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I Information

Commission

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Euro exchange rates (1)

21 December 2005

(2005/C 325/01)

1 euro= 

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(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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Notice concerning a request in accordance with Article 30 of Directive 2004/17/EC — Extension of the period

Request made on behalf of a Member State

(2005/C 325/02)

On 8 November 2005 the Commission received a request in accordance with Article 30(4) of Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors (1).

This request, which comes from the United Kingdom, concerns the production of electricity in that country, with the exception of Northern Ireland (the request therefore concerns the production of electricity in England, Scotland and Wales). The request was published in OJ C 305/19 of 2.12.2005. The initial period expires on 9 February 2006.

Given that the Commission services need to obtain and examine further information and in compliance with the provisions laid down in the third sentence of Article 30(6), the period allowed to the Commission to take a decision on this request is extended by one month.

The final period will therefore expire on 10 March 2006.

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(1)OJ L 134, 30.4.2004, p. 1.

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4028 — Flaga/Progas/JV)

(2005/C 325/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4065 — BS Investimenti/MCC Sofipa/IP Cleaning)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 325/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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

(2)OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4075 — Providence/Carlyle/Com Hem)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 325/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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

(2)OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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Information concerning complaint No 2005/4347

(2005/C 325/06)

On 18 October 2005 the Commission addressed Italy a letter for formal notice concerning the abovementioned complaint, regarding the management of water in the Lago d'Idro area, with reference to a site of relevance under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

This infringement procedure does not relate to the violation of the provisions of Directive 92/43/EEC in the specific case, but to the violation of Article 10 EC Treaty due to the failure by Italy to cooperate with the Commission in providing the information requested by the Commission.

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Commission Notice on the rules for access to the Commission file in cases pursuant to Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty, Articles 53, 54 and 57 of the EEA Agreement and Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004

(2005/C 325/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

I.   INTRODUCTION AND SUBJECT-MATTER OF THE NOTICE

II.   SCOPE OF ACCESS TO THE FILE

A.   Who is entitled to access to the file?

B.   To which documents is access granted?

1.   The content of the Commission file

2.   Accessible documents

3.   Non-accessible documents

3.1.   Internal documents

3.1.1   General principles

3.1.2   Correspondence with other public authorities

3.2.   Confidential information

3.2.1   Business secrets

3.2.2   Other confidential information

3.2.3   Criteria for the acceptance of requests for confidential treatment.

C.   When is access to the file granted?

1.   In antitrust proceedings under Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty

2.   In proceedings under the Merger Regulation

III.   PARTICULAR QUESTIONS REGARDING COMPLAINANTS AND OTHER INVOLVED PARTIES

A.   Provision of documents to complainants in antitrust proceedings

B.   Provision of documents to other involved parties in merger proceedings

IV.   PROCEDURE FOR IMPLEMENTING ACCESS TO THE FILE

A.   Preparatory procedure

B.   Treatment of confidential information

C.   Provision of access to file

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(1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty, OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1-25.

(2)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 773/2004 of 7 April 2004 relating to the conduct of proceedings by the Commission pursuant to Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty, OJ L 123, 27.4.2004, p. 18-24.

(3)  Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 of 20 January 2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings, OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1-22.

(4)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 802/2004 of 21 April 2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings, OJ L 133, 30.4.2004, p. 1-39. Corrected in the OJ L 172, 6.5.2004, p. 9.

(5)  References in this Notice to Articles 81 and 82 therefore apply also to Articles 53 and 54 of the EEA Agreement.

(6)  Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents, OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43. See for instance Case T-2/03, Verein für Konsumenteninformation v. Commission, judgment of 13 April 2005, not yet reported.

(7)  Commission notice on the internal rules of procedure for processing requests for access to the file in cases under Articles 85 and 86 [now 81 and 82] of the EC Treaty, Articles 65 and 66 of the ECSC Treaty and Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89, OJ C 23, 23.1.1997, p. 3.

(8)OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21.

(9)  In particular Joint Cases T-25/95 et al., Cimenteries CBR SA et al. v Commission, [2000] ECR II-0491.

