, exclusively in the production area defined in Article 3 of the specification, in order to permit checks and ensure traceability and not to degrade the product's quality features.

4.6.   Link: The production of salame is very closely linked with local pig breeding establishments, which go back to Roman times. Salame Cremona is also closely connected with its environment, resulting from the growth, first in the Cremona area and next in the whole plain of the Po, of pig-breeding in connection with cheese-making and maize-growing.

For some time past, in addition to the excellent synergy between dairy cattle farming and pig farming, along with cereal growing, the climate (which is prone to fog and not too windy) has been favourable to the product, enabling maturing salame to acquire its special features of tenderness, unctuosity and spicy aroma. The production area has soils typical of alluvial regions and has been used for pig raising for many centuries, first using the so-called ‘family system’ and then on an increasingly professional scale. The areas of production all have climates prone to fog, are very humid and have little wind, which favours the maturing of sausage products such as Salame Cremona. The part of the production area near the Po valley is exclusively rolling, crossed by rivers and canals and marked by crop products, particularly grassland and maize.

Throughout the production area autumns and winters are fairly harsh, and very wet and foggy, while springs are mild and rainy and summers have quite high temperatures and frequent short, and very often heavy, rainy periods. Pigs have always been present on the Po plain and in adjacent valleys since they are the animals best adapted to making most profitable use of the available maize and by-products of milk processing.

The area of production has always proved ideal both for the provision of the raw materials (maize and curds) and for the processing and storage of pigmeat, particularly Salame Cremona, which needs a very humid and relatively windless climate if it is to achieve top quality.

However, all this would not have been enough to produce the quality necessary for Salame Cremona without the human factor: over time, in the production area, highly specific techniques of preparation and maturing of salame have been perfected.

Even today, Salame Cremona is produced according to processes that fully respect tradition, and fit in well with the new technologies introduced into processing practices.

The environmental factor (the climate) and the human factor (the highly specialised technical capacity of the workers producing Salame Cremona), are still nowadays basic and irreplaceable in the specificity and reputation of the product.

Salame Cremona is a very well-known product with a long-established reputation, as is clear from its traditional presence in agricultural and food fairs of the Po valley, and its wide distribution on the major national and international markets.

This is confirmed by the appearance of Salame Cremona on lists of the main food products with designation of Italian origin, in annexes to bilateral agreements between Italy and other European countries from the 1950s to the 1970s (Germany, France, Austria, Spain) on the protection of geographical designations of origin.

4.7.   Inspection body:

Name:	Istituto Parma Qualità — I.P.Q.
Address:	Via Roma, 82/c — 43013 Langhirano (PR)

4.8.   Labelling: The label must bear, in clear, indelible letters larger than those of any other words on the label, the words Salame Cremona , and the words Indicazione Geografica Protetta and/or IGP , (protected geographical indication — PGI) which must also be translated into the language of the country where the product is marketed.

It is prohibited to add any other description not expressly provided for.

However, references to the name of a person or company, or a private mark, are permitted, as long as they do not constitute praise of the product and are not such as to mislead the consumer.

The label must also bear the Community symbol referred to in Article 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1276/98

4.9.   National requirements: —

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(1)  European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture, Agricultural product quality policy, B-1049 Brussels.

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25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/18

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DECISION

(2005/C 126/08)

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,

Having regard to the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities and the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Communities, laid down by Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68, as last amended by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 723/2004, and in particular to Article 30 of the Staff Regulations,

Having regard to the Bureau decision on appointment of the Appointing Authority, as last amended on 26 October 2004,

Having regard to Notice of Open Competition EUR/C/135,

Having regard to the opinion of the Joint Committee at its meeting of 13 April 2005,

DECIDES

Sole Article

The period of validity of the reserve list for Open Competition EUR/C/135 shall be extended until 31 December 2005.

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25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/19

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Call for proposals in the field of Community cooperation against accidental or deliberate marine pollution

(2005/C 126/09)

I.1.	The aim of this call for proposals is to identify actions, which might be eligible for financial support from the European Commission, Directorate-General for the Environment. This aid would take the form of co-financing.

