# Official Journal C 100/27 A

| | ISSN 1725-2423 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 100 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 4927 April 2006 |

ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 100

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 4927 April 2006

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | I   Information |
| | Commission |
| 2006/C 100/1 | Euro exchange rates | 1 |
| | EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA |
| | EFTA Surveillance Authority |
| 2006/C 100/2 | Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Article 61 of the EEA Agreement and Article 1(3) in Part I of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement — EFTA Surveillance Authority decision not to raise objections | 2 |
| | EFTA Court |
| 2006/C 100/3 | Judgment of the Court of 17 January 2006 in Case E-4/05: HOB-vín and The Icelandic State and Áfengis- og tóbaksverslun ríkisins (the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland) (Free movement of goods — State monopolies of a commercial character — requirements to supply goods on pallets and to include the pallet price in the price of the goods — discrimination against importers of alcoholic beverages — abuse of a dominant position) | 3 |
| 2006/C 100/4 | Composition of the EFTA Court | 4 |

Notice No

Contents

page

I   Information

Commission

2006/C 100/1

Euro exchange rates

1

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

2006/C 100/2

Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Article 61 of the EEA Agreement and Article 1(3) in Part I of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement — EFTA Surveillance Authority decision not to raise objections

2

EFTA Court

2006/C 100/3

Judgment of the Court of 17 January 2006 in Case E-4/05: HOB-vín and The Icelandic State and Áfengis- og tóbaksverslun ríkisins (the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland) (Free movement of goods — State monopolies of a commercial character — requirements to supply goods on pallets and to include the pallet price in the price of the goods — discrimination against importers of alcoholic beverages — abuse of a dominant position)

(Free movement of goods — State monopolies of a commercial character — requirements to supply goods on pallets and to include the pallet price in the price of the goods — discrimination against importers of alcoholic beverages — abuse of a dominant position)

3

2006/C 100/4

Composition of the EFTA Court

4

| | III   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | Commission |
| 2006/C 100/5 | MEDIA Plus (2001-2005) — Implementation of the programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works — Call for Proposals EACEA/02/06 — Support for the implementation of Pilot Projects | 5 |
| | European Investment Bank |
| 2006/C 100/6 | European Investment Bank launches University Research Action | 7 |

III   Notices

Commission

2006/C 100/5

MEDIA Plus (2001-2005) — Implementation of the programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works — Call for Proposals EACEA/02/06 — Support for the implementation of Pilot Projects

5

European Investment Bank

2006/C 100/6

European Investment Bank launches University Research Action

7

| EN | |
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EN

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I Information

Commission

| 27.4.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 100/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

27.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 100/1

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Euro exchange rates (1)

26 April 2006

(2006/C 100/01)

1 euro=

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,2425 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 142,87 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4601 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,696 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,3135 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,5776 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 92,87 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 7,797 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CYP | Cyprus pound | 0,5761 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 28,417 |
| EEK | Estonian kroon | 15,6466 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 265,78 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,696 |
| MTL | Maltese lira | 0,4293 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 3,8873 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 3,4747 |
| SIT | Slovenian tolar | 239,58 |
| SKK | Slovak koruna | 37,26 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 1,6505 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,6623 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4058 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 9,6355 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,9734 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,974 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 176,09 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 7,6541 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 9,9673 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,299 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 10 949,53 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,5233 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 64,486 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 34,036 |
| THB | Thai baht | 46,863 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2425

JPY

Japanese yen

142,87

DKK

Danish krone

7,4601

GBP

Pound sterling

0,696

SEK

Swedish krona

9,3135

CHF

Swiss franc

1,5776

ISK

Iceland króna

92,87

NOK

Norwegian krone

7,797

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CYP

Cyprus pound

0,5761

CZK

Czech koruna

28,417

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

265,78

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,696

MTL

Maltese lira

0,4293

PLN

Polish zloty

3,8873

RON

Romanian leu

3,4747

SIT

Slovenian tolar

239,58

SKK

Slovak koruna

37,26

TRY

Turkish lira

1,6505

AUD

Australian dollar

1,6623

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4058

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,6355

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,9734

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,974

KRW

South Korean won

1 176,09

ZAR

South African rand

7,6541

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

9,9673

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,299

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

10 949,53

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,5233

PHP

Philippine peso

64,486

RUB

Russian rouble

34,036

THB

Thai baht

46,863

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(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

| 27.4.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 100/2 |
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27.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 100/2

