# Official Journal C 230/2012

| | ISSN 1977-091X
  doi:10.3000/1977091X.C_2012.230.eng |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 230 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 551 August 2012 |

ISSN 1977-091X

doi:10.3000/1977091X.C_2012.230.eng

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 230

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 551 August 2012

---

| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2012/C 230/01 | Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2012/C 230/01

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  )

1

1

| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2012/C 230/02 | Euro exchange rates | 5 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2012/C 230/02

Euro exchange rates

5

| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES |
| | European Commission |
| 2012/C 230/03 | Hercule II — Call for proposals — OLAF/2012/D5/02 — Technical support for national authorities' use of special investigative tools and methods in the fight against fraud and corruption and technical support to strengthen inspections of containers and trucks at the EU's external borders, including the fight against cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting | 6 |
| 2012/C 230/04 | Hercule II — Call for proposals — OLAF/2012/D5/03 — Training, seminars and conferences — Legal part | 9 |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | European Commission |
| 2012/C 230/05 | Acknowledgement of receipt of complaint No CHAP(2012) 710 | 12 |

V   Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

2012/C 230/03

Hercule II — Call for proposals — OLAF/2012/D5/02 — Technical support for national authorities' use of special investigative tools and methods in the fight against fraud and corruption and technical support to strengthen inspections of containers and trucks at the EU's external borders, including the fight against cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting

6

2012/C 230/04

Hercule II — Call for proposals — OLAF/2012/D5/03 — Training, seminars and conferences — Legal part

9

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2012/C 230/05

Acknowledgement of receipt of complaint No CHAP(2012) 710

12

| | |
| --- | --- |
| | (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

| 1.8.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 230/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

1.8.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 230/1

---

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2012/C 230/01

| Date of adoption of the decision | 27.6.2012 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of State Aid | SA.32523 (11/N) |
| Member State | Cyprus |
| Region | — |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | Compensation scheme for air carriers registered in Cyprus for additional costs linked to the impossibility to overfly the Turkish airspace |
| Legal basis | Απόφαση Υπουργικού Συμβουλίου της 20ής Ιανουαρίου 2011 |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Objective | Compensation for damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences |
| Form of aid | Direct grant |
| Budget | Overall budget: EUR 75 million |
| Intensity | 100 % |
| Duration (period) | 1.5.2004-31.12.2020 |
| Economic sectors | Air transport |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Υπουργείο Οικονομικών/Ypourgeio Oikonomikon |
| 1439 Λευκωσία/Lefkosia |
| ΚYΠΡΟΣ/CYPRUS |

Date of adoption of the decision

27.6.2012

Reference number of State Aid

SA.32523 (11/N)

Member State

Cyprus

Region

—

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Compensation scheme for air carriers registered in Cyprus for additional costs linked to the impossibility to overfly the Turkish airspace

Legal basis

Απόφαση Υπουργικού Συμβουλίου της 20ής Ιανουαρίου 2011

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Compensation for damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences

Form of aid

Direct grant

Budget

Overall budget: EUR 75 million

Intensity

100 %

Duration (period)

1.5.2004-31.12.2020

Economic sectors

Air transport

Name and address of the granting authority

Υπουργείο Οικονομικών/Ypourgeio Oikonomikon

1439 Λευκωσία/Lefkosia

ΚYΠΡΟΣ/CYPRUS

Other information

—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm

| Date of adoption of the decision | 12.6.2012 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of State Aid | SA.33150 (12/N) |
| Member State | Poland |
| Region | Kujawsko-Pomorskie |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | Pomoc na restrukturyzację dla BZPG STOMIL SA |
| Legal basis | Rozporządzenie Ministra Skarbu Państwa z dnia 6 kwietnia 2007 r. w sprawie pomocy publicznej na ratowanie i restrukturyzację przedsiębiorców (Dz.U. Nr 80 poz. 543) |
| Type of measure | Individual aid |
| Objective | Restructuring of firms in difficulty |
| Form of aid | Direct grant |
| Budget | Overall budget: PLN 3 million |
| Intensity | 51 % |
| Duration (period) | Until 31.12.2015 |
| Economic sectors | Manufacturing industry |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Minister Skarbu Państwa |
| ul. Krucza 36/Wspólna 6 |
| 00-522 Warszawa |
| POLSKA/POLAND |

