# Official Journal L 45/2018

| | ISSN 1977-0677 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | L 45 |
| | |
| English edition | Legislation | Volume 6117 February 2018 |

ISSN 1977-0677

Official Journal

of the European Union

L 45

English edition

Legislation

Volume 6117 February 2018

---

| Contents | | II   Non-legislative acts | page |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | REGULATIONS |
| | * | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/230 of 16 February 2018 conferring protection under Article 99 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the name Monor, Monori (PDO) | 1 |
| | * | Regulation (EU) 2018/231 of the European Central Bank of 26 January 2018 on statistical reporting requirements for pension funds (ECB/2018/2) | 3 |
| | | DECISIONS |
| | * | Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/232 of 15 February 2018 concerning the extension of the action taken by Belgium on the making available on the market and use of the biocidal products VectoMax G and Aqua-K-Othrine in accordance with Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council
  (notified under document C(2018) 759) | 31 |
| | * | Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/233 of 15 February 2018 amending Decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Article 29 of Council Directive 96/23/EC
  (notified under document C(2018) 818)

   (
  1
  ) | 33 |
| | | RECOMMENDATIONS |
| | * | Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/234 of 14 February 2018 on enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament | 40 |
| | | ACTS ADOPTED BY BODIES CREATED BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS |
| | * | Decision No 1/2017 of the EU-Ukraine Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee of 30 May 2017 adopting its Rules of Procedure [2018/235] | 44 |
| | | INTERINSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS |
| | * | Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission amending point 4 of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission | 46 |

Contents

II   Non-legislative acts

page

REGULATIONS

*

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/230 of 16 February 2018 conferring protection under Article 99 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the name Monor, Monori (PDO)

1

*

Regulation (EU) 2018/231 of the European Central Bank of 26 January 2018 on statistical reporting requirements for pension funds (ECB/2018/2)

(ECB/2018/2)

3

DECISIONS

*

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/232 of 15 February 2018 concerning the extension of the action taken by Belgium on the making available on the market and use of the biocidal products VectoMax G and Aqua-K-Othrine in accordance with Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council
  (notified under document C(2018) 759)

(notified under document C(2018) 759)

31

*

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/233 of 15 February 2018 amending Decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Article 29 of Council Directive 96/23/EC
  (notified under document C(2018) 818)

   (
  1
  )

(notified under document C(2018) 818)

1

33

RECOMMENDATIONS

*

Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/234 of 14 February 2018 on enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament

40

ACTS ADOPTED BY BODIES CREATED BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

*

Decision No 1/2017 of the EU-Ukraine Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee of 30 May 2017 adopting its Rules of Procedure [2018/235]

44

INTERINSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS

*

Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission amending point 4 of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission

46

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

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance.

1

| EN | Acts whose titles are printed in light type are those relating to day-to-day management of agricultural matters, and are generally valid for a limited period.
  The titles of all other Acts are printed in bold type and preceded by an asterisk. |
| --- | --- |

EN

Acts whose titles are printed in light type are those relating to day-to-day management of agricultural matters, and are generally valid for a limited period.

The titles of all other Acts are printed in bold type and preceded by an asterisk.

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II Non-legislative acts

REGULATIONS

| 17.2.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 45/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.2.2018

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 45/1

---

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2018/230

of 16 February 2018

conferring protection under Article 99 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the name ‘Monor, Monori’ (PDO)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the Eurpean Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (1), and in particular Article 99 thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | In accordance with Article 97(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the Commission has examined the application to register the name ‘Monor, Monori’ sent by Hungary and has published it in the Official Journal of the European Union (2). |
| --- | --- |

(1)

In accordance with Article 97(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the Commission has examined the application to register the name ‘Monor, Monori’ sent by Hungary and has published it in the Official Journal of the European Union (2).

| (2) | No statement of objection has been received by the Commission under Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

No statement of objection has been received by the Commission under Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

| (3) | In accordance with Article 99 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the name ‘Monor, Monori’ should be protected and entered in the register referred to in Article 104 of that Regulation. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

In accordance with Article 99 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the name ‘Monor, Monori’ should be protected and entered in the register referred to in Article 104 of that Regulation.

| (4) | The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets, |
| --- | --- |

(4)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The name ‘Monor, Monori’ (PDO) is hereby protected.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 16 February 2018.

