# Official Journal C 415/2015

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 415 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 5815 December 2015 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 415

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 5815 December 2015

---

| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 415/01 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7847 — EQT Services/TOP-TOY) (
  1
  ) | 1 |
| 2015/C 415/02 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7759 — OMERS/AIMCO/ERM) (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2015/C 415/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7847 — EQT Services/TOP-TOY) (
  1
  )

1

1

2015/C 415/02

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7759 — OMERS/AIMCO/ERM) (
  1
  )

1

1

---

| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 415/03 | Euro exchange rates | 2 |
| 2015/C 415/04 | 2015 Annual update of the remuneration and pensions of the officials and other servants of the European Union and the correction coefficients applied thereto | 3 |
| 2015/C 415/05 | Interim update of the weightings applicable to the remuneration of officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Union serving in third countries | 9 |
| 2015/C 415/06 | Annual update of the weightings applicable to the remuneration of officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Union serving in third countries | 12 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2015/C 415/03

Euro exchange rates

2

2015/C 415/04

2015 Annual update of the remuneration and pensions of the officials and other servants of the European Union and the correction coefficients applied thereto

3

2015/C 415/05

Interim update of the weightings applicable to the remuneration of officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Union serving in third countries

9

2015/C 415/06

Annual update of the weightings applicable to the remuneration of officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Union serving in third countries

12

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| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 415/07 | Call for proposals — EACEA/48/2015 — Erasmus+ Programme Key Action 3: Support for policy reform — Support to European Policy Tools — Quality assurance at European level for enhanced transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications | 17 |
| 2015/C 415/08 | Call for proposals EACEA/34/2015 under the Erasmus+ Programme — Key Action 3: support for policy reform — initiatives for policy innovation — European policy experimentations in the fields of education, training and youth led by high-level public authorities | 20 |
| 2015/C 415/09 | Calls for proposals under the multiannual work programme for financial assistance in the field of Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) — Transport sector for the period 2014-2020 (Commission Implementing Decision C(2015) 7358 amending Commission Implementing Decision C(2014) 1921) | 24 |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 415/10 | Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the countervailing measures applicable to imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India | 25 |
| 2015/C 415/11 | Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India | 33 |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 415/12 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7879 — Saudi Aramco/Lanxess/JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 40 |

V   Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

2015/C 415/07

Call for proposals — EACEA/48/2015 — Erasmus+ Programme Key Action 3: Support for policy reform — Support to European Policy Tools — Quality assurance at European level for enhanced transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications

17

2015/C 415/08

Call for proposals EACEA/34/2015 under the Erasmus+ Programme — Key Action 3: support for policy reform — initiatives for policy innovation — European policy experimentations in the fields of education, training and youth led by high-level public authorities

20

2015/C 415/09

Calls for proposals under the multiannual work programme for financial assistance in the field of Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) — Transport sector for the period 2014-2020 (Commission Implementing Decision C(2015) 7358 amending Commission Implementing Decision C(2014) 1921)

24

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

European Commission

2015/C 415/10

Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the countervailing measures applicable to imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India

25

2015/C 415/11

Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India

33

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2015/C 415/12

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7879 — Saudi Aramco/Lanxess/JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

40

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

---

(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

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

EN

---

II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/1

---

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.7847 — EQT Services/TOP-TOY)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 415/01)

On 8 December 2015, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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

—

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

| — | in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7847. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law. |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7847. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law.

---

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

---

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/1

---

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.7759 — OMERS/AIMCO/ERM)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 415/02)

On 8 December 2015, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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

—

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

| — | in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7759. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law. |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7759. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law.

---

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

---

IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/2

---

Euro exchange rates (1)

14 December 2015

(2015/C 415/03)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,0983 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 132,54 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4610 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,72600 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,3630 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,0771 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 9,5695 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 27,024 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 317,12 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,3658 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,5191 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 3,2837 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,5231 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,5106 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 8,5125 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,6270 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,5490 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 304,72 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 16,8045 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,0929 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,6330 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 15 526,48 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,8000 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 52,127 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 77,9268 |
| THB | Thai baht | 39,674 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 4,2883 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 19,1214 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 73,7454 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,0983

JPY

Japanese yen

132,54

DKK

Danish krone

7,4610

GBP

Pound sterling

0,72600

SEK

Swedish krona

9,3630

CHF

Swiss franc

1,0771

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

9,5695

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

27,024

HUF

Hungarian forint

317,12

PLN

Polish zloty

4,3658

RON

Romanian leu

4,5191

TRY

Turkish lira

3,2837

AUD

Australian dollar

1,5231

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,5106

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

8,5125

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,6270

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,5490

KRW

South Korean won

1 304,72

ZAR

South African rand

16,8045

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,0929

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,6330

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

15 526,48

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,8000

PHP

Philippine peso

52,127

RUB

Russian rouble

77,9268

THB

Thai baht

39,674

BRL

Brazilian real

4,2883

MXN

Mexican peso

19,1214

INR

Indian rupee

73,7454

---

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

---

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/3

---

2015 Annual update of the remuneration and pensions of the officials and other servants of the European Union and the correction coefficients applied thereto

(2015/C 415/04)

| 1.1. | Table of the amounts of basic monthly salaries for each grade and step in function groups AD and AST referred to in Article 66 of the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:










  1.7.2015 | STEP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GRADE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 16 | 17 463,71 | 18 197,56 | 18 962,24 | | |
| 15 | 15 435,00 | 16 083,60 | 16 759,45 | 17 225,73 | 17 463,71 |
| 14 | 13 641,95 | 14 215,21 | 14 812,55 | 15 224,66 | 15 435,00 |
| 13 | 12 057,21 | 12 563,87 | 13 091,82 | 13 456,06 | 13 641,95 |
| 12 | 10 656,56 | 11 104,36 | 11 570,98 | 11 892,90 | 12 057,21 |
| 11 | 9 418,62 | 9 814,39 | 10 226,81 | 10 511,34 | 10 656,56 |
| 10 | 8 324,49 | 8 674,29 | 9 038,80 | 9 290,27 | 9 418,62 |
| 9 | 7 357,45 | 7 666,63 | 7 988,79 | 8 211,05 | 8 324,49 |
| 8 | 6 502,76 | 6 776,01 | 7 060,75 | 7 257,19 | 7 357,45 |
| 7 | 5 747,35 | 5 988,86 | 6 240,52 | 6 414,14 | 6 502,76 |
| 6 | 5 079,70 | 5 293,16 | 5 515,58 | 5 669,03 | 5 747,35 |
| 5 | 4 489,61 | 4 678,27 | 4 874,85 | 5 010,47 | 5 079,70 |
| 4 | 3 968,06 | 4 134,80 | 4 308,55 | 4 428,42 | 4 489,61 |
| 3 | 3 507,10 | 3 654,47 | 3 808,04 | 3 913,98 | 3 968,06 |
| 2 | 3 099,69 | 3 229,94 | 3 365,67 | 3 459,31 | 3 507,10 |
| 1 | 2 739,61 | 2 854,73 | 2 974,69 | 3 057,45 | 3 099,69 |

1.1.

Table of the amounts of basic monthly salaries for each grade and step in function groups AD and AST referred to in Article 66 of the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:

1.7.2015

STEP

GRADE

1

2

3

4

5

16

17 463,71

18 197,56

18 962,24

15

15 435,00

16 083,60

16 759,45

17 225,73

17 463,71

14

13 641,95

14 215,21

14 812,55

15 224,66

15 435,00

13

12 057,21

12 563,87

13 091,82

13 456,06

13 641,95

12

10 656,56

11 104,36

11 570,98

11 892,90

12 057,21

11

9 418,62

9 814,39

10 226,81

10 511,34

10 656,56

10

8 324,49

8 674,29

9 038,80

9 290,27

9 418,62

9

7 357,45

7 666,63

7 988,79

8 211,05

8 324,49

8

6 502,76

6 776,01

7 060,75

7 257,19

7 357,45

7

5 747,35

5 988,86

6 240,52

6 414,14

6 502,76

6

5 079,70

5 293,16

5 515,58

5 669,03

5 747,35

5

4 489,61

4 678,27

4 874,85

5 010,47

5 079,70

4

3 968,06

4 134,80

4 308,55

4 428,42

4 489,61

3

3 507,10

3 654,47

3 808,04

3 913,98

3 968,06

2

3 099,69

3 229,94

3 365,67

3 459,31

3 507,10

1

2 739,61

2 854,73

2 974,69

3 057,45

3 099,69

| 2. | Table of the amounts of basic monthly salaries for each grade and step in function group AST/SC referred to in Article 66 of the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:










  1.7.2015 | STEP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GRADE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 4 453,98 | 4 641,14 | 4 836,17 | 4 970,71 | 5 039,39 |
| 5 | 3 936,57 | 4 101,99 | 4 274,97 | 4 393,28 | 4 453,98 |
| 4 | 3 479,28 | 3 625,47 | 3 777,82 | 3 882,93 | 3 936,57 |
| 3 | 3 075,09 | 3 204,31 | 3 338,97 | 3 431,85 | 3 479,28 |
| 2 | 2 717,87 | 2 832,08 | 2 951,09 | 3 033,19 | 3 075,09 |
| 1 | 2 402,14 | 2 503,08 | 2 608,27 | 2 680,82 | 2 717,87 |

2.

Table of the amounts of basic monthly salaries for each grade and step in function group AST/SC referred to in Article 66 of the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:

1.7.2015

STEP

GRADE

1

2

3

4

5

6

4 453,98

4 641,14

4 836,17

4 970,71

5 039,39

5

3 936,57

4 101,99

4 274,97

4 393,28

4 453,98

4

3 479,28

3 625,47

3 777,82

3 882,93

3 936,57

3

3 075,09

3 204,31

3 338,97

3 431,85

3 479,28

2

2 717,87

2 832,08

2 951,09

3 033,19

3 075,09

1

2 402,14

2 503,08

2 608,27

2 680,82

2 717,87

| 3. | Table of the correction coefficients applicable to the remuneration and pensions of officials and other servants of the European Union referred to in Article 64 of the Staff Regulations containing:






  — | Correction coefficients applicable from 1 July 2015 to the remuneration of officials and other servants referred to in Article 64 of the Staff Regulations (indicated in column 2 of the following table), |
| --- | --- | --- |

3.

Table of the correction coefficients applicable to the remuneration and pensions of officials and other servants of the European Union referred to in Article 64 of the Staff Regulations containing:

—

Correction coefficients applicable from 1 July 2015 to the remuneration of officials and other servants referred to in Article 64 of the Staff Regulations (indicated in column 2 of the following table),

| — | Correction coefficients applicable from 1 January 2016 under Article 17(3) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations to transfers by officials and other servants (indicated in column 3 of the following table), |
| --- | --- |

—

Correction coefficients applicable from 1 January 2016 under Article 17(3) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations to transfers by officials and other servants (indicated in column 3 of the following table),

| — | Correction coefficients applicable from 1 July 2015 to pensions under Article 20(1) of Annex XIII to the Staff Regulations (indicated in column 4 of the following table), |
| --- | --- |

—

Correction coefficients applicable from 1 July 2015 to pensions under Article 20(1) of Annex XIII to the Staff Regulations (indicated in column 4 of the following table),

Image

| 4. | Amount of the parental leave allowance referred to in the second and third paragraphs of Article 42a of the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:






  — | EUR 941,08, |
| --- | --- | --- |

4.

Amount of the parental leave allowance referred to in the second and third paragraphs of Article 42a of the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:

—

EUR 941,08,

| — | EUR 1 254,77 for single parents. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 1 254,77 for single parents.

| 5.1. | Basic amount of the household allowance referred to in Article 1(1) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 176,01. |
| --- | --- |

5.1.

Basic amount of the household allowance referred to in Article 1(1) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 176,01.

| 5.2. | Amount of the dependent child allowance referred to in Article 2(1) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 384,60. |
| --- | --- |

5.2.

Amount of the dependent child allowance referred to in Article 2(1) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 384,60.

| 5.3. | Amount of the education allowance referred to in Article 3(1) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 260,95. |
| --- | --- |

5.3.

Amount of the education allowance referred to in Article 3(1) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 260,95.

| 5.4. | Amount of the education allowance referred to in Article 3(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 93,95. |
| --- | --- |

5.4.

Amount of the education allowance referred to in Article 3(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 93,95.

| 5.5. | Minimum amount of the expatriation allowance referred to in Article 69 of the Staff Regulations and in the second subparagraph of Article 4(1) of Annex VII thereto, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 521,66. |
| --- | --- |

5.5.

Minimum amount of the expatriation allowance referred to in Article 69 of the Staff Regulations and in the second subparagraph of Article 4(1) of Annex VII thereto, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 521,66.

| 5.6. | Amount of the expatriation allowance referred to in Article 134 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 375,01. |
| --- | --- |

5.6.

Amount of the expatriation allowance referred to in Article 134 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 375,01.

| 6.1. | Amount of the kilometric allowance referred to in Article 7(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:






  EUR 0 for every km from | 0 to 200 km |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EUR 0,1940 for every km from | 201 to 1 000 km |
| EUR 0,3234 for every km from | 1 001 to 2 000 km |
| EUR 0,1940 for every km from | 2 001 to 3 000 km |
| EUR 0,0646 for every km from | 3 001 to 4 000 km |
| EUR 0,0312 for every km from | 4 001 to 10 000 km |
| EUR 0 for every km over | 10 000 km. |

6.1.