(10)  In the remainder of this Notice, the term ‘undertaking’ includes both undertakings and associations of undertakings. The term ‘person’ encompasses natural and legal persons. Many entities are legal persons and undertakings at the same time; in this case, they are covered by both terms. The same applies where a natural person is an undertaking within the meaning of Articles 81 and 82. In Merger proceedings, account must also be taken of persons referred to in Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, even when they are natural persons. Where entities without legal personality which are also not undertakings become involved in Commission competition proceedings, the Commission applies, where appropriate, the principles set out in this Notice mutatis mutandis.

(11)  Cf. Article 15(1) of the Implementing Regulation, Article 18(3) of the Merger Regulation and Article 17(1) of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(12)  In this notice the term ‘document’ is used for all forms of information support, irrespective of the storage medium. This covers also any electronic data storage device as may be or become available.

(13)  Cf. Article 27(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003, Articles 15(2) and 16(1) of the Implementing Regulation, and Article 17(3) of the Merger Implementing Regulation. Those exceptions are also mentioned in Case T-7/89, Hercules Chemicals v Commission, [1991] ECR II-1711, paragraph 54. The Court has ruled that it does not belong to the Commission alone to decide which documents in the file may be useful for the purposes of the defence (Cf. Case T-30/91 Solvay v. Commission, [1995] ECR II-1775, paragraphs 81-86, and Case T-36/91 ICI vs. Commission, [1995] ECR II-1847, paragraphs 91-96).

(14)  Examples of internal documents are drafts, opinions, memos or notes from the Commission departments or other public authorities concerned.

(15)  Cf. Article 27(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003, Article 15(2) of the Implementing Regulation, and Article 17(3) of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(16)  Cf. paragraph 1 above.

(17)  Cf. judgement of 30.9.2003 in Joined Cases T-191/98 and T-212/98 to T-214/98 Atlantic Container Line and others v Commission (TACA), [2003] ECR II-3275, paragraphs 349-359.

(18)  Statements recorded pursuant to Article 19 or Article 20(2)(e) of Regulation 1/2003 or Article 13(2)(e) of Merger Regulation will also normally belong to the accessible documents (see paragraph 10 above).

(19)  Cf. Article 27(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003, Article 15(2) of the Implementing Regulation, Article 17(3) of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(20)  Cf. Order of the Court of First Instance in Cases T-134/94 et al NMH Stahlwerke and Others v Commission [1997] ECR II-2293, paragraph 36, and Case T-65/89, BPB Industries and British Gypsum [1993] ECR II-389, paragraph 33.

(21)  In this notice the term ‘EFTA States’ includes the EFTA States that are parties to the EEA Agreement.

(22)  For example, Article VIII.2 of the Agreement between the European Communities and the Government of the United States of America regarding the application of their competition laws (OJ No L 95, 27.4.1995, p. 47) stipulates that information provided to it in confidence under the Agreement must be protected ‘to the fullest extent possible’. That Article creates an international-law obligation binding the Commission.

(23)  In the merger control area, this may apply in particular to submissions by a Member State under Article 9 (2) of the Merger Regulation with regard to a case referral.

(24)  Cf. Article 16(1) of the Implementing Regulation and Article 17(3) of the Merger Implementing Regulation; Case T-7/89 Hercules Chemicals NV v Commission, [1991] ECR II-1711, paragraph 54; Case T-23/99, LR AF 1998 A/S v Commission, [2002] ECR II-1705, paragraph 170.

(25)  Judgement of 18.9.1996 in Case T-353/94, Postbank NV v Commission, [1996] ECR II-921, paragraph 87.

(26)  The Community Courts have pronounced upon this question both in cases of alleged abuse of a dominant position (Article 82 of the EC Treaty) (Case T-65/89, BPB Industries and British Gypsum [1993] ECR II-389; and Case C-310/93P, BPB Industries and British Gypsum [1995] ECR I-865), and in merger cases (Case T-221/95 Endemol v Commission [1999] ECR II-1299, paragraph 69, and Case T-5/02 Laval v. Commission [2002] ECR II-4381, paragraph 98 et seq.).

(27)  See paragraph 40 below.

