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I Information

Council

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Notifications by the Czech Republic concerning visa reciprocity (1)

(2005/C 163/01)

24 May 2005

Ref. no.: 3647/2005

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU presents its compliments to the Council of the EU and has the honour to express its appreciation for the Council of the EU once again for its continued cooperation and support on various matters related to the everyday conduct of duties of the Permanent Representation. In view of the amicable and working atmosphere existing between the Council of the EU and the Permanent Representation, the latter wishes to use this opportunity to bring to the attention of the European Commission the following issue.

The Czech Republic has decided to officially notify the countries which despite of the fact the Czech Republic being the Member State of the EU since 1 May 2004 still apply the unilateral visa regime to the Czech citizens and where the intensive bilateral negotiations as well as the meetings held on the EU level did not bring any effective results.

By this note on the basis of the Article 1, par. 4, letter a) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visa when crossing the external borders and those nationals are exempt from that requirement the Czech Republic notifies Brazil as the country which unilaterally applies the visa regime to the nationals of the Czech Republic.

As the visa reciprocity issue is considered to be a very sensitive problem on political level the Czech Republic believes that on the basis of solidarity clause provided for by the above mentioned Regulation the appropriate measures will be taken immediately to assure that all EU citizens on one side and the citizens of Brazil on the other side will enjoy the same equal and reciprocal regime when crossing the respective borders.

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Council of the EU the assurances of its highest consideration and friendship.

Mr. Javier SOLANA

Secretary-General/High Representative

General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union

Council of the European Union

Mr. Luc FRIEDEN

Minister for Justice, Minister for the Treasury and the Budget, Minister for Defence

Luxemburg

Franco FRATTINI

Vice President

Commissioner for Justice, Liberty and Security

24 May 2005

Ref. no.: 3647/2005

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU presents its compliments to the Council of the EU and has the honour to express its appreciation for the Council of the EU once again for its continued cooperation and support on various matters related to the everyday conduct of duties of the Permanent Representation. In view of the amicable and working atmosphere existing between the Council of the EU and the Permanent Representation, the latter wishes to use this opportunity to bring to the attention of the European Commission the following issue.

The Czech Republic has decided to officially notify the countries which despite of the fact the Czech Republic being the Member State of the EU since 1st May 2004 still apply the unilateral visa regime to the Czech citizens and where the intensive bilateral negotiations as well as the meetings held on the EU level did not bring any effective results.

By this note on the basis of the Article 1, par. 4, letter a) of the Council Regulation (EC) no. 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visa when crossing the external borders and those nationals are exempt from that requirement, the Czech Republic notifies Brunei as the country which unilaterally applies the visa regime to the nationals of the Czech Republic.

As the visa reciprocity issue is considered to be a very sensitive problem on political level the Czech Repuolic believes that on the basis of solidarity clause provided for fay the above mentioned Regulation the appropriate measures will be taken immediately to assure that all EU citizens on one side and the citizens of Brunei on the other side will enjoy the same equal and reciprocal regime when crossing the respective borders.

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Council of the EU the assurances of its highest consideration and friendship.

Mr. Javier SOLANA

Secretary-General/High Representative

General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union

Council of the European Union

Mr. Luc FRIEDEN

Minister for Justice, Minister for the Treasury and the Budget, Minister for Defence

Luxemburg

Franco FRATTINI

Vice President

Commissioner for Justice, Liberty and Security

24 May 2005

Ref. no.: 3647/2005

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU presents its compliments to the Council of the EU and has the honour to express its appreciation for the Council of the EU once again for its continued cooperation and support on various matters related to the everyday conduct of duties of the Permanent Representation. In view of the amicable and working atmosphere existing between the Council of the EU and the Permanent Representation, the latter wishes to use this opportunity to bring to the attention of the European Commission the following issue.

The Czech Republic has decided to officially notify the countries which despite of the fact the Czech Republic being the Member State of the EU since 1 May 2004 still apply the unilateral visa regime to the Czech citizens and where the intensive bilateral negotiations as well as the meetings held on the EU level did not bring any effective results.

By this note on the basis of the Article 1, par. 4, letter a) of the Council Regulation (EC) no. 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visa when crossing the external borders and those nationals are exempt from that requirement, the Czech Republic notifies Canada as the country which unifaterally applies the visa regime to the nationals of the Czech Republic.