Amount of the kilometric allowance referred to in Article 7(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:

EUR 0 for every km from

0 to 200 km

EUR 0,1940 for every km from

201 to 1 000 km

EUR 0,3234 for every km from

1 001 to 2 000 km

EUR 0,1940 for every km from

2 001 to 3 000 km

EUR 0,0646 for every km from

3 001 to 4 000 km

EUR 0,0312 for every km from

4 001 to 10 000 km

EUR 0 for every km over

10 000 km.

| 6.2. | Amount of the flat-rate supplement to the kilometric allowance referred to in Article 7(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:






  — | EUR 97,01 if the geographical distance between the places referred to in paragraph 1 is between 600 km and 1 200 km, |
| --- | --- | --- |

6.2.

Amount of the flat-rate supplement to the kilometric allowance referred to in Article 7(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:

—

EUR 97,01 if the geographical distance between the places referred to in paragraph 1 is between 600 km and 1 200 km,

| — | EUR 194,01 if the geographical distance between the places referred to in paragraph 1 is greater than 1 200 km. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 194,01 if the geographical distance between the places referred to in paragraph 1 is greater than 1 200 km.

| 7.1. | Amount of the kilometric allowance referred to in Article 8(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 January 2016:






  EUR 0 for every km from | 0 to 200 km |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EUR 0,3912 for every km from | 201 to 1 000 km |
| EUR 0,6520 for every km from | 1 001 to 2 000 km |
| EUR 0,3912 for every km from | 2 001 to 3 000 km |
| EUR 0,1303 for every km from | 3 001 to 4 000 km |
| EUR 0,0629 for every km from | 4 001 to 10 000 km |
| EUR 0 for every km over | 10 000 km. |

7.1.

Amount of the kilometric allowance referred to in Article 8(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 January 2016:

EUR 0 for every km from

0 to 200 km

EUR 0,3912 for every km from

201 to 1 000 km

EUR 0,6520 for every km from

1 001 to 2 000 km

EUR 0,3912 for every km from

2 001 to 3 000 km

EUR 0,1303 for every km from

3 001 to 4 000 km

EUR 0,0629 for every km from

4 001 to 10 000 km

EUR 0 for every km over

10 000 km.

| 7.2. | Amount of the flat-rate supplement to the kilometric allowance referred to in Article 8(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 January 2016:






  — | EUR 195,58 if the geographical distance between the place of employment and the place of origin is between 600 km and 1 200 km, |
| --- | --- | --- |

7.2.

Amount of the flat-rate supplement to the kilometric allowance referred to in Article 8(2) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 January 2016:

—

EUR 195,58 if the geographical distance between the place of employment and the place of origin is between 600 km and 1 200 km,

| — | EUR 391,13 if the geographical distance between the place of employment and the place of origin is greater than 1 200 km. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 391,13 if the geographical distance between the place of employment and the place of origin is greater than 1 200 km.

| 8. | Amount of the daily subsistence allowance referred to in Article 10(1) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:






  — | EUR 40,43 for an official who is entitled to the household allowance, |
| --- | --- | --- |

8.

Amount of the daily subsistence allowance referred to in Article 10(1) of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:

—

EUR 40,43 for an official who is entitled to the household allowance,

| — | EUR 32,59 for an official who is not entitled to the household allowance. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 32,59 for an official who is not entitled to the household allowance.

| 9. | Amount of the lower limit for the installation allowance referred to in Article 24(3) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:






  — | EUR 1 150,88 for a servant who is entitled to the household allowance, |
| --- | --- | --- |

9.

Amount of the lower limit for the installation allowance referred to in Article 24(3) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:

—

EUR 1 150,88 for a servant who is entitled to the household allowance,

| — | EUR 684,31 for a servant who is not entitled to the household allowance. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 684,31 for a servant who is not entitled to the household allowance.

| 10.1. | Amount of the lower and upper limits of the unemployment allowance referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 28a(3) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:






  — | EUR 1 380,24 (lower limit), |
| --- | --- | --- |

10.1.

Amount of the lower and upper limits of the unemployment allowance referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 28a(3) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:

—

EUR 1 380,24 (lower limit),

| — | EUR 2 760,49 (upper limit). |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 2 760,49 (upper limit).

| 10.2. | Amount of the standard allowance referred to in Article 28a(7) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 1 254,77. |
| --- | --- |

10.2.

Amount of the standard allowance referred to in Article 28a(7) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015 — EUR 1 254,77.

| 11. | Table containing the amounts of the scale of basic salaries provided for in Article 93 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:













  FUNCTION GROUP | 1.7.2015 | STEP |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| GRADE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| IV | 18 | 6 020,18 | 6 145,37 | 6 273,17 | 6 403,62 | 6 536,80 | 6 672,73 | 6 811,49 |
| | 17 | 5 320,79 | 5 431,44 | 5 544,39 | 5 659,69 | 5 777,39 | 5 897,53 | 6 020,18 |
| | 16 | 4 702,65 | 4 800,44 | 4 900,27 | 5 002,18 | 5 106,21 | 5 212,40 | 5 320,79 |
| | 15 | 4 156,32 | 4 242,76 | 4 330,99 | 4 421,06 | 4 512,99 | 4 606,84 | 4 702,65 |
| | 14 | 3 673,47 | 3 749,86 | 3 827,85 | 3 907,44 | 3 988,71 | 4 071,65 | 4 156,32 |
| | 13 | 3 246,70 | 3 314,23 | 3 383,14 | 3 453,50 | 3 525,31 | 3 598,63 | 3 673,47 |
| III | 12 | 4 156,26 | 4 242,69 | 4 330,92 | 4 420,98 | 4 512,90 | 4 606,75 | 4 702,55 |
| | 11 | 3 673,44 | 3 749,82 | 3 827,79 | 3 907,39 | 3 988,64 | 4 071,59 | 4 156,26 |
| | 10 | 3 246,69 | 3 314,21 | 3 383,12 | 3 453,48 | 3 525,29 | 3 598,60 | 3 673,44 |
| | 9 | 2 869,53 | 2 929,20 | 2 990,11 | 3 052,29 | 3 115,77 | 3 180,55 | 3 246,69 |
| | 8 | 2 536,18 | 2 588,92 | 2 642,76 | 2 697,71 | 2 753,81 | 2 811,07 | 2 869,53 |
| II | 7 | 2 869,46 | 2 929,15 | 2 990,07 | 3 052,26 | 3 115,75 | 3 180,55 | 3 246,70 |
| | 6 | 2 536,06 | 2 588,81 | 2 642,65 | 2 697,62 | 2 753,72 | 2 811,00 | 2 869,46 |
| | 5 | 2 241,39 | 2 288,01 | 2 335,60 | 2 384,18 | 2 433,76 | 2 484,39 | 2 536,06 |
| | 4 | 1 980,96 | 2 022,16 | 2 064,22 | 2 107,16 | 2 150,98 | 2 195,72 | 2 241,39 |
| I | 3 | 2 440,39 | 2 491,03 | 2 542,74 | 2 595,51 | 2 649,37 | 2 704,36 | 2 760,49 |
| | 2 | 2 157,40 | 2 202,18 | 2 247,88 | 2 294,54 | 2 342,16 | 2 390,77 | 2 440,39 |
| | 1 | 1 907,24 | 1 946,83 | 1 987,23 | 2 028,47 | 2 070,57 | 2 113,55 | 2 157,40 |

11.

Table containing the amounts of the scale of basic salaries provided for in Article 93 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:

FUNCTION GROUP

1.7.2015

STEP

GRADE

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

IV

18

6 020,18

6 145,37

6 273,17

6 403,62

6 536,80

6 672,73

6 811,49

17

5 320,79

5 431,44

5 544,39

5 659,69

5 777,39

5 897,53

6 020,18

16

4 702,65

4 800,44

4 900,27

5 002,18

5 106,21

5 212,40

5 320,79

15

4 156,32

4 242,76

4 330,99

4 421,06

4 512,99

4 606,84

4 702,65

14

3 673,47

3 749,86

3 827,85

3 907,44

3 988,71

4 071,65

4 156,32

13

3 246,70

3 314,23

3 383,14

3 453,50

3 525,31

3 598,63

3 673,47

III

12

4 156,26

4 242,69

4 330,92

4 420,98

4 512,90

4 606,75

4 702,55

11

3 673,44

3 749,82

3 827,79

3 907,39

3 988,64

4 071,59

4 156,26

10

3 246,69

3 314,21

3 383,12

3 453,48

3 525,29

3 598,60

3 673,44

9

2 869,53

2 929,20

2 990,11

3 052,29

3 115,77

3 180,55

3 246,69

8

2 536,18

2 588,92

2 642,76

2 697,71

2 753,81

2 811,07

2 869,53

II

7

2 869,46

2 929,15

2 990,07

3 052,26

3 115,75

3 180,55

3 246,70

6

2 536,06

2 588,81

2 642,65

2 697,62

2 753,72

2 811,00

2 869,46

5

2 241,39

2 288,01

2 335,60

2 384,18

2 433,76

2 484,39

2 536,06

4

1 980,96

2 022,16

2 064,22

2 107,16

2 150,98

2 195,72

2 241,39

I

3

2 440,39

2 491,03

2 542,74

2 595,51

2 649,37

2 704,36

2 760,49

2

2 157,40

2 202,18

2 247,88

2 294,54

2 342,16

2 390,77

2 440,39

1

1 907,24

1 946,83

1 987,23

2 028,47

2 070,57

2 113,55

2 157,40

| 12. | Amount of the lower limit for the installation allowance referred to in Article 94 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:






  — | EUR 865,66 for a servant who is entitled to the household allowance, |
| --- | --- | --- |

12.

Amount of the lower limit for the installation allowance referred to in Article 94 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:

—

EUR 865,66 for a servant who is entitled to the household allowance,

| — | EUR 513,23 for a servant who is not entitled to the household allowance. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 513,23 for a servant who is not entitled to the household allowance.

| 13.1. | Amount of the lower and upper limits of the unemployment allowance referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 96(3) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:






  — | EUR 1 035,18 (the lower limit), |
| --- | --- | --- |

13.1.

Amount of the lower and upper limits of the unemployment allowance referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 96(3) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:

—

EUR 1 035,18 (the lower limit),

| — | EUR 2 070,35 (the upper limit). |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 2 070,35 (the upper limit).

| 13.2. | Amount of the standard allowance referred to in Article 96(7) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants shall be EUR 941,08. |
| --- | --- |

13.2.

Amount of the standard allowance referred to in Article 96(7) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants shall be EUR 941,08.

| 13.3. | Amount of the lower and the upper limits for the unemployment allowance referred to in Article 136 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:






  — | EUR 910,74 (lower limit), |
| --- | --- | --- |

13.3.

Amount of the lower and the upper limits for the unemployment allowance referred to in Article 136 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:

—

EUR 910,74 (lower limit),

| — | EUR 2 142,90 (upper limit). |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 2 142,90 (upper limit).

| 14. | Amount of the allowances for shift work laid down in the first subparagraph of Article 1(1) of Council Regulation (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) No 300/76 (1):






  — | EUR 394,48, |
| --- | --- | --- |

14.

Amount of the allowances for shift work laid down in the first subparagraph of Article 1(1) of Council Regulation (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) No 300/76 (1):

—

EUR 394,48,

| — | EUR 595,40, |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 595,40,

| — | EUR 651,00, |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 651,00,

| — | EUR 887,52. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 887,52.

| 15. | Coefficient, applicable from 1 July 2015 to the amounts referred to in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 260/68 (2) — 5,6944. |
| --- | --- |

15.

Coefficient, applicable from 1 July 2015 to the amounts referred to in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 260/68 (2) — 5,6944.

| 16. | Table of the amounts provided for in Article 8(2) of Annex XIII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:













  1.7.2015 | STEP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GRADE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 16 | 17 463,71 | 18 197,56 | 18 962,24 | 18 962,24 | 18 962,24 | 18 962,24 | | |
| 15 | 15 435,00 | 16 083,60 | 16 759,45 | 17 225,73 | 17 463,71 | 18 197,56 | | |
| 14 | 13 641,95 | 14 215,21 | 14 812,55 | 15 224,66 | 15 435,00 | 16 083,60 | 16 759,45 | 17 463,71 |
| 13 | 12 057,21 | 12 563,87 | 13 091,82 | 13 456,06 | 13 641,95 | | | |
| 12 | 10 656,56 | 11 104,36 | 11 570,98 | 11 892,90 | 12 057,21 | 12 563,87 | 13 091,82 | 13 641,95 |
| 11 | 9 418,62 | 9 814,39 | 10 226,81 | 10 511,34 | 10 656,56 | 11 104,36 | 11 570,98 | 12 057,21 |
| 10 | 8 324,49 | 8 674,29 | 9 038,80 | 9 290,27 | 9 418,62 | 9 814,39 | 10 226,81 | 10 656,56 |
| 9 | 7 357,45 | 7 666,63 | 7 988,79 | 8 211,05 | 8 324,49 | | | |
| 8 | 6 502,76 | 6 776,01 | 7 060,75 | 7 257,19 | 7 357,45 | 7 666,63 | 7 988,79 | 8 324,49 |
| 7 | 5 747,35 | 5 988,86 | 6 240,52 | 6 414,14 | 6 502,76 | 6 776,01 | 7 060,75 | 7 357,45 |
| 6 | 5 079,70 | 5 293,16 | 5 515,58 | 5 669,03 | 5 747,35 | 5 988,86 | 6 240,52 | 6 502,76 |
| 5 | 4 489,61 | 4 678,27 | 4 874,85 | 5 010,47 | 5 079,70 | 5 293,16 | 5 515,58 | 5 747,35 |
| 4 | 3 968,06 | 4 134,80 | 4 308,55 | 4 428,42 | 4 489,61 | 4 678,27 | 4 874,85 | 5 079,70 |
| 3 | 3 507,10 | 3 654,47 | 3 808,04 | 3 913,98 | 3 968,06 | 4 134,80 | 4 308,55 | 4 489,61 |
| 2 | 3 099,69 | 3 229,94 | 3 365,67 | 3 459,31 | 3 507,10 | 3 654,47 | 3 808,04 | 3 968,06 |
| 1 | 2 739,61 | 2 854,73 | 2 974,69 | 3 057,45 | 3 099,69 | | | |

16.

