# Official Journal C 192/2015

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 192 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 5810 June 2015 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 192

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 5810 June 2015

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | III   Preparatory acts |
| | European Central Bank |
| 2015/C 192/01 | Opinion of the European Central Bank of 4 February 2015 on the review of the mission and organisation of the European Systemic Risk Board (CON/2015/4) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

III   Preparatory acts

European Central Bank

2015/C 192/01

Opinion of the European Central Bank of 4 February 2015 on the review of the mission and organisation of the European Systemic Risk Board (CON/2015/4)

1

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| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 192/02 | Euro exchange rates | 7 |
| 2015/C 192/03 | Commission Implementing Decision of 9 June 2015 on financing the 2015 work programme on training in the field of food and feed safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health in the framework of the Better Training for Safer Food programme | 8 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2015/C 192/02

Euro exchange rates

7

2015/C 192/03

Commission Implementing Decision of 9 June 2015 on financing the 2015 work programme on training in the field of food and feed safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health in the framework of the Better Training for Safer Food programme

8

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| EN | |
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EN

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III Preparatory acts

European Central Bank

| 10.6.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 192/1 |
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10.6.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192/1

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OPINION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 4 February 2015

on the review of the mission and organisation of the European Systemic Risk Board

(CON/2015/4)

(2015/C 192/01)

Introduction and legal basis

On 8 August 2014 the European Commission adopted a report on the mission and organisation of the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) (1) (hereinafter the ‘Commission report’).

The competence of the European Central Bank (ECB) to deliver an opinion on the Commission report to the European Parliament and the Council is based on Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and Article 8 of Council Regulation (EU) No 1096/2010 (3). In accordance with the first sentence of Article 17.5 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Central Bank, the Governing Council has adopted this opinion.

General observations

The Commission report reviews the mission and organisation of the ESRB as required under Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 and Article 8 of Regulation (EU) No 1096/2010. In general, the ECB supports the conclusions reached in the Commission report.

At present, the ECB considers that no far-reaching changes are needed to the ESRB legal framework. The review period has been relatively short and the ECB considers that the ESRB has, on balance, functioned well. However, some technical adjustments to the ESRB's operational framework would improve its efficiency and enhance its contribution to preventing and mitigating systemic risks to financial stability arising from developments within the financial system. These should be considered by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, when assessing the need for concrete legislative proposals (4). In this regard, when concrete legislative proposals are put forward by the Commission, the ECB will provide its opinion in accordance with its competences under the Treaties.

Specific observations

1.   ECB support provided to the ESRB

1.1.   Link between ESRB macro-prudential oversight in the European Union and the ECB's mandate for monetary policy, financial stability and banking supervision

The ESRB was established in 2010 to conduct macro-prudential oversight in the Union. According to Article 127(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the ECB's primary objective is to maintain price stability, in accordance with which the ECB defines and implements monetary policy for the euro area. Furthermore, pursuant to Article 127(5) of the Treaty, the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) contributes to the smooth conduct of policies relating to the stability of the financial system. These policies are defined and conducted on the basis of relevant sets of macroeconomic and macro-financial variables and analyses.

Since its inception, the ESRB has been able to draw on the macroeconomic, financial and monetary expertise of all the ESCB central banks, in particular in the areas of financial stability monitoring, macroeconomic analysis, analysis of market conditions and market infrastructures, as well as in the collection of statistical information. In addition, the ESRB has benefited from the synergies in expertise, resources and infrastructure in the context of existing ESCB activities.

The activities the ECB carries out to support the ESRB neither affect the ECB's institutional, functional and financial independence nor the ESCB's performance of its tasks under the Treaty and the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank. The ECB remains well placed to continue to ensure analytical, statistical, financial and administrative support for the ESRB in line with the existing arrangements, in particular under Regulation (EU) No 1096/2010. As concerns the proposal advanced by several stakeholders in the Commission consultation process to enhance the ESRB's autonomy (5), the ECB considers that an appropriate balance should be sought as an unwarranted degree of autonomy would be incompatible with the continued reliance of the ESRB on the ECB's reputation and expertise (6).