For the Commission

The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER

---

(1)  
  OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671.

1

(2)  
  OJ C 329, 30.9.2017, p. 4.

2

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| 17.2.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 45/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.2.2018

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 45/3

---

REGULATION (EU) 2018/231 OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 26 January 2018

on statistical reporting requirements for pension funds (ECB/2018/2)

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 5 thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 of 23 November 1998 concerning the collection of statistical information by the European Central Bank (1), and in particular Articles 5(1) and 6(4) thereof,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Commission (2),

Whereas:

| (1) | Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 provides that, for the fulfilment of its statistical reporting requirements, the European Central Bank (ECB), assisted by the national central banks (NCBs), has the right to collect statistical information within the limits of the reference reporting population and of what is necessary to carry out the tasks of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). It follows from Article 2(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 that pension funds (PFs) form part of the reference reporting population for the purpose of fulfilling the ECB's statistical reporting requirements, inter alia, in the field of monetary and financial statistics. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 requires the ECB to specify the actual reporting population within the limits of the reference reporting population and empowers it to fully or partly exempt specific classes of reporting agents from its statistical reporting requirements. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 provides that, for the fulfilment of its statistical reporting requirements, the European Central Bank (ECB), assisted by the national central banks (NCBs), has the right to collect statistical information within the limits of the reference reporting population and of what is necessary to carry out the tasks of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). It follows from Article 2(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 that pension funds (PFs) form part of the reference reporting population for the purpose of fulfilling the ECB's statistical reporting requirements, inter alia, in the field of monetary and financial statistics. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 requires the ECB to specify the actual reporting population within the limits of the reference reporting population and empowers it to fully or partly exempt specific classes of reporting agents from its statistical reporting requirements.

| (2) | The purpose of imposing statistical reporting requirements on PFs is to provide the ECB with adequate statistics on the financial activities of the PF subsector in the Member States whose currency is the euro (hereinafter the ‘euro area Member States’), which are viewed as one economic territory. The collection of statistical information on PFs is necessary to satisfy regular and ad hoc analytical needs, to support the ECB in carrying out monetary and financial analysis, and for the ESCB's contribution to the stability of the financial system. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

The purpose of imposing statistical reporting requirements on PFs is to provide the ECB with adequate statistics on the financial activities of the PF subsector in the Member States whose currency is the euro (hereinafter the ‘euro area Member States’), which are viewed as one economic territory. The collection of statistical information on PFs is necessary to satisfy regular and ad hoc analytical needs, to support the ECB in carrying out monetary and financial analysis, and for the ESCB's contribution to the stability of the financial system.

| (3) | NCBs should have the power to collect and verify the required information on PFs from the actual reporting population as part of a broader statistical reporting framework, provided that the fulfilment of the ECB's statistical requirements is not jeopardised. In such cases it is appropriate to ensure transparency by informing the reporting agents of the various statistical purposes for which the data are collected. In order to minimise the reporting burden on PFs, NCBs should have the power to combine their reporting requirements under this Regulation with their reporting requirements under Regulation (EU) No 1011/2012 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2012/24) (3). |
| --- | --- |

(3)

NCBs should have the power to collect and verify the required information on PFs from the actual reporting population as part of a broader statistical reporting framework, provided that the fulfilment of the ECB's statistical requirements is not jeopardised. In such cases it is appropriate to ensure transparency by informing the reporting agents of the various statistical purposes for which the data are collected. In order to minimise the reporting burden on PFs, NCBs should have the power to combine their reporting requirements under this Regulation with their reporting requirements under Regulation (EU) No 1011/2012 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2012/24) (3).