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Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Article 61 of the EEA Agreement and Article 1(3) in Part I of Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement

EFTA Surveillance Authority decision not to raise objections

(2006/C 100/02)

Date of adoption:

EFTA State: Norway

Aid No: Case 57702

Title: Scheme for research and development concerning gas technologies with improved environmental performance (‘Gassnova’)

Objective: The principal objective of the scheme is to strengthen the intensity of R&D concerning gas-fired power stations with carbon dioxide capture and storage in order to reduce CO2 emissions from such power-stations

Legal basis: Decision No 352 to the Storting (2002-2003), Decision No 69 to the Storting (2003-2004), Proposition No 250 to the Storting (2003-2004), decision No 549, Budget resolution No 9 to the Storting (2004-2005) from the Committee for Energy and Environment, Royal decree of 17.12.2004 concerning the establishment and decision on by-laws and authority for the administrative agency Gassnova, and Regulation on amendments to Regulation of 16.12.1977, No 14 and Regulation of 16.12.1977, No 15

Budget/Duration: The aid scheme will be financed through annual dividends of a dedicated fund of NOK 2 billion (approximately EUR 253 million). The annual dividends of the fund constitute NOK 91,8 million (approximately EUR 12 million). The duration of the scheme is ten years

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

http://www.eftasurv.int/fieldsofwork/fieldstateaid/stateaidregister

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EFTA Court

| 27.4.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 100/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

27.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 100/3

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JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

of 17 January 2006

in Case E-4/05: HOB-vín and The Icelandic State and Áfengis- og tóbaksverslun ríkisins (the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland)

(Free movement of goods — State monopolies of a commercial character — requirements to supply goods on pallets and to include the pallet price in the price of the goods — discrimination against importers of alcoholic beverages — abuse of a dominant position)

(2006/C 100/03)

In Case E-4/05 between HOV-vín and Áfengis- og tóbaksverslun ríkisins — REQUEST to the Court by Héraðsdómur Reykjavíkur (Reykjavík District Court), on the interpretation of Articles 11, 16, 57 and 59 EEA, the Court, composed of Carl Baudenbacher, President and Judge-Rapporteur, Henrik Bull and Thorgeir Örlygsson, Judges, gave judgment on 17 January 2006, the operative part of which is as follows:

| 1. | Article 16 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area does not prevent a State enterprise, which holds the exclusive right to the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, from demanding that its suppliers deliver to the enterprise alcoholic beverages for retail sale on a specific type of pallet (EUR pallet), and furthermore that the price of the pallet be included in the product price, unless the national court finds, based on the facts before it, that as part of the policy of the monopoly or of its outlets or as a consequence of failure to enforce the monopoly's rules, importers are in fact treated differently from domestic producers. |
| --- | --- |

1.

Article 16 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area does not prevent a State enterprise, which holds the exclusive right to the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, from demanding that its suppliers deliver to the enterprise alcoholic beverages for retail sale on a specific type of pallet (EUR pallet), and furthermore that the price of the pallet be included in the product price, unless the national court finds, based on the facts before it, that as part of the policy of the monopoly or of its outlets or as a consequence of failure to enforce the monopoly's rules, importers are in fact treated differently from domestic producers.

| 2. | Articles 59(1) and 54 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area do not prohibit a State enterprise, which holds the exclusive right to the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, from requiring that its suppliers deliver to the enterprise alcoholic beverages for retail sale on a specific type of pallet (EUR pallet), and that the price of the pallet be included in the product price, unless the national court finds that such requirements negatively affect competition. |
| --- | --- |

2.

Articles 59(1) and 54 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area do not prohibit a State enterprise, which holds the exclusive right to the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, from requiring that its suppliers deliver to the enterprise alcoholic beverages for retail sale on a specific type of pallet (EUR pallet), and that the price of the pallet be included in the product price, unless the national court finds that such requirements negatively affect competition.

