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I Information

Commission

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Euro exchange rates (1)

29 November 2005

(2005/C 300/01)

1 euro= 

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(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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Information procedure — Technical rules

(2005/C 300/02)

(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

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:

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

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

GERMANY

ESTONIA

GREECE

SPAIN

FRANCE

IRELAND

ITALY

CYPRUS

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

LUXEMBOURG

HUNGARY

MALTA

NETHERLANDS

AUSTRIA

POLAND

PORTUGAL

SLOVENIA

SLOVAKIA

FINLAND

SWEDEN

UNITED KINGDOM

EFTA - ESA

TURKEY

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(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.

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Notice of initiation of a partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of ammonium nitrate originating in Russia

(2005/C 300/03)

The Commission has received a request for a partial interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (‘the basic Regulation’) (1), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 461/2004 (2).

1.   Request for review

The request was lodged by the Open Joint Stock Company (OJSC) ‘Mineral and Chemical Company EuroChem’ (‘the applicant’), an exporting producer from Russia.

2.   Product

The product under review is solid fertilisers with an ammonium nitrate content exceeding 80 % by weight originating in Russia (‘the product concerned’), normally declared within CN codes 3102 30 90, 3102 40 90, ex 3102 29 00, ex 3102 60 00, ex 3102 90 00, ex 3105 10 00, ex 3105 20 10, ex 3105 51 00, ex 3105 59 00 and ex 3105 90 91. These CN codes are given only for information.

3.   Existing measures

The measures currently in force are a definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 658/2002 (3), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 945/2005 (4) on imports of ammonium nitrate originating in Russia.

4.   Grounds for the review

The request pursuant to Article 11(3) is based on the prima facie evidence provided by the applicant, that the circumstances on the basis of which measures were established have changed and that these changes are of a lasting nature.

The applicant alleges and provides prima facie evidence showing that a comparison with its own costs and export prices would lead to a reduction of dumping significantly below the level of the current measures. Therefore, the continued imposition of measures at the existing level, which were based on the injury margin previously established, is no longer necessary to offset dumping.

5.   Procedure for the determination of dumping

Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of a partial interim review, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation, limited in scope to the examination of dumping as far as the applicant is concerned.

(a)   Questionnaires

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the applicant and to the authorities of the exporting country concerned. This information and supporting evidence should reach the Commission within the time limit set in point 6(a).

(b)   Collection of information and holding of hearings

All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information other than questionnaire replies and to provide supporting evidence. This information and supporting evidence must reach the Commission within the time limit set in point 6(a).

Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested parties, provided that they make a request showing that there are particular reasons why they should be heard. This request must be made within the time limit set in point 6(b).

6.   Time limits

(a)   For parties to make themselves known, to submit questionnaire replies and any other information

All interested parties, if their representations are to be taken into account during the investigation, must make themselves known by contacting the Commission, present their views and submit questionnaire replies or any other information within 40 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. 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 aforementioned period.

(b)   Hearings

All interested parties may also apply to be heard by the Commission within the same 40-day time limit.

7.   Written submissions, questionnaire replies and correspondence

All submissions and requests made by interested parties must be made in writing (not in electronic format, unless otherwise specified) and must indicate the name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax number of the interested party. All written submissions, including the information requested in this notice, questionnaire replies and correspondence provided by interested parties on a confidential basis shall be labelled as ‘Limited’ (5) and, in accordance with Article 19(2) of the basic Regulation, shall be accompanied by a non-confidential version, which will be labelled ‘FOR INSPECTION BY INTERESTED PARTIES’.

Commission address for correspondence:

8.   Non-cooperation

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.

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 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.

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(1)OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1.

(2)OJ L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 12.

(3)OJ L 102, 18.4.2002, p. 1.

(4)OJ L 160, 23.6.2005, p. 1.

(5)  This means that the document is for internal use only. It is protected pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43). It is a confidential document pursuant to Article 19 of the basic Regulation and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-dumping Agreement).

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VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)

(EXEMPT INVESTMENT GOLD)

List of gold coins meeting the criteria established in Article 26b(A)(ii) of Council Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 as amended by Council Directive 98/80/EC of 12 October 1998 (special scheme for investment gold)

(2005/C 300/04)

Valid for the year 2006

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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Annotated presentation of regulated markets and national provisions implementing relevant requirements of ISD (93/22/EEC)

(2005/C 300/05)

Article 16 of Investment Services Directive 93/22/EEC (OJ L 141, 11.6.1993) authorises each Member State to confer the status of ‘regulated market’ on those markets constituted on its territory and which comply with its regulations.