(28)  See paragraph 35 below.

(29)  However, business secrets or other confidential information which are given to a trade or professional association by its members do not lose their confidential nature with regard to third parties and may therefore not be passed on to complainants. Cf. Joined Cases 209 to 215 and 218/78, Fedetab, [1980] ECR 3125, paragraph 46.

(30)  See paragraphs 35-38 below on asking undertakings to identify confidential information.

(31)  Cf. Article 27(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 and Article 15(3) of the Implementing Regulation.

(32)  Article 18(1) of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(33)  Cf. paragraph 42 below.

(34)  This question is dealt with in the Directorate General Competition document ‘DG COMP Best Practices on the conduct of EC merger control proceedings’, available on the web-site of the Directorate General for Competition: http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/index_en.html.

(35)  Cf. Article 8(1) of the Implementing Regulation, which speaks about ‘access to documents’ to complainants and Article 17(2) of Merger Implementing Regulation which speaks about ‘access to file’ to other involved parties ‘in so far as this is necessary for the purposes of preparing their comments’.

(36)  See Case T-17/93 Matra-Hachette SA v Commission, [1994] ECR II-595, paragraph 34. The Court ruled that the rights of third parties, as laid down by Article 19 of the Council Regulation No 17 of 6.2.1962 (now replaced by Article 27 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003), were limited to the right to participate in the administrative procedure.

(37)  By means of a letter issued in accordance with Article 7(1) of the Implementing Regulation.

(38)  Cf. Article 8(1) of the Implementing Regulation.

(39)  Cf. Article 8(1) of the Implementing Regulation.

(40)  Cf. Article 11(b) of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(41)  Cf. Article 16(2) of the Implementing Regulation and Article 18(2) of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(42)  pursuant to Article 10(2) of the Implementing Regulation.

(43)  pursuant to Article 6(1) of the Implementing Regulation.

(44)  pursuant to Article 13(1) and (3) of the Implementing Regulation.

(45)  pursuant to Article 7(1) of the Implementing Regulation.

(46)  Article 12 of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(47)  Article 13 of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(48)  pursuant to Article 16 of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(49)  In merger proceedings the principles set out in the present and subsequent paragraphs also apply to the persons referred to in Article 3(1)(b) of Merger Regulation.

(50)  Cf. Article 16(3) of the Implementing Regulation and Article 18(3) of the Merger Implementing Regulation. This also applies to documents gathered by the Commission in an inspection pursuant to Article 13 of the Merger Regulation and Articles 20 and 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003.

(51)  Cf. Article 16(3) of the Implementing Regulation and Article 18(3) of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

(52)  Cf. Article 16(3) of the Implementing Regulation.

(53)  Cf. Article 16 of the Implementing Regulation.

(54)  Cf. Article 9 of the Commission Decision of 23.5.2001 on the terms of reference of hearing officers in certain competition proceedings, OJ L 162 19.6.2001, p. 21.

(55)  Cf. paragraph 19 above.

(56)  Cf. Case T-5/02, Tetra Laval vs. Commission, [2002] ECR II-4381, paragraph 98, 104 and 105.

(57)  Commission Notice on the handling of complaints by the Commission under Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty, OJ C 101, 27.4.2004, p. 65.

(58)  Cf. Case T-25/95 et al. Cimenteries, paragraph 635.

(59)  Cf. Article 8 of the Commission Decision of 23.5.2001 on the terms of reference of hearing officers in certain competition proceedings, OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21.

(60)  Cf. Articles 15(4) and 8(2) of the Implementing Regulation, respectively, and Article 17(4) of the Merger Implementing Regulation.

