10.12.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 314/1

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Euro exchange rates (1)

9 December 2005

(2005/C 314/01)

1 euro=

	Currency	Exchange rate
USD	US dollar	1,1785
JPY	Japanese yen	142,01
DKK	Danish krone	7,4495
GBP	Pound sterling	0,67320
SEK	Swedish krona	9,4224
CHF	Swiss franc	1,5398
ISK	Iceland króna	75,49
NOK	Norwegian krone	7,9270
BGN	Bulgarian lev	1,9556
CYP	Cyprus pound	0,5733
CZK	Czech koruna	29,038
EEK	Estonian kroon	15,6466
HUF	Hungarian forint	256,07
LTL	Lithuanian litas	3,4528
LVL	Latvian lats	0,6978
MTL	Maltese lira	0,4293
PLN	Polish zloty	3,8569
RON	Romanian leu	3,6344
SIT	Slovenian tolar	239,51
SKK	Slovak koruna	38,026
TRY	Turkish lira	1,5988
AUD	Australian dollar	1,5709
CAD	Canadian dollar	1,3665
HKD	Hong Kong dollar	9,1384
NZD	New Zealand dollar	1,6770
SGD	Singapore dollar	1,9836
KRW	South Korean won	1 218,39
ZAR	South African rand	7,5029
CNY	Chinese yuan renminbi	9,5182
HRK	Croatian kuna	7,3990
IDR	Indonesian rupiah	11 407,88
MYR	Malaysian ringgit	4,439
PHP	Philippine peso	62,985
RUB	Russian rouble	34,0640
THB	Thai baht	48,674

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(1)  

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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10.12.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 314/2

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 314/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: Hungary

Aid No: N 123/2005

Title: Cultural Heritage Scheme to Promote Tourism

Objective: Cultural Heritage Conservation and Tourism Promotion

Legal basis: A Nemzeti Fejlesztési Hivatal 2/2005. (II. 18) rendeletével módosított, a Turisztikai célelőirányzat felhasználásának és kezelésének részletes szabályairól szóló 14/2002. (XI. 16.) MeHVM rendelet

Budget: The annual budget financed from State resources is HUF 5 billion (about EUR 20 million)

Aid intensity: Up to 100 %

Duration: 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: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 159 /2005

Title: EWSI Channel Tunnel Freight Support Funding

Objective(s): Aid compensating for Channel Tunnel Usage Charges thereby ensuring the continued and uninterrupted operation of cross-Channel rail freight services

Budget: 42 000 000 GBP/60 100 000 EUR

Duration: From 1.5.2005 to 30.11.2006

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: Denmark

Aid No: N 214/2005

Title: State aid scheme for promoting SMEs' use of IT and e-business

Objective: To promote SMEs' use of IT and e-business

Legal basis: Finansloven § 19.11.10.80, tekstbemærkning 175

Budget: App. EUR 1,3 million

Intensity or amount: 50 % of project costs

Duration:

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 248/2004

Title: Transfer of the Hessian Investment Fund as silent partnership participation to Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen

Aid intensity or amount: Measure not constituting aid

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: Belgium

Aid No: N 279/2003

Title: Aid for environmental investments in Flanders

Objective: To stimulate environmental investments

Legal basis: Decreet van 31 januari 2003 betreffende het economisch ondersteuningsbeleid (Belgisch Staatsblad van 25 maart 2003)

Budget: EUR 626 million

Intensity or amount: 40 %

Duration: 10 years

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

Aid No: N 293/2004

Title: Modification of the scheme N 245/03

Objective: The objective of the modification is to introduce expenditure on some software licences and other expenditure in the eligible costs

Legal basis: Finance Bill 2004

Budget: It will not change substantially the initial budget of the scheme

Aid intensity or amount: Unchanged

Duration: Unchanged

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: Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)

Aid No: N 308/2001

Title: Employment aid for disabled people

Objective: The scheme aims to promote the recruitment of disabled workers and the adaptation of workplaces and equipment to meet their needs

