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I Information

Commission

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Euro exchange rates (1)

22 November 2006

(2006/C 286/01)

1 euro= 

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(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4485 — MEIF II/Techem)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2006/C 286/02)

(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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Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002 of 12 December 2002 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid for employment

(2006/C 286/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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(1)  With the exception of the shipbuilding sector and of other sectors subject to special rules in regulations and directives governing all state aid within the sector.

(2)  This scheme will be adapted according to the rules applicable after review of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2204/2002.

(3)  With the exception of the shipbuilding sector and other sectors subject to special rules in regulations and directives governing all State aid within the sector.

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Guidelines on National Regional aid for 2007-2013 (1) — National regional State aid map: Greece, Estonia, Lithuania

(2006/C 286/04)

N 408/2006 — GREECE

National regional State aid map 1.1.2007-31.12.2013

(Approved by the Commission on 31.08.2006)

N 466/2006 — ESTONIA

National regional State aid map 1.1.2007-31.12.2013

(Approved by the Commission on 13.09.2006)

N 641/2006 — LITHUANIA

National regional State aid map 1.1.2007-31.12.2013

(Approved by the Commission on 24.10.2006)

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(1)OJ C 54, 4.3.2006, p. 13

(2)  For investment projects with eligible expenditure not exceeding EUR 50 million, this ceiling is increased by 10 percentage points for medium sized companies and 20 percentage points for small companies as defined in the Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 36). For large investment projects with eligible expenditure exceeding EUR 50 million, this ceiling is subject to adjustment in accordance with paragraph 67 of the Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013.

(3)  One or more of these regions will remain eligible under Article 87(3)(a) and the ceiling for the period 1.1.2011-31.12.2013 will be increased to 30 % if a review to be undertaken in 2010 shows that the GDP per capita of the region concerned has fallen below 75 % of the EU-25 average.

(4)  For investment projects with eligible expenditure not exceeding EUR 50 million, this ceiling is increased by 10 percentage points for medium sized companies and 20 percentage points for small companies as defined in the Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 36). For large investment projects with eligible expenditure exceeding EUR 50 million, this ceiling is subject to adjustment in accordance with paragraph 67 of the Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013.

(5)  For investment projects with eligible expenditure not exceeding EUR 50 million this ceiling is increased by 10 percentage points for medium sized companies and 20 percentage points for small companies as defined in the Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 36). For large investment projects with eligible expenditure exceeding EUR 50 million, this ceiling is subject to adjustment in accordance with paragraph 67 of the Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013.

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.4135 — Lactalis/Galbani)

(2006/C 286/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 24 April 2006, 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 French and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures

(2006/C 286/06)

2.   Procedure

Community producers may lodge a written request for a review. This request must contain sufficient evidence that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in a continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury.

Should the Commission decide to review the measures concerned, importers, exporters, representatives of the exporting country and Community producers will then be provided with the opportunity to amplify, rebut or comment on the matters set out in the review request.

3.   Time limit

Community producers may submit a written request for a review on the above basis, to reach the European Commission, Directorate-General for Trade (Division B-1), J-79 5/16, B-1049 Brussels (2) at any time from the date of the publication of the present notice but no later than three months before the date mentioned in the table below.

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(1)OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2117/2005 (OJ L 340, 23.12.2005, p. 17).

(2)  Telefax: (32-2) 295 65 05.

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EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

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Details of arrangement for the electronic transmission of State aid notifications

Article 3(6) of the Efta Surveillance Authority Decision of 14 July 2004 on the implementing provisions referred to under Article 27 in Part II of Protocol 3 to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice (hereinafter ‘Decision 195/04/COL’) (1)

(2006/C 286/07)

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(1)  As amended by Decision 319/05/COL (not yet published). Article 3(6) of Decision No 195/04/COL corresponds to Article 3(6) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 of 21 April 2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the Treaty.

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56th amendment of the State aid Guidelines

EFTA Surveillance Authority decision to propose appropriate measures

(2006/C 286/08)

Date of adoption: 

EFTA State: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein

Case No: 55834

Title: EFTA Surveillance Authority decision amending for the fifty-sixth time the procedural and substantive rules in the field of State aid — New Chapter 25.B National Regional aid — 2007-2013. Proposal for appropriate measures.

Legal basis: College Decision No. 85/06/COL

Decision: The appropriate measures, proposed by the Authority and accepted by the EFTA States are as follows:

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III Notices

Commission

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F-Juillan: operation of scheduled air services

Operation of scheduled air services between Tarbes (Lourdes-Pyrénées) and Paris (Orly)

Notice of a competitive public tender issued by France pursuant to Article 4(1)(d) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 for the delegation of a public service

(2006/C 286/09)

1.   Introduction: Pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23.7.1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes, France has imposed a public service obligation on scheduled air services between Tarbes (Lourdes-Pyrénées) and Paris (Orly). The terms of this public service obligation were published under the reference C 22/04 in the ‘Official Journal of the European Union’ of 27.1.2004 and amended 21.6.2005 under C 149/02.

