# Official Journal C 106/2023

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 106 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 6622 March 2023 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 106

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 6622 March 2023

---

| Contents | page |
| --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2023/C 106/01 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11053 – GROUP CREDIT AGRICOLE / MICHELIN / WATEA) (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2023/C 106/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11053 – GROUP CREDIT AGRICOLE / MICHELIN / WATEA) (
  1
  )

1

1

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| | III   Preparatory acts |
| --- | --- |
| | EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK |
| 2023/C 106/02 | Opinion of the European Central Bank of 1 February 2023 on a proposal for a regulation amending Regulations (EU) No 260/2012 and (EU) 2021/1230 as regards instant credit transfers in euro (CON/2023/4) | 2 |

III   Preparatory acts

EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

2023/C 106/02

Opinion of the European Central Bank of 1 February 2023 on a proposal for a regulation amending Regulations (EU) No 260/2012 and (EU) 2021/1230 as regards instant credit transfers in euro (CON/2023/4)

2

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| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2023/C 106/03 | Euro exchange rates – 21 March 2023 | 6 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2023/C 106/03

Euro exchange rates – 21 March 2023

6

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| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2023/C 106/04 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11081 – MARCEGAGLIA CARBON STEEL / SIA SEVERSTAL DISTRIBUTION) – Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 7 |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | European Commission |
| 2023/C 106/05 | Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs | 9 |

V   Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2023/C 106/04

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11081 – MARCEGAGLIA CARBON STEEL / SIA SEVERSTAL DISTRIBUTION) – Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

7

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2023/C 106/05

Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

9

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

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance.

1

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

EN

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II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 22.3.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 106/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

22.3.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/1

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.11053 – GROUP CREDIT AGRICOLE / MICHELIN / WATEA)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2023/C 106/01)

On 15 March 2023, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). 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:

| — | in the merger section of the ‘Competition policy’ website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, |
| --- | --- |

—

in the merger section of the ‘Competition policy’ website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website 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 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32023M11053. EUR-Lex is the online point of access to European Union law. |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32023M11053. EUR-Lex is the online point of access to European Union law.

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

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III Preparatory acts

EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

| 22.3.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 106/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

22.3.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/2

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OPINION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 1 February 2023

on a proposal for a regulation amending Regulations (EU) No 260/2012 and (EU) 2021/1230 as regards instant credit transfers in euro

(CON/2023/4)

(2023/C 106/02)

Introduction and legal basis

On 16 and 24 November 2022 the European Central Bank (ECB) received requests from the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, respectively, for an opinion on a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 and Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 as regards instant credit transfers in euro (1) (hereinafter the ‘proposed regulation’).

The ECB’s competence to deliver an opinion is based on Articles 127(4) and 282(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union since the proposed regulation contains provisions falling within the ECB’s fields of competence pursuant to Article 127(2) TFEU and Article 3.1 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, in particular in connection with the basic task of the European System of Central Banks to promote the smooth operation of payment systems. 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.

1.   General observations

| 1.1. | The ECB strongly welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to promote the provision and uptake of instant payments (IPs), defined as credit transfers that transfer funds to the payee’s payment account within ten seconds after the time of receipt of the payment order from the payer, in euro in the EU. This initiative ties in well with the Eurosystem’s retail payments strategy, (2) the main elements of which are: (a) the development of a pan-European solution for retail payments at the point of interaction; (b) the full deployment of IPs; (c) the improvement of cross-border payments beyond the EU; and (d) the support for innovation, digitalisation and a European payments ecosystem. |
| --- | --- |

1.1.

| 1.2. | In order to promote the smooth operation of payment systems, it is essential to address fragmentation issues across the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). Currently, the provision of IPs is not available in all SEPA jurisdictions on an equal footing. In this context, measures that further harmonise the provision of IPs across SEPA jurisdictions would increase consumer choice and foster innovation, safety and open strategic autonomy in European payments. In the same vein, measures that can promote efficiency across SEPA should also be supported, to the extent that compliance with the applicable data protection legislation is ensured. The possibility of setting up standardised, and/or possibly centralised, pan-European solutions for discrepancy checks, to be made available by payment service providers (PSPs) before the authorisation of IPs or before the funds are credited on the beneficiary account, should be usefully explored, for example by the Eurosystem leveraging its central position in the instant payment landscape, allowing it to reach all relevant counterparties. |
| --- | --- |

