# Official Journal C 21/28 J

| | ISSN 1725-2423 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 21 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 4928 January 2006 |

ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 21

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 4928 January 2006

---

| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | I   Information |
| | Commission |
| 2006/C 021/1 | Euro exchange rates | 1 |
| 2006/C 021/2 | Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  ) | 2 |
| 2006/C 021/3 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.4025 — ATEL/EOSH) (
  1
  ) | 3 |
| 2006/C 021/4 | Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  ) | 4 |
| 2006/C 021/5 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.2313 — Teka/Finatlantis/Holdivat) (
  1
  ) | 7 |
| 2006/C 021/6 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.4022 — Belgian State/CVC/Post Danmark/De Post-La Poste) (
  1
  ) | 7 |

Notice No

Contents

page

I   Information

Commission

2006/C 021/1

Euro exchange rates

1

2006/C 021/2

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  )

1

2

2006/C 021/3

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.4025 — ATEL/EOSH) (
  1
  )

1

3

2006/C 021/4

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  )

1

4

2006/C 021/5

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.2313 — Teka/Finatlantis/Holdivat) (
  1
  )

1

7

2006/C 021/6

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.4022 — Belgian State/CVC/Post Danmark/De Post-La Poste) (
  1
  )

1

7

| | III   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | European Environment Agency |
| 2006/C 021/7 | 2006 Call for proposals — European Topic Centre on Water 2007-2010 — European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change 2007-2010 — European Topic Centre on Land Use and spatial information 2007-2010 | 8 |

III   Notices

European Environment Agency

2006/C 021/7

2006 Call for proposals — European Topic Centre on Water 2007-2010 — European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change 2007-2010 — European Topic Centre on Land Use and spatial information 2007-2010

8

| | Corrigenda |
| --- | --- |
| 2006/C 021/8 | Corrigendum to the Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of Directive 98/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to machinery (OJ C 336, 31.12.2005) | 10 |

Corrigenda

2006/C 021/8

Corrigendum to the Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of Directive 98/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to machinery (OJ C 336, 31.12.2005)

(OJ C 336, 31.12.2005)

10

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

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

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

EN

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I Information

Commission

| 28.1.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 21/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 21/1

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Euro exchange rates (1)

27 January 2006

(2006/C 21/01)

1 euro=

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,2172 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 142,19 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4630 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,68460 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,2584 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,5526 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 75,29 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,0880 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CYP | Cyprus pound | 0,5739 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 28,387 |
| EEK | Estonian kroon | 15,6466 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 251,53 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,6960 |
| MTL | Maltese lira | 0,4293 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 3,8248 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 3,6216 |
| SIT | Slovenian tolar | 239,51 |
| SKK | Slovak koruna | 37,360 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 1,6134 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,6188 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,3960 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 9,4409 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,7835 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,9790 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 181,66 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 7,4526 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 9,8116 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,3550 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 11 411,25 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,565 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 63,769 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 34,1480 |
| THB | Thai baht | 47,531 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2172

JPY

Japanese yen

142,19

DKK

Danish krone

7,4630

GBP

Pound sterling

0,68460

SEK

Swedish krona

9,2584

CHF

Swiss franc

1,5526

ISK

Iceland króna

75,29

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,0880

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CYP

Cyprus pound

0,5739

CZK

Czech koruna

28,387

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

251,53

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,6960

MTL

Maltese lira

0,4293

PLN

Polish zloty

3,8248

RON

Romanian leu

3,6216

SIT

Slovenian tolar

239,51

SKK

Slovak koruna

37,360

TRY

Turkish lira

1,6134

AUD

Australian dollar

1,6188

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,3960

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,4409

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,7835

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,9790

KRW

South Korean won

1 181,66

ZAR

South African rand

7,4526

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

9,8116

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,3550

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

11 411,25

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,565

PHP

Philippine peso

63,769

RUB

Russian rouble

34,1480

THB

Thai baht

47,531

---

(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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| 28.1.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 21/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 21/2

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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

(2006/C 21/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption:

Number of the aid: N 274/2005

Member State: Poland

Title in original language: Huta Cynku Miasteczko Śląskie

Legal basis: Ustawa z dnia 30 sierpnia 1996 r. o komercjalizacji i prywatyzacji — art. 56 ust. 1 pkt 2 oraz art. 56 ust. 5