1.2.   The Chair of the ESRB's General Board

The ECB supports the Commission's proposal to keep the President of the ECB as the Chair of the ESRB's General Board. Central banks play an important role in macro-prudential policy given their responsibility for financial system stability, their analytical expertise and the information they have on the real economy, financial markets and market infrastructures. In particular, the ECB provides analytical, statistical, administrative and logistical support to the ESRB and ensures close cooperation at the technical level by cross-representation in the ESRB's Advisory Technical Committee (ATC) and the ECB's Financial Stability Committee.

The participation of the governors of all ESCB central banks in the ESRB's General Board, as well as the attribution of the Chair to the President of the ECB under Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010, underlines the importance of the central banks' role in the functioning of the ESRB. The role of the President of the ECB as the Chair of the ESRB's General Board should therefore not be changed.

Importantly, the President of the ECB would need to be re-appointed as Chair of the ESRB's General Board by the end of 2015, since Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 provides an explicit limitation on the term of office (7). Consequently, a legislative proposal specifying the modalities for the designation of the Chair would need to be prepared and adopted in the first half of 2015.

2.   ESRB organisation

2.1.   Review of the composition of the ESRB's General Board

Regarding the Commission's suggestion to streamline and reduce the size of the ESRB's General Board (8), the ECB considers that there would be only very limited possibilities to reduce membership. In fact the ECB takes the view that all macro-prudential decision-makers should participate in the General Board. Given their central role in macro-prudential policy, the General Board should include representatives from all ESCB central banks and national macro-prudential authorities, when different from central banks, although not necessarily with voting rights. In addition, it would be beneficial that the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) is represented on the General Board with non-voting rights, i.e. in the same way that national supervisors are currently represented.

2.2.   Review of the composition and tasks of the Steering Committee

The ECB agrees with the Commission's proposal to strengthen the Steering Committee's role. For example, the Steering Committee could be used as a platform for the exchange of information on planned macro-prudential measures before they are officially notified to the ESRB, thereby ensuring the involvement of all macro-prudential authorities concerned. Such macro-prudential authorities could be invited as ad hoc participants in the relevant Steering Committee meetings. This would give the ECB the opportunity to discuss possible spillover and contagion effects, in particular with non-euro area Member States, before macro-prudential measures are taken. Furthermore, the Steering Committee could take a more proactive, forward-looking approach in setting the priorities for the General Board agenda and in identifying key policy issues in the form of a work programme. The Steering Committee should ensure transparency towards the General Board in the exercise of these tasks. The strengthened role of the Steering Committee should not in any way compromise the role of the General Board as the ESRB's sole decision-making body. Finally, the ECB considers it beneficial that the SSM is represented on the Steering Committee.

2.3.   Other sub-structures (ATC and ASC)

The ESRB has established various sub-structures to support its analytical work. The ATC contributes to the work of the ESRB in several areas (9). The Advisory Scientific Committee (ASC) brings a more innovative, external, and scientific perspective to the ESRB's work. The ECB considers that no far-reaching changes are needed to the composition or the structure of these Committees. The Commission has suggested some areas for improvement, i.e. related to the large size of the ATC, the visibility of ASC's work and a closer link of the ASC to the general ESRB agenda (10). The ECB's view is that any modification to the size of the ATC should reflect changes in the General Board's composition. As regards the ASC, it could enhance its visibility by also working on priority issues, as identified by the General Board and the Steering Committee, provided that the ASC maintains the possibility to analyse issues upon its own initiative.

2.4.   The role of a Managing Director

The Commission report suggests that the Commission would further examine the possibility of creating a full-time Managing Director role, in charge of the day-to-day activities of the ESRB (11). While such an organisational change could be beneficial (12), the fact that the ESRB will continue to rely on the ECB for analytical, statistical, administrative and logistical support entails maintaining a high-profile presence of the ECB in the decision-making bodies of the ESRB. To this end, the appointment of an ESRB Managing Director should be balanced by permanently assigning the ex officio chairmanship of the General Board to the President of the ECB (13). The ECB furthermore suggests that the scope of the Managing Director's role should be further clarified, for example with regard to the tasks and responsibilities of the Chair and the Head of the Secretariat, and also in terms of accountability and reporting requirements, as well as the external representation of the ESRB.