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| 27.4.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 100/4 |
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27.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 100/4

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COMPOSITION OF THE EFTA COURT

(2006/C 100/04)

1.   Composition of the Court

Upon nomination by the Government of Norway, Mr Henrik Bull was appointed as Judge of the EFTA Court by common accord of the three Contracting Parties to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice (the ESA/Court Agreement) for the period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2011, to succeed Mr Per Tresselt. At a public sitting of the EFTA Court on 12 January 2006, Mr Henrik Bull took the oath prescribed in Protocol 5, Article 2 of the ESA/Court Agreement.

2.   Election of the President of the Court

On 12 January 2006, after the appointment of the new judge to the EFTA Court, Mr Carl Baudenbacher was re-elected as President for the EFTA Court pursuant to Article 30 of the ESA/Court Agreement for the period from 12 January 2006 to 31 December 2008.

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III Notices

Commission

| 27.4.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 100/5 |
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27.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 100/5

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MEDIA PLUS (2001-2005)

Implementation of the programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works

Call for Proposals EACEA/02/06

Support for the implementation of Pilot Projects

(2006/C 100/05)

I.   Introduction

This call for proposals is based on Council Decision 2000/821/EC of 20 December 2000 on the implementation of a programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works (MEDIA Plus — Development, Distribution and Promotion — 2001-2005) that was published in
  Official Journal of the European Communities L 13, 17 January 2001, p. 35.

The measures covered by the Decision include the implementation of Pilot Projects.

II.   Subject

This call for proposals is open to applications from operators located in the Member States of the European Union, the EEA members (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), in Switzerland and in those countries that satisfy the conditions laid down in Article 11 of Decision 2000/821/EC (Bulgaria), involved in one of the activities specified below.

| 1. | Distribution: new ways of distributing and promoting European content via personalised services |
| --- | --- |

1.

Distribution: new ways of distributing and promoting European content via personalised services

| 2. | Networked databases to broaden and strengthen the access and the exploitation of archives and catalogues |
| --- | --- |

2.

Networked databases to broaden and strengthen the access and the exploitation of archives and catalogues

| 3. | Previously funded Projects: Projects which have received funding under a previous MEDIA Plus Pilot Project Call for Proposals |
| --- | --- |

3.

Previously funded Projects: Projects which have received funding under a previous MEDIA Plus Pilot Project Call for Proposals

III.   Financing

The overall budget of the present call is EUR 2 million.

IV.   Applications

The Commission service responsible for managing this Call for Proposals is Unit P8 — MEDIA of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency.

Operators who wish to respond to this Call for Proposals and to receive the document ‘Guidelines for submitting proposals to obtain Community funding for the implementation of Pilot Projects’ should address their requests by post, facsimile or e-mail to:

| Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) |
| --- |
| Mr Constantin Daskalakis (BOUR 03/30) |
| Head of MEDIA Unit — P8 |
| B-1049 Brussels |
| Fax: (32-2) 299 92 14 |
| E-mail: eacea-p8@cec.eu.int |

Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)

Mr Constantin Daskalakis (BOUR 03/30)

Head of MEDIA Unit — P8

B-1049 Brussels

Fax: (32-2) 299 92 14

E-mail: eacea-p8@cec.eu.int

or download the documents from the following website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/avpolicy/media/pilot_en.html

The final date for submitting proposals to the above address is 17.7.2006.

V.   Consideration of applications

The procedure for considering applications will be as follows:

| — | receipt, registration and acknowledgement by the Executive Agency — June/July; |
| --- | --- |

—

receipt, registration and acknowledgement by the Executive Agency — June/July;

| — | consideration by the Executive Agency — July/August; |
| --- | --- |

—

consideration by the Executive Agency — July/August;

| — | evaluation and proposal selection — September; |
| --- | --- |

—

evaluation and proposal selection — September;

| — | preparation of the Commission proposal — September; |
| --- | --- |

—

preparation of the Commission proposal — September;

| — | consideration and final decision by the MEDIA Committee/European Parliament — October; |
| --- | --- |

—

consideration and final decision by the MEDIA Committee/European Parliament — October;

| — | notification of the results and closure of the award procedure — November; |
| --- | --- |

—

notification of the results and closure of the award procedure — November;

| — | contractualisation — November. |
| --- | --- |

—

contractualisation — November.