Date of adoption of the decision

12.6.2012

Reference number of State Aid

SA.33150 (12/N)

Member State

Poland

Region

Kujawsko-Pomorskie

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Pomoc na restrukturyzację dla BZPG STOMIL SA

Legal basis

Rozporządzenie Ministra Skarbu Państwa z dnia 6 kwietnia 2007 r. w sprawie pomocy publicznej na ratowanie i restrukturyzację przedsiębiorców (Dz.U. Nr 80 poz. 543)

Type of measure

Individual aid

Objective

Restructuring of firms in difficulty

Form of aid

Direct grant

Budget

Overall budget: PLN 3 million

Intensity

51 %

Duration (period)

Until 31.12.2015

Economic sectors

Manufacturing industry

Name and address of the granting authority

Minister Skarbu Państwa

ul. Krucza 36/Wspólna 6

00-522 Warszawa

POLSKA/POLAND

Other information

—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm

| Date of adoption of the decision | 25.4.2012 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of State Aid | SA.33943 (11/N) |
| Member State | France |
| Region | — |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | Prolongation du régime d'aide C 47/06 — Crédit d'impôt en faveur de la création de jeux vidéo |
| Legal basis | articles 220 terdecies et 220 X du code général des impôts; décrets no 2008-508 du 29 mai 2008 et no 2008-509 du 29 mai 2008; l’arrêté du 29 mai 2008 pris pour l'application des articles 5 et 6 du décret no 2008-508. |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Objective | Culture |
| Form of aid | Tax base reduction |
| Budget | | Annual budget: EUR 45 million |

Date of adoption of the decision

25.4.2012

Reference number of State Aid

SA.33943 (11/N)

Member State

France

Region

—

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Prolongation du régime d'aide C 47/06 — Crédit d'impôt en faveur de la création de jeux vidéo

Legal basis

articles 220 terdecies et 220 X du code général des impôts; décrets no 2008-508 du 29 mai 2008 et no 2008-509 du 29 mai 2008; l’arrêté du 29 mai 2008 pris pour l'application des articles 5 et 6 du décret no 2008-508.

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Culture

Form of aid

Tax base reduction

Budget

Annual budget: EUR 45 million

| | Overall budget: EUR 270 million |
| --- | --- |

Overall budget: EUR 270 million

Intensity

20 %

Duration (period)

Until 31.12.2017

Economic sectors

Media

Name and address of the granting authority

| Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée |
| --- |
| 12 rue de Lübeck |
| 75784 Paris Cedex 16 |
| FRANCE |

Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée

12 rue de Lübeck

75784 Paris Cedex 16

FRANCE

Other information

—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm

| Date of adoption of the decision | 22.6.2012 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of State Aid | SA.34169 (12/NN) |
| Member State | Spain |
| Region | Castilla y León |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | Ayuda al salvamento de SEDA SOLUBLES S.L. |
| Legal basis | Acuerdo de préstamo a otorgar por el Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León a favor de SEDA SOLUBLES, S.L. |
| Type of measure | Individual aid |
| Objective | Rescue of firms in difficulty |
| Form of aid | Rescue aid loan |
| Budget | | Annual budget: EUR 4,5 million |

Date of adoption of the decision

22.6.2012

Reference number of State Aid

SA.34169 (12/NN)

Member State

Spain

Region

Castilla y León

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Ayuda al salvamento de SEDA SOLUBLES S.L.

Legal basis

Acuerdo de préstamo a otorgar por el Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León a favor de SEDA SOLUBLES, S.L.

Type of measure

Individual aid

Objective

Rescue of firms in difficulty

Form of aid

Rescue aid loan

Budget

Annual budget: EUR 4,5 million

| | Overall budget: EUR 4,5 million |
| --- | --- |

Overall budget: EUR 4,5 million

Intensity

100 %

Duration (period)

23.12.2011-23.6.2012

Economic sectors

Manufacturing industry

Name and address of the granting authority

| Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León |
| --- |
| Carretera de Burgos, Km 119 |
| Finca Zamadueñas |
| 47071 Valladolid |
| ESPAÑA |

Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León

Carretera de Burgos, Km 119

Finca Zamadueñas

47071 Valladolid

ESPAÑA

Other information

—

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

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm

---

IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 1.8.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 230/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