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Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 325/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption: 

Member State: Poland [Dolnośląskie]

Aid No: N 221/2005

Title: Program pomocy regionalnej dla przedsiębiorców inwestujących na terenie gminy Kobierzyce

Legal basis: Ustawa o samorządzie gminnym z dnia 8 marca 1990 r.; Ustawa o podatkach i opłatach lokalnych z dnia 12 stycznia 1991 r.; Projekt Uchwały Rady Gminy w Kobierzycach w sprawie zwolnień z podatku od nieruchomości dla przedsiębiorców na terenie gminy Kobierzyce

Objective: Regional development (All sectors)

Budget: PLN 1,5 million

Duration: 

Aid intensity or amount: 50 %

Other information: Aid scheme — Tax advantage

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption: 

Member State: Germany (Schleswig-Holstein)

Aid No: N 345/05

Title: Abänderung des EFRE-Risikokapitalfonds Schleswig-Holstein

Legal basis: Beteiligungsgrundsätze

Objective: Risk capital — All sectors

Budget: EUR 500 000 — 750 000

Duration: 

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION

Corresponding values of the thresholds of Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

(2005/C 325/09)

The corresponding values in the national currencies other than euro of the thresholds of Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC, as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2083/2005 (1), are the following:

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(1)  OJ L 333, 20.12.2005, p. 28.

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Notice of initiation of a partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures concerning imports of synthetic staple fibres of polyesters originating in the People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Republic of Korea and India

(2005/C 325/10)

The Commission has decided on its own initiative to initiate a partial interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (‘the basic Regulation’) (1). The review is limited to the examination of the product scope as regards the exclusion of low melt polyester staple fibres (‘LMP’).

1.   Product

The product under review is synthetic staple fibres of polyesters, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning originating in the People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Republic of Korea and India (‘the product concerned’) and is currently classifiable within CN code 5503 20 00. It is commonly referred to as polyester staple fibres or PSF. This CN code is given only for information.

2.   Existing measures

The measures currently in force are definitive anti-dumping duties imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1522/2000 (2) concerning imports originating in Australia, Indonesia and Thailand, by Regulation (EC) No 2852/2000 (3) concerning imports originating in the Republic of Korea and India, by Council Regulation (EC) No 1799/2002 (4) concerning imports originating in Belarus and by Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2005 (5) concerning imports originating in the People's Republic of China and Saudi Arabia. On 14 July 2005 (6), a review of the existing measures concerning imports originating in Australia, Indonesia and Thailand was initiated on the basis of Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation.

3.   Grounds for the review

The information at the Commission's disposal indicates that LMP, should be excluded from the scope of the product concerned, as it appears to have different basic physical and chemical characteristics and end uses in comparison to other types of polyester staple fibres. In particular, LMP appears to have inherent binding properties which differentiate it from other polyester staple fibres.

4.   Procedure

Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of a partial interim review, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation, limited in scope to the definition of the product concerned. The investigation will assess the need for the amendment of the scope of the existing measures.

(a)   Questionnaires

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the importers, to the users, to the Community industry, to exporting producers in the People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Republic of Korea and India and to the authorities of all the countries concerned. This information and supporting evidence should reach the Commission within the time limit set in point 5(a).

(b)   Collection of information and holding of hearings

All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information other than questionnaire replies and to provide supporting evidence. This information and supporting evidence must reach the Commission within the time limit set in point 5(a).

Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested parties, provided that they make a request showing that there are particular reasons why they should be heard. This request must be made within the time limit set in point 5(b).

5.   Time limits

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

All interested parties, if their representations are to be taken into account during the investigation, must make themselves known by contacting the Commission, present their views and submit questionnaire replies or any other information within 40 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. Attention is drawn to the fact that the exercise of most procedural rights set out in the basic Regulation depends on the party's making itself known within the aforementioned period.

(b)   Hearings

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

6.   Written submissions, questionnaire replies and correspondence

All submissions and requests made by interested parties must be made in writing (not in electronic format, unless otherwise specified) and must indicate the name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers of the interested party. All written submissions, including the information requested in this notice, questionnaire replies and correspondence provided by interested parties on a confidential basis shall be labelled as ‘Limited’ (7) and, in accordance with Article 19(2) of the basic Regulation, shall be accompanied by a non-confidential version, which will be labelled ‘for inspection by interested parties’.

Commission address for correspondence:

7.   Non-cooperation

In cases in which any interested party refuses access to or does not provide the necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, findings, affirmative or negative, may be made in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, on the basis of the facts available.