Table of the amounts provided for in Article 8(2) of Annex XIII to the Staff Regulations, applicable from 1 July 2015:

1.7.2015

STEP

GRADE

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

16

17 463,71

18 197,56

18 962,24

18 962,24

18 962,24

18 962,24

15

15 435,00

16 083,60

16 759,45

17 225,73

17 463,71

18 197,56

14

13 641,95

14 215,21

14 812,55

15 224,66

15 435,00

16 083,60

16 759,45

17 463,71

13

12 057,21

12 563,87

13 091,82

13 456,06

13 641,95

12

10 656,56

11 104,36

11 570,98

11 892,90

12 057,21

12 563,87

13 091,82

13 641,95

11

9 418,62

9 814,39

10 226,81

10 511,34

10 656,56

11 104,36

11 570,98

12 057,21

10

8 324,49

8 674,29

9 038,80

9 290,27

9 418,62

9 814,39

10 226,81

10 656,56

9

7 357,45

7 666,63

7 988,79

8 211,05

8 324,49

8

6 502,76

6 776,01

7 060,75

7 257,19

7 357,45

7 666,63

7 988,79

8 324,49

7

5 747,35

5 988,86

6 240,52

6 414,14

6 502,76

6 776,01

7 060,75

7 357,45

6

5 079,70

5 293,16

5 515,58

5 669,03

5 747,35

5 988,86

6 240,52

6 502,76

5

4 489,61

4 678,27

4 874,85

5 010,47

5 079,70

5 293,16

5 515,58

5 747,35

4

3 968,06

4 134,80

4 308,55

4 428,42

4 489,61

4 678,27

4 874,85

5 079,70

3

3 507,10

3 654,47

3 808,04

3 913,98

3 968,06

4 134,80

4 308,55

4 489,61

2

3 099,69

3 229,94

3 365,67

3 459,31

3 507,10

3 654,47

3 808,04

3 968,06

1

2 739,61

2 854,73

2 974,69

3 057,45

3 099,69

| 17. | Amount, applicable from 1 July 2015, of the fixed allowance mentioned in the former Article 4a of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, in force before 1 May 2004, which is used for the application of Article 18(1) of Annex XIII to the Staff Regulations:






  — | EUR 136,08 per month for officials in Grade C4 or C5, |
| --- | --- | --- |

17.

Amount, applicable from 1 July 2015, of the fixed allowance mentioned in the former Article 4a of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, in force before 1 May 2004, which is used for the application of Article 18(1) of Annex XIII to the Staff Regulations:

—

EUR 136,08 per month for officials in Grade C4 or C5,

| — | EUR 208,65 per month for officials in Grade C1, C2 or C3. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 208,65 per month for officials in Grade C1, C2 or C3.

| 18. | Table containing the amounts of the scale of basic salaries provided for in Article 133 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:












  Grade | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Full-time basic salary | 1 734,87 | 2 021,11 | 2 191,31 | 2 375,84 | 2 575,91 | 2 792,84 | 3 028,03 |
| Grade | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Full-time basic salary | 3 283,03 | 3 559,50 | 3 859,24 | 4 184,22 | 4 536,58 | 4 918,60 | 5 332,81 |
| Grade | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | | |
| Full-time basic salary | 5 781,88 | 6 268,79 | 6 796,69 | 7 369,03 | 7 989,59 | | |

18.

Table containing the amounts of the scale of basic salaries provided for in Article 133 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, applicable from 1 July 2015:

Grade

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Full-time basic salary

1 734,87

2 021,11

2 191,31

2 375,84

2 575,91

2 792,84

3 028,03

Grade

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Full-time basic salary

3 283,03

3 559,50

3 859,24

4 184,22

4 536,58

4 918,60

5 332,81

Grade

15

16

17

18

19

Full-time basic salary

5 781,88

6 268,79

6 796,69

7 369,03

7 989,59

---

(1)  Council Regulation (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) No 300/76 of 9 February 1976 determining the categories of officials entitled to allowances for shiftwork, and the rates and conditions thereof (OJ L 38, 13.2.1976, p. 1). Regulation as supplemented by Regulation (Euratom, ECSC, EEC) No 1307/87 (OJ L 124, 13.5.1987, p. 6).

(2)  Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 260/68 of the Council of 29 February 1968 laying down the conditions and procedure for applying the tax for the benefit of the European Communities (OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 8).

---

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/9

---

Interim update of the weightings applicable to the remuneration of officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Union serving in third countries (1)

(2015/C 415/05)

FEBRUARY 2015

| Place of employment | Economic parity
  February 2015 | Exchange rate
  February 2015 (2) | Weighting
  February 2015 (3) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Albania | 80,21 | 139,690 | 57,4 |
| Algeria | 79,14 | 103,264 | 76,6 |
| Armenia | 449,2 | 536,780 | 83,7 |
| Bangladesh | 71,67 | 87,4394 | 82,0 |
| Barbados | 2,821 | 2,27512 | 124,0 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (Banja Luka) | 1,128 | 1,95583 | 57,7 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo) | 1,334 | 1,95583 | 68,2 |
| Cambodia | 4 252 | 4 589,50 | 92,6 |
| Central African Republic | 661,4 | 655,957 | 100,8 |
| Ghana | 2,660 | 3,63590 | 73,2 |
| Liberia | 1,426 | 1,13150 | 126,0 |
| Mexico | 12,55 | 16,7722 | 74,8 |
| Nepal | 104,7 | 110,360 | 94,9 |
| Nigeria | 210,5 | 188,103 | 111,9 |
| Russia | 56,65 | 78,2726 | 72,4 |
| Sierra Leone | 7 232 | 5 573,77 | 129,8 |
| Sudan | 9,769 | 7,13218 | 137,0 |
| Ukraine | 10,08 | 17,9904 | 56 |

Place of employment

Economic parity

February 2015

Exchange rate

February 2015 (2)

Weighting

February 2015 (3)

Albania

80,21

139,690

57,4

Algeria

79,14

103,264

76,6

Armenia

449,2

536,780

83,7

Bangladesh

71,67

87,4394

82,0

Barbados

2,821

2,27512

124,0

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Banja Luka)

1,128

1,95583

57,7

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo)

1,334

1,95583

68,2

Cambodia

4 252

4 589,50

92,6

Central African Republic

661,4

655,957

100,8

Ghana

2,660

3,63590

73,2

Liberia

1,426

1,13150

126,0

Mexico

12,55

16,7722

74,8

Nepal

104,7

110,360

94,9

Nigeria

210,5

188,103

111,9

Russia

56,65

78,2726

72,4

Sierra Leone

7 232

5 573,77

129,8

Sudan

9,769

7,13218

137,0

Ukraine

10,08

17,9904

56

MARCH 2015

| Place of employment | Economic parity
  March 2015 | Exchange rate
  March 2015 (4) | Weighting
  March 2015 (5) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Azerbaijan | 1,078 | 1,18840 | 90,7 |
| Chad | 789,1 | 655,957 | 120,3 |
| Malawi | 372,3 | 496,614 | 75,0 |
| Moldova | 11,85 | 20,1215 | 58,9 |
| Mozambique | 32,70 | 37,9900 | 86,1 |
| Solomon Islands | 11,25 | 8,44729 | 133,2 |
| South-Sudan | 4,080 | 3,33852 | 122,2 |
| Timor Leste | 1,165 | 1,13170 | 102,9 |

Place of employment

Economic parity

March 2015

Exchange rate

March 2015 (4)

Weighting

March 2015 (5)

Azerbaijan

1,078

1,18840

90,7

Chad

789,1

655,957

120,3

Malawi

372,3

496,614

75,0

Moldova

11,85

20,1215

58,9

Mozambique

32,70

37,9900

86,1

Solomon Islands

11,25

8,44729

133,2

South-Sudan

4,080

3,33852

122,2

Timor Leste

1,165

1,13170

102,9

APRIL 2015

| Place of employment | Economic parity
  April 2015 | Exchange rate
  April 2015 (6) | Weighting
  April 2015 (7) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Angola | 199,0 | 118,288 | 168,2 |
| El Salvador | 0,9040 | 1,08450 | 83,4 |
| Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | 33,53 | 61,6614 | 54,4 |
| Serbia | 79,08 | 120,633 | 65,6 |
| Swaziland | 8,251 | 13,1446 | 62,8 |
| Turkey | 2,293 | 2,82650 | 81,1 |
| Turkmenistan | 2,520 | 3,79575 | 66,4 |
| Ukraine | 11,67 | 25,4866 | 45,8 |

Place of employment

Economic parity

April 2015

Exchange rate

April 2015 (6)

Weighting

April 2015 (7)

Angola

199,0

118,288

168,2

El Salvador

0,9040

1,08450

83,4

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

33,53

61,6614

54,4

Serbia

79,08

120,633

65,6

Swaziland

8,251

13,1446

62,8

Turkey

2,293

2,82650

81,1

Turkmenistan

2,520

3,79575

66,4

Ukraine

11,67

25,4866

45,8

MAY 2015

| Place of employment | Economic parity
  May 2015 | Exchange rate
  May 2015 (8) | Weighting
  May 2015 (9) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cambodia | 4 014 | 4 387,50 | 91,5 |
| China | 7,144 | 6,82110 | 104,7 |
| Dominican Republic | 34,53 | 48,4068 | 71,3 |
| Ethiopia | 22,98 | 22,0862 | 104,0 |
| Jamaica | 125,6 | 123,326 | 101,8 |
| Kenya | 99,86 | 102,458 | 97,5 |
| Lebanon | 1 675 | 1 658,55 | 101,0 |
| Mauritius | 30,10 | 39,0038 | 77,2 |
| South Africa | 7,712 | 13,0682 | 59,0 |
| Ukraine | 13,23 | 25,1930 | 52,5 |

Place of employment

Economic parity

May 2015

Exchange rate

May 2015 (8)

Weighting

May 2015 (9)

Cambodia

4 014

4 387,50

91,5

China

7,144

6,82110

104,7

Dominican Republic

34,53

48,4068

71,3

Ethiopia

22,98

22,0862

104,0

Jamaica

125,6

123,326

101,8

Kenya

99,86

102,458

97,5

Lebanon

1 675

1 658,55

101,0

Mauritius

30,10

39,0038

77,2

South Africa

7,712

13,0682

59,0

Ukraine

13,23

25,1930

52,5

JUNE 2015

| Place of employment | Economic parity
  June 2015 | Exchange rate
  June 2015 (10) | Weighting
  June 2015 (11) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Benin | 683,3 | 655,957 | 104,2 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (Banja Luka) | 1,063 | 1,95583 | 54,4 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo) | 1,262 | 1,95583 | 64,5 |
| Papua New Guinea | 3,616 | 2,96490 | 122,0 |
| Solomon Islands | 10,43 | 8,43340 | 123,7 |
| Timor Leste | 1,085 | 1,08960 | 99,6 |

Place of employment

Economic parity

June 2015

Exchange rate

June 2015 (10)

Weighting

June 2015 (11)

Benin

683,3

655,957

104,2

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Banja Luka)

1,063

1,95583

54,4

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo)

1,262

1,95583

64,5

Papua New Guinea

3,616

2,96490

122,0

Solomon Islands

10,43

8,43340

123,7

Timor Leste

1,085

1,08960

99,6

---

(1)  Eurostat Report of 15 September 2015 on the interim update of weightings (correction coefficients) applicable to the remuneration of officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Union serving in Extra-EU Delegations in accordance with Article 64 and Annex X and Annex XI of the Staff Regulations applicable to officials and other servants of the European Union (Ares(2015)3805783).

Further information on the methodology is available on the Eurostat website (‘Statistics Database’ > ‘Economy and finance’ > ‘Prices’ > ‘Correction coefficients’)

(2)  1 EUR = x units of local currency, except USD for: Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Liberia, Panama, D.R. Congo, Timor-Leste, Zimbabwe.