1.8.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 230/5

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Euro exchange rates (1)

31 July 2012

2012/C 230/02

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,2284 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 96,03 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4407 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,78395 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 8,3590 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,2014 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 7,4215 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 25,255 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 278,94 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,6961 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,1050 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,5800 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 2,1990 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,1675 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,2312 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 9,5246 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,5166 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,5278 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 387,85 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 10,0556 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,8147 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,5175 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 11 606,59 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 3,8455 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 51,244 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 39,5270 |
| THB | Thai baht | 38,670 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 2,5117 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 16,2856 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 68,3670 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2284

JPY

Japanese yen

96,03

DKK

Danish krone

7,4407

GBP

Pound sterling

0,78395

SEK

Swedish krona

8,3590

CHF

Swiss franc

1,2014

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

7,4215

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

25,255

HUF

Hungarian forint

278,94

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,6961

PLN

Polish zloty

4,1050

RON

Romanian leu

4,5800

TRY

Turkish lira

2,1990

AUD

Australian dollar

1,1675

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,2312

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,5246

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,5166

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,5278

KRW

South Korean won

1 387,85

ZAR

South African rand

10,0556

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,8147

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,5175

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

11 606,59

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

3,8455

PHP

Philippine peso

51,244

RUB

Russian rouble

39,5270

THB

Thai baht

38,670

BRL

Brazilian real

2,5117

MXN

Mexican peso

16,2856

INR

Indian rupee

68,3670

---

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

---

V Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

| 1.8.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 230/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

1.8.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 230/6

---

HERCULE II

Call for proposals — OLAF/2012/D5/02

Technical support for national authorities' use of special investigative tools and methods in the fight against fraud and corruption and technical support to strengthen inspections of containers and trucks at the EU's external borders, including the fight against cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting

2012/C 230/03

1.   Objectives and description

This notice of call for proposals is based on Decision No 878/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2007 establishing a Community action programme to promote activities in the field of the protection of the Community's financial interests (Hercule II programme), OJ L 193 of 25 July 2007.

2.   Eligible applicants

This notice is aimed at national or regional administrations (‘applicants’) of a Member State or a country outside the European Union, as defined below, which promote the strengthening of European action to protect the European Union's financial interests.

Applicants from countries outside the European Union must reside in:

| 1. | acceding States; |
| --- | --- |

1.

acceding States;

| 2. | EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement; |
| --- | --- |

2.

EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement;

| 3. | candidate countries associated with the European Union on the basis of the conditions stipulated in the association agreements or their additional protocols on participation in European Union programmes concluded or to be concluded with those countries. |
| --- | --- |

3.

candidate countries associated with the European Union on the basis of the conditions stipulated in the association agreements or their additional protocols on participation in European Union programmes concluded or to be concluded with those countries.

3.   Eligible actions

Eligible actions for technical assistance consist of:

| — | technical support for national authorities' use of special investigative tools and methods in the fight against fraud and corruption, and |
| --- | --- |

—

technical support for national authorities' use of special investigative tools and methods in the fight against fraud and corruption, and

| — | technical support to strengthen inspections of containers and trucks at the EU's external borders, including the fight against cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting. |
| --- | --- |

—

technical support to strengthen inspections of containers and trucks at the EU's external borders, including the fight against cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting.

The technical support should reinforce the Member States' capacities and logistics allocated to the technical operational support units in the fight against fraud, in particular the actions aimed at setting up, improving or upgrading of existing:

| — | automated container-code recognition systems, |
| --- | --- |

—

automated container-code recognition systems,

| — | automated number-plate recognition systems, |
| --- | --- |

—

automated number-plate recognition systems,

| — | technical equipment for electronic surveillance, |
| --- | --- |

—

technical equipment for electronic surveillance,

| — | technical equipment for mobile surveillance, |
| --- | --- |

—

technical equipment for mobile surveillance,

| — | technical equipment for the acquisition and analysis of digital evidence, |
| --- | --- |

—

technical equipment for the acquisition and analysis of digital evidence,

| — | technical equipment for encrypted communications, |
| --- | --- |

—

technical equipment for encrypted communications,

| — | equipment and devices to detect smuggled and counterfeited goods on the basis of the scent characteristics of the smuggled and counterfeited goods. |
| --- | --- |

—

equipment and devices to detect smuggled and counterfeited goods on the basis of the scent characteristics of the smuggled and counterfeited goods.