| (4) | Moreover, in order to minimise the reporting burden on PFs, NCBs should have the power to collect the necessary information on PFs via the relevant national competent authority (NCA) that already collects data on PFs, in accordance with local cooperation arrangements. |
| --- | --- |

(4)

Moreover, in order to minimise the reporting burden on PFs, NCBs should have the power to collect the necessary information on PFs via the relevant national competent authority (NCA) that already collects data on PFs, in accordance with local cooperation arrangements.

| (5) | The European system of national and regional accounts in the European Union (hereinafter the ‘ESA 2010’) laid down by Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) requires that the assets and liabilities of institutional units are reported in the country of residence. |
| --- | --- |

(5)

The European system of national and regional accounts in the European Union (hereinafter the ‘ESA 2010’) laid down by Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) requires that the assets and liabilities of institutional units are reported in the country of residence.

| (6) | The standards for the protection and use of confidential statistical information laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 should apply to the collection of statistical information under this Regulation. |
| --- | --- |

(6)

The standards for the protection and use of confidential statistical information laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 should apply to the collection of statistical information under this Regulation.

| (7) | While it is recognised that regulations adopted under Article 34.1 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and the European Central Bank (hereinafter the ‘Statute of the ESCB’) do not confer any rights or impose any obligations on Member States whose currency is not the euro (hereinafter the ‘non-euro area Member States’), Article 5 of the Statute of the ESCB applies to both euro and non-euro area Member States. Article 5 of the Statute of the ESCB, together with Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union, implies an obligation to design and implement at national level all the measures that the non-euro area Member States consider appropriate to collect the statistical information needed to fulfil the ECB's statistical reporting requirements and to make timely preparations in the field of statistics in order to become euro area Member States. |
| --- | --- |

(7)

While it is recognised that regulations adopted under Article 34.1 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and the European Central Bank (hereinafter the ‘Statute of the ESCB’) do not confer any rights or impose any obligations on Member States whose currency is not the euro (hereinafter the ‘non-euro area Member States’), Article 5 of the Statute of the ESCB applies to both euro and non-euro area Member States. Article 5 of the Statute of the ESCB, together with Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union, implies an obligation to design and implement at national level all the measures that the non-euro area Member States consider appropriate to collect the statistical information needed to fulfil the ECB's statistical reporting requirements and to make timely preparations in the field of statistics in order to become euro area Member States.

| (8) | Although this Regulation is primarily addressed to PFs, complete information on the assets of PFs may not be directly available from PFs, and therefore the relevant NCB may include pension managers in the actual reporting population. |
| --- | --- |

(8)

Although this Regulation is primarily addressed to PFs, complete information on the assets of PFs may not be directly available from PFs, and therefore the relevant NCB may include pension managers in the actual reporting population.

| (9) | Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 provides that the ECB has the power to impose sanctions on reporting agents that fail to comply with statistical reporting requirements set out in ECB regulations or decisions. |
| --- | --- |

(9)

Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98 provides that the ECB has the power to impose sanctions on reporting agents that fail to comply with statistical reporting requirements set out in ECB regulations or decisions.

| (10) | By the year 2022, the Governing Council should assess the merits and costs of: (a) a reduction in the time for the transmission of data on assets by reporting agents to five weeks following the end of the quarter to which the data relate; and (b) an extension in the scope of the statistical reporting requirements to cover loan-by-loan reporting by PFs, taking into account an increase in the economic significance of loans by this sector, |
| --- | --- |

(10)

By the year 2022, the Governing Council should assess the merits and costs of: (a) a reduction in the time for the transmission of data on assets by reporting agents to five weeks following the end of the quarter to which the data relate; and (b) an extension in the scope of the statistical reporting requirements to cover loan-by-loan reporting by PFs, taking into account an increase in the economic significance of loans by this sector,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation:

| 1. | ‘pension fund (PF)’ (subsector S.129 of the ESA 2010) means a financial corporation or quasi-corporation that is principally engaged in financial intermediation as the consequence of the pooling of social risks and needs of the insured persons (social insurance). A pension fund as a social insurance scheme provides income in retirement and may provide benefits for death and disability.
  The following are not included within the definition:






