(1)

Pursuant to Article 1 of Decision No 191, the European Health Insurance Card will replace forms E 111 and E 111B from 1 June 2004. The E 111 and E 111B forms issued by the Member States’ competent institutions before 31 May 2004 will remain valid until 31 December 2004 at the latest.

(2)

Pursuant to Article 5 of Decision No 191, the Member States which do not have a health insurance card at the time when the Decision is adopted may be granted a transitional period, which may not, however, extend beyond 31 December 2005. The Member States which fulfil this condition must inform the Administrative Commission before 1 December 2003 of their intention to claim such a period, specifying its duration. After 1 June 2004, the competent institutions of the Member States granted a transitional period will therefore continue to issue E 111 forms, the validity of which will expire at the end of the transitional period. The new Member States which fulfil the abovementioned condition must notify the Administrative Commission of their wish to be allowed a transitional period and specify its duration by 31 May 2004 at the latest.

(3)

In order to ensure clear and transparent information for institutions and citizens, and to guarantee recognition of the E 111 forms that will continue to be issued after 1 June 2004 in certain Member States, a list must be drawn up of the Member States granted such a transitional period. However, as regards the new Member States and the EFTA countries this list can only be indicative as long as Decision No 191 does not apply there.

(4)

From 1 June 2004, the competent institutions of the Member States which do not have a transitional period may no longer issue forms E 111 or E 111B. Consequently, if the European card is introduced gradually, certain competent institutions of the Member States concerned will have to issue to insured persons a temporary replacement certificate if they are unable to issue European cards. However, all the competent institutions must be able to issue cards by 1 January 2006 at the latest.

(5)

Throughout the transitional period the competent institutions of the Member States concerned will continue to issue E 111 forms to insured persons on the basis of the model set out in Decision No 198 of 23 March 2004, concerning the replacement and discontinuance of the model forms necessary for the application of Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72 of the Council (3).

(6)

However, Member States, which have a transitional period, can choose to shorten the duration of this period. They must notify the Administrative Commission of their decision at the latest three months before the introduction of the first European Card. As a result of this notification, the Member State concerned, may no longer issue form E 111 from the date indicated in its notification to the Administrative Commission.

(7)

A decision of the EEA Joint Committee will define the arrangements for the use of the European Health Insurance Card in the European Economic Area. This decision will set out in particular the model of the cards issued by the competent institutions of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

(8)

A decision of the Joint Committee for the Agreement on the free movement of persons between the European Community and its Member States and the Swiss Confederation will define the arrangements for the use of the European Health Insurance Card in relations between the Member States and Switzerland. This decision will set out in particular the model of the cards issued by the competent institutions of the Swiss Confederation,