4.   Award criteria

Each submitted eligible action will be assessed in the light of the following award criteria:

The following award criteria will be used to examine the proposals:

| 1. | consistency of the proposal with OLAF's objectives in technical assistance field; |
| --- | --- |

1.

consistency of the proposal with OLAF's objectives in technical assistance field;

| 2. | degree of preparation and organisation of the measure, and the clarity and precision of its objectives, design and planning; |
| --- | --- |

2.

degree of preparation and organisation of the measure, and the clarity and precision of its objectives, design and planning;

| 3. | cost-effectiveness: the project's costs should be consisted with its objectives; |
| --- | --- |

3.

cost-effectiveness: the project's costs should be consisted with its objectives;

| 4. | cross-sector nature of the proposal; |
| --- | --- |

4.

cross-sector nature of the proposal;

| 5. | compatibility of the project with the work carried out or planned in connection with the EU's policy priorities for preventing fraud against the EU budget (prevention, information analysis, methods of cooperation, etc.); |
| --- | --- |

5.

compatibility of the project with the work carried out or planned in connection with the EU's policy priorities for preventing fraud against the EU budget (prevention, information analysis, methods of cooperation, etc.);

| 6. | compatibility of the project with similar projects carried out in other Member States and carried out by other national law enforcement and customs agencies; |
| --- | --- |

6.

compatibility of the project with similar projects carried out in other Member States and carried out by other national law enforcement and customs agencies;

| 7. | possibility that the results can be used (e.g. through targeted distribution) to enhance cooperation and effectiveness in the field of the fight against fraud (‘mainstreaming’). |
| --- | --- |

7.

possibility that the results can be used (e.g. through targeted distribution) to enhance cooperation and effectiveness in the field of the fight against fraud (‘mainstreaming’).

If several projects have equal merit in the light of these award criteria, funding priority may be given to, in descending order:

| — | proposals that are international and deal with cooperation through the European Union, |
| --- | --- |

—

proposals that are international and deal with cooperation through the European Union,

| — | proposals that make fair geographical distribution possible, |
| --- | --- |

—

proposals that make fair geographical distribution possible,

| — | applicants who have not received grants in previous years for the same or a similar project. |
| --- | --- |

—

applicants who have not received grants in previous years for the same or a similar project.

5.   Budget

The total budget available is EUR 2 000 000.

The financial contribution will take the form of a grant. The financial contribution awarded will not exceed 50 % of the eligible costs.

The Commission reserves the right not to allocate all the funds available.

6.   Further information

The technical specifications and the application form can be downloaded from the following site:

http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/funding/techn-assist/items/call_proposals_2012_en.htm

Questions and/or requests for additional information in relation to this call have to be sent by e-mail to:

OLAF-FMB-HERCULE-TA@ec.europa.eu

The questions and answers may be anonymously published in the Guidelines for filling in the application form on OLAF's Internet website if they are relevant to other applicants.

7.   Deadline for submission of applications

Applications must be submitted no later than 13 September 2012.

Only applications submitted by using the official application form, duly signed by the person entitled to enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the applicant organisation, will be accepted. The sealed envelope must clearly mention:

‘Application for OLAF Technical Assistance Grant Programme (OLAF/2012/D5/02) — Hercule II 2012’

The applications (original and one copy) must be sent by post to the following address:

| European Commission — European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) |
| --- |
| For the attention of Mr Johan KHOUW |
| Head of Unit Hercule, Pericles & EURO Protection |
| Office: J-30 10/62 |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

European Commission — European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

For the attention of Mr Johan KHOUW

Head of Unit Hercule, Pericles & EURO Protection

Office: J-30 10/62

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

An electronic copy of the grant application form and containing all necessary annexes should also be sent by electronic mail to the following mailbox:

OLAF-FMB-HERCULE-TA@ec.europa.eu

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| 1.8.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 230/9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

1.8.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 230/9

---

HERCULE II

Call for proposals — OLAF/2012/D5/03

Training, seminars and conferences — Legal part

2012/C 230/04

1.   Objectives and description

This notice of call for proposals is based on Decision No 878/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2007 establishing a Community action programme to promote activities in the field of the protection of the Community's financial interests (Hercule II programme). This call relates to the activities under Article 1a(b) of the Hercule II Decision, which consists of the organisation of training, seminars and conferences to support the fight against fraud, corruption and other illegal activities as well as the development and implementation of fraud prevention and detection policies.