  (a) | investment funds (IFs) as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1073/2013 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2013/38) (5); |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

‘pension fund (PF)’ (subsector S.129 of the ESA 2010) means a financial corporation or quasi-corporation that is principally engaged in financial intermediation as the consequence of the pooling of social risks and needs of the insured persons (social insurance). A pension fund as a social insurance scheme provides income in retirement and may provide benefits for death and disability.

The following are not included within the definition:

(a)

investment funds (IFs) as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1073/2013 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2013/38) (5);

5

| (b) | financial vehicle corporations engaged in securitisation transactions as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1075/2013 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2013/40) (6); |
| --- | --- |

(b)

financial vehicle corporations engaged in securitisation transactions as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1075/2013 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2013/40) (6);

6

| (c) | monetary financial institutions (MFIs) as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1071/2013 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2013/33) (7); |
| --- | --- |

(c)

monetary financial institutions (MFIs) as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1071/2013 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2013/33) (7);

7

| (d) | insurance corporations (ICs) as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1374/2014 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2014/50) (8); |
| --- | --- |

(d)

insurance corporations (ICs) as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1374/2014 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2014/50) (8);

8

| (e) | non-autonomous pension funds, which are not institutional units and remain part of the institutional unit that set them up; |
| --- | --- |

(e)

non-autonomous pension funds, which are not institutional units and remain part of the institutional unit that set them up;

| (f) | social security funds as defined in paragraph 2.117 of the ESA 2010; |
| --- | --- |

(f)

social security funds as defined in paragraph 2.117 of the ESA 2010;

| 2. | ‘reporting agents’ has the same meaning as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98; |
| --- | --- |

2.

‘reporting agents’ has the same meaning as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98;

| 3. | ‘resident’ has the same meaning as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98. For the purposes of this Regulation, if a legal entity lacks a physical dimension its residence shall be determined by the economic territory under whose laws the entity is incorporated. If the entity is not incorporated, residence shall be determined by its legal domicile, namely the country whose legal system governs the creation and continued existence of the entity; |
| --- | --- |

3.

‘resident’ has the same meaning as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 2533/98. For the purposes of this Regulation, if a legal entity lacks a physical dimension its residence shall be determined by the economic territory under whose laws the entity is incorporated. If the entity is not incorporated, residence shall be determined by its legal domicile, namely the country whose legal system governs the creation and continued existence of the entity;

| 4. | ‘relevant NCB’ means the NCB of the euro area Member State in which the PF and/or the pension manager is resident; |
| --- | --- |

4.

‘relevant NCB’ means the NCB of the euro area Member State in which the PF and/or the pension manager is resident;

| 5. | ‘relevant NCA’ means the NCA of the euro area Member State in which the PF and/or the pension manager is resident; |
| --- | --- |

5.

‘relevant NCA’ means the NCA of the euro area Member State in which the PF and/or the pension manager is resident;

| 6. | ‘pension manager’ has the same meaning as defined in paragraph 5.185 of the ESA 2010; |
| --- | --- |

6.

‘pension manager’ has the same meaning as defined in paragraph 5.185 of the ESA 2010;

| 7. | ‘security-by-security data’ means data broken down into individual securities; |
| --- | --- |

7.

‘security-by-security data’ means data broken down into individual securities;

| 8. | ‘item-by-item data’ means data broken down into individual assets or liabilities; |
| --- | --- |

8.

‘item-by-item data’ means data broken down into individual assets or liabilities;

| 9. | ‘aggregated data’ means data that has not been broken down into individual assets or liabilities; |
| --- | --- |

9.