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information shall be disregarded and use may be made of the facts available. If an interested party does not cooperate, or cooperates only partially, and findings are therefore based on facts available in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

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(1)OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 461/2004 (OJ L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 12).

(2)OJ L 175, 14.7.2000, p. 10.

(3)OJ L 332, 28.12.2000, p. 17. Regulation as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2005 (OJ L 71, 17.3.2005, p. 1).

(4)OJ L 274, 11.10.2002, p. 1.

(5)OJ L 71, 17.3.2005, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1333/2005 (OJ L 211, 13.8.2005, p. 1).

(6)OJ C 174, 14.7.2005, p. 15.

(7)  This means that the document is for internal use only. It is protected pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43). It is a confidential document pursuant to Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 (OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1) and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the Gatt 1994 (Anti-dumping Agreement).

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Communication of the Commission to Member States amending the communication pursuant to Article 93(1) of the EC Treaty applying Articles 92 and 93 of the Treaty to short-term export-credit insurance

(2005/C 325/11)

I.   Introduction

The communication of the Commission to the Member States pursuant to Article 93(1) of the EC Treaty applying Articles 92 and 93 of the Treaty to short-term export-credit insurance (1) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the 1997 communication’) was adopted in 1997 and was to apply for a period of five years from 1 January 1998 until 31 December 2002.

In 2001, the Commission adopted an amendment to the 1997 communication (2) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the 2001 amendment’) concerning the definition of ‘marketable’ risks which may not be covered by export-credit insurers with the support of the State. The 2001 amendment also extended the validity of the 1997 communication until 31 December 2004. The validity of the 1997 communication was further extended until 31 December 2005 by a communication adopted by the Commission in 2004 (3).

According to point 2.6 of the 1997 communication as laid down in the 2001 amendment:

‘The capacity of the private reinsurance market varies. This means that the definition of marketable risks is not immutable and may change over time. The definition may, therefore, be reviewed, notably at the expiry of this communication on 31 December 2004. The Commission will consult Member States and other interested parties on such reviews (4). In so far as necessary, changes to the definition will have to take account of the scope of Community legislation governing export-credit insurance, in order to avoid any conflict or legal uncertainty.

The 2001 amendment also states in its introduction that:

‘The Commission wishes to inform Member States and interested parties that it intends to undertake a further study in 2003 to verify the capacity of the private reinsurance market to adapt to a further extension of the definition of marketable risk to cover a wider range of commercial risks, possibly including commercial risks arising in all countries of the world. Should the results of that study and consultations with Member States confirm that such coverage is possible, it will amend the definition of marketable risk accordingly as part of the general review of the 1997 communication in 2004.’

Following the completion of a study on the situation of the private reinsurance market in the field of export credit insurance, and after consultation of the Member States both within the Council Working Group on Export Credits and at a multilateral meeting on State aid as well as of other interested parties, the Commission has decided to leave unchanged the definition of ‘marketable’ risks contained in the 2001 amendment. However, due to the unavailable or insufficient cover in the majority of Member States of export-credit insurance offered by private insurers to small companies with a limited export turnover, which is caused by no or very low profitability reflecting an insufficient spread of foreign countries/buyers and lack of education and knowledge of the complexities of export-credit insurance among such companies entailing significant handholding and processing costs, the Commission is prepared to consider their export-related risks as temporarily ‘non-marketable’ in these Member States where there is no adequate offer by the private market, also in consideration of the need for the commercial insurers to adapt to the increased market size created by the EU enlargement.

This new provision will apply from 1 January 2006 until 31 December 2010. However, the Commission will assess the market situation for those SMEs with limited export turnover within three years. Should export-credit insurance cover for such SMEs prove to be sufficiently available in the private market, the Commission will amend this Communication by considering their export-related risks as ‘marketable.’

The Commission has also decided to extend the validity of the 1997 Communication until 31 December 2010.

The Commission wishes to inform Member States and interested parties that in 2010 it will re-examine the capacity of the private reinsurance market to adapt the definition of ‘marketable’ risks accordingly if necessary, in particular with regard to the new situation considered to give rise to ‘non-marketable’ risks.