Objective: Rescue of firms in difficulty

Duration: 6 months

Further information:

| 1) | Form of aid: Guarantee |
| --- | --- |

1)

Form of aid: Guarantee

| 2) | Name and address of the granting authority: ARP S.A. Domaniewska 41, Budynek ‘MARS’, klatka A, PL-02-672 Warszawa |
| --- | --- |

2)

Name and address of the granting authority: ARP S.A. Domaniewska 41, Budynek ‘MARS’, klatka A, PL-02-672 Warszawa

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

Aid number: N 501/2003

Title: Prolongation of the programme for the employment of innovation assistants in Berlin

Objective: employment

Legal basis: Verwaltungsvorschriften zu §44 Landeshaushaltsordnung

Budget: EUR 1,8 million per year

Intensity or amount: Up to 65 %

Duration: 1.1.2004 — 31.12.2006

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 of the decision:

Member State: France

Aid No: N 531/05

Title: Measures relating to the creation and operation of the Banque Postale (post office bank)

Objective: Banking and insurance

Legal basis: Loi no 2005-516 du 20 mai 2005 relative à la régulation des activités postales; Décret no 2005-1068 du 30 août 2005 pris pour l'application de l'article 16 de la loi no 2005-516 du 20 mai 2005 relatives à la régulation des activités postales

Aid intensity or amount: Measures not constituting aid

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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| 28.1.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 21/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 21/3

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4025 — ATEL/EOSH)

(2006/C 21/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 20 January 2006, 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 NewCo, resulting from the restructuring of the undertakings Motor-Columbus AG (‘MC’, Switzerland) and Aare-Tessin AG (‘ATEL’, Switzerland), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of all the operational assets and activities of the undertaking EOS Holding (‘EOSH assets’, Switzerland) as well as specifically identified electricity assets currently belonging to the EDF group (‘EDF Swiss assets’, Switzerland) by way of purchase of share and assets. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 20 January 2006, 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 NewCo, resulting from the restructuring of the undertakings Motor-Columbus AG (‘MC’, Switzerland) and Aare-Tessin AG (‘ATEL’, Switzerland), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of all the operational assets and activities of the undertaking EOS Holding (‘EOSH assets’, Switzerland) as well as specifically identified electricity assets currently belonging to the EDF group (‘EDF Swiss assets’, Switzerland) by way of purchase of share and assets.

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






  — | for MC: holding company; |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for MC: holding company;

| — | for ATEL: predominantly generation and wholesale supply of electricity; |
| --- | --- |

—

for ATEL: predominantly generation and wholesale supply of electricity;

| — | for the EOSH assets: generation and wholesale supply of electricity; |
| --- | --- |

—

for the EOSH assets: generation and wholesale supply of electricity;

| — | for the EDF Swiss assets: generation and wholesale supply of electricity. |
| --- | --- |

—

for the EDF Swiss assets: generation and wholesale supply of electricity.

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

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.

| 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.4025 — ATEL/EOSH, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Competition DG |
| 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.4025 — ATEL/EOSH, to the following address:

European Commission

Competition DG

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

---

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

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| 28.1.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 21/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 21/4

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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

(2006/C 21/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption of the decision:

Aid No: N 99/2004

Member State: Italy

Title: Tax incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises which collaborate on innovative IT projects (Tecno-Tremonti Law)

Legal basis: Articolo 1, comma 1, lettera a), seconda frase della legge 326/2003, che ha convertito il decreto legge 269/2003

Objective: Innovative IT projects to be undertaken by groupings of more than 10 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Budget: Estimated at EUR 208 million

Aid intensity or amount: The maximum net intensity is 13 % and the maximum gross intensity 17 %

Duration: 2004

Other information: Commitment by the Member State to determine and control eligibility for the aid in question in accordance with the Community framework for state aid for research and development

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: Spain (Basque Country)

Aid number: N 235/2003

Title: ‘Programa de apoyo al desarrollo de nuevos productos (2005 — 2010)’

Objective: The scheme aims at granting aid to promote the carrying out of projects aiming to the development of new products

Legal basis: «Decreto 121/2000, de 27 de junio, y su modificación por Decreto 279/2000, de 27 de diciembre, que desarrollan normativamente el grueso de las líneas estratégicas definidas tanto en el Plan Interinstitucional de Promoción Económica 2000-2003 como en el Plan de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación 2001-2004 y modificado por el Decreto 222/2002, de 1 de octubre, por el que se establecen distintas líneas de ayuda con fines de Promoción Económica y de impulso de la Ciencia, la Tecnología y la Innovación» y «Proyecto de Orden de los Consejeros de Industria, Comercio y Turismo y de (...) por la que se regula el programa de apoyo a la realización de proyectos de desarrollo de nuevos productos»

Budget: EUR 9 million per year

Intensity or amount: Up to 50 % of the eligible costs of the R&D projects.