Article 1.13 of Directive 93/22/EEC defines a ‘regulated market’ as a market for the financial instruments listed in section B of the annex to the Investment Services Directive, which;

Article 16 of Directive 93/22/EEC requires that each Member State maintain an updated list of regulated markets authorised by it. This information should be communicated to other Member States and the Commission. Under the same article, the Commission is required to publish a list of regulated markets notified to it on a yearly basis. The present list has been compiled pursuant to this requirement.

The attached list indicates the title of the individual markets which are recognised by national competent authorities as complying with the definition of ‘regulated market’. In addition, it indicates the entity responsible for managing these markets and the competent authority responsible for issuing or approving the rules of the market.

As a result of reduced entry barriers and specialisation in trading segments, the list of ‘regulated markets’ is subject to greater turnover. Consequently, the European Commission will, in addition to yearly publication of a list in the Official Journal, maintain an updated version of this list on its official website [http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/finances/mobil/isd/]. This list will be updated regularly on the basis of information communicated by national authorities. The latter are called upon to continue to advise the Commission of any additions to or deletions from the list of regulated markets for which it is the home Member State.

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Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of Directive 94/9/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres — 2004

(2005/C 300/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Publication of titles and references of harmonized standards under the directive

Note:

More information about harmonised standards on the Internet at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/newapproach/standardization/harmstds/.

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(1)   ESO: European Standardisation Organisation:

(2)OJ L 204, 21.7.1998.

(3)OJ L 217, 5.8.1998.

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Public presentation of the preliminary findings of the energy sector inquiry

(2005/C 300/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The European Commission has conducted a sector inquiry into the gas and electricity sectors under Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003. A public presentation of the preliminary findings of this inquiry will be held in Brussels on 16 February 2006 and an opportunity to comment will be given. Interest in attending this public presentation should be expressed before 13 January 2006 by e-mail to:

comp-energy-sector-inquiry@cec.eu.int

Further information can be found on the website of the Competition DG:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/antitrust/others/sector_inquiries/energy/

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4037 — Gerdau/Grupo Santander/Bogey/Sidenor)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 300/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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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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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4042 — Toepfer/InVivo/Soulès)

(2005/C 300/09)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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(1)OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3885 — Apax/Barclays/Tchenguiz/Somerfield/JV)

(2005/C 300/10)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 18 November 2005, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3925 — UPS/LYNX)

(2005/C 300/11)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 23 September 2005, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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III Notices

Commission

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Call for proposals for indirect RTD actions under the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: ‘structuring the European Research Area’

Science and Society — Bringing research closer to society — Promoting science and scientific culture

Call identifier: FP6-2005-Science-and-society-19

(2005/C 300/12)

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(1)OJ L 232, 29.8.2002, p. 1.

(2)OJ L 294, 29.10.2002, p. 44.

(3)  Commission Decision C(2002)4791, as amended by Commission Decisions C(2003)635, C(2003)998, C(2003)1951, C(2003)2708, C(2003)4571, C(2004)48, C(2004)3330, C(2004)4276, C(2005)1447, C(2005)3190, C(2005) 4206 all unpublished.

(4)OJ L 355, 30.12.2002, p. 23

(5)OJ L 248, of 16.9.2002, p. 1.

(6)OJ L 357, of 31.12.2002, p. 1.

(7)  C(2003)883 of 27.3.2003, as last modified by C(2004)3337 of 1.9.2004.

(8)  The EPSS is a tool to assist proposers to develop and submit their proposals electronically.

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ANNEX

1.   Specific programme: Structuring the ERA

2.   Activity: Science and Society

3.   Call title: Bringing research closer to society; Promoting science and scientific culture

4.   Call identifier: FP6-2005-Science-and-society-19

5.   Date of publication: 

6.   Closure dates: 30 March 2006 5 p.m. (Brussels local time).

7.   Total indicative budget: EUR 3,5 millions.

8.   Area and instruments: Proposals are invited in the following topics: The table gives short titles only. For a full description of the topics, applicants must refer to the work programme.

9.   Minimum number of participants (2): 

10.   Restriction to participation: None. Furthermore, any legal entity established in a third country not covered by Article 6(2) of the Rules for Participation (entities in countries having concluded an S&T agreement with the Community may participate by right) may also participate in this call providing that such an involvement would be beneficial or essential to the proposed activity, and is over and above the specified minimum number of participants from Member State or associated countries.

11.   Consortium agreement: Participants in RTD actions resulting from this call are not required to conclude a consortium agreement.

12.   Evaluation procedure: 

13.   Evaluation criteria: See Annex B of the work programme for the applicable criteria (including their individual weights and thresholds and the overall threshold) per instrument.

14.   Indicative evaluation and selection delays: 

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(1)  CA = Coordination action; SSA = Specific support action.

(2)  MS = Member States of the EU; AS (incl. ACC) = Associated States ; ACC : Associated candidate countries.

Any legal entity established in a Member State or Associated State and which is made up of the requested number of participants may be the sole participant in an indirect action.

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