II.   Amendments to the 1997 communication

The following amendments to the 1997 communication as amended by the 2001 amendment will take effect on 1 January 2006:

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(1)OJ C 281, 17.9.1997, p. 4.

(2)OJ C 217, 2.8.2001, p. 2.

(3)OJ C 307, 11.12.2004, p. 12.

(4)Inter alia, the Commission will call on the help of the Council (for example, its Export Credits Group)’.

(5)  Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of small and medium-sized enterprises, OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 36, as may be amended in the future.

(6)  The calculation of the relevant annual export turnover will be effected according to Article 4 of Annex I of Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003, as may be amended in the future. The provisions laid down in Article 4(2) of Annex I will apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the annual export turnover of the relevant enterprise.

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EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

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List of natural mineral waters in Iceland and Norway pursuant to Article 1 of Council Directive 80/777/EEC of 15 July 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters

(2005/C 325/12)

LIST OF NATURAL MINERAL WATERS RECOGNISED BY ICELAND:

LIST OF NATURAL MINERAL WATERS RECOGNISED BY NORWAY:

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III Notices

Commission

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

Activity: thematic priority area: information society technologies

Call identifier: FP6-2005-IST-6

Call identifier: FP6-2002-IST-C

(2005/C 325/13)

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

(2)OJ L 294, 29.10.2002, p. 1.

(3)  Commission Decision C(2002)4789, as modified by C(2003)577, C(2003)955, C(2003)1952, C(2003)3543, C(2003)3555, C(2003)4609, C(2003)5183, C(2004)433, and C(2004)2002, all decisions 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)1855 of 18.5.2004.

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

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ANNEX

IST Call 6

1.   Specific programme: Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area

2.   Thematic priority/domain: Information Society Technologies (IST)

3.   Call title: IST Call 6

4.   Call identifier: FP6-2005-IST-6

5.   Date of publication: 

6.   Closure date(s): 25.4.2006 at 17.00 (Brussels local time)

7.   Total indicative budget: EUR 140 million of which

EUR 37 million for Objective 2.6.1

EUR 40 million for Objective 2.6.2

EUR 30 million for Objective 2.6.3

EUR 3 million for Objective 2.6.4

EUR 30 million for Objective 2.6.5

8.   Areas and instruments: Proposals are invited to address the following objectives:

2.6.1: Advanced Robotics

2.6.2: Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) in the Ageing Society

2.6.3: Search Engines for Audio-Visual Content

2.6.4: Accompanying action in support of participation in Community ICT Research

2.6.5: International Cooperation

The objectives are open for actions using the following instruments:

9.   Minimum number of participants (3): 

10.   Restriction to participation: 

11.   Consortium agreement: Participants in RTD actions resulting from this call are required to conclude a consortium agreement

12.   Evaluation procedure: The evaluation shall follow a one-stage procedure. Proposals will not be evaluated anonymously

13.   Evaluation criteria: 

14.   Indicative evaluation and selection delays: Evaluation results are estimated to be available within two months after the closure date

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(1)  New Instruments: IPs and NoEs

(2)  Traditional instruments: STREPs, SSAs and CAs

(3)  MS = Member States of the EU; AS (incl. ACC) = Associated States; ACC: Associated candidate countries. Any legal entity established in a Member State or Associated State and which is made up of the requested number of participant may be the sole participant in an indirect action.

(4)  Cf. Information Society Technologies on http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/sp1_wp.htm.

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CONTINUOUS SUBMISSION CALL (EXTENSION OF CALL FP6-2002-IST-C)

For the continuous submission call ‘Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) — Open domain’, closed on 20 September 2005 for CA and SSA proposals and for short STREP proposals, the final-cut-off date for submission of full proposals, following a successful short proposal, has been extended to 14 March 2006 at 17.00 (Brussels local time).

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

‘Policy support and anticipating scientific and technological needs’

Call identifier: FP6-2005-SSP-5A

(2005/C 325/14)

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

(2)OJ L 294, 29.10.2002, p. 1.