1.2.

| 1.3. | The provision and uptake of IPs have grown in the Union since the launch of the SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) scheme in 2017, but they have not yet become the new normal, as could have been expected. The ECB continues to encourage market participants to implement IPs on a pan-European basis and to support end user take-up as soon as possible. In November 2018, the ECB launched the TARGET instant payment settlement (TIPS) service, making it easier for PSPs to offer IPs and enabling them to settle IPs immediately, safely and at any time. As of 2022, all PSPs that adhere to the SCT Inst scheme and are reachable in TARGET2 must be reachable via TIPS as well, contributing to the pan-European reachability (or interoperability) of PSPs offering IPs at the technical, market infrastructure level. |
| --- | --- |

1.3.

| 1.4. | The ECB notes the exclusion of electronic money institutions (EMIs) and payments institutions (PIs), which would otherwise be required to offer all of their payment services users (PSUs) a payment service for sending and receiving IPs, as they cannot participate in the settlement systems designated under Directive 98/26/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) (hereinafter the ‘Settlement Finality Directive’) (4). The ECB understands that if the scope of the Settlement Finality Directive is extended so as to include EMIs and PIs, these PSPs should then also comply with the requirement to offer all of their PSUs a payment service for sending and receiving IPs, as they would participate directly in the settlement systems designated under that Directive.
  The ECB supports the requirement for the affected PSPs to offer IPs at the same cost as non-IPs. The ECB also welcomes the introduction of a simplified sanction screening process to overcome the current transaction-based model, without lowering the effectiveness of sanctions screening. Additionally, the ECB supports the proposed introduction of a service for detecting discrepancies between the payee’s international bank account number (IBAN) and name. Such a service has the potential to reduce errors and fraud in IPs. However, an associated fee for this service may be dissuasive and in conjunction with the opt-out provision may result in a low uptake of this additional protection for payers, whilst still mandating an investment cost for PSPs to develop the service. The requirements on how the discrepancy checking service should be implemented are not too prescriptive, which allows the needed flexibility for the market to develop solutions. However, a harmonised approach would prevent potential fragmentation issues arising. It is also important to allow sufficient time for the market to develop and implement appropriate measures which do not undermine the speed of IPs as this could challenge their deployment at the point of sale. |
| --- | --- |

1.4.

The ECB supports the requirement for the affected PSPs to offer IPs at the same cost as non-IPs. The ECB also welcomes the introduction of a simplified sanction screening process to overcome the current transaction-based model, without lowering the effectiveness of sanctions screening. Additionally, the ECB supports the proposed introduction of a service for detecting discrepancies between the payee’s international bank account number (IBAN) and name. Such a service has the potential to reduce errors and fraud in IPs. However, an associated fee for this service may be dissuasive and in conjunction with the opt-out provision may result in a low uptake of this additional protection for payers, whilst still mandating an investment cost for PSPs to develop the service. The requirements on how the discrepancy checking service should be implemented are not too prescriptive, which allows the needed flexibility for the market to develop solutions. However, a harmonised approach would prevent potential fragmentation issues arising. It is also important to allow sufficient time for the market to develop and implement appropriate measures which do not undermine the speed of IPs as this could challenge their deployment at the point of sale.

2.   Specific observations

2.1.   Defined terms

Certain terms defined in the proposed regulation may (a) require alignment with those used in Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) (hereinafter the ‘Payment Services Directive’ (PSD2)) and (b) call for amendments to Directive 2014/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (6) (hereinafter the ‘Payment Account Directive’ (PAD)) and Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7) (hereinafter the ‘European Accessibility Act’ (EAA)). Specifically, the definition of ‘payment account identifier’, as introduced in the proposed regulation, would be the same as ‘unique identifier’ defined in the PSD2 (8). The ECB suggests that, in the light of this, the Union legislator considers using the same terminology in the proposed regulation. Moreover, ‘credit transfer’ is a term already defined in the PAD (9). The ECB proposes that, for consistency reasons, that definition is aligned with the ‘instant credit transfer’ definition introduced by the proposed regulation. In this respect, the PAD (10) emphasises the need to ensure alignment of the definitions contained therein with those contained in the PSD2 and Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (11). In addition, the EAA contains a definition of ‘payment terminal’ with a meaning similar to that of ‘PSU interface’ as introduced by the proposed regulation. The ECB suggests that the Union legislator considers amending the EAA to align the definition of ‘payment terminal’ with the one of ‘PSU interface’. Finally, to ensure systematic coherence, it is important to consider the defined terms introduced by the proposed regulation in the context of the upcoming amendments to the PSD2.

