# Official Journal C 91/15 A

| | ISSN 1725-2423 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 91 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 4815 April 2005 |

ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 91

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 4815 April 2005

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | I   Information |
| | Commission |
| 2005/C 091/1 | Euro exchange rates | 1 |
| 2005/C 091/2 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3794 — PAI/FTE) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 2 |
| 2005/C 091/3 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3708 — Apollo/Directv/Hughes Network Systems) (
  1
  ) | 3 |
| | European Central Bank |
| 2005/C 091/4 | Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 7 April 2005 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Bank of Greece (ECB/2005/7) | 4 |
| 2005/C 091/5 | Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 7 April 2005 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique (ECB/2005/8) | 5 |

Notice No

Contents

page

I   Information

Commission

2005/C 091/1

Euro exchange rates

1

2005/C 091/2

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3794 — PAI/FTE) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

2

2005/C 091/3

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3708 — Apollo/Directv/Hughes Network Systems) (
  1
  )

1

3

European Central Bank

2005/C 091/4

Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 7 April 2005 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Bank of Greece (ECB/2005/7)

4

2005/C 091/5

Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 7 April 2005 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique (ECB/2005/8)

5

| | III   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | Commission |
| 2005/C 091/6 | Call for proposals for indirect RTD actions under the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: structuring the European Research Area — Call identifier: FP6-2005-INNOV-8 | 6 |

III   Notices

Commission

2005/C 091/6

Call for proposals for indirect RTD actions under the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: structuring the European Research Area — Call identifier: FP6-2005-INNOV-8

6

| | |
| --- | --- |
| | (1)   Text with EEA relevance |

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

| EN | |
| --- | --- |

EN

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I Information

Commission

| 15.4.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 91/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.4.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 91/1

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Euro exchange rates (1)

14 April 2005

(2005/C 91/01)

1 euro=

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,282 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 138,64 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4517 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,68135 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,168 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,5547 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 81,17 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,2465 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9559 |
| CYP | Cyprus pound | 0,5829 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 29,963 |
| EEK | Estonian kroon | 15,6466 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 246,87 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,6959 |
| MTL | Maltese lira | 0,4294 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,1218 |
| ROL | Romanian leu | 36 252 |
| SIT | Slovenian tolar | 239,7 |
| SKK | Slovak koruna | 38,89 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 1,7472 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,6598 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,5956 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 9,9982 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,7719 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 2,1215 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 303,28 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 7,9455 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 10,6105 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,375 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 12 204,64 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,8715 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 69,773 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 35,695 |
| THB | Thai baht | 50,943 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,282

JPY

Japanese yen

138,64

DKK

Danish krone

7,4517

GBP

Pound sterling

0,68135

SEK

Swedish krona

9,168

CHF

Swiss franc

1,5547

ISK

Iceland króna

81,17

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,2465

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9559

CYP

Cyprus pound

0,5829

CZK

Czech koruna

29,963

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

246,87

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,6959

MTL

Maltese lira

0,4294

PLN

Polish zloty

4,1218

ROL

Romanian leu

36 252

SIT

Slovenian tolar

239,7

SKK

Slovak koruna

38,89

TRY

Turkish lira

1,7472

AUD

Australian dollar

1,6598

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,5956

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,9982

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,7719

SGD

Singapore dollar

2,1215

KRW

South Korean won

1 303,28

ZAR

South African rand

7,9455

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

10,6105

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,375

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

12 204,64

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,8715

PHP

Philippine peso

69,773

RUB

Russian rouble

35,695

THB

Thai baht

50,943

---

(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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| 15.4.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 91/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.4.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 91/2

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3794 — PAI/FTE)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 91/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 8 April 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking PAI Partners S.A.S. (‘PAI’, France) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking FTE Verwaltungs GmbH (‘FTE’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 8 April 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking PAI Partners S.A.S. (‘PAI’, France) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking FTE Verwaltungs GmbH (‘FTE’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for PAI: provision of investment and management advice and management of investment funds; |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for PAI: provision of investment and management advice and management of investment funds;

| — | for undertaking FTE: production and sale of automotive components. |
| --- | --- |

—

for undertaking FTE: production and sale of automotive components.

| 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. |
| --- | --- |

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. 3794 — PAI/FTE, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition, |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Brussels |

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. 3794 — PAI/FTE, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

---

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

(2)  Available on DG COMP website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/legislation/consultation/simplified_tru.pdf.