(3)  Brussels and Luxembourg = 100 %.

(4)  1 EUR = x units of local currency, except USD for: Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Liberia, Panama, D.R. Congo, Timor-Leste, Zimbabwe.

(5)  Brussels and Luxembourg = 100 %.

(6)  1 EUR = x units of local currency, except USD for: Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Liberia, Panama, D.R. Congo, Timor-Leste, Zimbabwe.

(7)  Brussels and Luxembourg = 100 %.

(8)  1 EUR = x units of local currency, except USD for: Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Liberia, Panama, D.R. Congo, Timor-Leste, Zimbabwe.

(9)  Brussels and Luxembourg = 100 %.

(10)  1 EUR = x units of local currency, except USD for: Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Liberia, Panama, D.R. Congo, Timor-Leste, Zimbabwe.

(11)  Brussels and Luxembourg = 100 %.

---

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/12 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/12

---

Annual update of the weightings applicable to the remuneration of officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Union serving in third countries (1)

(2015/C 415/06)

| Place of employment | Economic parity
  July 2015 | Exchange rate
  July 2015 (2) | Weighting
  July 2015 (3) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Afghanistan (4) | | | |
| Albania | 79,96 | 140,550 | 56,9 |
| Algeria | 79,28 | 110,821 | 71,5 |
| Angola | 200,1 | 134,757 | 148,5 |
| Argentina | 9,287 | 10,0965 | 92,0 |
| Armenia | 437,7 | 529,690 | 82,6 |
| Australia | 1,457 | 1,45260 | 100,3 |
| Azerbaijan | 1,078 | 1,16696 | 92,4 |
| Bangladesh | 71,37 | 86,6147 | 82,4 |
| Barbados | 2,749 | 2,23853 | 122,8 |
| Belarus | 9 132 | 17 248,0 | 52,9 |
| Belize | 1,858 | 2,24330 | 82,8 |
| Benin | 684,2 | 655,957 | 104,3 |
| Bolivia | 6,891 | 7,69290 | 89,6 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (Banja Luka) | 1,092 | 1,95583 | 55,8 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo) | 1,292 | 1,95583 | 66,1 |
| Botswana | 6,330 | 11,0742 | 57,2 |
| Brazil | 3,597 | 3,49590 | 102,9 |
| Burkina Faso | 636,2 | 655,957 | 97,0 |
| Burundi | 1 478 | 1 751,18 | 84,4 |
| Cambodia | 3 827 | 4 614,00 | 82,9 |
| Cameroon | 633,7 | 655,957 | 96,6 |
| Canada | 1,421 | 1,37760 | 103,2 |
| Cape Verde | 76,68 | 110,265 | 69,5 |
| Central African Republic | 680,8 | 655,957 | 103,8 |
| Chad | 780,1 | 655,957 | 118,9 |
| Chile | 397,1 | 704,519 | 56,4 |
| China | 6,929 | 6,91210 | 100,2 |
| Colombia | 2 100 | 2 839,74 | 74,0 |
| Comoros | 317,2 | 491,968 | 64,5 |
| Congo (Brazzaville) | 806,2 | 655,957 | 122,9 |
| Costa Rica | 498,7 | 595,543 | 83,7 |
| Cuba (2) | 1,055 | 1,11330 | 94,8 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa) (2) | 1,825 | 1,11330 | 163,9 |
| Djibouti | 181,1 | 197,857 | 91,5 |
| Dominican Republic | 33,73 | 50,2830 | 67,1 |
| Ecuador (2) | 1,028 | 1,11330 | 92,3 |
| Egypt | 6,718 | 8,52845 | 78,8 |
| El Salvador (2) | 0,8567 | 1,11330 | 77,0 |
| Eritrea | 24,00 | 17,3943 | 138,0 |
| Ethiopia | 22,17 | 23,2380 | 95,4 |
| Fiji | 1,609 | 2,33918 | 68,8 |
| Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | 30,65 | 61,6940 | 49,7 |
| Gabon | 719,9 | 655,957 | 109,7 |
| Gambia | 33,81 | 43,9300 | 77,0 |
| Georgia | 1,577 | 2,51700 | 62,7 |
| Ghana | 2,787 | 4,81095 | 57,9 |
| Guatemala | 8,027 | 8,47985 | 94,7 |
| Guinea (Conakry) | 7 414 | 8 206,67 | 90,3 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 585,6 | 655,957 | 89,3 |
| Guyana | 171,5 | 231,930 | 73,9 |
| Haiti | 53,18 | 55,8709 | 95,2 |
| Honduras | 22,08 | 24,4101 | 90,5 |
| Hong Kong | 10,71 | 8,63060 | 124,1 |
| Iceland | 186,8 | 147,770 | 126,4 |
| India | 54,37 | 71,0695 | 76,5 |
| Indonesia (Banda Aceh) | 10 316 | 14 868,3 | 69,4 |
| Indonesia (Jakarta) | 11 232 | 14 868,3 | 75,5 |
| Iran (4) | | | |
| Iraq (4) | | | |
| Israel | 4,559 | 4,22500 | 107,9 |
| Ivory Coast | 637,3 | 655,957 | 97,2 |
| Jamaica | 119,8 | 129,193 | 92,7 |
| Japan | 129,6 | 136,810 | 94,7 |
| Jordan | 0,8276 | 0,789330 | 104,8 |
| Kazakhstan | 206,1 | 208,950 | 98,6 |
| Kenya | 99,88 | 110,340 | 90,5 |
| Kosovo | 0,7104 | 1,00000 | 71,0 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 54,01 | 68,1088 | 79,3 |
| Laos | 9 306 | 9 075,00 | 102,5 |
| Lebanon | 1 702 | 1 678,30 | 101,4 |
| Lesotho | 6,816 | 13,6434 | 50,0 |
| Liberia (2) | 1,391 | 1,11330 | 124,9 |
| Libya (4) | | | |
| Madagascar | 3 080 | 3 197,30 | 96,3 |
| Malawi | 374,0 | 490,125 | 76,3 |
| Malaysia | 3,053 | 4,20700 | 72,6 |
| Mali | 648,5 | 655,957 | 98,9 |
| Mauritania | 249,5 | 364,760 | 68,4 |
| Mauritius | 28,69 | 39,4345 | 72,8 |
| Mexico | 12,51 | 17,3959 | 71,9 |
| Moldova | 12,03 | 21,1341 | 56,9 |
| Montenegro | 0,6274 | 1,00000 | 62,7 |
| Morocco | 7,879 | 10,9025 | 72,3 |
| Mozambique | 32,16 | 44,8000 | 71,8 |
| Myanmar/Burma | 815,3 | 1 212,38 | 67,2 |
| Namibia | 9,241 | 13,6434 | 67,7 |
| Nepal | 104,4 | 114,080 | 91,5 |
| New Caledonia | 128,9 | 119,332 | 108,0 |
| New Zealand | 1,705 | 1,62680 | 104,8 |
| Nicaragua | 19,43 | 30,3371 | 64,0 |
| Niger | 553,7 | 655,957 | 84,4 |
| Nigeria | 214,1 | 220,223 | 97,2 |
| Norway | 11,94 | 8,80650 | 135,6 |
| Pakistan | 69,70 | 113,767 | 61,3 |
| Panama (2) | 0,8670 | 1,11330 | 77,9 |
| Papua New Guinea | 3,514 | 3,05432 | 115,1 |
| Paraguay | 3 984 | 5 738,95 | 69,4 |
| Peru | 3,322 | 3,53640 | 93,9 |
| Philippines | 42,23 | 50,3010 | 84,0 |
| Russia | 57,26 | 61,6025 | 93,0 |
| Rwanda | 702,2 | 805,110 | 87,2 |
| Samoa | 2,715 | 2,85462 | 95,1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3,521 | 4,17488 | 84,3 |
| Senegal | 666,0 | 655,957 | 101,5 |
| Serbia | 73,39 | 120,422 | 60,9 |
| Sierra Leone | 7 270 | 5 411,94 | 134,3 |
| Singapore | 1,971 | 1,50160 | 131,3 |
| Solomon Islands | 10,16 | 8,73172 | 116,4 |
| Somalia (4) | | | |
| South Africa | 7,905 | 13,6434 | 57,9 |
| South Korea | 1 286 | 1 249,68 | 102,9 |
| South Sudan (Juba) | 4,259 | 3,28424 | 129,7 |
| Sri Lanka | 122,4 | 149,945 | 81,6 |
| Sudan | 9,975 | 7,01746 | 142,1 |
| Suriname | 2,791 | 3,67389 | 76,0 |
| Swaziland | 8,707 | 13,6434 | 63,8 |
| Switzerland (Berne) | 1,478 | 1,03760 | 142,4 |
| Switzerland (Geneva) | 1,478 | 1,03760 | 142,4 |
| Syria (4) | | | |
| Taiwan | 32,23 | 34,4458 | 93,6 |
| Tajikistan | 4,656 | 6,96948 | 66,8 |
| Tanzania | 1 443 | 2 337,55 | 61,7 |
| Thailand | 31,06 | 37,6350 | 82,5 |
| Timor-Leste (2) | 1,065 | 1,11330 | 95,7 |
| Togo | 533,1 | 655,957 | 81,3 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 6,886 | 7,16400 | 96,1 |
| Tunisia | 1,519 | 2,17640 | 69,8 |
| Turkey | 2,332 | 2,99050 | 78,0 |
| Turkmenistan | 2,536 | 3,89655 | 65,1 |
| Uganda | 2 551 | 3 646,60 | 70,0 |
| Ukraine | 13,96 | 23,5775 | 59,2 |
| United Arab Emirates | 3,988 | 4,09190 | 97,5 |
| United States (New York) | 1,212 | 1,11330 | 108,9 |
| United States (Washington) | 1,085 | 1,11330 | 97,5 |
| Uruguay | 27,92 | 29,8676 | 93,5 |
| Uzbekistan | 2 681 | 2 839,86 | 94,4 |
| Vanuatu | 134,7 | 121,130 | 111,2 |
| Venezuela (4) | | | |
| Vietnam | 15 329 | 24 281,1 | 63,1 |
| West Bank — Gaza Strip | 5,181 | 4,22500 | 122,6 |
| Yemen | 285,8 | 239,237 | 119,5 |
| Zambia | 7,632 | 8,23290 | 92,7 |
| Zimbabwe (2) | 1,078 | 1,11330 | 96,8 |

Place of employment

Economic parity

July 2015

Exchange rate

July 2015 (2)

Weighting

July 2015 (3)

Afghanistan (4)

Albania

79,96

140,550

56,9

Algeria

79,28

110,821

71,5

Angola

200,1

134,757

148,5

Argentina

9,287

10,0965

92,0

Armenia

437,7

529,690

82,6

Australia

1,457

1,45260

100,3

Azerbaijan

1,078

1,16696

92,4

Bangladesh

71,37

86,6147

82,4

Barbados

2,749

2,23853

122,8

Belarus

9 132

17 248,0

52,9

Belize

1,858

2,24330

82,8

Benin

684,2

655,957

104,3

Bolivia

6,891

7,69290

89,6

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Banja Luka)

1,092

1,95583

55,8

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo)

1,292

1,95583

66,1

Botswana

6,330

11,0742

57,2

Brazil

3,597

3,49590

102,9

Burkina Faso

636,2

655,957

97,0

Burundi

1 478

1 751,18

84,4

Cambodia

3 827

4 614,00

82,9

Cameroon

633,7

655,957

96,6

Canada

1,421

1,37760

103,2

Cape Verde

76,68

110,265

69,5

Central African Republic

680,8

655,957

103,8

Chad

780,1

655,957

118,9

Chile

397,1

704,519

56,4

China

6,929

6,91210

100,2

Colombia

2 100

2 839,74

74,0

Comoros

317,2

491,968

64,5

Congo (Brazzaville)

806,2

655,957

122,9

Costa Rica

498,7

595,543

83,7

Cuba (2)

1,055

1,11330

94,8

Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa) (2)

1,825

1,11330

163,9

Djibouti

181,1

197,857

91,5

Dominican Republic

33,73

50,2830

67,1

Ecuador (2)

1,028

1,11330

92,3

Egypt

6,718

8,52845

78,8

El Salvador (2)

0,8567

1,11330

77,0

Eritrea

24,00

17,3943

138,0

Ethiopia

22,17

23,2380

95,4

Fiji

1,609

2,33918

68,8

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

30,65

61,6940

49,7

Gabon

719,9

655,957

109,7

Gambia

33,81

43,9300

77,0

Georgia

1,577

2,51700

62,7

Ghana

2,787

4,81095

57,9

Guatemala

8,027

8,47985

94,7

Guinea (Conakry)

7 414

8 206,67

90,3

Guinea-Bissau

585,6

655,957

89,3

Guyana

171,5

231,930

73,9

Haiti

53,18

55,8709

95,2

Honduras

22,08

24,4101

90,5

Hong Kong

10,71

8,63060

124,1

Iceland

186,8

147,770

126,4

India

54,37

71,0695

76,5

Indonesia (Banda Aceh)

10 316

14 868,3

69,4

Indonesia (Jakarta)

11 232

14 868,3

75,5

Iran (4)

Iraq (4)