2.2.   Discrepancies between the name and payment account identifier of a payee

According to the explanatory memorandum accompanying the proposed regulation, PSPs may charge an additional fee for the service of detecting discrepancies between the name and payment account identifier of a payee (12). An additional fee for detecting discrepancies could, on the one hand, have a dissuasive effect on the PSUs, which may not be conducive to the provision and uptake of IPs. On the other hand, in the context of IPs, this discrepancy checking service is crucial. For this reason, the proposed regulation should be amended to avoid that PSUs either do not use IPs or opt out of the discrepancy checking service due to the fees associated with it. Irrespective of the uptake of the service by PSUs, the proposed regulation obliges PSPs to offer the service, necessitating investment costs. In some Member States (e.g. the Netherlands), a mandatory IBAN check against the name of the payee is already in place, provided by all PSPs in respect of IBANs for domestic accounts at no additional charge. A harmonised approach to such IBAN checks across SEPA may be beneficial and more cost-efficient, potentially leading to, for example, the introduction of a common scheme and/or the provision of the service in a centralised way.

2.3.   Screening IPs for Union sanctions

The affected PSPs must carry out screening checks with regard to Union sanctions immediately after the entry into force of any restrictive measures adopted in accordance with Article 215 TFEU (13). In this respect, the ECB would like to make three points.

First, the proposed regulation does not absolve the relevant PSP from complying with relevant national sanctions applied against a relevant person, body or entity.

Second, restrictive measures adopted in accordance with Article 215 TFEU may enter into force on the day of their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union or on the day following their publication. In order to ensure that these restrictive measures are applied promptly by the affected PSPs, the ECB suggests that affected PSPs are obliged to carry out such verifications immediately after publication of the restrictive measures in the Official Journal (instead of immediately after entry into force), facilitating compliance in all cases where the date of entry into force is later than that of publication.

Third, and to ensure legal certainty, the ECB is conscious of the potentially beneficial role that legal entity identifiers (LEIs) could play in the context of screening checks with regard to Union sanctions and/or as a global identification standard for counterparts in respect of the discrepancy checking service. The latest EPC guidance relating to the planned migration of the EPC payment scheme rulebooks to the 2019 version of the ISO 20022 messaging standard by November 2023, envisages LEIs as alternative identifiers for a ‘non-private’ party (14). This would address technical obstacles at EPC payment scheme level. While the reliance on LEIs is dependent on their broader implementation, including a reference to the potential use of LEIs in the proposed sanctions screening provision would show that the European Union supports the use and promotion of this global standard.

2.4.   Infringement procedures

To prevent a scenario whereby planned downtime of the SCT Inst scheme would inadvertently result in PSPs breaching Union law, the ECB suggests that a caveat is included in the proposed regulation. Accordingly, the ECB proposes to exempt PSPs from infringement proceedings in the highly exceptional scenario that the SCT Inst scheme is unavailable for a short period of time, as approved by its respective governance body, thus preventing the processing of IPs.

Where the ECB recommends that the proposed regulation is amended, specific drafting proposals are set out in a separate technical working document accompanied by an explanatory text to this effect. The technical working document is available in English on EUR-Lex.

Done at Frankfurt am Main, 1 February 2023.

The President of the ECB

Christine LAGARDE

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(1)  COM(2022) 546 final.

1

(2)  See the Eurosystem’s retail payments strategy, available on the ECB website at www.ecb.europa.eu.

2

(3)  Directive 98/26/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 1998 on settlement finality in payment and securities settlement systems (OJ L 166, 11.6.1998, p. 45).

3

(4)  Article 1, point (2) of the proposed regulation.

4

(5)  Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on payment services in the internal market, amending Directives 2002/65/EC, 2009/110/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, and repealing Directive 2007/64/EC (OJ L 337, 23.12.2015, p. 35).

5

(6)  Directive 2014/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on the comparability of fees related to payment accounts, payment account switching and access to payment accounts with basic features (OJ L 257, 28.8.2014, p. 214).

6

(7)  Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 70).