‘aggregated data’ means data that has not been broken down into individual assets or liabilities;

| 10. | ‘financial transaction’ means a transaction arising out of the creation, liquidation or change in ownership of financial assets or liabilities, as further described in Part 5 of Annex II; |
| --- | --- |

10.

‘financial transaction’ means a transaction arising out of the creation, liquidation or change in ownership of financial assets or liabilities, as further described in Part 5 of Annex II;

| 11. | ‘revaluation adjustments’ means changes to the valuation of assets and liabilities that arise from changes in the price of assets and liabilities and/or the effect of exchange rates on the values, expressed in euro, of assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency, as further described in Part 5 of Annex II. |
| --- | --- |

11.

‘revaluation adjustments’ means changes to the valuation of assets and liabilities that arise from changes in the price of assets and liabilities and/or the effect of exchange rates on the values, expressed in euro, of assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency, as further described in Part 5 of Annex II.

Article 2

Actual reporting population

1.   The actual reporting population shall consist of the PFs resident in the euro area Member States.

2.   The PFs in the actual reporting population shall be subject to full statistical reporting requirements unless any derogation granted pursuant to Article 7 applies.

3.   Without prejudice to paragraph 1, for the purpose of collecting information on the assets and liabilities of PFs in accordance with Part 3 of Annex I, the relevant NCB may decide that the actual reporting population includes individual pension managers resident in its Member State. In such cases, that NCB may grant a derogation to a PF linked to the pension manager included in the actual reporting population provided that the statistical information required in accordance with Part 3 of Annex I is collected from the respective pension manager or other available sources. The NCBs shall check the fulfilment of this condition in good time in order to grant or withdraw, if necessary, any derogation with effect from the start of the following calendar year, in agreement with the ECB.

Article 3

List of PFs for statistical purposes

1.   The Executive Board of the ECB shall establish and maintain, for statistical purposes, a list of PFs and pension managers that form the actual reporting population subject to this Regulation. The list may be based on lists of PFs that are currently drawn up by national authorities, where such lists are available, supplemented by other PFs and pension managers falling within the definition of PF and pension manager in Article 1.

2.   The NCBs and the ECB shall make this list and any updates available in an appropriate form, including by electronic means, via the internet or, at the request of the reporting agents concerned, in paper form.

3.   If the latest electronic version of the list referred to in paragraph 2 is incorrect, the ECB shall not impose sanctions on a reporting agent that has not properly fulfilled its statistical reporting requirements to the extent that it relied on the incorrect list in good faith.

Article 4

Statistical reporting requirements

1.   The reporting agents shall provide to the relevant NCB, either directly or via the relevant NCA pursuant to local cooperation arrangements, and in accordance with Annexes I and II:

| (a) | on a quarterly basis, end-of-quarter stock data on the assets of PFs and, in line with Article 5, quarterly revaluation adjustments or financial transactions concerning assets, where applicable; |
| --- | --- |

(a)

on a quarterly basis, end-of-quarter stock data on the assets of PFs and, in line with Article 5, quarterly revaluation adjustments or financial transactions concerning assets, where applicable;

| (b) | on an annual basis, end-of-year stock data on liabilities of PFs at minimum and, in line with Article 5, annual revaluation adjustments or financial transactions concerning liabilities, where applicable; |
| --- | --- |

(b)

on an annual basis, end-of-year stock data on liabilities of PFs at minimum and, in line with Article 5, annual revaluation adjustments or financial transactions concerning liabilities, where applicable;

| (c) | on an annual basis, end-of-year data on the number of members of pension schemes broken down into active members, deferred members and retired members. |
| --- | --- |

(c)

on an annual basis, end-of-year data on the number of members of pension schemes broken down into active members, deferred members and retired members.

2.   NCBs shall derive quarterly estimates for liabilities of PFs based on data provided on an annual basis by the reporting agents pursuant to Article 4(1)(b).

