# Official Journal C 303/2017

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 303 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 6014 September 2017 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 303

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 6014 September 2017

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2017/C 303/01 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.8598 — BNPP/Starwood/Hotel Portfolio) (
  1
  ) | 1 |
| 2017/C 303/02 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.8553 — Banco Santander/Banco Popular Group) (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2017/C 303/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.8598 — BNPP/Starwood/Hotel Portfolio) (
  1
  )

1

1

2017/C 303/02

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.8553 — Banco Santander/Banco Popular Group) (
  1
  )

1

1

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| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | Council |
| 2017/C 303/03 | Council Decision of 4 September 2017 adopting the Council’s position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018 | 2 |
| | European Commission |
| 2017/C 303/04 | Euro exchange rates | 3 |
| | Court of Auditors |
| 2017/C 303/05 | Special Report No 12/2017 — Implementing the Drinking Water Directive: water quality and access to it improved in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, but investment needs remain substantial | 4 |
| | NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA |
| | EFTA Surveillance Authority |
| 2017/C 303/06 | State aid — Decision to raise no objections | 5 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

Council

2017/C 303/03

Council Decision of 4 September 2017 adopting the Council’s position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018

2

European Commission

2017/C 303/04

Euro exchange rates

3

Court of Auditors

2017/C 303/05

Special Report No 12/2017 — Implementing the Drinking Water Directive: water quality and access to it improved in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, but investment needs remain substantial

4

NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

2017/C 303/06

State aid — Decision to raise no objections

5

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| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | COURT PROCEEDINGS |
| | EFTA Court |
| 2017/C 303/07 | Order of the President of 24 April 2017 — In Case E-20/16 — Autonomy Capital (Jersey) LP and Eaton Vance Management v EFTA Surveillance Authority | 6 |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2017/C 303/08 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8590 — Sogecap/Cardif/Diversipierre/Horizon) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 7 |

V   Announcements

COURT PROCEEDINGS

EFTA Court

2017/C 303/07

Order of the President of 24 April 2017 — In Case E-20/16 — Autonomy Capital (Jersey) LP and Eaton Vance Management v EFTA Surveillance Authority

6

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2017/C 303/08

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8590 — Sogecap/Cardif/Diversipierre/Horizon) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

7

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

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance.

1

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

EN

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II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 14.9.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 303/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

14.9.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 303/1

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.8598 — BNPP/Starwood/Hotel Portfolio)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 303/01)

On 30 August 2017, 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 32017M8598. 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 32017M8598. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law.

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

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| 14.9.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 303/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

14.9.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 303/1

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.8553 — Banco Santander/Banco Popular Group)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 303/02)

On 8 August 2017, 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 32017M8553. 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 32017M8553. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law.

---

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

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

Council

| 14.9.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 303/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

14.9.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 303/2

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COUNCIL DECISION

of 4 September 2017

adopting the Council’s position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018

(2017/C 303/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 314(3) thereof, in conjunction with the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community and in particular Article 106a thereof,

Whereas:

| 1. | On 29 June 2017, the Commission submitted a proposal containing the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018 (1), |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 29 June 2017, the Commission submitted a proposal containing the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018 (1),

| 2. | The Council examined the Commission proposal with a view to defining a position consistent, on the revenue side, with Council Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom of 26 May 2014 on the system of own resources of the European Union (2), and, on the expenditure side, with Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (3), |
| --- | --- |

2.

The Council examined the Commission proposal with a view to defining a position consistent, on the revenue side, with Council Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom of 26 May 2014 on the system of own resources of the European Union (2), and, on the expenditure side, with Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (3),

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The Council’s position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018 was adopted by the Council on 4 September 2017.

The full text can be accessed for consultation or downloading on the Council’s website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/

Done at Brussels, 4 September 2017.

For the Council

The President

M. MAASIKAS

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(1)  COM(2017) 400 final.

1

(2)  OJ L 168, 7.6.2014, p. 105.

2

(3)  OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.

3

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European Commission

| 14.9.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 303/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

14.9.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 303/3

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Euro exchange rates (1)

13 September 2017

(2017/C 303/04)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,1979 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 131,79 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4404 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,90243 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,5475 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,1496 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 9,3983 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 26,101 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 308,02 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,2798 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,6013 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 4,1232 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,4909 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4542 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 9,3586 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,6451 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,6118 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 349,96 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 15,7095 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,8249 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,4680 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 15 815,27 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 5,0198 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 61,057 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 69,0768 |
| THB | Thai baht | 39,639 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 3,7521 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 21,2826 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 76,6655 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,1979

JPY

Japanese yen

131,79

DKK

Danish krone

7,4404

GBP

Pound sterling

0,90243

SEK

Swedish krona

9,5475

CHF

Swiss franc

1,1496

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

9,3983

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

26,101

HUF

Hungarian forint

308,02

PLN

Polish zloty

4,2798

RON

Romanian leu

4,6013

TRY

Turkish lira

4,1232

AUD

Australian dollar

1,4909

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4542

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,3586

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,6451

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,6118

KRW

South Korean won

1 349,96

ZAR

South African rand

15,7095

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,8249

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,4680

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

15 815,27

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

5,0198

PHP

Philippine peso

61,057

RUB

Russian rouble

69,0768

THB

Thai baht

39,639

BRL

Brazilian real

3,7521

MXN

Mexican peso

21,2826

INR

Indian rupee

76,6655

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

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Court of Auditors

| 14.9.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 303/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

14.9.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 303/4

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Special Report No 12/2017

‘Implementing the Drinking Water Directive: water quality and access to it improved in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, but investment needs remain substantial’

(2017/C 303/05)

The European Court of Auditors hereby informs you that Special Report No 12/2017 ‘Implementing the Drinking Water Directive: water quality and access to it improved in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, but investment needs remain substantial’ has just been published.