Israel

4,559

4,22500

107,9

Ivory Coast

637,3

655,957

97,2

Jamaica

119,8

129,193

92,7

Japan

129,6

136,810

94,7

Jordan

0,8276

0,789330

104,8

Kazakhstan

206,1

208,950

98,6

Kenya

99,88

110,340

90,5

Kosovo

0,7104

1,00000

71,0

Kyrgyzstan

54,01

68,1088

79,3

Laos

9 306

9 075,00

102,5

Lebanon

1 702

1 678,30

101,4

Lesotho

6,816

13,6434

50,0

Liberia (2)

1,391

1,11330

124,9

Libya (4)

Madagascar

3 080

3 197,30

96,3

Malawi

374,0

490,125

76,3

Malaysia

3,053

4,20700

72,6

Mali

648,5

655,957

98,9

Mauritania

249,5

364,760

68,4

Mauritius

28,69

39,4345

72,8

Mexico

12,51

17,3959

71,9

Moldova

12,03

21,1341

56,9

Montenegro

0,6274

1,00000

62,7

Morocco

7,879

10,9025

72,3

Mozambique

32,16

44,8000

71,8

Myanmar/Burma

815,3

1 212,38

67,2

Namibia

9,241

13,6434

67,7

Nepal

104,4

114,080

91,5

New Caledonia

128,9

119,332

108,0

New Zealand

1,705

1,62680

104,8

Nicaragua

19,43

30,3371

64,0

Niger

553,7

655,957

84,4

Nigeria

214,1

220,223

97,2

Norway

11,94

8,80650

135,6

Pakistan

69,70

113,767

61,3

Panama (2)

0,8670

1,11330

77,9

Papua New Guinea

3,514

3,05432

115,1

Paraguay

3 984

5 738,95

69,4

Peru

3,322

3,53640

93,9

Philippines

42,23

50,3010

84,0

Russia

57,26

61,6025

93,0

Rwanda

702,2

805,110

87,2

Samoa

2,715

2,85462

95,1

Saudi Arabia

3,521

4,17488

84,3

Senegal

666,0

655,957

101,5

Serbia

73,39

120,422

60,9

Sierra Leone

7 270

5 411,94

134,3

Singapore

1,971

1,50160

131,3

Solomon Islands

10,16

8,73172

116,4

Somalia (4)

South Africa

7,905

13,6434

57,9

South Korea

1 286

1 249,68

102,9

South Sudan (Juba)

4,259

3,28424

129,7

Sri Lanka

122,4

149,945

81,6

Sudan

9,975

7,01746

142,1

Suriname

2,791

3,67389

76,0

Swaziland

8,707

13,6434

63,8

Switzerland (Berne)

1,478

1,03760

142,4

Switzerland (Geneva)

1,478

1,03760

142,4

Syria (4)

Taiwan

32,23

34,4458

93,6

Tajikistan

4,656

6,96948

66,8

Tanzania

1 443

2 337,55

61,7

Thailand

31,06

37,6350

82,5

Timor-Leste (2)

1,065

1,11330

95,7

Togo

533,1

655,957

81,3

Trinidad and Tobago

6,886

7,16400

96,1

Tunisia

1,519

2,17640

69,8

Turkey

2,332

2,99050

78,0

Turkmenistan

2,536

3,89655

65,1

Uganda

2 551

3 646,60

70,0

Ukraine

13,96

23,5775

59,2

United Arab Emirates

3,988

4,09190

97,5

United States (New York)

1,212

1,11330

108,9

United States (Washington)

1,085

1,11330

97,5

Uruguay

27,92

29,8676

93,5

Uzbekistan

2 681

2 839,86

94,4

Vanuatu

134,7

121,130

111,2

Venezuela (4)

Vietnam

15 329

24 281,1

63,1

West Bank — Gaza Strip

5,181

4,22500

122,6

Yemen

285,8

239,237

119,5

Zambia

7,632

8,23290

92,7

Zimbabwe (2)

1,078

1,11330

96,8

---

(1)  Eurostat Report of 22 October 2015 on the 2015 annual update of remuneration and pensions of EU officials in accordance with Articles 64 and 65 and Annexes XI and of the Staff Regulations applicable to officials and other servants of the European Union adjusting with effect from 1 July 2015 the remuneration of active staff and the pensions of retired staff, and updating with effect from 1 July 2015 the correction coefficients applied to the remuneration of active staff serving in Intra-EU and Extra-EU duty stations, to the pensions of retired staff according to their country of residence, and for pension transfers (Ares(2015)4498187).

Further information on the methodology is available on the Eurostat website (‘Statistics Database’ > ‘Economy and finance’ > ‘Prices’ > ‘Correction coefficients’).

(2)  1 EURO = x units of local currency (USD for Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Liberia, Panama, D.R. Congo, Timor-Leste and Zimbabwe).

(3)  Brussels and Luxembourg = 100 %.

(4)  Not available because of local instability or unreliable data.

---

V Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/17 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/17

---

CALL FOR PROPOSALS — EACEA/48/2015

Erasmus+ Programme Key Action 3: Support for policy reform — Support to European Policy Tools

Quality assurance at European level for enhanced transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications

(2015/C 415/07)

1.   Description, objectives, and themes

The general objective of the call is to test possible procedures, mechanisms and quality criteria at European level that could be applied when:

| — | relating international qualifications or international sectorial qualifications systems or frameworks to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) (1) and for awarding international qualifications that are related to the EQF; |
| --- | --- |

—

relating international qualifications or international sectorial qualifications systems or frameworks to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) (1) and for awarding international qualifications that are related to the EQF;

| — | relating potential European core profiles of qualifications (2) to the EQF and for awarding qualifications forthcoming from them; |
| --- | --- |

—

relating potential European core profiles of qualifications (2) to the EQF and for awarding qualifications forthcoming from them;

with the aim of creating ground for trust (3) in the levels and procedures to support recognition of qualifications forthcoming from European core profiles of qualifications and to improve the de-facto and formal recognition of international qualifications.

The present Call will provide funding through the 3 following themes:

Theme A
  : Relating an international sectorial qualifications system or framework to the EQF and describing quality assurance principles, mechanisms and possible quality criteria for this and for awarding qualifications forthcoming from it;

Theme B
  : Relating (one or more) international qualification(s) to the EQF and describing quality assurance principles, mechanisms and possible quality criteria for awarding this qualification(s).

Theme C
  : Developing one or more potential European core profiles of qualifications based on ESCO occupational profiles, relating it/them to the EQF and describing quality assurance principles, mechanisms and possible quality criteria for awarding qualifications forthcoming from it. Since the full version of ESCO will be published by 2017 the applicant is to select one or more ISCO level 4 occupations. The relevant ESCO occupational profile(s) will be provided after award of the pilot.

2.   Eligible countries

| — | EU Member States; |
| --- | --- |

—

EU Member States;

| — | candidate countries and potential candidates benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those countries in Union programmes established in the respective framework agreements, Association Council decisions or similar agreements, and subject to the setting up of an Erasmus+ National Agency; |
| --- | --- |

—

candidate countries and potential candidates benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those countries in Union programmes established in the respective framework agreements, Association Council decisions or similar agreements, and subject to the setting up of an Erasmus+ National Agency;

| — | EFTA countries that are party to the EEA agreement, in accordance with the provisions of that agreement; |
| --- | --- |

—

EFTA countries that are party to the EEA agreement, in accordance with the provisions of that agreement;

| — | countries covered by the European neighbourhood policy which have concluded agreements with the Union providing for the possibility of their participation in the Union’s programmes, subject to the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with the Union on the conditions of their participation in the programme and subject to the setting up of an Erasmus+ National Agency. |
| --- | --- |

—

countries covered by the European neighbourhood policy which have concluded agreements with the Union providing for the possibility of their participation in the Union’s programmes, subject to the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with the Union on the conditions of their participation in the programme and subject to the setting up of an Erasmus+ National Agency.

3.   Eligible applicants

The call is opened to:

| — | International Professional organisations or associations; |
| --- | --- |

—

International Professional organisations or associations;

| — | National Professional organisations or associations; |
| --- | --- |

—

National Professional organisations or associations;

| — | Public and private authorities related to national qualifications frameworks |
| --- | --- |

—

Public and private authorities related to national qualifications frameworks

| — | Social Partners (EU, national and sectorial) |
| --- | --- |

—

Social Partners (EU, national and sectorial)

| — | Research centres |
| --- | --- |

—

Research centres

| — | Public and private awarding bodies |
| --- | --- |

—

Public and private awarding bodies

| — | Public and private education and training providers |
| --- | --- |

—

Public and private education and training providers

| — | Public and private Quality assurance or Accreditation organisations |
| --- | --- |

—

Public and private Quality assurance or Accreditation organisations

An organisation may submit only one application either for Themes A, B or C.

4.   Eligible activities

Activities may start between 1 June 2016 and 1 August 2016. The activities to be funded under this call may include desk reviews, analyses, research; mapping, surveys, drafting proposals, testing preliminary results with stakeholders, validation of results, reporting and coordination activities with the Commission (twice a year).

All the activities should have an international nature or impact. In order to achieve noteworthy results, a large representative group of stakeholders in more than two countries must be involved.

5.   Award criteria

The award criteria for the funding of a proposal are:

| 1. | Relevance (20 %) |
| --- | --- |

1.

Relevance (20 %)

| 2. | Quality of the project design and implementation (30 %) |
| --- | --- |

2.

Quality of the project design and implementation (30 %)

| 3. | Quality of the project team and cooperation (working) arrangements (30 %) |
| --- | --- |

3.

Quality of the project team and cooperation (working) arrangements (30 %)

| 4. | Impact and dissemination (20 %) |
| --- | --- |

4.

Impact and dissemination (20 %)

6.   Budget

The total estimated budget available for the co-financing of actions under the present call is EUR 400 000.

Financial contribution from the EU cannot exceed 75 % of the total eligible action costs.

The maximum estimated grant will be:

| — | EUR 180 000 under Theme A; |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 180 000 under Theme A;

| — | EUR 60 000 under Theme B, and |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 60 000 under Theme B, and

| — | EUR 80 000 under Theme C. |
| --- | --- |

—

EUR 80 000 under Theme C.

The Agency reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available for the call.

7.   Procedure for submission of proposals and deadline

| — | In order to be able to submit an application, applicants will have to register their organisation in the Unique Registration Facility (URF) and receive a Participant Identification Code (PIC). The PIC will be requested in the application form. The Unique Registration Facility is the tool through which all legal and financial information related to organisations will be managed. It is accessible via the Education, Audiovisual, Culture, Citizenship and Volunteering Participant Portal. Information on how to register can be found in the portal under the following address: http://ec.europa.eu/education/participants/portal |
| --- | --- |

—

In order to be able to submit an application, applicants will have to register their organisation in the Unique Registration Facility (URF) and receive a Participant Identification Code (PIC). The PIC will be requested in the application form. The Unique Registration Facility is the tool through which all legal and financial information related to organisations will be managed. It is accessible via the Education, Audiovisual, Culture, Citizenship and Volunteering Participant Portal. Information on how to register can be found in the portal under the following address: http://ec.europa.eu/education/participants/portal

| — | Grant applications must be drawn up in English, French or German and using the official application package. Please ensure you are using the correct application. |
| --- | --- |

—

Grant applications must be drawn up in English, French or German and using the official application package. Please ensure you are using the correct application.

| — | The application package is available on the internet at the following address:
  https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/quality-assurance-european-level-for-enhanced-transparency-and-recognition-skills-and-qualifications_en |
| --- | --- |

—

The application package is available on the internet at the following address:

https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/quality-assurance-european-level-for-enhanced-transparency-and-recognition-skills-and-qualifications_en

Applications must be submitted by the following deadline:

29 February 2016 at 12 pm, Brussels time

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(1)  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32008H0506%2801%29&from=EN

(2)  Regulated professions are excluded from this pilot.

(3)  Comparable to the level of trust achieved through the EQF referencing process.

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| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/20 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/20

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CALL FOR PROPOSALS EACEA/34/2015

under the Erasmus+ Programme

Key Action 3: support for policy reform — initiatives for policy innovation

European policy experimentations in the fields of education, training and youth led by high-level public authorities

(2015/C 415/08)

1.   Description, objectives and priority themes

European policy experimentations under Erasmus+ key action 3 (Support for policy reform) — initiatives for policy innovation
   (1) are transnational cooperation projects supporting the implementation of the European Union policy agendas on education, training and youth, including sector-specific agendas such as the Bologna and Copenhagen processes.

The general objective of this call for proposals is to promote the improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of education and training systems and youth policies through the collection and evaluation of evidence on the systemic impact of innovative policy measures. This call requires the involvement of high-level public authorities of the eligible countries and the use of sound and widely recognised evaluation methods based on field trials (experimentation).

The specific objectives of this call are to:

| — | Promote trans-national cooperation and mutual learning among public authorities at the highest institutional level of the eligible countries in order to foster systemic improvement and innovation in the education, training and youth fields, |
| --- | --- |

—

Promote trans-national cooperation and mutual learning among public authorities at the highest institutional level of the eligible countries in order to foster systemic improvement and innovation in the education, training and youth fields,

| — | Enhance the collection and analysis of substantive evidence to ensure the successful implementation of innovative measures, |
| --- | --- |

—

Enhance the collection and analysis of substantive evidence to ensure the successful implementation of innovative measures,

| — | Facilitate the transferability and scalability of innovative measures. |
| --- | --- |

—

Facilitate the transferability and scalability of innovative measures.