3.   NCBs shall inform reporting agents of the various purposes for which their data are collected.

4.   In order to minimise the reporting burden on PFs, NCBs shall be empowered to combine their reporting requirements under this Regulation with their reporting requirements under Regulation (EU) No 1011/2012 (ECB/2012/24).

5.   Where the relevant NCB has not decided to include a pension manager in the actual reporting population under Article 2(3), the respective pension manager holding data that are required to be reported pursuant to Article 4(1) and (2) and Article 5(1)(a) shall provide such data to the PF in a timely manner to enable the PF to comply with its statistical reporting requirements in accordance with Article 8. If the PF does not comply with its statistical reporting requirements by reason of the failure of the pension manager to provide such data to the PF, the NCB must decide to include the pension manager in the actual reporting population in accordance with Article 2(3).

Article 5

Revaluation adjustments and financial transactions

1.   Information on revaluation adjustments and financial transactions shall be obtained as follows.

| (a) | Reporting agents shall report revaluation adjustments or financial transactions, in accordance with the relevant NCB's instructions, for information reported on an aggregated basis. |
| --- | --- |

(a)

Reporting agents shall report revaluation adjustments or financial transactions, in accordance with the relevant NCB's instructions, for information reported on an aggregated basis.

| (b) | NCBs shall either derive approximations of the value of securities transactions from security-by-security data or shall directly collect data on such transactions from reporting agents on a security-by-security basis. NCBs may also follow a similar approach for assets other than securities when collecting item-by-item data. |
| --- | --- |

(b)

NCBs shall either derive approximations of the value of securities transactions from security-by-security data or shall directly collect data on such transactions from reporting agents on a security-by-security basis. NCBs may also follow a similar approach for assets other than securities when collecting item-by-item data.

| (c) | In the case of pension entitlements issued by PFs, approximations of the value of financial transactions shall be derived:






  (i) | by reporting agents, in accordance with the relevant NCB's guidance, based on common best practices as may be defined at euro area level; or |
| --- | --- | --- |

(c)

In the case of pension entitlements issued by PFs, approximations of the value of financial transactions shall be derived:

(i)

by reporting agents, in accordance with the relevant NCB's guidance, based on common best practices as may be defined at euro area level; or

| (ii) | by the relevant NCB, based on data provided by PFs. |
| --- | --- |

(ii)

by the relevant NCB, based on data provided by PFs.

2.   Further guidelines regarding the compilation of revaluation adjustments and financial transactions are laid down in Annex II.

Article 6

Accounting rules

1.   Unless otherwise provided for in this Regulation, the accounting rules followed by PFs for the purposes of reporting under this Regulation shall be those laid down in the relevant national law implementing Directive 2003/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (9) or in any other national or international standards that apply to PFs based on instructions provided by NCBs.

2.   Write-offs and write-downs as determined by the relevant accounting practices shall be excluded from the principal amount outstanding of loans and reported separately.

3.   Without prejudice to accounting practices and netting arrangements prevailing in the euro area Member States, all financial assets and liabilities shall be reported on a gross basis for statistical purposes.

Article 7

Derogations

1.   Derogations may be granted to small PFs as follows:

| (a) | NCBs may grant derogations to the smallest PFs in terms of total assets, provided that the PFs that contribute to the quarterly aggregated balance sheet account for at least 85 % of the total assets of PFs resident in the relevant euro area Member State. |
| --- | --- |

(a)

NCBs may grant derogations to the smallest PFs in terms of total assets, provided that the PFs that contribute to the quarterly aggregated balance sheet account for at least 85 % of the total assets of PFs resident in the relevant euro area Member State.

| (b) | Subject to Article 13, NCBs may grant derogations to the smallest PFs where the quarterly aggregated total assets of the PF are less than EUR 25 million or the number of its members is fewer than 100, based on the last annual data submission, or, for the first reporting, on data reported for 2018 available at the relevant NCB or NCA. The relevant NCB shall ensure that the PFs that contribute to the quarterly aggregated balance sheet account for at least 80 % of the total assets of PFs resident in the relevant euro area Member State. |
| --- | --- |