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| 15.4.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 91/3 |
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15.4.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 91/3

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3708 — Apollo/Directv/Hughes Network Systems)

(2005/C 91/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 23 March 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:

| — | from the Europa competition web site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This web site provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, |
| --- | --- |

—

from the Europa competition web site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This web site provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

| — | in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32005M3708. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law. (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex) |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32005M3708. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law. (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex)

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European Central Bank

| 15.4.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 91/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.4.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 91/4

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RECOMMENDATION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 7 April 2005

to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Bank of Greece

(ECB/2005/7)

(2005/C 91/04)

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,

Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 27.1 thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Eurosystem are audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Eurosystem are audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union.

| (2) | Under the law of Greece, the same external auditor may not be appointed for more than four financial years. Accordingly, the mandate of Charalambos Stathakis, who is one of the two current external auditors, may not be renewed. The Bank of Greece may retain Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors SA as its external auditors, provided that the partner in charge is rotated. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

Under the law of Greece, the same external auditor may not be appointed for more than four financial years. Accordingly, the mandate of Charalambos Stathakis, who is one of the two current external auditors, may not be renewed. The Bank of Greece may retain Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors SA as its external auditors, provided that the partner in charge is rotated.

| (3) | The Bank of Greece has decided that Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors SA should be its sole external auditor for the financial year 2005, and the ECB considers that this company fulfils the necessary requirements for such appointment. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

The Bank of Greece has decided that Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors SA should be its sole external auditor for the financial year 2005, and the ECB considers that this company fulfils the necessary requirements for such appointment.

| (4) | The existing mandate of the external auditors should continue and be for a renewable period of one year, |
| --- | --- |

(4)

The existing mandate of the external auditors should continue and be for a renewable period of one year,

HAS ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors SA should be appointed as the external auditors of the Bank of Greece for the financial year 2005 and that this appointment should be renewable for one year.

Done at Frankfurt am Main, 7 April 2005.

The President of the ECB

Jean-Claude TRICHET

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| 15.4.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 91/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.4.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 91/5

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RECOMMENDATION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 7 April 2005

to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique

(ECB/2005/8)

(2005/C 91/05)

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,

Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 27.1 thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Eurosystem are audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Eurosystem are audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union.

| (2) | The mandate of the current external auditors of the Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique (hereinafter ‘NBB/BNB’) has expired and will not be renewed. It is therefore necessary to appoint external auditors from the financial year 2005. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

The mandate of the current external auditors of the Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique (hereinafter ‘NBB/BNB’) has expired and will not be renewed. It is therefore necessary to appoint external auditors from the financial year 2005.

| (3) | The NBB/BNB has selected Ernst & Young Bedrijfsrevisoren/Réviseurs d'Entreprises as its new external auditors in accordance with its public procurement rules, and the ECB considers that the selected auditors fulfil the necessary requirements for appointment. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

The NBB/BNB has selected Ernst & Young Bedrijfsrevisoren/Réviseurs d'Entreprises as its new external auditors in accordance with its public procurement rules, and the ECB considers that the selected auditors fulfil the necessary requirements for appointment.

| (4) | The mandate of the external auditors will be for three years and may be renewed once, |
| --- | --- |

(4)

The mandate of the external auditors will be for three years and may be renewed once,

HAS ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that Ernst & Young Bedrijfsrevisoren/Réviseurs d'Entreprises should be appointed as the external auditors of the NBB/BNB from the financial year 2005 for a period of three years, this period being renewable once.

Done at Frankfurt am Main, 7 April 2005.