7

(8)  See Article 4, point (33) of the PSD2.

8

(9)  See Article 2, point (20) of the PAD.

9

(10)  See recital 14 of the PAD.

10

(11)  Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2012 establishing technical and business requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euro and amending Regulation (EC) No 924/2009 (OJ L 94, 30.3.2012, p. 22).

11

(12)  See p. 10 of the Explanatory Memorandum to the proposed regulation.

12

(13)  See Article 1, point (2) of the proposed regulation.

13

(14)  See the guidance available on the EPC website at www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu.

14

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 22.3.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 106/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

22.3.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/6

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Euro exchange rates (1)

21 March 2023

(2023/C 106/03)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,0776 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 142,63 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4465 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,88033 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 11,0990 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 0,9970 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 150,10 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 11,3125 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 23,846 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 391,58 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,6998 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,9225 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 20,5035 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,6136 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4726 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 8,4547 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,7412 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,4392 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 406,34 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 19,9659 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,4058 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 16 490,75 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,8196 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 58,485 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | |
| THB | Thai baht | 36,929 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 5,6491 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 20,1454 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 89,0308 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,0776

JPY

Japanese yen

142,63

DKK

Danish krone

7,4465

GBP

Pound sterling

0,88033

SEK

Swedish krona

11,0990

CHF

Swiss franc

0,9970

ISK

Iceland króna

150,10

NOK

Norwegian krone

11,3125

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

23,846

HUF

Hungarian forint

391,58

PLN

Polish zloty

4,6998

RON

Romanian leu

4,9225

TRY

Turkish lira

20,5035

AUD

Australian dollar

1,6136

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4726

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

8,4547

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,7412

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,4392

KRW

South Korean won

1 406,34

ZAR

South African rand

19,9659

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,4058

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

16 490,75

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,8196

PHP

Philippine peso

58,485

RUB

Russian rouble

THB

Thai baht

36,929

BRL

Brazilian real

5,6491

MXN

Mexican peso

20,1454

INR

Indian rupee

89,0308

---

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

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V Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

| 22.3.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 106/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

22.3.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/7

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.11081 – MARCEGAGLIA CARBON STEEL / SIA SEVERSTAL DISTRIBUTION)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2023/C 106/04)

1.

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

| — | Marcegaglia Carbon Steel S.p.A (‘Marcegaglia’, Italy), ultimately controlled by the Marcegaglia Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Marcegaglia Carbon Steel S.p.A (‘Marcegaglia’, Italy), ultimately controlled by the Marcegaglia Group,

| — | SIA Severstal Distribution (‘SSD’, Latvia), together with its two subsidiaries Severstal Distribution Spzoo (Poland) and Severstal Distribution OOO (Ukraine), ultimately controlled by Mr. Alexey Alexandrovich Mordashov, through the Russian entity Severgroup. |
| --- | --- |

—

SIA Severstal Distribution (‘SSD’, Latvia), together with its two subsidiaries Severstal Distribution Spzoo (Poland) and Severstal Distribution OOO (Ukraine), ultimately controlled by Mr. Alexey Alexandrovich Mordashov, through the Russian entity Severgroup.

Marcegaglia will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of SSD.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2.

| — | Marcegaglia is a family-owned Italian industrial group active in the steel sector, with a focus on trading and processing of steel. It mainly produces carbon steel products, but also, to a smaller extent, stainless steel flat and long products, |
| --- | --- |

—

Marcegaglia is a family-owned Italian industrial group active in the steel sector, with a focus on trading and processing of steel. It mainly produces carbon steel products, but also, to a smaller extent, stainless steel flat and long products,

| — | SSD is a Latvian supplier of imported steel products, active in the treatment and coating of metals and wholesales of metals and metal ores. The sole shareholder of SIA Severstal Distribution is PAO Severstal (‘the Seller’), a Russian company which is a vertically integrated steel and steel-related mining company with major assets in Russia and investments in other regions. |
| --- | --- |

—

SSD is a Latvian supplier of imported steel products, active in the treatment and coating of metals and wholesales of metals and metal ores. The sole shareholder of SIA Severstal Distribution is PAO Severstal (‘the Seller’), a Russian company which is a vertically integrated steel and steel-related mining company with major assets in Russia and investments in other regions.

3.