Up to 20 % of the investment in innovation

Duration: 1.1.2005 — 31.12.2010

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: Spain (Basque Country)

Aid number: N 236/2003

Title: ‘Programa de apoyo al desarrollo de nuevas empresas de base científica y tecnológica (2005 — 2010)’

Objective: The scheme aims at granting aid to support the launching of new scientific and technology based enterprises

Legal basis: «Decreto 121/2000, de 27 de junio, y su modificación por Decreto 279/2000, de 27 de diciembre, que desarrollan normativamente el grueso de las líneas estratégicas definidas tanto en el Plan Interinstitucional de Promoción Económica 2000-2003 como en el Plan de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación 2001-2004 y modificado por el Decreto 222/2002, de 1 de octubre, por el que se establecen distintas líneas de ayuda con fines de Promoción Económica y de impulso de la Ciencia, la Tecnología y la Innovación» y «Proyecto de Orden de los Consejeros de Industria, Comercio y Turismo y de (...) por la que se regula el programa de ayudas para la realización de proyectos de lanzamiento de empresas de base científica y tecnológica»

Budget: EUR 9 million per year

Intensity or amount: Up to 50 % of the eligible costs of the R&D projects.

Up to 20 % of the investment in innovation

Duration: 1.1.2005 — 31.12.2010

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

Number of the aid: N 333/2005

Title in original language: ERP-Innovationsprogramm 2005

Objective: Research and development — All sectors

Legal basis: Beschluss der Bundesregierung vom 17.3.2005 zur Modifizierung des ERP-Innovationsprogramms; Programmtext

Budget: EUR 250 000 000

Aid intensity or amount: 25 %

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/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: SlovakRepublic

Aid No: N 352/05

Title: LOAR, s.r.o., Individual aid in favour of periodical

Objective: to support minority language periodical

Legal basis: Zákon č. 523/2004 Z.z. o rozpočtových pravidlách verejnej správy v znení neskorších predpisov; Zákon č. 231/1999 Z.z. o štátnej pomoci v znení zákona č. 203/2004 – § 4 ods. 1, písm. d); Výnos MK SR – 480/2004 – 1 o poskytovaní dotácií v pôsobnosti MK SR

Budget: SKK 1 200 000

Aid intensity or amount: 12,5 %

Duration: 2005

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 of the decision:

Member State: France

Aid No: N 407/04

Title: Support scheme for R&D projects at business poles created with a view to boosting competitiveness

Objective: R&D aid

Legal basis: Loi de Finances 2005 et ses décrets d'application

Budget: Annual cost of funding: EUR 30 million

Aid intensity or amount: The gross aid intensity will not exceed the thresholds laid down in the Community framework for R&D aid

Duration: 3 years

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: Belgium

Case number: N 443/2003

Title: Second circuit water

Objective: To stimulate environmental investments

Legal basis: Programmadecreet van de Vlaamse regering van 4 juli 2003 houdende bepalingen tot begeleiding van de aanpassing van de begroting 2003

Budget: EUR 60 million

Intensity or amount: 67 %

Duration: 10 years

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 (Land Saarland)

Number of the aid: N 535/2005

Title in original language: Zuwendungen zur Technologiefôrderung von kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen

Objective: Research and development All sectors

Legal basis: Programmrichtlinien

Budget: EUR 13 500 000

Aid intensity or amount: 60 %

Duration: 15.4.2006 — 14.4.2012

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 decision:

Member State: United Kingdom

No of the aid: N 543/2003

Title: CIS Photovoltaic re-cladding project, Manchester

Objective: Environmental aid

Legal basis: Regional Development Agencies Act 1998

Budget: GBP 885 236 (EUR 1 329 582)

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: Denmark

Case number: N 602/2004

Title: Support to environmentally friendly electricity production

Objective: To promote the use of wind power, combined heat and power production and future development of certain other renewable energy