3.   ESRB toolbox

3.1.   Communication tools (including letters and public statements)

The ECB considers that additional clarifications are warranted regarding the proposal to expand the ESRB's toolbox (14). The Commission suggests expanding the current toolbox, which includes warnings and recommendations as the two main communication tools, to include the exercise of more ‘soft powers’. By way of example, the Commission report mentions the publication of letters or statements as a means to enhance the flexibility of the early warning function before any formal warning or recommendations would be issued. The ECB supports such an approach, which should enable the ESRB to highlight some risks at an earlier stage without necessarily having to issue a formal warning.

3.2.   ESRB participation in the Union legislative process

The ECB notes that several of the respondents in the Commission consultation, as well as the other reports on the same matter (15) have suggested that the ESRB should be involved in the Union legislative process in one form or another. It is important to underline that Union legislative procedures are governed by the relevant Treaty provisions. In addition, Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 already provides a basis for the ESRB to issue recommendations to the Commission in respect of relevant Union legislation (16).

The ESRB's expertise in the area of financial stability would of course be valuable in the discussion of Union policy initiatives. The ECB considers that in line with the above considerations for a proactive communication strategy, the ESRB may provide its input in the legislative process by, for example, highlighting to the Commission areas where future legislative action may be necessary. Another possible avenue for involvement could be ESRB participation in public consultations organised by the Commission. However, the ECB considers that there is no need to establish a formal role for the ESRB in the Union legislative procedure beyond what is already provided for in Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010.

4.   ESRB access to data

4.1.   ECB provision of statistical support to the ESRB

In the light of its experience in the review period, the ECB assesses the current framework for the provision of data to the ESRB as appropriate and confirms that the ESRB's Secretariat and the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) cooperate closely. Nonetheless, improvements could be made to the procedures related to the exchange of data.

As part of its provision of statistical support to the ESRB, the ECB has ensured to date that the initial requirements for the regular reporting of aggregated data set out in Decision ESRB/2011/6 (17) are met in a timely manner and with high quality data. Decision ESRB/2011/6 was adopted following a key contribution of a joint group comprising representatives of the ESRB's Secretariat, the ECB and the ESAs to address the ESRB's statistical data needs (18). This data is used in regular briefings of the ESRB's General Board and the ATC, and in particular in the ESRB's risk dashboard, which is published every quarter since September 2012.

4.2.   General procedures for data access

The ECB would also support streamlining the data access procedures in cases where data are already available in European or national authorities and only the content, format and access rights of such data need to be specified. The procedure should still allow the respective institutions or bodies (e.g. the ESAs, national authorities or the ESCB) to check that any remaining constraints, such as on data dissemination, are respected. Conversely, the ESRB's General Board's existing voting procedure would still be appropriate for those cases where data are not available, thus triggering the launch of genuine ad hoc surveys, which require the collection of data from the financial industry.

4.3.   ESRB access to non-aggregated data

Since its inception, the ESRB's statistical needs have been met, to a large extent, through ad hoc requests, both aggregated and firm specific. However, the procedures for collecting, processing and disseminating such data are cumbersome and lengthy, which also affects the timelines of the subsequent analytical work. Having regard to the important complementarity between aggregated and firm-level data for macro-prudential analysis and policy-making, the current restrictive framework for obtaining the relevant information needs to be revisited. Specifically, Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 constrains the capacity of the ESRB (via its Secretariat and the supporting statistical and analytical function of the ECB) to obtain individual firm-level data in a timely and appropriate manner for the purposes of conducting macro-prudential analysis. Cumbersome procedures had to be put in place to deal with these constraints. These may in part be excessive, as some firm-level data, such as individual financial statement data of listed banks, that currently goes to the ‘dark room’ managed by the ESRB Secretariat may actually be published by the firms.

Therefore, the ECB strongly supports a review of Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 to make procedures for the provision of individual firm-level data more attuned to the needs of the ESRB and less restrictive, by distinguishing data that is sensitive (e.g. on interconnectedness) and ensuring the appropriate protection of confidentiality.