2.   Eligible applicants

Proposals eligible for funding can be submitted by the following applicants:

| — | all national or regional administrations of a Member State, an acceding country or a candidate country which promote the strengthening of the EU's actions in the field of the protection of the EU's financial interests, |
| --- | --- |

—

all national or regional administrations of a Member State, an acceding country or a candidate country which promote the strengthening of the EU's actions in the field of the protection of the EU's financial interests,

| — | all research and education institutes that have had legal personality for at least one year and are established and operating in a Member State or in a country outside the Union that promote the strengthening of the EU's action in protecting its financial interests, |
| --- | --- |

—

all research and education institutes that have had legal personality for at least one year and are established and operating in a Member State or in a country outside the Union that promote the strengthening of the EU's action in protecting its financial interests,

| — | all non-profit-making bodies that have had legal personality for at least one year and are legally established in a Member State or a country outside the Union that promote the strengthening of EU action to protect the EU's financial interests. |
| --- | --- |

—

all non-profit-making bodies that have had legal personality for at least one year and are legally established in a Member State or a country outside the Union that promote the strengthening of EU action to protect the EU's financial interests.

Applicants from countries outside the European Union must reside in:

| 1. | acceding States; |
| --- | --- |

1.

acceding States;

| 2. | EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement; |
| --- | --- |

2.

EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement;

| 3. | candidate countries associated with the European Union on the basis of the conditions stipulated in the association agreements or their additional protocols on participation in European Union programmes concluded or to be concluded with those countries. |
| --- | --- |

3.

candidate countries associated with the European Union on the basis of the conditions stipulated in the association agreements or their additional protocols on participation in European Union programmes concluded or to be concluded with those countries.

3.   Eligible actions

The organisation of seminars and conferences to enhance the degree of development of the specific legal and judicial protection of the financial interests against fraud, by promoting:

| — | studies in comparative law, |
| --- | --- |

—

studies in comparative law,

| — | dissemination, including the publication, of scientific knowledge concerning the protection of the EU's financial interests, |
| --- | --- |

—

dissemination, including the publication, of scientific knowledge concerning the protection of the EU's financial interests,

| — | publication and distribution of a scientific periodical on the protection of the European Union's financial interests, |
| --- | --- |

—

publication and distribution of a scientific periodical on the protection of the European Union's financial interests,

| — | the organisation of the annual meeting of the presidents of the associations for European criminal law and for the protection of the EU financial interests. |
| --- | --- |

—

the organisation of the annual meeting of the presidents of the associations for European criminal law and for the protection of the EU financial interests.

The activities are eligible for funding up to 90 % of the eligible costs. The total amount of assistance granted by the Commission OLAF for each project will not exceed:

| — | EUR 50 000 for a one-day seminar; EUR 100 000 for a two-day seminar, |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 50 000 for a one-day seminar; EUR 100 000 for a two-day seminar,

| — | EUR 300 000 for a comparative law study, |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 300 000 for a comparative law study,

| — | EUR 25 000 for the dissemination of expertise, |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 25 000 for the dissemination of expertise,

| — | EUR 60 000 for the publication and distribution of a periodical publication by the associations for one year, |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 60 000 for the publication and distribution of a periodical publication by the associations for one year,

| — | EUR 45 000 for the meeting of presidents of the associations. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 45 000 for the meeting of presidents of the associations.

4.   Award criteria

The following award criteria will be used to examine the proposals:

| 1. | the consistency of the proposed activity in relation to the objectives of the programme; |
| --- | --- |

1.

the consistency of the proposed activity in relation to the objectives of the programme;

| 2. | the complementarity of the proposed activity with other assisted activities; |
| --- | --- |

2.

the complementarity of the proposed activity with other assisted activities;

| 3. | the feasibility of the proposed activity, i.e. the real possibility that it can be carried out using the proposed means; |
| --- | --- |

3.

the feasibility of the proposed activity, i.e. the real possibility that it can be carried out using the proposed means;

| 4. | the cost-benefit ratio of the proposed activity; |
| --- | --- |

4.

the cost-benefit ratio of the proposed activity;

| 5. | the added value of the proposed activity; |
| --- | --- |

5.

the added value of the proposed activity;

| 6. | the size of the public targeted by the proposed activity; |
| --- | --- |

6.

the size of the public targeted by the proposed activity;

| 7. | the transnational and multidisciplinary aspects of the proposed activity; |
| --- | --- |

7.

the transnational and multidisciplinary aspects of the proposed activity;

| 8. | the geographic scope of the proposed activity. |
| --- | --- |

8.

the geographic scope of the proposed activity.