Legal basis: Progetto di Legge Regionale (n. 133) ‘Disposizioni in materia di diritto al lavoro dei disabili, di telelavoro e in materia previdenziale’ in application of Articles 13 and 14 of the Legge 12 marzo 1999, n. 68, ‘Norme per il diritto al lavoro dei disabili’

Budget: ITL 13 500 million (EUR 7 million)

Aid intensity or amount: 50 % of the cost of adapting working areas and workplaces for disabled people. Exemption from social security contributions for disabled people recruited under certain conditions

Duration: 2001 to 2006

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: Czech Republic

Aid No: N 432/2004

Title: Measure in favour of Boeing Česká and The Boeing Company

Objective: legal protection instrument in the context of termination of capital participation of The Boeing Company in AERO Vodochody a.s. (aviation industry)

Legal basis: Usnesení vlády České republiky ze dne 6. října 2004 č. 973 o řešení situace ve společnosti AERO Vodochody a.s. a podmínkách ukončení účasti společnosti The Boeing Company v této společnosti

Duration: no limit

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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10.12.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 314/4

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 314/03)

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: Italy (Tuscany)

Aid No: N 61/2004

Title: Compensation for the removal and destruction of fallen stock

Objective: Compensation for the costs incurred by farmers for collecting, transporting and destroying fallen stock on agricultural holdings.

Legal basis: Proposta di legge d'iniziativa della Giunta regionale n. 7 del 19.1.2004‘Interventi a favore degli allevatori in relazione alla rimozione e alla distruzione degli animali morti in azienda’

Budget: EUR 810 000

Aid intensity or amount: For the cost of collecting and transporting fallen stock: EUR 300 per head of cattle and buffalo and EUR 65 per head of sheep and goats. In any event the compensation may not exceed 100 % of the costs actually incurred by the farmer.

For the cost of destroying the carcases of fallen stock found between 1 November 2002 and 31 December 2004: EUR 50 per head of cattle and buffalo and EUR 7 per head of sheep and goats. In any event the compensation may not exceed 100 % of the costs actually incurred by the farmer in the case of fallen stock found between 1 November 2002 and 31 December 2003 and 75 % in the case of fallen stock found between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2004

Duration: The compensation is to be granted for fallen stock found on holdings between 1 November 2002 and 31 December 2004

Other information: Draft law n. 7 of 19 January 2004 amends an existing scheme approved by the Commission under State aid schemes N 639/2001 (Commission Decision SG(2002)198 of 31 January 2002, OJ C 58/2002) and N 739/2002 (Commission Decision C(2003)64 of 15 January 2003, OJ C 39/2003)

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: Spain

Aid No: N 163/2004

Title: Aid to repair the damage caused by torrential rain in Aragon

Objective: To repair the damage caused by torrential rain in Aragon

Legal basis: Proyecto de orden por la que se establecen ayudas para paliar los daños causados por las tormentas y lluvias torrenciales acaecidas en los meses de julio y agosto de 2003 en determinados municipios de la Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón

Budget: EUR 285 000

Aid intensity or amount: Less than the damage caused to woody plantations

Duration: Ad hoc aid

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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10.12.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 314/5

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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 314/04)

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

LIMONE FEMMINELLO DEL GARGANO

EC No: IT/00297/10.06.2003

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

This summary has been drawn up for information purposes only. For full details interested parties, in particular the producers of products covered by the PGI in question, are invited to consult the full version of the 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, 20 — I-00187 Rome
Tel.:	(39-06) 481 99 68
Fax:	(39-06) 42 01 31 26
e-mail:	qtc3@politicheagricole.it

2.   Group:

2.1   Name: Consorzio di tutela e valorizzazione ‘Gargano Agrumi’

2.2   Address:

Via Salita della Bella — I-71018 Vico del Gargano (FG)

Tel.: (39-0884) 96 62 29

Fax: (39-0884) 96 63 99

2.3   Composition: producer/processor (x) other ( )

3.   Type of product:

Group 1.6 — Fresh fruit and vegetables

4.   Specification:

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1   Name: ‘Limone Femminello del Gargano’

4.2   Description: Fresh fruit of the species Citrus limonium, of either the femminello comune variety, which has a soft rind and is known also as lustrino (Citrus limonium tenue R.), or the oblong variety, known also as fusillo (Citrus limonium oblungum R.).