The ECB proposes making a distinction, similar to that made by the Financial Stability Board (19), between ‘institution-to-aggregate’ data, i.e. one institution reporting on its overall exposures such as balance sheet and profit and loss accounts, or vis-à-vis different categories of counterparts (e.g. banks, or government agencies) grouped by risk factors, and ‘institution-to-institution’ data, i.e. institutions reporting bilateral exposures. Whilst both cases may involve confidential and sensitive data, and hence need to be subject to confidentiality protection and careful case-by-case assessment, the category of ‘institution-to-institution’ data will in many cases prove more sensitive and for this reason would need to be subject to the constraints under the current procedure. By contrast, the category of ‘institution-to-aggregate’ data may be subject to a more simplified procedure, without prejudice to the right to request stricter treatment in specific cases where justified by the sensitivity of the data concerned. In a domain where aggregated data are not fit for analytical purposes due to tail factors and associated risks, distribution measures are essential and call for more granularity. It should also be borne in mind that most data are reported several weeks, or even months, after the reference period and, thus, further lose their sensitivity.

The ESRB's General Board could establish procedures regarding the sharing of such ‘institution-to-aggregate’ and firm-level data, within the overall legal framework governing such information sharing. The ECB has in place appropriate procedures for protecting genuinely confidential data and can draw on its extensive experience in that respect (20).

4.4.   Supervisory reporting requirements

Finally, the ECB would encourage the ESAs to give appropriate weight to the needs of the ESRB when considering new or amended supervisory reporting requirements, so as to better reflect macro-prudential analytical needs. For its part, the ECB already takes ESRB data requirements into consideration in on-going development work to new or enhanced statistics, through its ‘merits and costs exercises’, equivalent to the Commission's ‘impact assessments’.

5.   Interaction between the ESRB and the SSM

5.1.   SSM representation in the ESRB structures

At the time when the governance arrangements of the ESRB were made, the Banking Union was not yet in place. To reflect the changes in the context of the European System of Financial Supervision, including the establishment of the SSM, Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 should explicitly provide for SSM representation on the ESRB's General Board (21). As noted, the SSM representation on the Steering Committee should be also provided for (22). Finally, representation of the SSM on the ATC would also be deemed useful.

5.2.   ESRB's role in the application of macro-prudential tools within the SSM

It should be noted that Council Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 (23) expressly entrusts the ECB with policy responsibilities and powers in the macro-prudential field (24), which will be exercised over a majority of ESRB members. To this end, national authorities must notify the ECB of the macro-prudential measures that they intend to apply. On the other hand the ECB may, if deemed necessary, apply higher requirements.

In March 2014 the ESRB published a flagship report on macro-prudential policy in the banking sector (25). The report states that the ESRB will serve as a central hub for collecting and disseminating information about macro-prudential policy measures in the Union. The ESRB has already recommended that the macro-prudential authorities should cooperate and exchange information also on a cross-border basis, in particular by informing the ESRB of the actions taken to address systemic risks at national level (26). Furthermore, the ESRB has recommended that macro-prudential authorities should, without prejudice to relevant provisions of Union legislation, inform the ESRB prior to the application of macro-prudential instruments at national level if significant cross-border effects on other Member States or the single market are to be expected (27).

It is essential that ESRB macro-prudential oversight is conducted taking into account the role and functions of the ECB in the macro-prudential area (28). Duplication of work could be avoided by clearly distinguishing between the tasks and responsibilities of the ECB and the ESRB. Against this background, it is envisaged that the ESRB's General Board and the relevant ECB decision-making bodies will establish clear rules concerning information-sharing and the follow-up to the ESRB recommendations.

5.3.   Addressees of ESRB recommendations

Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 currently provides for a potentially unlimited number of addressees of ESRB recommendations (29). The ESRB has already issued recommendations to Member States, national competent authorities, national designated authorities, the European Banking Authority and the Commission.

At the same time, Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 is rather restrictive as regards the addressees which are required to provide evidence of their follow-up to ESRB recommendations, under the ‘act or explain’ mechanism (30). Indeed, only some of the above addressees are required to report back on steps taken to comply with these recommendations. Such asymmetries should be avoided to the extent possible.

In view of the foregoing, consideration would need to be given as to whether the legal framework should provide that the ESRB may, within its mandate, issue recommendations to national macro-prudential authorities, as well as to the ECB in its micro-prudential and macro-prudential supervisory functions (31). In any case, the inclusion of the ECB as a potential addressee should in no way prejudice the primary objective of the ESCB of maintaining price stability in accordance with Article 127(1) of the Treaty (32). In this regard, clear ex-ante communication and information-sharing between the ESRB's General Board and the relevant ECB decision-making bodies, as suggested above (33), should be ensured.