If several projects have equal merit in the light of these award criteria, funding priority may be given to, in descending order:

| — | proposals of a transnational and multidisciplinary character, |
| --- | --- |

—

proposals of a transnational and multidisciplinary character,

| — | proposals allowing a fair geographical distribution, |
| --- | --- |

—

proposals allowing a fair geographical distribution,

| — | applicants which have not already received a grant in previous years for a similar project. |
| --- | --- |

—

applicants which have not already received a grant in previous years for a similar project.

5.   Budget

The total budget available for the second deadline is EUR 300 000, plus the balance from the first deadline.

The financial contribution will take the form of a grant.

The Commission reserves the right not to allocate all the funds available.

6.   Further information

The technical specifications and the application form can be downloaded from the following site:

http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/funding/lawyers/index_en.htm

Questions and/or requests for additional information in relation to this call have to be sent by e-mail to:

OLAF-FMB-HERCULE-LEGAL@ec.europa.eu

The questions and answers may be anonymously published in the Guidelines for filling in the application form on OLAF's Internet website if they are relevant to other applicants.

7.   Deadline for submission of applications

Monday, 1 October 2012.

Only applications submitted by using the official application form, duly signed by the person entitled to enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the applicant organisation, will be accepted. The sealed envelope must clearly mention:

‘Application for OLAF Training, Seminars and Conferences — Legal Part Grant Programme (OLAF/2012/D5/03) — Hercule II 2012’

The applications (original and one copy) must be sent by post to the following address:

| European Commission — European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) |
| --- |
| For the attention of Mr Johan KHOUW |
| Head of Unit Hercule, Pericles & EURO Protection |
| Office: J-30 10/62 |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

European Commission — European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

For the attention of Mr Johan KHOUW

Head of Unit Hercule, Pericles & EURO Protection

Office: J-30 10/62

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

An electronic copy of the grant application form and containing all necessary annexes should also be sent by electronic mail to the following mailbox:

OLAF-FMB-HERCULE-LEGAL@ec.europa.eu

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OTHER ACTS

European Commission

| 1.8.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 230/12 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

1.8.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 230/12

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Acknowledgement of receipt of complaint No CHAP(2012) 710

2012/C 230/05

The European Commission has received and continues to receive a series of letters based on a standard form concerning the exchange of former Italian national currency against euro banknotes and coins. The European Commission has registered and will continue to register these letters under No CHAP(2012) 710.

Given the very large number of letters received on this subject, the Commission, with a view to informing all those concerned while making the most economical use of its administrative resources, is publishing the present notice in the Official Journal of the European Union in order to acknowledge receipt of the letters and inform the senders of the results of the examination of the letters by the Commission services. This notice is also published on the following Commission website:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/complaints/receipt/index_fr.htm

All letters received draw the European Commission’s attention to the fact that Article 26 of the Italian Decree-Law No 201/2011 published in the Italian Official Gazette No 284 on 6 December 2011, with immediate application, shortened the initial deadline of 28 February 2012 to exchange the former Italian currency against the euro.

Complainants ask the European Commission and the relevant authorities to intervene with the Italian Government in order for the deadline to be extended so that citizens can enjoy their right to exchange their savings in lire against euro banknotes and coins.

The Commission’s services would like to inform the complainants that it is the euro-area Member States' competence to set and modify the modalities of and the deadlines for the exchange of coins and banknotes of their former currencies against the euro. The European Union has no competence in this field. Some euro-area Member States have set short deadlines for the exchange whereas others have opted for exchange unlimited in time and/or differentiate between modalities applying to the exchange of former national banknotes and those applying to former national coins.

Complainants can, if they so wish, submit their comments on the proposed closure of the procedure or any other aspect of the case which they consider appropriate within a period of 30 days from the publication of this notice. Any comments received after this time will not be taken into account.

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