The main characteristics of Limone Femminello del Gargano are as follows:

Soft-rind variety (lustrino):

roundish shape;

particularly smooth, very fine rind, pale yellow in colour;

minimum diameter at the centre: 50 mm;

at least 80 g in weight;

the flavedo is rich in essential oils and has a very intense aroma;

the fruit is made up of 8 to 11 segments;

the flesh and juice are lemon yellow with very few seeds. The juice accounts for 35 % of the weight of the fruit and has an acidity level of at least 3,5 per 100 ml.

Oblong variety (fusillo)

elliptical shape;

medium-thickness rind, fairly smooth and bright lemon yellow in colour;

minimum diameter at the centre 60mm;

at least 100 g in weight;

the flavedo is rich in essential oils and has a very intense aroma;

the fruit is made up of 8 to 11 segments;

the flesh and juice are lemon yellow. The juice accounts for 30 % of the weight of the fruit and has an acidity level of at least 3,5 per 100 ml.

4.3   Geographical area: The production and packing area is located in the province of Foggia (Region of Apulia) and includes the municipalities of Vico del Gargano, Ischitella and Rodi Garganico, specifically a section of the northern part of the Gargano promontory — part coastal and part sub-coastal — from Vico del Gargano and Rodi Garganico up to Ischitella.

4.4   Proof of origin: Each phase of the production process is constantly monitored. Products may be traced through registers of producers and packing stations, such registers being kept by the inspection body.

Product traceability and proof of origin are also guaranteed by recording all lemon groves in an appropriate register, which is kept and updated by the inspection body, and which also provides details on the location of groves and the quantities of produce reported to the inspection body. All legal and natural persons recorded in the registers are subject to checks carried out by the inspection body, under the provisions contained in the production specifications and the relevant monitoring plan.

4.5   Method of production: The product specification stipulates that the lemon grove must be planted in compliance with the orographic and soil conditions that characterise the area of production. Sloping land will be terraced, using dry-stone walls or embankments. Where necessary, protection from cold winds will be provided by windbreaks made predominantly from holm oak (a local material), cane-breaks and nets.

In accordance with tradition, the stock used is exclusively ‘melangolo’ (citrus mearda), certified as such under the applicable legislation.

The tree structure is formed of two main branches and two secondary branches, allowing the foliage to develop in a circular shape within a square frame, forming a flattened semi-circle, known as a ‘broken dome’ as it facilitates aeration and harvesting.

The groves are planted in the traditional pattern, a quincunx, at a density of between 250 and 400 trees per hectare.

The lemon trees are irrigated between May and October.

Lemon production must not exceed 35 tonnes per hectare.

Harvesting is manual, using scissors, and takes place all year round, since the soil and climate conditions and the specific features of the lemon groves ensure that the trees bear fruit for an extended period. Artificial ripening of the fruit is prohibited.

Packing of Limone Femminello del Gargano (PGI) takes place solely in the area of production, as stipulated in point 4.3, in order to ensure product traceability and monitoring and to prevent deterioration in the quality of the produce.

4.6.   Link: Due to the specific local environment, i.e. the soil and climate in the coastal and sub humid Mediterranean belt of the Gargano promontory, which, thanks to the age-old traditional experience of local farmers, have over time produced lemons so sought after that they have attracted foreign markets since antiquity, the Limone Femminello del Gargano is prized for its authenticity and, above all, a special aroma that sets this PGI apart from the lemons produced in other Italian regions.

Citrus-growing in the Gargano is still a traditional form of agriculture, performed by hand, with the pruner playing a major role. Over time, agriculture in the Gargano has built up a heritage of agronomic expertise that has been passed down through generations.