As the visa reciprocity issue is considered to be a very sensitive problem on political level the Czech Republic believes that on the basis of solidarity clause provided for by the above mentioned Regulation the appropriate measures will be taken immediately to assure that all EU citizens on one side and the citizens of Canada on the other side will enjoy the same equal and reciprocal regime when crossing the respective borders.

The Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Council of the EU the assurances of its highest consideration and friendship.

Mr. Javier SOLANA

Secretary-General/High Representative

General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union

Council of the European Union

Mr. Luc FRIEDEN

Minister for Justice, Minister for the Treasury and the Budget, Minister for Defence

Luxemburg

Franco FRATTINI

Vice President

Commissioner for Justice, Liberty and Security

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(1)  The Permanent Representatives Committee agreed, at its meeting of 21 June 2005, to publish these notifications, in conformity with Article 1, paragraph 4, point (a) of Regulation (EC) No. 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 (OJ L 81, 21.3.2001, p.1), as modified by Regulation (EC) No. 851/2005 of 2 June 2005 (OJ L 141, 4.6.2005, p. 3).

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Commission

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Euro exchange rates (1)

4 July 2005

(2005/C 163/02)

1 euro= 

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(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3854 — IPIC/OMV/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 163/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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

(2)OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3862 — Bilfinger Berger/WIB/JVC)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 163/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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

(2)OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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STATE AID

(Articles 87 to 89 of the Treaty establishing the European Community)

Commission notice pursuant to Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty to other Member States and interested parties

State aid C4/2004 (ex N55/2003) — Environmental protection aid for Wagner GmbH, Saarland (Germany)

(2005/C 163/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

By means of the following letter dated 2 February 2005, the Commission notified Germany of its decision to close the procedure initiated under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty:

‘By letter dated 15 January 2003, Germany notified the Commission of its intention to grant aid to Wagner. It provided additional information by letters dated 7 February and 14 February 2003. The Commission asked for additional information by letters dated 27 February, 6 June, 9 September and 10 December 2003, to which Germany replied by letters dated 26 March, 2 April, 28 July, 30 October and 22 December 2003 respectively. A meeting between representatives of the Commission and representatives of Germany took place on 20 October 2003.

By decision of 18 February 2004, the Commission initiated the procedure under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the notified measure. The decision was communicated to Germany by letter dated 19 February. Germany took note of the decision by letter dated 24 March and added that the planned aid would be significantly higher than the notified amount. On the basis of this information, the Commission decided on 7 May to extend the Article 88(2) procedure. This decision was communicated to Germany by letter dated 11 May. Germany took note of the decision by letter dated 8 June. The Commission asked for additional information by letter dated 15 October.

The Commission's decisions were published in the Official Journal of the European Union (1) on 7 April and 21 August 2004. The Commission did not receive any comments from interested parties.

By letter dated 6 December 2004, Germany notified the Commission that the firm had decided not to press ahead with the investment project for which aid had been notified. By letter dated 6 January 2005, Germany confirmed that it was withdrawing its notification.

The Commission notes that, under Article 8 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, (2) the Member State concerned may withdraw a notification in due time before the Commission has taken a decision on the aid. In cases where the Commission has initiated the formal investigation procedure, it closes that procedure.

Consequently, the Commission has decided to close the formal investigation procedure initiated under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the abovementioned aid, since Germany has withdrawn its notification.’

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(1)OJ C 87, 7.4.2004, p. 5, and C 211, 21.8.2004, p. 8.

(2)  Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 (now Article 88) of the EC Treaty (OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1).

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Information regarding the date from which points 11 to 14, 21, 23 to 26, 33 and 36 of Council Regulation (EC) No 422/2004 of 19 February 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 40/94 on the Community trade mark shall apply

(2005/C 163/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Points 11 to 14, 21, 23 to 26, 32, 33 and 36 of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 422/2004 of 19 February 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 40/94 on the Community trade mark shall apply from the same day as the entry into force of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1042/2005 (1) amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 2868/95 of 13 December 1995 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 on the Community trade mark as well as Commission Regulation (EC) No 1041/2005 (2) amending Regulation (EC) No 2869/95 of 13 December 1995 on the fees payable to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs).

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(1)OJ L 172, 5.7.2005, p. 22.

(2)OJ L 172, 5.7.2005, p. 4.

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