The President of the ECB

Jean-Claude TRICHET

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III Notices

Commission

| 15.4.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 91/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.4.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 91/6

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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’

Call identifier: FP6-2005-INNOV-8

(2005/C 91/06)

| 1. | In accordance with Decision No 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 concerning the sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002 to 2006) (1), the Council adopted on 30 September 2002 the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: ‘Structuring the European Research Area’ (2002-2006) (2) (referred to as ‘the specific programme’).
  In accordance with Article 5(1) of the specific programme, the Commission of the European Communities (referred to as ‘the Commission’) has adopted on 30 September 2002 a work programme (3) (referred to as ‘the work programme’) setting out in greater detail the objectives and scientific and technological priorities of the specific programme, and the timetable for implementation.
  In accordance with Article 9(1) of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 16 December 2002, concerning the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in, and for the dissemination of research results for, the implementation of the European Community Sixth Framework Programme (2002 to 2006) (4) (referred to as ‘the rules for participation’), proposals for indirect RTD actions should be submitted under the terms of calls for proposals. |
| --- | --- |

1.

In accordance with Decision No 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 concerning the sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities contributing to the creation of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002 to 2006) (1), the Council adopted on 30 September 2002 the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: ‘Structuring the European Research Area’ (2002-2006) (2) (referred to as ‘the specific programme’).

In accordance with Article 5(1) of the specific programme, the Commission of the European Communities (referred to as ‘the Commission’) has adopted on 30 September 2002 a work programme (3) (referred to as ‘the work programme’) setting out in greater detail the objectives and scientific and technological priorities of the specific programme, and the timetable for implementation.

In accordance with Article 9(1) of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 16 December 2002, concerning the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in, and for the dissemination of research results for, the implementation of the European Community Sixth Framework Programme (2002 to 2006) (4) (referred to as ‘the rules for participation’), proposals for indirect RTD actions should be submitted under the terms of calls for proposals.

| 2. | The present call for proposals for indirect RTD actions (referred to as ‘the call’) comprises the present general part and the specific conditions that are described in the annex. The annex indicates in particular, the date of closure for the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions, an indicative date for the completion of the evaluations, the indicative budget, the instruments and the areas concerned, the evaluation criteria for the evaluation of proposals for indirect RTD actions, the minimum number of participants, and any applicable restrictions. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The present call for proposals for indirect RTD actions (referred to as ‘the call’) comprises the present general part and the specific conditions that are described in the annex. The annex indicates in particular, the date of closure for the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions, an indicative date for the completion of the evaluations, the indicative budget, the instruments and the areas concerned, the evaluation criteria for the evaluation of proposals for indirect RTD actions, the minimum number of participants, and any applicable restrictions.

| 3. | Natural or legal persons fulfilling the conditions stated in the rules for participation and that do not fall under any of the exclusion cases in the rules for participation or in Article 114(2) of the Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5) (referred to as ‘the proposers’) are invited to submit to the Commission proposals for indirect RTD actions subject to the conditions in the rules for participation and in the call concerned being fulfilled.
  The conditions of participation of the proposers will be verified within the framework of the negotiation of the indirect RTD action. Before that however, proposers will have signed a declaration stating that they do not fall under any of the cases given by Article 93(1) of the Financial Regulation. They will also have given the Commission the information listed in Article 173(2) of the Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002, of 23 December 2002, laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (6).
  The European Community has adopted an equal opportunities policy and, on this basis, women are particularly encouraged to either submit proposals for indirect RTD actions or participate in the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions. |
| --- | --- |

3.

Natural or legal persons fulfilling the conditions stated in the rules for participation and that do not fall under any of the exclusion cases in the rules for participation or in Article 114(2) of the Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5) (referred to as ‘the proposers’) are invited to submit to the Commission proposals for indirect RTD actions subject to the conditions in the rules for participation and in the call concerned being fulfilled.

The conditions of participation of the proposers will be verified within the framework of the negotiation of the indirect RTD action. Before that however, proposers will have signed a declaration stating that they do not fall under any of the cases given by Article 93(1) of the Financial Regulation. They will also have given the Commission the information listed in Article 173(2) of the Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002, of 23 December 2002, laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (6).