The first network of commercial links with the North American continent dates back to 1884, and accounted for a significant proportion of citrus production. The first historical documentation on the Limone Femminello del Gargano dates from the year 1000, whilst the earliest records of production in the area are to be found in the 1811 statistics of the Kingdom of Naples, when 60 % of production was exported.

4.7   Inspection body: The inspection body is an appointed public authority.

4.8   Labelling: Limone Femminello del Gargano must be released for consumption in closed, rigid packaging of vegetable origin, such as wood or cardboard, with a capacity of between 1 kg and 25 kg. The packaging must ensure that at least 80 % of the fruit, wrapped or unwrapped, carry the mark ‘PGI — Limone Femminello del Gargano’. If the fruit is sold loose, it must bear this mark.

The packaging must contain the following indications:

‘Limone Femminello del Gargano’ (which may be followed by either of the trade names ‘lustrino’ or ‘fusillo’), the logo, the PGI name in full and indications concerning the producer, packing station, retailer and the net weight as sold.

Products containing the protected designation product certified as such is the sole component of the product group concerned;

users of the protected designation product are authorised by the holders of the intellectual property right concerned, grouped together in a syndicate and assigned a supervisory role by the Ministry for Agricultural Policy. The syndicate will be responsible for registering them and keeping watch on correct use of the protected designation. In the absence of a supervisory syndicate, these functions shall be carried out by the Ministry for Agricultural and Forestry Policy, as the national authority responsible for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

The logo consists of a stylised image of two lemons with a leafy branch inside an elliptical crown. The crown bears the wording ‘Limone Femminello del Gargano’.

The lemons pictured and the wording ‘Limone Femminello del Gargano’ are in pale yellow, and the branch and leaves are green.

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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10.12.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 314/9

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Infringement procedure 2003/4497 — Civitavecchia

(2005/C 314/05)

Further to the supplementary reasoned opinion which the Commission sent Italy in pursuance of the abovementioned procedure, in which the Commission found that, by not measuring correctly ambient concentrations of PM10 particles in the area of Civitavecchia and consequently failing to inform the public of these concentrations regularly, Italy had failed to fulfil its obligations under Directives 96/62/EC on ambient air quality assessment and management (1) and 1999/30/EC relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air (2), the Italian authorities have informed the Commission that, since 3 April 2005, an air-quality monitoring station has been operating in Civitavecchia (via Palmiro Togliatti) capable of measuring PM10 concentrations and the relevant information is available on the Agenzia Regionale Protezione Ambientale del Lazio (Lazio Region Environmental Protection Agency — Arpalazio) website http://www.arpalazio.it/aria/centraline/dettaglio_provincia.php.

Therefore, in light of the foregoing, the Commission's departments take the view that the Italian Republic has complied with the abovementioned supplementary reasoned opinion and that infringement proceedings 2003/4497 should be closed. They will therefore propose that the Commission should close the procedure.

Any new information submitted to the Commission which might lead it to reconsider its decision to close the case must be communicated within a month of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. In the absence of any such new information, the Commission will close the procedure.

This does not preclude that, should the Commission come into possession, even after the procedure is closed, of new facts justifying the opening of a new procedure regarding the same subject-matter, the case would be reopened and proceedings initiated once again.

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(1)  OJ L 296, 21.11.1996, p. 55-63.

(2)  OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41-60.

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10.12.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 314/10

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4061 — Kalyani Brakes/Brembo/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 314/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.

On 2 December 2005 the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Kalyani Brakes Ltd (‘Kalyani’, India, part of the Bosch Group) and Brembo S.p.A (‘Brembo’, Italy) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of a newly created company KBX Motorbike Products Private Ltd (‘KBX’, India) constituting a joint venture.

2.	The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — Kalyani: manufacture of automotive braking systems, — Brembo: manufacture of automotive braking systems, — KBX: manufacture of braking systems for two wheel vehicles.

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.4061 — Kalyani Brakes/Brembo/JV, to the following address: European Commission Competition DG 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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