The priority themes for this call are:

| — | Education and Training field






  1. | Promoting fundamental values through Education and Training addressing diversity in the learning environment |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Education and Training field

1.

Promoting fundamental values through Education and Training addressing diversity in the learning environment

| 2. | Employment and Skills: validation of informal and non-formal learning in Education and Training |
| --- | --- |

2.

Employment and Skills: validation of informal and non-formal learning in Education and Training

| 3. | Strengthening teacher training and education by using the opportunities of new technologies (School education) |
| --- | --- |

3.

Strengthening teacher training and education by using the opportunities of new technologies (School education)

| 4. | Towards more innovative and entrepreneurial higher education institutions through institutional change (Higher education) |
| --- | --- |

4.

Towards more innovative and entrepreneurial higher education institutions through institutional change (Higher education)

| 5. | VET teachers and trainers in work-based learning/apprenticeship (VET) |
| --- | --- |

5.

VET teachers and trainers in work-based learning/apprenticeship (VET)

| 6. | Implementation of a framework for the assessment of the effectiveness of adult learning policies |
| --- | --- |

6.

Implementation of a framework for the assessment of the effectiveness of adult learning policies

| — | Youth field






  7. | Reaching out: developing capacity for tackling and preventing marginalisation and violent radicalisation among young people |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Youth field

7.

Reaching out: developing capacity for tackling and preventing marginalisation and violent radicalisation among young people

2.   Eligible applicants

Applicants considered eligible to respond to this call are:

| (a) | Public authorities (ministry or equivalent) responsible for education, training or youth at the highest level in the relevant national or regional context (corresponding to NUTS codes 1 or 2; for countries where NUTS codes 1 or 2 are not available, the highest NUTS code available applies (2)). Responsible public authorities for sectors other than education, training and youth (e.g. employment, finance, social affairs, home affairs, justice, health, etc.) are considered eligible as long as they demonstrate that they have a specific competence in the area in which the experimentation is to be carried out. Public authorities can delegate to be represented by other public or private organisations, as well as by legally established networks or associations of public authorities, provided that the delegation is in writing and makes explicit reference to the proposal being submitted. |
| --- | --- |

(a)

Public authorities (ministry or equivalent) responsible for education, training or youth at the highest level in the relevant national or regional context (corresponding to NUTS codes 1 or 2; for countries where NUTS codes 1 or 2 are not available, the highest NUTS code available applies (2)). Responsible public authorities for sectors other than education, training and youth (e.g. employment, finance, social affairs, home affairs, justice, health, etc.) are considered eligible as long as they demonstrate that they have a specific competence in the area in which the experimentation is to be carried out. Public authorities can delegate to be represented by other public or private organisations, as well as by legally established networks or associations of public authorities, provided that the delegation is in writing and makes explicit reference to the proposal being submitted.

| (b) | Public or private organisations or institutions active in the fields of education, training or youth |
| --- | --- |

(b)

Public or private organisations or institutions active in the fields of education, training or youth

| (c) | Public or private organisations or institutions carrying out activities linked to education, training and/or youth in other socioeconomic sectors (e.g. public authorities, agencies or services responsible for: education, training, youth, employment, social affairs, home affairs, justice, quality assurance, recognition and/or validation; career guidance, chambers of commerce, business and social partners, trade organisations, civil society, cultural or sport organisations, evaluation or research entities, media, etc.) |
| --- | --- |

(c)

Public or private organisations or institutions carrying out activities linked to education, training and/or youth in other socioeconomic sectors (e.g. public authorities, agencies or services responsible for: education, training, youth, employment, social affairs, home affairs, justice, quality assurance, recognition and/or validation; career guidance, chambers of commerce, business and social partners, trade organisations, civil society, cultural or sport organisations, evaluation or research entities, media, etc.)

Only proposals from legal entities established in the following eligible countries are eligible:

| — | the 28 Member States of the European Union, |
| --- | --- |

—

the 28 Member States of the European Union,

| — | the EFTA/EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, |
| --- | --- |

—

the EFTA/EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,

| — | EU candidate countries: Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia |
| --- | --- |

—

EU candidate countries: Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Minimum partnership composition

The minimum partnership composition requirement for this call is: 4 entities representing 3 eligible countries. Specifically:

| — | At least one public authority (Ministry or equivalent) or delegated body (as described in 2(a) from 3 different eligible countries, or a legally established network/association of public authorities representing at least three different eligible countries. The network or association must have a delegation from at least 3 responsible public authorities (as described in 2(a) to operate on their behalf for the specific project proposal.
  Partnerships must include at least one responsible public authority as indicated under point 2(a) from an EU Member State. |
| --- | --- |

—

At least one public authority (Ministry or equivalent) or delegated body (as described in 2(a) from 3 different eligible countries, or a legally established network/association of public authorities representing at least three different eligible countries. The network or association must have a delegation from at least 3 responsible public authorities (as described in 2(a) to operate on their behalf for the specific project proposal.

Partnerships must include at least one responsible public authority as indicated under point 2(a) from an EU Member State.

| — | At least one public or private entity with expertise in counterfactual analysis and policy impact evaluation (‘researcher’). Such entity shall be responsible for the methodological aspects and the field trial protocols. The partnership can involve more than one such entity, as long as the work is coordinated and consistent. |
| --- | --- |

—

At least one public or private entity with expertise in counterfactual analysis and policy impact evaluation (‘researcher’). Such entity shall be responsible for the methodological aspects and the field trial protocols. The partnership can involve more than one such entity, as long as the work is coordinated and consistent.

A project proposal can only be coordinated and submitted — on behalf of all applicants — by one of the following:

| — | A public authority as described under 2(a); |
| --- | --- |

—

A public authority as described under 2(a);

| — | A legally established network or association of public authorities as described under 2(a); |
| --- | --- |

—

A legally established network or association of public authorities as described under 2(a);

| — | A public or private entity delegated to reply to the call by a public authority described under 2(a). Delegated entities must have an explicit endorsement in writing by a public authority as described under 2(a), to submit and coordinate the project proposal on their behalf. |
| --- | --- |

—

A public or private entity delegated to reply to the call by a public authority described under 2(a). Delegated entities must have an explicit endorsement in writing by a public authority as described under 2(a), to submit and coordinate the project proposal on their behalf.

Proposals must be submitted by the legal representative of the coordinator on behalf of all applicants. Natural persons may not apply for a grant. Only organisations that are in a position to demonstrate their existence as a legal person for at least 3 years (3) on the date of the deadline for submission of pre-proposals are considered eligible as ‘coordinator’ for the purpose of this call.

3.   Eligiblity period and eligible activities

Project must start between 1 January 2017 and 28 February 2017.

The project duration must be between 24 and 36 months. However, if, after the signing of the agreement and the start of the project it becomes impossible for the beneficiaries, for fully justified reasons beyond their control, to complete the project within the scheduled period, an extension to the eligibility period may be granted. A maximum extension of 6 additional months will be granted, if requested before the deadline specified in the agreement. The maximum duration will then be 42 months.

Eligible activities should be in line with Annex 1 of the Guidelines for applicants. The field trials must take place at least in three countries whose ministries (or delegated entities) are involved in the project.

4.   Award criteria

Proposals will be submitted and evaluated in two stages, involving a pre-proposal (Stage I) and a full proposal (Stage II).

Pre-proposals will be assessed on the award criterion ‘Relevance of the project’ (maximum 20 points). Eligible applicants reaching the minimum threshold of 12 points on the score for the award criterion ‘Relevance of the project’ will be invited to submit a full proposal which will develop in an elaborate and comprehensive way the outline provided in the pre-proposal.

All applicants having submitted pre-proposals will be notified about the pre-selection results and will receive a summary evaluation of their pre-proposal.

Full proposals will be assessed on the basis of eligibility, exclusion, selection, and the three remaining award criteria: ‘quality of the project design and implementation’, ‘quality of the partnership and cooperation arrangements’, and ‘impact, dissemination, and sustainability’.

The award criteria (see Section 14 of the Guidelines for applicants) for the funding of a proposal are:

| 1. | relevance of the project (maximum 20 points) |
| --- | --- |

1.

relevance of the project (maximum 20 points)

| 2. | quality of the project design and implementation (maximum 30 points); |
| --- | --- |

2.

quality of the project design and implementation (maximum 30 points);

| 3. | quality of the partnership and cooperation arrangements (maximum 20 points) |
| --- | --- |

3.

quality of the partnership and cooperation arrangements (maximum 20 points)

| 4. | impact, dissemination, and sustainability (maximum 30 points). |
| --- | --- |

4.

impact, dissemination, and sustainability (maximum 30 points).

The calculation of the total score for the full proposal will include the score obtained for ‘Relevance of the project’ at pre-proposal stage Only full proposals having reached at least the threshold of 60 points of the total score (i.e. score on the award criterion ‘Relevance of the project’ assessed in the first stage plus scores on the other three award criteria assessed in the second stage) will be considered for EU funding.

5.   Budget

The total budget available for the co-financing of projects under the present call is EUR 14 000 000. It is divided in the following way between the two fields of operation:

—   Education and Training: EUR 12 000 000

—   Youth: EUR 2 000 000

The financial contribution from the EU cannot exceed 75 % of the total eligible costs.

The maximum grant per project will be EUR 2 000 000.

The Agency reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available.

6.   Procedure for submission and deadlines

Before submitting the electronic application, applicants will have to register their organisation in the Education, Audiovisual, Culture, Citizenship and Volunteering Participant Portal and receive a Participant Identification Code (PIC). The PIC will be requested in the application form.

The Participant Portal is the tool through which all legal and financial information related to organisations will be managed. Information on how to register can be found in the portal under the following address: http://ec.europa.eu/education/participants/portal

The submission and selection of proposals will take place in two stages: pre-proposal stage and full proposal stage.

Applicants are requested to read carefully all information about the call for proposals and the submission procedure, and to use the documents forming part of the application (Application Package) at: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/key-action-3-initiatives-for-policy-innovation-european-policy-experimentation-eacea-342015_en

The Application Package must be submitted online using the correct e-form, duly completed and containing all relevant and applicable annexes and supporting documents. The application forms are available on the internet at the following address: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/PPMT/

Application forms which do not include all the necessary information and which are not submitted online by the deadline will not be considered.

Grant applications must be drawn up in one of the official EU languages.

Submission deadlines:

—   pre-proposals: 14 April 2016 — 12.00 noon CET

—   full proposals: 13 October 2016 — 12.00 noon CET

7.   Further information

For more details, please refer to the Guidelines for Applicants.

The Guidelines for applicants and the Application Package are available on the following website:

https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/key-action-3-initiatives-for-policy-innovation-european-policy-experimentation-eacea-342015_en

E-mail contact details: EACEA-Policy-Support@ec.europa.eu

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(1)  The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing ‘Erasmus+’: the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport, in particular Articles 9 and 15 — Support for policy reform — constitutes the legal basis for the present call.

(2)  http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/nuts/overview

(3)  ‘Date main registration’ in the legal entity form: http://ec.europa.eu/budget/contracts_grants/info_contracts/legal_entities/legal_entities_en.cfm#en

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| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/24 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/24

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Calls for proposals under the multiannual work programme for financial assistance in the field of Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) — Transport sector for the period 2014-2020

(Commission Implementing Decision C(2015) 7358 (1) amending Commission Implementing Decision C(2014) 1921 (2))

(2015/C 415/09)

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, is announcing a corrigendum to the call for proposals (CEF-Transport-2015-General envelope) in order to award grants in accordance with the priorities and objectives defined in the multiannual work programme for financial assistance in the field of Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) — Transport sector, as published in the Official Journal (2015/C-366/05) on 5 November 2015.

The corrigendum to the call for proposals is available on:

https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility/cef-transport/apply-funding/2015-cef-transport-general-call

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(1)  Commission Implementing Decision C(2015) 7358 of 30 October 2015 amending Commission Implementing Decision C(2014) 1921 establishing a Multiannual Work Programme 2014 for financial assistance in the field of Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) — Transport sector for the period 2014-2020.

(2)  Commission Implementing Decision C(2014) 1921 of 26 March 2014.

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PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

European Commission

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/25 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/25

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Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the countervailing measures applicable to imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India

(2015/C 415/10)

Following the publication of a notice of impending expiry (1) of the countervailing measures in force on the imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India (‘the country concerned’), the European Commission (‘the Commission’) has received a request for review pursuant to Article 18 of Council Regulation (EC) No 597/2009 of 11 June 2009 on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Community (2) (‘the basic Regulation’).

1.   Request for review

The request was lodged on on 16 September 2015 by SGL Carbon GmbH, TOKAI Erftcarbon GmbH and GrafTech Switzerland SA (‘the applicants’) representing more than 25 % of the total Union production of certain graphite electrode systems.