No information will be issued before the final decision is taken.

The Executive Agency will publish the name and address of each beneficiary, the subject of the grant and the amount and rate of financing. This will be done in agreement with each beneficiary, unless publication of the information may threaten the safety of the beneficiary or harm his or her business interests. In the event that the beneficiary does not agree to this publication, they should attach a detailed justification, which the Executive Agency will consider in the process of deciding on the award of the grant.

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European Investment Bank

| 27.4.2006 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 100/7 |
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27.4.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 100/7

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European Investment Bank launches University Research Action

(2006/C 100/06)

The European Investment Bank has decided to channel most of its institutional relations with universities through an EIB — Universities Research Action consisting of three different programmes:

| — | EIBURS, the EIB University Research Sponsorship Programme, which will provide grants to university research centres working on research topics and themes of major interest to the Bank. EIB sponsorships, of up to EUR 100 000 per year for a period of three years, will be awarded through a competitive process to interested university departments or research centres associated with universities in EU, accession or acceding countries, with recognised expertise in areas of direct interest to the Bank, enabling them to expand their activities in these areas.
  For its first year of operation, the EIBURS programme has selected four lines of research. These lines and the deadlines for presentation of proposals are as follows:






  — | Financial and economic valuation of environmental impacts (23 May 2006) |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

EIBURS, the EIB University Research Sponsorship Programme, which will provide grants to university research centres working on research topics and themes of major interest to the Bank. EIB sponsorships, of up to EUR 100 000 per year for a period of three years, will be awarded through a competitive process to interested university departments or research centres associated with universities in EU, accession or acceding countries, with recognised expertise in areas of direct interest to the Bank, enabling them to expand their activities in these areas.

For its first year of operation, the EIBURS programme has selected four lines of research. These lines and the deadlines for presentation of proposals are as follows:

—

Financial and economic valuation of environmental impacts (23 May 2006)

| — | Technology assessment and acceleration of innovation (30 May 2006) |
| --- | --- |

—

Technology assessment and acceleration of innovation (30 May 2006)

| — | Public-private partnerships (6 June 2006) |
| --- | --- |

—

Public-private partnerships (6 June 2006)

| — | Social dimensions of sustainable development (13 June 2006). |
| --- | --- |

—

Social dimensions of sustainable development (13 June 2006).

| — | STAREBEI (STAges de REcherche BEI), a programme for financing young researchers working on joint EIB-university projects. The STAREBEI Programme supports the joint interests of university centres and EIB staff through the provision of traineeships to junior researchers interested in carrying out research projects proposed by the Bank under the joint supervision of a university tutor and an EIB tutor. |
| --- | --- |

—

STAREBEI (STAges de REcherche BEI), a programme for financing young researchers working on joint EIB-university projects. The STAREBEI Programme supports the joint interests of university centres and EIB staff through the provision of traineeships to junior researchers interested in carrying out research projects proposed by the Bank under the joint supervision of a university tutor and an EIB tutor.

| — | EIB University Networks, a sponsoring mechanism for university networks showing characteristics that are of particular relevance to supporting the objectives of the EIB Group. These networks should be cooperative associations for educational, research and development activities with a specific purpose. They will be used by the EIB as preferred vehicles for publicising the other two programmes and providing information about other research requests from the Bank's services. Where appropriate, these networks will be entitled to use the ‘EIB label’ in their promotion. |
| --- | --- |

—

EIB University Networks, a sponsoring mechanism for university networks showing characteristics that are of particular relevance to supporting the objectives of the EIB Group. These networks should be cooperative associations for educational, research and development activities with a specific purpose. They will be used by the EIB as preferred vehicles for publicising the other two programmes and providing information about other research requests from the Bank's services. Where appropriate, these networks will be entitled to use the ‘EIB label’ in their promotion.

For more extensive information on these programmes and mechanisms, please visit the EIB's website: www.eib.org/universities

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