The European Community has adopted an equal opportunities policy and, on this basis, women are particularly encouraged to either submit proposals for indirect RTD actions or participate in the submission of proposals for indirect RTD actions.

| 4. | The Commission makes available to proposers guides for proposers relating to the call which contain information on the preparation and the submission of a proposal for an indirect RTD action. The Commission also makes available Guidelines on Proposal Evaluation and Selection Procedures (7). These guides and guidelines, as well as the work programme and other information relating to the call, can be obtained from the Commission via the following addresses:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| The FP6 Information Desk |
| Directorate General RTD |
| B-1049 Brussels |
| Internet address: www.cordis.lu/fp6 |

4.

The Commission makes available to proposers guides for proposers relating to the call which contain information on the preparation and the submission of a proposal for an indirect RTD action. The Commission also makes available Guidelines on Proposal Evaluation and Selection Procedures (7). These guides and guidelines, as well as the work programme and other information relating to the call, can be obtained from the Commission via the following addresses:

European Commission

The FP6 Information Desk

Directorate General RTD

B-1049 Brussels

Internet address: www.cordis.lu/fp6

| 5. | Proposals for indirect RTD actions are invited to be submitted only as an electronic proposal via the web-based Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS (8)). In exceptional cases, however, a co-ordinator may request permission from the Commission to submit on paper in advance of a call deadline. This should be done by writing to the following address: rtd-infrastructures@cec.eu.int. The request must be accompanied by an explanation of why the exception is being sought. Proposers wishing to use paper submission take the responsibility for ensuring that such requests for exemption and the associated procedures are completed in time for them to meet the call deadline.
  All proposals for indirect RTD actions must contain two parts: the forms (Part A) and the content (Part B).
  Proposals for indirect RTD actions may be prepared off-line or on-line and submitted on-line. Part B of proposals for indirect RTD actions can only be submitted in PDF (‘portable document format’, compatible with Adobe Version 3 or higher with embedded fonts). Compressed (‘zipped’) files will be excluded.
  The EPSS software tool (for off-line or on-line usage) is available via the Cordis website: www.cordis.lu.
  Proposals for indirect RTD actions that are submitted on-line and which are incomplete, illegible or contain viruses will be excluded.
  Versions of proposals for indirect RTD actions submitted on a removable electronic storage medium (eg, CD-ROM, diskette), by email or by fax will be excluded.
  Any proposal for indirect RTD actions that has been allowed to be submitted on paper and which is incomplete will be excluded.
  Further details on the various proposal submission procedures are given in Annex J of the Guidelines on Proposal Evaluation and Selection Procedures. |
| --- | --- |

5.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions are invited to be submitted only as an electronic proposal via the web-based Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS (8)). In exceptional cases, however, a co-ordinator may request permission from the Commission to submit on paper in advance of a call deadline. This should be done by writing to the following address: rtd-infrastructures@cec.eu.int. The request must be accompanied by an explanation of why the exception is being sought. Proposers wishing to use paper submission take the responsibility for ensuring that such requests for exemption and the associated procedures are completed in time for them to meet the call deadline.

All proposals for indirect RTD actions must contain two parts: the forms (Part A) and the content (Part B).

Proposals for indirect RTD actions may be prepared off-line or on-line and submitted on-line. Part B of proposals for indirect RTD actions can only be submitted in PDF (‘portable document format’, compatible with Adobe Version 3 or higher with embedded fonts). Compressed (‘zipped’) files will be excluded.

The EPSS software tool (for off-line or on-line usage) is available via the Cordis website: www.cordis.lu.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions that are submitted on-line and which are incomplete, illegible or contain viruses will be excluded.

Versions of proposals for indirect RTD actions submitted on a removable electronic storage medium (eg, CD-ROM, diskette), by email or by fax will be excluded.

Any proposal for indirect RTD actions that has been allowed to be submitted on paper and which is incomplete will be excluded.