2.   Product under review

The product subject to this review is graphite electrodes of a kind used for electric furnaces, with an apparent density of 1,65 g/cm3 or more and an electrical resistance of 6,0 μ.Ω.m or less, and nipples used for such electrodes, whether imported together or separately originating in India (‘the product under review’), currently falling within CN codes ex 8545 11 00 (TARIC code 8545110010) and ex 8545 90 90 (TARIC code 8545909010).

3.   Existing measures

The measures currently in force are a definitive countervailing duty imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1628/2004 (3), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1354/2008 (4) and as maintained by Council implementing Regulation (EU) No 1185/2010 (5).

4.   Grounds for the review

The request is based on the grounds that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in continuation of subsidisation and continuation or recurrence of injury to the Union industry.

4.1.   
  Allegation of likelihood of continuation of subsidisation

The applicants have provided sufficient evidence that the producers of the product under review in India have benefitted and are likely to continue to benefit from a number of subsidies granted by the Government of India and from regional subsidies.

The subsidy practices consist, inter alia, of (1) direct transfer of funds and potential direct transfers of funds or liabilities, for example the Duty Drawback Scheme; (2) government revenue forgone or not collected, for example the Advance Authorisation Scheme, the Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme, the Electricity Duty Exemption Scheme of the State of Madhya Pradesh and the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme; and (3) payments to a funding mechanism, or entrustment or direction of a private body to carry out one or more of the functions as described in (1) and (2) of this paragraph, for example the Export Credit Scheme.

The Commission reserves the right to investigate other relevant subsidy practices which may be revealed during the course of the investigation.

The applicants allege that the above schemes are subsidies since they involve a financial contribution from the Government of India or other regional governments and confer a benefit to exporting producers of the product under review. They are alleged to be specific to an enterprise or industry or group of enterprises or industries and therefore countervailable.

4.2.   
  Allegation of likelihood of continuation or recurrence of injury

The applicants have also provided prima facie evidence that imports of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union remained significant in absolute terms and in terms of market shares.

The prima facie evidence provided by the applicants shows that in the absence of measures, the prices of the imported product under review would have had, among other consequences, a negative impact on the level of prices charged by the Union industry, resulting in substantial further adverse effects on the financial situation of the Union industry.

The applicants have also provided evidence that, should measures be allowed to lapse, the current import level of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union is likely to increase due to the existence of significant unused capacities of the exporting producers in India.

In addition, the applicants allege that any further substantial increase of imports at subsidised prices from the country concerned would be likely to cause further injury to the Union industry should measures be allowed to lapse.

5.   Procedure

Having determined, after consulting the Committee established by Article 15(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 (6), that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an expiry review, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation.

The expiry review will determine whether the expiry of the measures would be likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence of subsidisation of the product under review originating in the country concerned and a continuation or recurrence of injury to the Union industry.

The Government of India has been invited for consultations in accordance with Article 10(7) of the basic Regulation.

5.1.   
  Review investigation period and period considered

The investigation of a continuation or recurrence of subsidisation will cover the period from 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015 (‘the review investigation period’). The examination of trends relevant for the assessment of the likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury will cover the period from 1 January 2012 to the end of the investigation period (‘the period considered’).

5.2.   
  Procedure for the determination of a likelihood of continuation or recurrence of subsidisation

Exporting producers (7) of the product under review from the country concerned, including those that did not cooperate in the investigations leading to the measures in force, are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.2.1.   Investigating exporting producers

5.2.1.1.   Procedure for selecting exporting producers to be investigated in the country concerned

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation with regard to exporting producers, the Commission will send questionnaires to the known exporting producers in the country concerned, to any known association of exporting producers, and to the authorities of that country.

The exporting producers, and where applicable, the associations of exporting producers and the authorities of the country concerned, must submit the completed questionnaire within 37 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

5.2.2.   Investigating unrelated importers
   (8)
   (9)

Unrelated importers of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union are invited to participate in this investigation.

In view of the potentially large number of unrelated importers involved in this expiry review and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission may limit to a reasonable number the unrelated importers that will be investigated by selecting a sample (this process is also referred to as ‘sampling’). The sampling will be carried out in accordance with Article 27 of the basic Regulation.

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all unrelated importers, or representatives acting on their behalf, including the ones who did not cooperate in the investigations leading to the measures in force, are hereby requested to make themselves known to the Commission. These parties must do so within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified, by providing the Commission with the information on their company(ies) requested in Annex I to this notice.

In order to obtain information it deems necessary for the selection of the sample of unrelated importers, the Commission may also contact any known associations of importers.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample, excluding the information requested above, must do so within 21 days of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

If a sample is necessary, the importers may be selected based on the largest representative volume of sales of the product under review in the Union which can reasonably be investigated within the time available. All known unrelated importers and associations of importers will be notified by the Commission of the companies selected to be in the sample.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the sampled unrelated importers and to any known association of importers. These parties must submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of the notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

5.3.   
  Procedure for the determination of a likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury

In order to establish whether there is a likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury to the Union industry, Union producers of the product under review are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.3.1.   Investigating Union producers

In view of the large number of Union producers involved in this expiry review and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission has decided to limit to a reasonable number the Union producers that will be investigated by selecting a sample. The sampling is carried out in accordance with Article 27 of the basic Regulation.

The Commission has provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. Details can be found in the file for inspection by interested parties. Interested parties are hereby invited to consult the file (for this they should contact the Commission using the contact details provided in Section 5.7 below). Other Union producers, or representatives acting on their behalf, including Union producers who did not cooperate in the investigations leading to the measures in force, that consider that there are reasons why they should be included in the sample must contact the Commission within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample must do so within 21 days of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

All known Union producers and/or associations of Union producers will be notified by the Commission of the companies finally selected to be in the sample.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the sampled Union producers and to any known associations of Union producers. These parties must submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of the notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

5.4.   
  Procedure for the assessment of Union interest

Should the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of subsidisation and injury be confirmed, a decision will be reached, pursuant to Article 31 of the basic Regulation, as to whether maintaining the countervailing measures would not be against the Union interest. Union producers, importers and their representative associations, users and their representative associations, and representative consumer organisations are invited to make themselves known within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. In order to participate in the investigation, the representative consumer organisations have to demonstrate, within the same deadline, that there is an objective link between their activities and the product under review.

Parties that make themselves known within the above deadline may provide the Commission with information on the Union interest within 37 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. This information may be provided either in a free format or by completing a questionnaire prepared by the Commission. In any case, information submitted pursuant to Article 31 will only be taken into account if supported by factual evidence at the time of submission.

5.5.   
  Other written submissions

Subject to the provisions of this notice, all interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information and provide supporting evidence. Unless otherwise specified, this information and supporting evidence must reach the Commission within 37 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

5.6.   
  Possibility to be heard by the Commission investigation services

All interested parties may request to be heard by the Commission investigation services. Any request to be heard must be made in writing and must specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation the request must be submitted within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. Thereafter, a request to be heard must be submitted within the specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties.

5.7.   
  Instructions for making written submissions and sending completed questionnaires and correspondence

Information submitted to the Commission for the purpose of trade defence investigations shall be free from copyrights. Interested parties, before submitting to the Commission information and/or data which is subject to third party copyrights, must request specific permission to the copyright holder explicitly allowing (a) the Commission to use the information and data for the purpose of this trade defence proceeding; and (b) to provide the information and/or data to interested parties to this investigation in a form that allows them to exercise their rights of defence.

All written submissions, including the information requested in this Notice, completed questionnaires and correspondence provided by interested parties for which confidential treatment is requested shall be labelled ‘Limited’ (10).

Interested parties providing ‘Limited’ information are required to furnish non-confidential summaries of it pursuant to Article 29(2) of the basic Regulation, which will be labelled ‘For inspection by interested parties’. These summaries must be sufficiently detailed to permit a reasonable understanding of the substance of the information submitted in confidence. If an interested party providing confidential information does not furnish a non-confidential summary of it in the requested format and quality, such information may be disregarded.

Interested parties are invited to make all submissions and requests by e-mail including scanned powers of attorney and certification sheets, with the exception of voluminous replies which shall be submitted on a CD-ROM or DVD by hand or by registered mail. By using e-mail, interested parties express their agreement with the rules applicable to electronic submissions contained in the document ‘CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN TRADE DEFENCE CASES’ published on the website of the Directorate-General for Trade: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/june/tradoc_148003.pdf The interested parties must indicate their name, address, telephone and a valid e-mail address and they should ensure that the provided e-mail address is a functioning official business e-mail which is checked on a daily basis. Once contact details are provided, the Commission will communicate with interested parties by e-mail only, unless they explicitly request to receive all documents from the Commission by another means of communication or unless the nature of the document to be sent requires the use of a registered mail. For further rules and information concerning correspondence with the Commission including principles that apply to submissions by e-mail, interested parties should consult the communication instructions with interested parties referred to above.

Commission address for correspondence:

| European Commission |
| --- |
| Directorate-General for Trade |
| Directorate H |
| Office: CHAR 04/039 |
| 1040 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |
| E-mail | : | TRADE-R634-GES-SUBSIDY@ec.europa.eu
  TRADE-R634-GES-INJURY@ec.europa.eu |

European Commission

Directorate-General for Trade

Directorate H

Office: CHAR 04/039

1040 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

E-mail

:

TRADE-R634-GES-SUBSIDY@ec.europa.eu

TRADE-R634-GES-INJURY@ec.europa.eu

6.   Non-cooperation

In cases where 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 on the basis of facts available, in accordance with Article 28 of the basic Regulation.

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information may be disregarded and use may be made of 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 28 of the basic Regulation, the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

Failure to give a computerised response shall not be deemed to constitute non-cooperation, provided that the interested party shows that presenting the response as requested would result in an unreasonable extra burden or unreasonable additional cost. The interested party should immediately contact the Commission.

7.   Hearing Officer

Interested parties may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer in trade proceedings. The Hearing Officer acts as an interface between the interested parties and the Commission investigation services. The Hearing Officer reviews requests for access to the file, disputes regarding the confidentiality of documents, requests for extension of time limits and requests by third parties to be heard. The Hearing Officer may organise a hearing with an individual interested party and mediate to ensure that the interested parties' rights of defence are being fully exercised.

A request for a hearing with the Hearing Officer should be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation the request must be submitted within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. Thereafter, a request to be heard must be submitted within specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties.

The Hearing Officer will also provide opportunities for a hearing involving parties to take place which would allow different views to be presented and rebuttal arguments offered on issues pertaining, among other things, to the likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of subsidisation and injury and Union interest.

For further information and contact details interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer's web pages on DG Trade's website: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/trade-policy-and-you/contacts/hearing-officer/

8.   Schedule of the investigation

The investigation will be concluded, pursuant to Article 22(1) of the basic Regulation within 15 months of the date of the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

9.   Possibility to request a review under Article 19 of the basic Regulation

As this expiry review is initiated in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 of the basic Regulation, the findings thereof will not lead to the existing measures being amended but will lead to those measures being repealed or maintained in accordance with Article 22(3) of the basic Regulation.

If any interested party considers that a review of the measures is warranted so as to allow for the possibility to amend the measures, that party may request a review pursuant to Article 19 of the basic Regulation.

Parties wishing to request such a review, which would be carried out independently of the expiry review mentioned in this Notice, may contact the Commission at the address given above.

10.   Processing of personal data

Any personal data collected in this investigation will be treated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (11).

---

(1)  OJ C 82, 10.3.2015, p. 4.

(2)  OJ L 188, 18.7.2009, p. 93.

(3)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1628/2004 of 13 September 2004 imposing a definitive countervailing duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India (OJ L 295, 18.9.2004, p. 4).

(4)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1354/2008 of 18 December 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1628/2004 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India and Regulation (EC) No 1629/2004 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India (OJ L 350, 30.12.2008, p. 24).

(5)  Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1185/2010 of 13 December 2010 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India following an expiry review pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 597/2009 (OJ L 332, 16.12.2010, p. 1).

(6)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51).

(7)  An exporting producer is any company in the country concerned which produces and exports the product under review to the Union market, either directly or via third party, including any of its related companies involved in the production, domestic sales or exports of the product under review.

(8)  Only importers not related to exporting producers can be sampled. Importers that are related to exporting producers have to fill in Annex I to the questionnaire for these exporting producers. For the definition of a related party see footnote 3 in Annex I to this Notice.

(9)  The data provided by unrelated importers may also be used in relation to aspects of this investigation other than the determination of subsidisation.

(10)  A ‘Limited’ document is a document which is considered confidential pursuant to Article 29 of Council Regulation (EC) No 597/2009 of 11 June 2009 (OJ L 188, 18.7.2009, p. 93) and Article 12.4 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailable Measures (SCM Agreement). It is also a document 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).

(11)  OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

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ANNEX I

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| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/33 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/33

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Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India

(2015/C 415/11)

Following the publication of a notice of impending expiry (1) of the anti-dumping measures in force on the imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India (‘the country concerned’), the European Commission (‘the Commission’) has received a request for review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (2) (‘the basic Regulation’).

1.   Request for review

The request was lodged on 16 September 2015 by SGL Carbon GmbH, TOKAI Erftcarbon GmbH and GrafTech Switzerland SA (‘the applicants’) representing more than 25 % of the total Union production of certain graphite electrode systems.