Legal basis: Lov om elforsyning, jf. lovbekendtgørelse nr. 151 af 10.3.2003, som senest ændret ved § 1 i lov nr. 494 og nr. 495 af 9. juni 2004, som træder i kraft den 1. januar 2005

Budget: Total cost of the fixed supplements: DKK 2 000 million (ca EUR 270 million) per annum

Duration: 2005 — 2015

Other information: Annual report

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 of the decision:

Member State: France

Aid No: NN 63/2003

Title: Aid for the purchase of second-hand vessels

Objective: Purchase of second-hand vessels

Legal basis: Circulaire du ministère de l'agriculture et de la pêche

Aid intensity or amount: Maximum grant of 20 %

Duration: 2000 — 2006

Other details: Report

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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| 28.1.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 21/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 21/7

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.2313 — Teka/Finatlantis/Holdivat)

(2006/C 21/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 6 April 2001, 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 website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, |
| --- | --- |

—

from the Europa competition website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/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 under document number 32001M2313. 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 32001M2313. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law. (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex)

---

| 28.1.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 21/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 21/7

---

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.4022 — Belgian State/CVC/Post Danmark/De Post-La Poste)

(2006/C 21/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 19 December 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 website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, |
| --- | --- |

—

from the Europa competition website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/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 under document number 32005M4022. 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 32005M4022. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law. (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex)

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III Notices

European Environment Agency

| 28.1.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 21/8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 21/8

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2006 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

European Topic Centre on Water ‘2007-2010’

European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change ‘2007-2010’

European Topic Centre on Land Use and spatial information ‘2007-2010’

(2006/C 21/07)

| I.1. | The aim of this call for proposals is to identify consortia, which might be eligible for financial support from the European Environment Agency. This aid would take the form of co-financing. |
| --- | --- |

I.1.

The aim of this call for proposals is to identify consortia, which might be eligible for financial support from the European Environment Agency. This aid would take the form of co-financing.

| I.2. | The European Topic Centres (ETCs) are, according to the EEA founding regulation and in practice, important instruments supporting the EEA through the execution of sizeable, continuous, well-defined tasks with the involvement of member countries. Following developments in 2005, European Topic Centres will be involved in the work of EEA as the data centres for the issues of air, climate change, water, biodiversity and land use. Tasks focus on support to harmonisation of monitoring of the environment in the member countries, in the compilation of the resulting data in international databases, in the processing of information including the use of models to describe and analyse the present and future state of the environment, and in the production of indicators to communicate information to various users.
  European Topic Centres are part of the European environmental information and observation network (Eionet) and a support to other Eionet partners. Their activities have an important component on networking with various experts in the member countries on the harmonisation, quality and exchange of data and in building capacities in the member countries through country visits and meetings with national Eionet representatives. Topic Centres assist countries in discussing options for improving national information systems. Networking with the countries also occurs when involving the member countries in data analyses, assessments and the development of indicators. The ETCs are expected to also work together on crosscutting projects.
  To perform these tasks European Topic Centres are expected to include the best expertise in Europe to handle data in their topic area, and to analyse the environmental data with regards to developments in society and the economy and with regards to environmental and sectoral policies. The consortia that form European Topic Centres are also expected to have the expertise to cover the full geographical area of EEA member countries.
  Three successful consortia — one for each ETC -will be proposed Framework Partnership Agreements covering initially the period from 2007 to 2008 (under current EEA Strategy 2004–2008) which may be renewed for an additional period of 2 years under a new EEA Strategy 2009–2013.
  The yearly budgets for execution of these agreements are currently estimated at about EUR 2 200 000, EUR 1 200 000 and EUR 1 200 000 respectively for ETC 'air and climate change', for ETC ‘water’ and for ETC ‘land use and spatial information’, including a contribution of at least 10 % co-financing from the consortia. |
| --- | --- |

I.2.

The European Topic Centres (ETCs) are, according to the EEA founding regulation and in practice, important instruments supporting the EEA through the execution of sizeable, continuous, well-defined tasks with the involvement of member countries. Following developments in 2005, European Topic Centres will be involved in the work of EEA as the data centres for the issues of air, climate change, water, biodiversity and land use. Tasks focus on support to harmonisation of monitoring of the environment in the member countries, in the compilation of the resulting data in international databases, in the processing of information including the use of models to describe and analyse the present and future state of the environment, and in the production of indicators to communicate information to various users.