Done at Frankfurt am Main, 4 February 2015.

The President of the ECB

Mario DRAGHI

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(1)  COM(2014) 508 final.

1

(2)  Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on European Union macro-prudential oversight of the financial system and establishing a European Systemic Risk Board (OJ L 331, 15.12.2010, p. 1).

2

(3)  Council Regulation (EU) No 1096/2010 of 17 November 2010 conferring specific tasks upon the European Central Bank concerning the functioning of the European Systemic Risk Board (OJ L 331, 15.12.2010, p. 162).

3

(4)  Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010.

4

(5)  See Commission report, Section 3.2.1.

5

(6)  See Commission report, Section 3.2.1.

6

(7)  See Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010.

7

(8)  See Commission report, Section 4.

8

(9)  See Mandate of the Advisory Technical Committee, available on the ESRB's website.

9

(10)  See Commission Staff Working Document accompanying the document Report to the European Parliament and the Council on the mission and organisation of the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB), p. 16.

10

(11)  See Commission report, Section 3.2.1.

11

(12)  Notably by contributing to enhancing the ESRB's visibility and facilitating day-to-day decision-making within the ESRB.

12

(13)  As recommended in paragraph 1.2 of this opinion.

13

(14)  See Commission report, Section 3.2.3.

14

(15)  See European Parliament resolution of 11 March 2014 with recommendations to the Commission on the European System of Financial Supervision (ESFS) Review (2013/2166(INL)).

15

(16)  See Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010.

16

(17)  Decision ESRB/2011/6 of 21 September 2011 on the provision and collection of information for the macro-prudential oversight of the financial system within the Union (OJ C 302, 13.10.2011, p. 3).

17

(18)  Further details on the work that has been carried out to prepare, develop, implement and manage the initial set of statistical and supervisory information necessary to support the ESRB are presented by Israel J-M., Sandars P., Schubert A., and Fischer B. (2013), Statistics and Indicators for Financial Stability Analysis and Policy, Occasional Paper Series, No 145, ECB, Frankfurt am Main, April 2013.

18

Statistics and Indicators for Financial Stability Analysis and Policy

(19)  See Financial Stability Board, Consultation Paper, Understanding Financial Linkages: A Common Data Template for Global Systemically Important Banks, 6 October 2011.

19

Understanding Financial Linkages: A Common Data Template for Global Systemically Important Banks

(20)  In particular, data collected under Council Regulation (EU) No 2533/98 of 23 November 1998 concerning the collection of statistical information by the European Central Bank (OJ L 318, 27.11.1998, p. 8) are subject to the protection measure specified under Article 8 of the same Regulation, ensuring the physical and logical protection of confidential statistical information.

20

(21)  See also paragraph 2.1 of this opinion.

21

(22)  See also paragraph 2.2 of this opinion.

22

(23)  Council Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of 15 October 2013 conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions (OJ L 287, 29.10.2013, p. 63).

23

(24)  See Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013.

24

(25)  See Flagship Report on Macro-prudential Policy in the Banking Sector, available on the ESRB website at www.esrb.europa.eu

25

(26)  See Recommendation ESRB/2011/3, recommendation B4.

26

(27)  See Recommendation ESRB/2013/1, recommendation C3.

27

(28)  In particular, Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 already provides a reference for the design of the interaction between SSM countries and the ESRB in relation to macro-prudential issues, as it prescribes that, while keeping the mandate of the ESRB intact, national competent authorities or national designated authorities and the ECB will act in respect of any coordination procedure provided for in other acts of Union law after having followed the procedure provided for in Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013. See recital 24.

28

(29)  See Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010.

29

(30)  See Article 17(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1092/2010.

30

(31)  As was already suggested in Section 2.1.1(a) of Recommendation of the European Systemic Risk Board of 18 June 2014 on guidance for setting countercyclical buffer rates (OJ C 293, 2.9.2014, p. 1).

31

(32)  See High-Level Group on the ESRB Review, Contribution to the Review of the ESRB, March 2013.

32

(33)  See paragraph 5.2 of this opinion.