(3)  Commission Decision C(2002)4789, as modified by C(2003)577, C(2003)955, C(2003)1952, C(2003)3543, C(2003)3555, C(2003)4609, C(2003)5183, C(2004)433, C(2004)2002, C(2004)2727, C(2004)3324, C(2004)4178, C(2004)5286, C(2005)27, C(2005)961, C(2005)2076, C(2005)2747, C(2005)3244, C(2005)3390, C(2005)4006, C(2005)4008, and C(2005)5588, all decisions 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)1855 of 18.5.2004.

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

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ANNEX

1.   Specific Programme: ‘Integrating and strengthening the ERA’

2.   Activity: Specific activity covering policy-orientated research under ‘Policy support and anticipating scientific and technological needs’

3.   Call title: Scientific Support to Policies

4.   Call identifier: FP6-2005-SSP-5A

5.   Date of publication: 

6.   Closure date(s): 22 March 2006 at 17.00 (Brussels local time)

7.   Total indicative budget: 

8.   Areas called and instruments: 

9.   Minimum number of participants (2): 

10.   Restriction on participation: None.

11.   Consortium agreement: participants in RTD actions resulting from this call are not 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: See Annex B of the work programme for the applicable criteria (including their individual weights and thresholds and the overall threshold) per instrument.

14.   Indicative evaluation and contractual timetable: Evaluation results: Considering the wide scope of SSP and the need to ensure coherence with thematic priorities of the work programme, evaluations will be carried out at various dates and the results are not expected to become available earlier than July 2006.

Contract signature: it is estimated that the first contracts related to this call will come into force in the final quarter of 2006.

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(1)  STREP = Specific targeted research project; CA = Coordination action; SSA = Specific support action

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

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

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

‘Policy support and anticipating scientific and technological needs’

Call identifier: FP6-2005-SSP-5B-Influenza

(2005/C 325/15)

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

(2)OJ L 294, 29.10.2002, p. 1.

(3)  Commission Decision C(2002)4789, as modified by C(2003)577, C(2003)955, C(2003)1952, C(2003)3543, C(2003)3555, C(2003)4609, C(2003)5183, C(2004)433, C(2004)2002, C(2004)2727, C(2004)3324, C(2004)4178, C(2004)5286, C(2005)27, C(2005)961, C(2005)2076, C(2005)2747, C(2005)3244, C(2005)3390, C(2005)4006, C(2005)4008, C and C(2005)5588, all decisions 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)1855 of 18.5.2004.

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

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ANNEX

1.   Specific Programme: ‘Integrating and strengthening the ERA’

2.   Activity: Specific activity covering policy-orientated research under ‘Policy support and anticipating scientific and technological needs’

3.   Call title: Scientific Support to Policies: Special call on avian/pandemic influenza

4.   Call identifier: FP6-2005-SSP-5B-INFLUENZA

5.   Date of publication: 

6.   Closure date(s): 22 March 2006 at 17.00 (Brussels local time)

7.   Total indicative budget: 

8.   Areas called and instruments: 

9.   Minimum number of participants (2): 

10.   Restriction on participation: None.

11.   Consortium agreement: participants in RTD actions resulting from this call are not 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: See Annex B of the work programme for the applicable criteria (including their individual weights and thresholds and the overall threshold) per instrument.

14.   Indicative evaluation and contractual timetable: Evaluation Results: Considering the wide scope of SSP and the need to ensure coherence with thematic priorities of the work programme, evaluations will be carried out at various dates and the results are not expected to become available earlier than July 2006.

Contract signature: it is estimated that the first contracts related to this call will come into force in the final quarter of 2006.

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(1)  STREP = Specific targeted research project; CA = Coordination action; SSA = Specific support action

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

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

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Notice of invitation to tender for the reduction in the import duty on maize imported from non-member countries

(2005/C 325/16)

I.   SUBJECT

II.   TIME LIMITS

III.   TENDERS

IV.   SECURITY FOR TENDER

The tendering security shall be made payable to the competent authority.

V.   AWARD OF THE CONTRACT

The award of the contract shall establish:

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(1)  OJ L 335, 21.12.2005, p. 3.

(2)OJ L 177, 28.7.1995, p. 4. Regulation as last amended by Reg. 1558/2005 (OJ L 249/2005 of 24.9.2005, p. 6)

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