2.   Product under review

The product subject to this review is graphite electrodes of a kind used for electric furnaces, with an apparent density of 1,65 g/cm3 or more and an electrical resistance of 6,0 μ.Ω.m or less, and nipples used for such electrodes, whether imported together or separately originating in India (‘the product under review’), currently falling within CN codes ex 8545 11 00 (TARIC code 8545110010) and ex 8545 90 90 (TARIC code 8545909010).

3.   Existing measures

The measures currently in force are a definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1629/2004 (3), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1354/2008 (4) and as maintained by Council implementing Regulation (EU) No 1186/2010 (5).

4.   Grounds for the review

The request is based on the grounds that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in continuation of dumping and continuation or recurrence of injury to the Union industry.

4.1.   
  Allegation of likelihood of continuation of dumping

The allegation of likelihood of continuation of dumping for India is based on a comparison of domestic price with the export price (at ex-works level) of the product under review when sold for export to the Union.

On this basis the dumping margins calculated are significant for the country concerned.

4.2.   
  Allegation of likelihood of continuation or recurrence of injury

The applicants have also provided prima facie evidence that imports of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union remained significant in absolute terms and in terms of market shares.

The prima facie evidence provided by the applicants shows that in the absence of measures, the prices of the imported product under review would have had, among other consequences, a negative impact on the level of prices charged by the Union industry, resulting in substantial further adverse effects on the financial situation of the Union industry.

The applicants have also provided evidence that, should measures be allowed to lapse, the current import level of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union is likely to increase due to the existence of significant unused capacities of the exporting producers in India.

In addition, the applicants allege that any further substantial increase of imports at dumped prices from the country concerned would be likely to cause further injury to the Union industry should measures be allowed to lapse.

5.   Procedure

Having determined, after consulting the Committee established by Article 15(1) of the basic Regulation, that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an expiry review, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation.

5.1.   
  Review investigation period and period considered

The investigation of a continuation or recurrence of dumping will cover the period from 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015 (‘the review investigation period’). The examination of trends relevant for the assessment of the likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury will cover the period from 1 January 2012 to the end of the investigation period (‘the period considered’).

5.2.   
  Procedure for the determination of a likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping

Exporting producers (6) of the product under review from the country concerned, including those that did not cooperate in the investigations leading to the measures in force, are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.2.1.   Investigating exporting producers

5.2.1.1.   Procedure for selecting exporting producers to be investigated in the country concerned

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation with regard to exporting producers, the Commission will send questionnaires to the known exporting producers in the country concerned, to any known association of exporting producers, and to the authorities of that country.

The exporting producers, and where applicable, the associations of exporting producers and the authorities of the country concerned, must submit the completed questionnaire within 37 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

5.2.2.   Investigating unrelated importers
   (7)
   (8)

Unrelated importers of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union are invited to participate in this investigation.

In view of the potentially large number of unrelated importers involved in this expiry review and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission may limit to a reasonable number the unrelated importers that will be investigated by selecting a sample (this process is also referred to as ‘sampling’). The sampling will be carried out in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all unrelated importers, or representatives acting on their behalf, including the ones who did not cooperate in the investigations leading to the measures in force, are hereby requested to make themselves known to the Commission. These parties must do so within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified, by providing the Commission with the information on their company(ies) requested in Annex I to this notice.

In order to obtain information it deems necessary for the selection of the sample of unrelated importers, the Commission may also contact any known associations of importers.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample, excluding the information requested above, must do so within 21 days of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

If a sample is necessary, the importers may be selected based on the largest representative volume of sales of the product under review in the Union which can reasonably be investigated within the time available. All known unrelated importers and associations of importers will be notified by the Commission of the companies selected to be in the sample.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the sampled unrelated importers and to any known association of importers. These parties must submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of the notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

5.3.   
  Procedure for the determination of a likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury

In order to establish whether there is a likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury to the Union industry, Union producers of the product under review are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.3.1.   Investigating Union producers

In view of the large number of Union producers involved in this expiry review and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission has decided to limit to a reasonable number the Union producers that will be investigated by selecting a sample (this process is also referred to as ‘sampling’). The sampling is carried out in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

The Commission has provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. Details can be found in the file for inspection by interested parties. Interested parties are hereby invited to consult the file (for this they should contact the Commission using the contact details provided in Section 5.7 below). Other Union producers, or representatives acting on their behalf, including Union producers who did not cooperate in the investigations leading to the measures in force, that consider that there are reasons why they should be included in the sample must contact the Commission within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample must do so within 21 days of the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

All known Union producers and/or associations of Union producers will be notified by the Commission of the companies finally selected to be in the sample.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the sampled Union producers and to any known associations of Union producers. These parties must submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of the notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

5.4.   
  Procedure for the assessment of Union interest

Should the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury be confirmed, a decision will be reached, pursuant to Article 21 of the basic Regulation, as to whether maintaining the anti-dumping measures would not be against the Union interest. Union producers, importers and their representative associations, users and their representative associations, and representative consumer organisations are invited to make themselves known within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. In order to participate in the investigation, the representative consumer organisations have to demonstrate, within the same deadline, that there is an objective link between their activities and the product under review.

Parties that make themselves known within the above deadline may provide the Commission with information on the Union interest within 37 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. This information may be provided either in a free format or by completing a questionnaire prepared by the Commission. In any case, information submitted pursuant to Article 21 will only be taken into account if supported by factual evidence at the time of submission.

5.5.   
  Other written submissions

Subject to the provisions of this Notice, all interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information and provide supporting evidence. Unless otherwise specified, this information and supporting evidence must reach the Commission within 37 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

5.6.   
  Possibility to be heard by the Commission investigation services

All interested parties may request to be heard by the Commission investigation services. Any request to be heard must be made in writing and must specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation the request must be submitted within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. Thereafter, a request to be heard must be submitted within the specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties.

5.7.   
  Instructions for making written submissions and sending completed questionnaires and correspondence

Information submitted to the Commission for the purpose of trade defence investigations shall be free from copyrights. Interested parties, before submitting to the Commission information and/or data which is subject to third party copyrights, must request specific permission to the copyright holder explicitly allowing (a) the Commission to use the information and data for the purpose of this trade defence proceeding; and (b) to provide the information and/or data to interested parties to this investigation in a form that allows them to exercise their rights of defence.

All written submissions, including the information requested in this Notice, completed questionnaires and correspondence provided by interested parties for which confidential treatment is requested shall be labelled ‘Limited’ (9).

Interested parties providing ‘Limited’ information are required to furnish non-confidential summaries of it pursuant to Article 19(2) of the basic Regulation, which will be labelled ‘For inspection by interested parties’. These summaries must be sufficiently detailed to permit a reasonable understanding of the substance of the information submitted in confidence. If an interested party providing confidential information does not furnish a non-confidential summary of it in the requested format and quality, such information may be disregarded.

Interested parties are invited to make all submissions and requests by e-mail including scanned powers of attorney and certification sheets, with the exception of voluminous replies which shall be submitted on a CD-ROM or DVD by hand or by registered mail. By using e-mail, interested parties express their agreement with the rules applicable to electronic submissions contained in the document ‘CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN TRADE DEFENCE CASES’ published on the website of the Directorate-General for Trade: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/june/tradoc_148003.pdf The interested parties must indicate their name, address, telephone and a valid e-mail address and they should ensure that the provided e-mail address is a functioning official business e-mail which is checked on a daily basis. Once contact details are provided, the Commission will communicate with interested parties by e-mail only, unless they explicitly request to receive all documents from the Commission by another means of communication or unless the nature of the document to be sent requires the use of a registered mail. For further rules and information concerning correspondence with the Commission including principles that apply to submissions by e-mail, interested parties should consult the communication instructions with interested parties referred to above.

Commission address for correspondence:

| European Commission |
| --- |
| Directorate-General for Trade |
| Directorate H |
| Office: CHAR 04/039 |
| 1040 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |
| E-mail | : | TRADE-R633-GES-DUMPING@ec.europa.eu
  TRADE-R633-GES-INJURY@ec.europa.eu |

European Commission

Directorate-General for Trade

Directorate H

Office: CHAR 04/039

1040 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

E-mail

:

TRADE-R633-GES-DUMPING@ec.europa.eu

TRADE-R633-GES-INJURY@ec.europa.eu

6.   Non-cooperation

In cases where 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 on the basis of facts available, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation.

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information may be disregarded and use may be made of 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.

Failure to give a computerised response shall not be deemed to constitute non-cooperation, provided that the interested party shows that presenting the response as requested would result in an unreasonable extra burden or unreasonable additional cost. The interested party should immediately contact the Commission.

7.   Hearing Officer

Interested parties may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer in trade proceedings. The Hearing Officer acts as an interface between the interested parties and the Commission investigation services. The Hearing Officer reviews requests for access to the file, disputes regarding the confidentiality of documents, requests for extension of time limits and requests by third parties to be heard. The Hearing Officer may organise a hearing with an individual interested party and mediate to ensure that the interested parties’ rights of defence are being fully exercised.

A request for a hearing with the Hearing Officer should be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation the request must be submitted within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. Thereafter, a request to be heard must be submitted within specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties.

The Hearing Officer will also provide opportunities for a hearing involving parties to take place which would allow different views to be presented and rebuttal arguments offered on issues pertaining, among other things, to the likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury and Union interest.

For further information and contact details interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer’s web pages on DG Trade’s website: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/trade-policy-and-you/contacts/hearing-officer/

8.   Schedule of the investigation

The investigation will be concluded, pursuant to Article 11(5) of the basic Regulation within 15 months of the date of the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

9.   Possibility to request a review under Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation

As this expiry review is initiated in accordance with the provisions of Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation, the findings thereof will not lead to the existing measures being amended but will lead to those measures being repealed or maintained in accordance with Article 11(6) of the basic Regulation.

If any interested party considers that a review of the measures is warranted so as to allow for the possibility to amend the measures, that party may request a review pursuant to Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation.

Parties wishing to request such a review, which would be carried out independently of the expiry review mentioned in this Notice, may contact the Commission at the address given above.

10.   Processing of personal data

Any personal data collected in this investigation will be treated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (10).

---

(1)  OJ C 82, 10.3.2015, p. 5.

(2)  OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51.

(3)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1629/2004 of 13 September 2004 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India (OJ L 295, 18.9.2004, p. 10).

(4)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1354/2008 of 18 December 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1628/2004 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India and Regulation (EC) No 1629/2004 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India (OJ L 350, 30.12.2008, p. 24).

(5)  Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1186/2010 of 13 December 2010 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 (OJ L 332, 16.12.2010, p. 17).

(6)  An exporting producer is any company in the country concerned which produces and exports the product under review to the Union market, either directly or via third party, including any of its related companies involved in the production, domestic sales or exports of the product under review.

(7)  Only importers not related to exporting producers can be sampled. Importers that are related to exporting producers have to fill in Annex I to the questionnaire for these exporting producers. For the definition of a related party see footnote 3 in Annex I.

(8)  The data provided by unrelated importers may also be used in relation to aspects of this investigation other than the determination of dumping.

(9)  A ‘Limited’ document is a document which is considered confidential pursuant to Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51) and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-Dumping Agreement). It is also a document 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).

(10)  OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

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ANNEX I

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PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

| 15.12.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 415/40 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.12.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 415/40

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7879 — Saudi Aramco/Lanxess/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 415/12)

| 1. | On 4 December 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Aramco Overseas Company, BV (‘AOC’, the Netherlands), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (‘Saudi Aramco’, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Lanxess Deutschland GmbH (‘Lanxess’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of a newly established joint venture company (‘JV’) by way of purchase of shares and transfer of assets. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 4 December 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Aramco Overseas Company, BV (‘AOC’, the Netherlands), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (‘Saudi Aramco’, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Lanxess Deutschland GmbH (‘Lanxess’, Germany) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of a newly established joint venture company (‘JV’) by way of purchase of shares and transfer of assets.

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






  — | Saudi Aramco is engaged in the exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and refined products. It also has supporting activities in marine transportation, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

Saudi Aramco is engaged in the exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and refined products. It also has supporting activities in marine transportation,

| — | AOC provides Saudi Aramco with support services and it is active within the purchasing and logistics market and the inspection, engineering, research and technology, IT, finance, legal, public relations, HR, international staffing and executive services, |
| --- | --- |

—

AOC provides Saudi Aramco with support services and it is active within the purchasing and logistics market and the inspection, engineering, research and technology, IT, finance, legal, public relations, HR, international staffing and executive services,

| — | Lanxess is a specialty chemicals company operating on a global basis. Its core business comprises the development, manufacture and sale of plastics, rubber, specialty chemicals and intermediates. |
| --- | --- |

—

Lanxess is a specialty chemicals company operating on a global basis. Its core business comprises the development, manufacture and sale of plastics, rubber, specialty chemicals and intermediates.

| — | The JV will be active in the production and the supply of synthetic rubber products worldwide. |
| --- | --- |

—

The JV will be active in the production and the supply of synthetic rubber products worldwide.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this Notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this Notice.

| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7879 — Saudi Aramco/Lanxess/JV, to the following address:





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

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 (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7879 — Saudi Aramco/Lanxess/JV, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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

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

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