The report can be accessed for consultation or downloading on the European Court of Auditors' website: http://eca.europa.eu

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NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

| 14.9.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 303/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

14.9.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 303/5

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State aid — Decision to raise no objections

(2017/C 303/06)

The EFTA Surveillance Authority raises no objections to the following State aid measure:

| Date of adoption of the decision | : | 20 June 2017 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Case No | : | 80745 |
| Decision No | : | 103/17/COL |
| EFTA State | : | Norway |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | : | Aid scheme for short sea shipping — increased budget |
| Legal basis | : | The Norwegian Parliament decides on the scope of the aid scheme in its annual decisions on the state budget. |
| Type of measure | : | Scheme |
| Objective | : | Environmental protection |
| Form of aid | : | Direct grants |
| Budget | : | NOK 82 million for 2017 and NOK 100 million for 2018 to 2021 |
| Intensity | : | Up to 30 % of operational cost |
| Duration | : | First quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2022 (5 years) |
| Economic sectors | : | Transport |
| Name and address of the granting authority | : | The Ministry of Transport and Communications/The Norwegian Coastal Administration |
| P.O. Box 1502 |
| N-6025 Ålesund |
| NORWAY |

Date of adoption of the decision

:

20 June 2017

Case No

:

80745

Decision No

:

103/17/COL

EFTA State

:

Norway

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

:

Aid scheme for short sea shipping — increased budget

Legal basis

:

The Norwegian Parliament decides on the scope of the aid scheme in its annual decisions on the state budget.

Type of measure

:

Scheme

Objective

:

Environmental protection

Form of aid

:

Direct grants

Budget

:

NOK 82 million for 2017 and NOK 100 million for 2018 to 2021

Intensity

:

Up to 30 % of operational cost

Duration

:

First quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2022 (5 years)

Economic sectors

:

Transport

Name and address of the granting authority

:

The Ministry of Transport and Communications/The Norwegian Coastal Administration

P.O. Box 1502

N-6025 Ålesund

NORWAY

Other information

:

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/

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V Announcements

COURT PROCEEDINGS

EFTA Court

| 14.9.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 303/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

14.9.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 303/6

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ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT

of 24 April 2017

In Case E-20/16

Autonomy Capital (Jersey) LP and Eaton Vance Management v EFTA Surveillance Authority

(2017/C 303/07)

Application for the annulment of EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 207/16/COL of 23 November 2016 closing a complaint against Iceland in the field of free movement of capital (capital controls), the President of the Court made an Order of 24 April 2017, the operative part of which is as follows:

| 1. | Case E-20/16 is removed from the Register. |
| --- | --- |

1.

Case E-20/16 is removed from the Register.

| 2. | The applicants are to bear the costs of the proceedings. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The applicants are to bear the costs of the proceedings.

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PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

| 14.9.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 303/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

14.9.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 303/7

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.8590 — Sogecap/Cardif/Diversipierre/Horizon)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2017/C 303/08)

| 1. | On 6 September 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).
  This notification concerns the following undertakings:






  — | Sogecap SA (‘Sogecap’, France), belonging to the group Société Générale, |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

On 6 September 2017, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

—

Sogecap SA (‘Sogecap’, France), belonging to the group Société Générale,

| — | Cardif Assurance Vie SA (‘Cardif’, France), belonging to the group BNP Paribas, |
| --- | --- |

—

Cardif Assurance Vie SA (‘Cardif’, France), belonging to the group BNP Paribas,

| — | Diversipierre Germany GmbH (‘Diversipierre’, Germany), belonging to the group BNP Paribas, |
| --- | --- |

—

Diversipierre Germany GmbH (‘Diversipierre’, Germany), belonging to the group BNP Paribas,

| — | Horizon Development GmbH (‘Horizon’, Germany). |
| --- | --- |

—

Horizon Development GmbH (‘Horizon’, Germany).

Sogecap, Cardif and Diversipierre acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Horizon.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for Sogecap: life-insurance company,
  —   for Cardif: life-insurance company,
  —   for Diversipierre: real estate holding company,
  —   for Horizon: owner of an office building located in Düsseldorf, Germany, which is already leased to a third party. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for Sogecap: life-insurance company,

—   for Cardif: life-insurance company,

—   for Diversipierre: real estate holding company,

—   for Horizon: owner of an office building located in Düsseldorf, Germany, which is already leased to a third party.

| 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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. The following reference should always be specified:
  M.8590 — Sogecap/Cardif/Diversipierre/Horizon
  Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:





  Email: |
| --- | --- |
| COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu |
| Fax |
| +32 22964301 |
| Postal 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. The following reference should always be specified:

M.8590 — Sogecap/Cardif/Diversipierre/Horizon

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email:

COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax

+32 22964301

Postal 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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