I.2.

The fields concerned, and the nature and content of the actions (as well as the conditions for granting assistance and application forms) are set out in the documentation relating to the call for proposals. This documentation may be consulted on the Europa website at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/funding/intro_en.htm

I.3.

Procedure for the submission and examination of proposals: The call for proposals is open until 31 July 2005 The procedure for the appraisal of a proposal with an indicative timetable is as follows: — receipt, recording and acknowledgement of receipt by the Commission, — examination by the services of the Commission, — formulation of the final decision and communication of the result to the applicant. Beneficiaries will be selected on the basis of the criteria set out in the documentation relating to this call for proposals and within the limits of the available budget. The entire procedure is strictly confidential. In the event of approval by the Commission, a contract (made out in Euro) will be concluded between the Commission and the party submitting the proposal. The decision of the Commission is final.

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25.5.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 126/20

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CALL FOR PROPOSALS — e LEARNING PROGRAMME — DG EAC/23/05

(2005/C 126/10)

1.   Scope

This Call for Proposals aims to address three of the four areas of intervention of the eLearning Programme:

(a)   Promoting digital literacy

—

Identification, assessment, reporting and dissemination of good practices in the promotion of digital literacy, covering both conceptual and practical issues, from the understanding of digital literacy to identification of remedial actions for specific target groups — for example, making available online and offline digital information resources for those who have no easy access to ICT or the promotion of digital literacy in a lifelong learning context. In addition, proposals may implement digital literacy promotion actions building upon the good practices identified.

—	Design and implementation of awareness actions via European networks in this field. The programme will support actions carried out by European networks, associations, public authorities, public-private partnerships, etc., supporting contacts and exchange of good practice between them.

(b)   European virtual campuses

—

The first priority relates to the sharing of experience, the exchange of lessons learnt, the identification, the development and the strong dissemination of good practices focusing on models and practices with high value for generalisation for the effective integration of ICT in their education and training systems and for transnational virtual campuses.

—

The second priority supports European virtual mobility projects building (and enlarging) on cooperation agreements between HEI and on institutionalised, thematic or other networks which play an essential role for the mainstreaming of virtual campuses. Those proposals should facilitate effective and sustainable deployment building on the Bologna process and its operational tools (ECTS, quality …) and support long-term partnerships based on adequate organisational and economical models.

(c)   Transversal actions

Proposals responding to this part of the call will offer integrated, coherent, practical services for end-users of e-learning — such as teachers, trainers, tutors and learners themselves — to deal with digital content for learning (e-learning content). Proposals must provide information services or learning support services, or both:

—	Information services for end-users on the practical aspects of dealing with e-learning content and guidance as to where they will find further information, advice and support.

—	Learning support services for end-users to deal with e-learning content. The fourth area of intervention, e-twinning of schools in Europe and promotion of teachers' training, will be the subject of separate restricted calls.

2.   Eligibility of applicants

The coordinating /promoting institution and the other organisations involved must possess a legal identity. Both the coordinating /promoting organisation and the partner organisations must be established in one of the following states: one of the 25 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Bulgaria.

The conditions and detailed rules for the participation of EEA States and Bulgaria in the programme shall be established in accordance with the relevant provisions of the instruments governing the relations between the Community and these countries.

3.   Budget and proposal duration

Title	Available budget for the action	% of funding of the total eligible costs	Average Community funding	Maximum Community funding
Digital Literacy	EUR 1,3 million	Maximum 80 %	EUR 170 000	EUR 300 000
European Virtual Campuses	EUR 4,1 million		EUR 500 000	EUR 1 000 000
Transversal actions	EUR 1 million		EUR 250 000	EUR 500 000

The duration of each proposal will be between 12 and 24 months. Eligibility of costs for Commission's subvention will only start from 1 January 2006.

Closing date for submission:

5.   Submission of the application

For the complete documentation and further details on this call for proposals, please refer to the following Internet address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/elearning/index_en.html

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