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.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.11081 – MARCEGAGLIA CARBON STEEL / SIA SEVERSTAL DISTRIBUTION

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Postal address:

| European Commission |
| --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

1

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

2

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OTHER ACTS

European Commission

| 22.3.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 106/9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

22.3.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/9

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Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2023/C 106/05)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

'Edremit Zeytinyağı'

EU No: PDO-TR-02783 - 5.7.2021

PDO ( X) PGI ( )

1.   Name(s) [of PDO or PGI]

'Edremit Zeytinyağı'

2.   Member State or Third Country

Türkiye

3.   Description of agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product [listed in Annex XI]

Class 1.5. Oils and fats (butter, margarine, oil, etc.)

3.2.   Description of the product to which name in (1) applies

‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ is a natural extra virgin olive oil produced from Edremit olives grown in the demarcated geographical area. The chemical properties of ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ have given in the table below.

| Compounds | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Low free fatty acid content | ≤0,8 % as oleic acid |
| Low α-tocopherol content | 150-250 mg/kg |
| Low total phenolic compounds | 100-200 mg/kg |
| High total desmetylsterols (campesterol, clerosterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol and apparent β-sitosterol) content | 2 000 -3 000 mg/kg |

Compounds

Amount

Low free fatty acid content

≤0,8 % as oleic acid

Low α-tocopherol content

150-250 mg/kg

Low total phenolic compounds

100-200 mg/kg

High total desmetylsterols (campesterol, clerosterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol and apparent β-sitosterol) content

2 000 -3 000 mg/kg

‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ has below given sensorial propeties. It has;

| — | spring flowers and green grass flavours, but green almond, golden apple fruity notes may be observed. |
| --- | --- |

—

spring flowers and green grass flavours, but green almond, golden apple fruity notes may be observed.

| — | delicate (Median<3,0) or medium (3,0<Median<6,0) level of fruitiness . |
| --- | --- |

—

delicate (Median<3,0) or medium (3,0<Median<6,0) level of fruitiness .

| — | ripe fruitiness in the ripe and variegated harvest |
| --- | --- |

—

ripe fruitiness in the ripe and variegated harvest

| — | delicate (Median <3,0) level of bitterness. In the early period of harvest, bitterness is felt moderate level (3<Median<6,0 levels) |
| --- | --- |

—

delicate (Median <3,0) level of bitterness. In the early period of harvest, bitterness is felt moderate level (3<Median<6,0 levels)

| — | delicate pungency (Median <3,0); in the early period of harvest, pungency is felt at a moderate level (3<Median<6,0). |
| --- | --- |

—

delicate pungency (Median <3,0); in the early period of harvest, pungency is felt at a moderate level (3<Median<6,0).

| — | colour varies from golden yellow to dark green depending on the maturation stage |
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colour varies from golden yellow to dark green depending on the maturation stage

| — | thin body in terms of viscosity |
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thin body in terms of viscosity

3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ is produced exclusively from Edremit olives specifically grown in the demarcated geographical area. Varieties other than Edremit mixed during harvest may not exceed 2 %.

3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

All processes (cultivation, harvesting, leaf separation, washing, crushing, malaxation, and extraction) should be performed in the demarcated geographical area specified in Article 4.

3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

Products from 0,25 kg to 18 kg can be filled in food-grade packages.

3.6.   Specific rules concerning the labeling of the product the registered name refers to

Labels must include the following:

| — | The name of the designation ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’, |
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The name of the designation ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’,

| — | Trade name and address or short name and address or registered mark of the producer, |
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Trade name and address or short name and address or registered mark of the producer,

| — | European Union PDO logo |
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European Union PDO logo

| — | The following logo |
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The following logo

Image 1

| — | Official hologram of authenticity |
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Official hologram of authenticity

Image 2

4.   A concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical region where ‘Edremit Zeytinyağ’ is officially produced includes the Edremit and Havran districts of Balikesir province. It is an area of approximately 224,580 decares surrounded by Kaz Mountains in the north, Mıhlı Stream which is the border of Edremit and Çanakkale in the west, Havran county in the east and Burhaniye county which is also a county of Balıkesir province.

5.   Link with the geographical area

Specificity of the geographical area

Olive cultivation is traditionally done in Edremit Gulf. Summers are hot in the temperature regime of the Mediterranean climate, which prevails in Edremit Gulf. The hot summers are important for the acceleration of the physiological activities of the olive tree and fruit development. In this respect, values such as 27 °C for the hottest month are ideal for the growth of olives. The fact that the average temperatures are around these values in Edremit Gulf contributes positively to the growth of olives.