33

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 10.6.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 192/7 |
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10.6.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192/7

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Euro exchange rates (1)

9 June 2015

(2015/C 192/02)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,1249 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 139,56 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4603 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,73540 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,3535 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,0465 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,7780 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 27,356 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 312,28 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,1657 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,4708 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 3,0758 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,4606 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,3889 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 8,7211 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,5715 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,5196 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 258,68 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 13,9876 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 6,9810 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,5535 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 14 997,17 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,2212 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 50,757 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 62,8285 |
| THB | Thai baht | 37,941 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 3,4925 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 17,5448 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 71,9645 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,1249

JPY

Japanese yen

139,56

DKK

Danish krone

7,4603

GBP

Pound sterling

0,73540

SEK

Swedish krona

9,3535

CHF

Swiss franc

1,0465

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,7780

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

27,356

HUF

Hungarian forint

312,28

PLN

Polish zloty

4,1657

RON

Romanian leu

4,4708

TRY

Turkish lira

3,0758

AUD

Australian dollar

1,4606

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,3889

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

8,7211

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,5715

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,5196

KRW

South Korean won

1 258,68

ZAR

South African rand

13,9876

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

6,9810

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,5535

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

14 997,17

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,2212

PHP

Philippine peso

50,757

RUB

Russian rouble

62,8285

THB

Thai baht

37,941

BRL

Brazilian real

3,4925

MXN

Mexican peso

17,5448

INR

Indian rupee

71,9645

---

(1)  Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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| 10.6.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 192/8 |
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10.6.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192/8

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COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 9 June 2015

on financing the 2015 work programme on training in the field of food and feed safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health in the framework of the ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ programme

(2015/C 192/03)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (1) and, in particular, Article 84 thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 laying down provisions for the management of expenditure relating to the food chain, animal health and animal welfare, and relating to plant health and plant reproductive material, amending Council Directives 98/56/EC, 2000/29/EC and 2008/90/EC, Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 882/2004 and (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decisions 66/399/EEC, 76/894/EEC and 2009/470/EC (2), and in particular Article 31 and Article 36(1) thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 (3) lays down general rules for the performance of official controls to verify compliance with rules aiming, in particular, at preventing, eliminating or reducing to acceptable levels risks to humans and animals and guaranteeing fair practices in feed and food trade and protecting consumer interests. Article 51 of that Regulation provides that the Commission may organise training courses for the staff of the competent authorities of Member States responsible for the official controls referred to in that Regulation, which may be opened to participants from third countries, in particular developing countries. Those courses may include, in particular, training on European Union feed and food law and animal health and animal welfare rules. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 (3) lays down general rules for the performance of official controls to verify compliance with rules aiming, in particular, at preventing, eliminating or reducing to acceptable levels risks to humans and animals and guaranteeing fair practices in feed and food trade and protecting consumer interests. Article 51 of that Regulation provides that the Commission may organise training courses for the staff of the competent authorities of Member States responsible for the official controls referred to in that Regulation, which may be opened to participants from third countries, in particular developing countries. Those courses may include, in particular, training on European Union feed and food law and animal health and animal welfare rules.

| (2) | Article 2(1)(i) of Directive 2000/29/EC (4) provides the legal basis for organising courses in the field of plant health. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

Article 2(1)(i) of Directive 2000/29/EC (4) provides the legal basis for organising courses in the field of plant health.

| (3) | The ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ Programme has been established by the Commission in 2006 in order to achieve the aims set out in Regulation (EC) No 882/2004. The Commission Communication of 20 September 2006 on ‘Better training for safer food’ (5) explores options for future organisation of training. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

The ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ Programme has been established by the Commission in 2006 in order to achieve the aims set out in Regulation (EC) No 882/2004. The Commission Communication of 20 September 2006 on ‘Better training for safer food’ (5) explores options for future organisation of training.

| (4) | Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 establishes provisions for the management of expenditure from the general budget of the European Union in the fields governing food and feed safety, animal health and welfare and plant health rules. Article 31 provides that the Union may finance the training of the staff of the competent authorities responsible for official controls, as referred to in Article 51 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, in order to develop a harmonised approach to official controls and other official activities to ensure a high level of protection of human, animal and plant health. In order to ensure implementation of the ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ Programme in Member States it is necessary to adopt a financing decision and the work programme on training in the field of food and feed safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health for 2015. |
| --- | --- |

(4)

Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 establishes provisions for the management of expenditure from the general budget of the European Union in the fields governing food and feed safety, animal health and welfare and plant health rules. Article 31 provides that the Union may finance the training of the staff of the competent authorities responsible for official controls, as referred to in Article 51 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, in order to develop a harmonised approach to official controls and other official activities to ensure a high level of protection of human, animal and plant health. In order to ensure implementation of the ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ Programme in Member States it is necessary to adopt a financing decision and the work programme on training in the field of food and feed safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health for 2015.

| (5) | Commission Implementing Decision 2013/770/EU (6) establishes the ‘Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency’ (hereafter ‘the Agency’). This Decision entrusts the Agency with certain management and programme implementation tasks relating to the food safety training measures performed pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 and Directive 2000/29/EC. A Union financial contribution should therefore be granted to the Agency in 2015 for financing the operating costs of the activities related to the ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ Programme. |
| --- | --- |

(5)

Commission Implementing Decision 2013/770/EU (6) establishes the ‘Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency’ (hereafter ‘the Agency’). This Decision entrusts the Agency with certain management and programme implementation tasks relating to the food safety training measures performed pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 and Directive 2000/29/EC. A Union financial contribution should therefore be granted to the Agency in 2015 for financing the operating costs of the activities related to the ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ Programme.

| (6) | In order to allow for flexibility in the implementation of the work programme, it is appropriate to define the term ‘substantial change’, within the meaning of Article 94(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 (7). |
| --- | --- |

(6)

In order to allow for flexibility in the implementation of the work programme, it is appropriate to define the term ‘substantial change’, within the meaning of Article 94(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 (7).

| (7) | It is necessary to allow for the payment of interest due for late payment on the basis of Article 92 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 and Article 111(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012. |
| --- | --- |

(7)

It is necessary to allow for the payment of interest due for late payment on the basis of Article 92 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 and Article 111(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012.

| (8) | The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, |
| --- | --- |

(8)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The work programme

The annual work programme for the implementation of the Better Training for Safer Food Programme for 2015, as set out in the Annex, is adopted. It constitutes a financing decision within the meaning of Article 84 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012.

Article 2

Union contribution

1.   The maximum contribution for the implementation of the work programme for the year 2015 is set at EUR 16 670 000 and shall be financed from the appropriations entered in the following lines of the general budget of the European Union for 2015:

| (a) | budget line 17 04 03: EUR 15 500 000; |
| --- | --- |

(a)

budget line 17 04 03: EUR 15 500 000;

| (b) | budget line 17 01 06 03: EUR 1 170 000. |
| --- | --- |

(b)

budget line 17 01 06 03: EUR 1 170 000.

2.   The amount provided for in paragraph 1(b) shall be paid to the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency and shall constitute an operating financial contribution.

3.   The appropriations provided for in point 1(a) may also cover interest due for late payment.

Article 3

Cumulated changes to the allocations to specific actions not exceeding 20 % of the maximum contribution provided for in Article 2(1) of this Decision shall not be considered to be substantial within the meaning of Article 94(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012, where those changes do not significantly affect the nature of the actions and the objective of the work programme. The increase of the maximum contribution set in Article 2(1) of this Decision shall not exceed 20 %.

In implementing this decision, the responsible authorising officer may apply the type of changes referred to in the first paragraph in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and of proportionality.

Done at Brussels, 9 June 2015.

For the Commission

Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS

Member of the Commission

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(1)  OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.

1

(2)  OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 1.

2

(3)  Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules (OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1).

3

(4)  Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1).

4

(5)  Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament. ‘Better training for safer food’, COM(2006) 519 final of 20.9.2006.

5

(6)  Commission Implementing Decision 2013/770/EU of 17 December 2013 establishing the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency and repealing Decision 2004/858/EC (OJ L 341, 18.12.2013, p. 69).

6

(7)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1).

7

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ANNEX

1.1.   Introduction

On the basis of the objectives laid down in Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 and Directive 2000/29/EC, this work programme contains the actions to be financed and the budget breakdown for year 2015 as follows:

| 1.2. | Procurement (implemented under direct management): External contracts for the execution of the training programme and other learning tools |
| --- | --- |

1.2.