If on 1.5.2007 no air carrier has commenced or is about to commence operating these scheduled air services in accordance with the public service obligation imposed and without requesting financial compensation, France has decided, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4(1)(d) of the abovementioned Regulation, to limit access to the route to only 1 carrier and to offer the right to operate such services from 1.6.2007 by invitation to tender.

2.   Contracting authority: 

3.   Object of the consultation: To provide, from 1.6.2007, scheduled air services in accordance with the public service obligation mentioned in paragraph 1.

4.   Main features of the contract: This is a public service delegation contract to be concluded between the carrier, the Syndicat mixte de la zone aéroportuaire Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées and the State in accordance with Article 8 of Decree No 2005-473 of 16.5.2005 relating inter alia to the rules governing the allocation of financial compensation by the State.

The delegatee will receive the revenue. The Syndicat mixte de la zone aéroportuaire Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées and the State will pay it a contribution corresponding to the difference between the actual expenditure, excluding taxes (VAT, and aviation taxes) on operating the service and the commercial revenue, excluding taxes (VAT, and aviation taxes), received by it, within the limit of the maximum compensation to which it has committed itself, following deduction, where appropriate, of the penalties specified in Section 9.4 of this notice.

5.   Duration of the contract: The duration of the contract (public service delegation agreement) is 3 years from 1.6.2007.

6.   Participation in the consultation: Participation is open to all air carriers holding a valid operating licence issued in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 of 23.7.1992 on licensing of air carriers.

7.   Award procedure and criteria for selecting candidates: This invitation to tender is subject to Article 4(1)(d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, and to Articles L 1411-1 et seq. of the General Local Authorities Code concerning public service delegations and to the texts implementing them (in particular Decree No 97-638 of 31.5.1997 implementing Law No 97-210 of 11.3.1997 on strengthening the fight against illegal employment), and Decree No 2005-473 of 16.5.2005 relating inter alia to the rules governing the allocation of financial compensation by the State and the 3 Orders of 16.5.2005 implementing it.

The application file must be drawn up in French. Where necessary, tenderers must have documents issued by public authorities in an official language of the European Union translated into French. Along with the French version, tenderers may enclose a version drafted in another official language of the European Union; this version will not be authentic.

The application file must contain the following:

Applications will be selected with reference to the following criteria set out in Article L. 1411-1(3) of the General Local Authorities Code:

8.   Criteria for the award of the contract: Subsequently, the carriers whose applications are allowed and accepted will be invited to submit their tenders in accordance with the procedure laid down in the specific rules for the invitation to tender, which will then be supplied to them.

In accordance with Article L. 1211-1 subparagraph 3 of the General Local Authorities Code the bids thus submitted will be freely negotiated by the designated authority of the Syndicat mixte de la zone aéroportuaire Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées.

In accordance with Article 4(1)(f) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, the selection among the submissions will be made taking into consideration the adequacy of the service, including the prices and conditions which can be quoted to users, and the cost of the compensation required.

9.   Essential additional information: 

10.   Submission of applications: Application files must be enclosed in sealed envelopes marked ‘Response to Call for tenders No 09/2006 - To be opened only by the addressee’. They must be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (the date on the latter serving as proof of the date of receipt) or delivered by hand (in which case a receipt must be obtained) to reach the following address by no later than 17.1.2007 (12:00), local time:

Syndicat Mixte de la zone aéroportuaire Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées, Téléport, Zone tertiaire Pyrène Aéro Pôle, F-65920 Juillan — France

11.   Subsequent procedure: No later than 23.1.2007, the Syndicat mixte de la zone aéroportuaire Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées will send the applicants selected the tender rules and a draft contract.

The applicants selected must submit their bids by no later than 14.2.2007 (12:00), local time.

The bid will be binding on the tenderer for a period of 280 days from its submission.

12.   Validity of the public tender: The validity of this invitation to tender is subject to the condition that no Community carrier presents by 1.5.2007 a programme for operating the route in question from 1.6.2007 in accordance with the public service obligation imposed and without receiving any financial compensation.

13.   Requests for additional information: To obtain any information they may need, applicants may contact the person responsible in the Syndicat mixte de la zone aéroportuaire Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées at the address/fax number indicated in Section 2 above, exclusively by letter or fax.

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