European Topic Centres are part of the European environmental information and observation network (Eionet) and a support to other Eionet partners. Their activities have an important component on networking with various experts in the member countries on the harmonisation, quality and exchange of data and in building capacities in the member countries through country visits and meetings with national Eionet representatives. Topic Centres assist countries in discussing options for improving national information systems. Networking with the countries also occurs when involving the member countries in data analyses, assessments and the development of indicators. The ETCs are expected to also work together on crosscutting projects.

To perform these tasks European Topic Centres are expected to include the best expertise in Europe to handle data in their topic area, and to analyse the environmental data with regards to developments in society and the economy and with regards to environmental and sectoral policies. The consortia that form European Topic Centres are also expected to have the expertise to cover the full geographical area of EEA member countries.

Three successful consortia — one for each ETC -will be proposed Framework Partnership Agreements covering initially the period from 2007 to 2008 (under current EEA Strategy 2004–2008) which may be renewed for an additional period of 2 years under a new EEA Strategy 2009–2013.

The yearly budgets for execution of these agreements are currently estimated at about EUR 2 200 000, EUR 1 200 000 and EUR 1 200 000 respectively for ETC 'air and climate change', for ETC ‘water’ and for ETC ‘land use and spatial information’, including a contribution of at least 10 % co-financing from the consortia.

| I.3. | The fields concerned, and the nature and content of the actions (as well as the conditions for granting assistance and the application forms) are set out in the documentation relating to the call for proposals. This documentation may be consulted on the EEA website at:
  http://org.eea.eu.int/tenders/openproposal.html |
| --- | --- |

I.3.

The fields concerned, and the nature and content of the actions (as well as the conditions for granting assistance and the application forms) are set out in the documentation relating to the call for proposals. This documentation may be consulted on the EEA website at:

http://org.eea.eu.int/tenders/openproposal.html

| I.4. | Procedure for the submission and examination of proposals: | The call for proposals is open until 11 May 2006. Each proposal shall be related to one specific European Topic Centre. Evaluations of proposals and decisions for each of the ETCs will de done independently from the other ETCs. |
| --- | --- | --- |

I.4.

Procedure for the submission and examination of proposals:

The call for proposals is open until 11 May 2006. Each proposal shall be related to one specific European Topic Centre. Evaluations of proposals and decisions for each of the ETCs will de done independently from the other ETCs.

| | The procedure for the appraisal of each proposal with an indicative timetable is as follows:






  — | receipt, recording and acknowledgement of receipt by the European Environment Agency in mid-May 2006, |
| --- | --- | --- |

The procedure for the appraisal of each proposal with an indicative timetable is as follows:

—

receipt, recording and acknowledgement of receipt by the European Environment Agency in mid-May 2006,

| — | examination by the European Environment Agency and decision by the Management Board of the EEA in the course of summer 2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

examination by the European Environment Agency and decision by the Management Board of the EEA in the course of summer 2006,

| — | formulation of the final decision and communication of the result to the applicant for implementation of the contract in November 2006. |
| --- | --- |

—

formulation of the final decision and communication of the result to the applicant for implementation of the contract in November 2006.

| | Beneficiaries will be selected on the basis of the criteria set out in the documentation relating to this call for proposals and within the limits of the available budget. |
| --- | --- |

Beneficiaries will be selected on the basis of the criteria set out in the documentation relating to this call for proposals and within the limits of the available budget.

| | The entire procedure is strictly confidential. In the event of approval by the European Environment Agency, a Framework Partnership Agreement will be concluded between the EEA and the consortium submitting the proposal. |
| --- | --- |

The entire procedure is strictly confidential. In the event of approval by the European Environment Agency, a Framework Partnership Agreement will be concluded between the EEA and the consortium submitting the proposal.

| | The decision of the EEA is final. |
| --- | --- |

The decision of the EEA is final.

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Corrigenda

| 28.1.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 21/10 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 21/10

---

Corrigendum to the Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of Directive 98/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to machinery

(
  Official Journal of the European Union C 336 of 31 December 2005
  )

(2006/C 21/08)

On page 53, in the second entry, the reference to the following standard is deleted:

| ‘CEN | EN 14502-1:2005
  Cranes — Equipment for lifting persons — Part 1: Suspended baskets | This is the first publication | —’ | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

‘CEN

EN 14502-1:2005

Cranes — Equipment for lifting persons — Part 1: Suspended baskets

This is the first publication

—’

---