Procurement (implemented under direct management): External contracts for the execution of the training programme and other learning tools

EUR 15 500 000

| 1.3. | Other actions: Operating financial contribution for the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency |
| --- | --- |

1.3.

Other actions: Operating financial contribution for the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency

EUR 1 170 000

TOTAL

EUR 16 670 000

1.2.   Procurement: External contract for the execution of the training programme and other learning tools

The overall budgetary allocation reserved for procurement contracts in 2015 amounts to EUR 15 500 000.

LEGAL BASIS

Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, Article 51

Directive 2000/29/EC, Article 2(1)(i)

Regulation (EU) No 652/2014, Article 31 and Article 36(1)

BUDGETARY LINE

Budget line: 17 04 03

INDICATIVE NUMBER AND TYPE OF CONTRACTS ENVISAGED

For each of the technical issues referred to below, one or more direct or framework service contracts will be signed. It is estimated that around 15 direct or specific service contracts will be signed. External contractors are mainly involved in the organisational and logistical aspects of the training activities.

SUBJECT OF THE CONTRACTS ENVISAGED (IF POSSIBLE)

For 2015, the training action in Member States will concern the following subjects:

| Activities | Amount in EUR |
| --- | --- |
| HACCP | 2 000 000 |
| Animal health (Bees and exotic animals) | 520 000 |
| Animal identification and traceability | 760 000 |
| Control of food additives | 1 100 000 |
| Contingency planning and animal disease control | 1 100 000 |
| Control of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies | 535 000 |
| Food hygiene and flexibility | 1 160 000 |
| New food investigation techniques | 645 000 |
| Internal auditing of official control systems | 1 260 000 |
| Animal breeding | 890 000 |
| Organic farming | 1 000 000 |
| Protected Food Names | 1 000 000 |
| Plant Health Surveys | 550 000 |
| GMO analysis | 500 000 |
| Support to enforcement in sanitary and phytosanitary fields | 1 215 000 |
| BTSF campus platform | 500 000 |
| Assistance and support to e-learning project | 135 000 |
| Study on the current and future operation of the BTSF programme | 180 000 |
| Animal health and welfare, plant health and food safety contingency trainings, conferences and learning and dissemination tools | 450 000 |
| TOTAL | 15 500 000 |

Activities

Amount in EUR

HACCP

2 000 000

Animal health (Bees and exotic animals)

520 000

Animal identification and traceability

760 000

Control of food additives

1 100 000

Contingency planning and animal disease control

1 100 000

Control of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

535 000

Food hygiene and flexibility

1 160 000

New food investigation techniques

645 000

Internal auditing of official control systems

1 260 000

Animal breeding

890 000

Organic farming

1 000 000

Protected Food Names

1 000 000

Plant Health Surveys

550 000

GMO analysis

500 000

Support to enforcement in sanitary and phytosanitary fields

1 215 000

BTSF campus platform

500 000

Assistance and support to e-learning project

135 000

Study on the current and future operation of the BTSF programme

180 000

Animal health and welfare, plant health and food safety contingency trainings, conferences and learning and dissemination tools

450 000

TOTAL

15 500 000

IMPLEMENTATION

EUR 14 685 000 (financing of food safety measures under Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 and Directive 2000/29/EC) will be managed and implemented by the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Commission Decision 2013/770/EU). The remaining EUR 815 000 will be managed by the Commission to cover the programme on GMO analysis (one administrative arrangement with JRC), assistance and support to e-learning project and the study on the current and future operation of the BTSF programme (two contracts).

INDICATIVE TIMEFRAME FOR LAUNCHING THE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE

Approximately during 3rd-4th quarter of 2015.

INDICATIVE AMOUNT OF THE CALL FOR TENDERS

EUR 15 500 000

1.3.   Other actions: Operating financial contribution for the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency

LEGAL BASIS

Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003, in particular Article 12(3).

BUDGETARY LINE

Budget line: 17 01 06 03

AMOUNT

EUR 1 170 000

DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVE OF THE IMPLEMENTING MEASURE

The budget under budget line 17 01 06 03 finances the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency’s 2015 operating financial contribution for the part related to the Better Training for Safer Food programme. According to Article 12(3) of Regulation (EC) No 58/2003, the operating financial contribution is to be drawn from the financial allocation to the Union programmes managed by the Agency.

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