Further details on the various proposal submission procedures are given in Annex J of the Guidelines on Proposal Evaluation and Selection Procedures.

| 6. | Proposals for indirect RTD actions have to reach the Commission at the latest on the closure date and at the time specified in the call concerned. Proposals for indirect RTD actions arriving after this date and time will be excluded.
  Proposals for indirect RTD actions not satisfying the conditions relating to the minimum number of participants indicated in the call concerned will be excluded.
  This also applies regarding any additional eligibility criteria given in the work programme. |
| --- | --- |

6.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions have to reach the Commission at the latest on the closure date and at the time specified in the call concerned. Proposals for indirect RTD actions arriving after this date and time will be excluded.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions not satisfying the conditions relating to the minimum number of participants indicated in the call concerned will be excluded.

This also applies regarding any additional eligibility criteria given in the work programme.

| 7. | In the case of successive submissions of the same proposal for an indirect RTD action, the Commission will examine the last version received before the closure date and time specified in the call concerned. |
| --- | --- |

7.

In the case of successive submissions of the same proposal for an indirect RTD action, the Commission will examine the last version received before the closure date and time specified in the call concerned.

| 8. | If foreseen in the relevant call, proposals for indirect RTD actions could be evaluated in the framework of a future evaluation. |
| --- | --- |

8.

If foreseen in the relevant call, proposals for indirect RTD actions could be evaluated in the framework of a future evaluation.

| 9. | In all correspondence relating to a call (e.g. when requesting information, or submitting a proposal for an indirect RTD action), proposers are invited to cite the relevant call identifier. |
| --- | --- |

9.

In all correspondence relating to a call (e.g. when requesting information, or submitting a proposal for an indirect RTD action), proposers are invited to cite the relevant call identifier.

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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, and C(2004)4726, 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 European Research Area

2.   Thematic priority/Domain: Research and Innovation

3.   Call title: Standards in support of innovative business solutions

4.   Call Identifier: FP6-2005-INNOV-8

5.   Date of publication (1):

6.   Closing date (2):

7.   Total indicative budget: EUR 5,5 million

8.   Areas and instruments:

| Area | Instrument | Indicative budget |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1.2.1.7 | — | Facilitating the integration of open standards into the design of new products and services |

Area

Instrument

Indicative budget

1.2.1.7

—

Facilitating the integration of open standards into the design of new products and services

| — | Facilitating the integration of open standards into business practices |
| --- | --- |

—

Facilitating the integration of open standards into business practices

| — | Stimulating innovation through reference to standards in procurement |
| --- | --- |

—

Stimulating innovation through reference to standards in procurement

3 Coordination Actions

EUR 5,5 million

9.   Minimum number of participants:

| Instrument | Minimum no. of participants |
| --- | --- |
| Coordination Actions | In this call the minimum number of participants is 6 independent legal entities from 4 different Member States, Accession Candidate Countries or Associated States, with at least 4 participants coming from Member States. |

Instrument

Minimum no. of participants

Coordination Actions

In this call the minimum number of participants is 6 independent legal entities from 4 different Member States, Accession Candidate Countries or Associated States, with at least 4 participants coming from Member States.

10.   Restriction to participation: None

11.   Consortium agreement: In the case of consortia, participants resulting from this call are required to conclude a consortium agreement.

12.   Evaluation procedure: The evaluation shall follow a single stage procedure.

Proposals will not be evaluated anonymously.

13.   Evaluation criteria: The evaluation criteria and weighting shall be as below.

No thresholds will apply to this call.

Further information will be given in the Call for Proposals documentation.

14.   Indicative evaluation and selection: Evaluation results will be communicated to the contractors about four months after the date of closure of the call.

It is expected that the first contracts come into force six months after the date of closure of the call.

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(1)  The Director-General responsible for the call may publish it up to one month prior to or after the envisaged date of publication.

(2)  Where the envisaged date of publication is anticipated or delayed (see footnote 1), closure date(s) will be adjusted accordingly in the published call for proposals.

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