The snow which falls on Kaz and Madra Mountains in the winter feed under-ground waters when melts down. Thanks to these water reserves and the water-holding soil composition, the water requirement of olive trees is met. In addition, the region has an appropriate amount, and a balanced rain regime is one of the determining factors in this regard. The amount of precipitation varies between 600-700 kg/m2.

Geomorphological features have an important role in determining the climatic conditions of the area. The oxygen-rich and cool air from mountains circulate towards the sea-facing slopes (between 50 m and 250 m in height), narrow, deep valleys and canyons cool down the olive fields, hence better-quality olives grow on these slopes. A similar situation occurs in the areas between Madra Mountain and Edremit Gulf. It is also important that the region have the characteristics of Mediterranean soil, which is in the ideal pH range (6,5-8,5) that the olive trees enjoy growing and yield high quality of olive fruit, hence olive oil.

Owing to both cooling effects due to regional winds slowing down the ripening of olives and adequate irrigation, and appropriate soil conditions, the olive grain grows and forms the characteristic round shape of Edremit olive variety, and developsp thin but resistant skins and core with a smooth surface. Durable skin prevents the fruit from damaging which results in high acidity while thin skin eases the removal of olive oil from the fruit during crushing and malaxation.

Climate

Thanks to these environmental conditions (soil/climate/wind/water reserves), olive trees experience less stress. The less stress the tree experience the stronger the grass flavour and charateristic aroma of spring flowers of ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ is observed. It also develops the specific thin body in terms of viscosity and is described as “water-like”. These properties separate the ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ obtained in Edremit Gulf from those from other olive-growing areas.

Human Factors

The town of Edremit has been an ancient human settlement area of more than 3 000 years. The natural conditions have made olive farming and olive oil production to be the primary agricultural activity in the region. The long tradition of olive oil making in the area also leads to the establishment of many olive oil production facilities in the region.

Olive harvest begins in mid-October and continues until the end of December. The olive grains are harvested with care in order not to damage the fruits. Within 10 hours following the harvest, olives are processed into ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’. In order not to damage the sensory properties of the product, it is recommended that the pulp temperature does not exceed 27 oC during the extraction process of the oil and that the olive crushing and malaxation time should not exceed 45 minutes in total. Storage temperatures should be around 18 °C. These processing conditions keep the free fatty acids content low (<0,8 % as oleic acid). The careful harvesting of the olives and quick processing are essential to keep the free fatty acids content low.

In addition to quick processing, ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ producers pay attention to the extraction temperature (≤27 °C), malaxation time (≤45 min), and storage temperature (~18 °C, minimum or no contact to air).

Specificity of the product

It has an aroma of one or more fruity (green almond, golden apple, flowers, green grass notes which is also described as reminiscent of the scent of spring flowers. When compared to other olive oils processed in the southern Aegean ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ has a low α-tocopherol (150-250 mg/kg) and total phenolic compounds (100-200 mg/kg) content but high total desmetylsterols (campesterol, clerosterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenastero,l and apparent β-sitosterol) (2 000-3 000 mg/kg) content. Owing to the quick processing, ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ has a low free fatty acid content (≤0,8 % as oleic acid).

Causal link

‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ is characterized by the presence of the Edremit variety, which is well established in the area and accounts for almost all its olive trees. The dominant presence of this variety contributes to the chemical composition of the oil.

The winds coming from Kaz and Madra Mountains have a cooling effect on olive trees on the slopes causing slow ripening of olive grains and the development of thin but resistant skin. Soil composition with a high level of clay keeps olive trees moist. Both annual falls and snowfalls provide sufficient irrigation requirements, which lowers the risk of drought and results in fully developed olive fruit. These conditions result in a specific thin body and aroma (green almond, golden apple, flowers, green grass) of ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’.

Owing to the micro-climatic conditions arising from topography, the maturation of olive grain takes place slower than those grown in the southern Agea or Mediterranean region, yielding ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ with its low α-tocopherol and low total phenolic compounds content but high total desmetylsterols (campesterol, clerosterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol and apparent β-sitosterol) when compared to counterparts.

Reference to publication of the specification

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(1)  OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

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