(b)

Subject to Article 13, NCBs may grant derogations to the smallest PFs where the quarterly aggregated total assets of the PF are less than EUR 25 million or the number of its members is fewer than 100, based on the last annual data submission, or, for the first reporting, on data reported for 2018 available at the relevant NCB or NCA. The relevant NCB shall ensure that the PFs that contribute to the quarterly aggregated balance sheet account for at least 80 % of the total assets of PFs resident in the relevant euro area Member State.

| (c) | A PF granted a derogation under point (a) or (b) from the reporting requirements in Article 4, shall nevertheless comply with the reporting requirements in Article 4(1)(a) on an annual basis, provided that the PFs that contribute to the annual aggregated balance sheet account for at least 95 % of the total assets of PFs resident in the relevant euro area Member State. |
| --- | --- |

(c)

A PF granted a derogation under point (a) or (b) from the reporting requirements in Article 4, shall nevertheless comply with the reporting requirements in Article 4(1)(a) on an annual basis, provided that the PFs that contribute to the annual aggregated balance sheet account for at least 95 % of the total assets of PFs resident in the relevant euro area Member State.

| (d) | A PF granted a derogation under point (a) or (b) shall report, as a minimum, total assets broken down into debt securities, equity, investment fund shares/units and other accounts receivable/payable on an annual basis. |
| --- | --- |

(d)

A PF granted a derogation under point (a) or (b) shall report, as a minimum, total assets broken down into debt securities, equity, investment fund shares/units and other accounts receivable/payable on an annual basis.

| (e) | NCBs shall check the fulfilment of the conditions set out in points (a) to (c) annually and in good time in order to grant or withdraw, if necessary, any derogation with effect from the start of the second successive calendar year. |
| --- | --- |

(e)

NCBs shall check the fulfilment of the conditions set out in points (a) to (c) annually and in good time in order to grant or withdraw, if necessary, any derogation with effect from the start of the second successive calendar year.

2.   The PFs may choose not to make use of a derogation but instead to fulfil the full statistical reporting requirements specified in Article 4. If a PF makes such a choice, it shall obtain the relevant NCB's consent prior to any use of the derogation.

Article 8

Timeliness

1.   Reporting agents shall transmit to the relevant NCB or to the relevant NCA or to both, in accordance with local cooperation arrangements, the required quarterly data, at the latest 10 weeks following the end of the quarter to which the data relate. This deadline shall be brought forward by one week per year thereafter and shall be seven weeks for 2022.

2.   Reporting agents shall transmit to the relevant NCB or to the relevant NCA or to both, in accordance with local cooperation arrangements, the required annual data, at the latest 20 weeks following the end of the year to which the data relate. This deadline shall be brought forward by two weeks per year thereafter and shall be 14 weeks for 2022.

Article 9

Minimum standards and national reporting arrangements

1.   Reporting agents shall comply with the statistical reporting requirements to which they are subject in accordance with the minimum standards for transmission, accuracy, compliance with concepts and revisions specified in Annex III.

2.   The NCBs shall define and implement the reporting arrangements to be followed by the actual reporting population. The NCBs shall ensure that these reporting arrangements provide the required statistical information and allow accurate checking of the fulfilment of the minimum standards for transmission, accuracy, compliance with concepts and revisions specified in Annex III.

Article 10

Mergers, divisions and reorganisations

In the event of a merger, division or reorganisation that might affect the fulfilment of its statistical obligations, each reporting agent concerned shall inform the relevant NCB, directly or via the relevant NCA in accordance with local cooperation arrangements, as soon as the intention to implement such operation has been published and within a reasonable time before it takes effect, of the procedures that are planned in order to fulfil the statistical reporting requirements set out in this Regulation.

Article 11

Verification and compulsory collection

The NCBs shall exercise the right to verify or to collect compulsorily the information which reporting agents are required to provide pursuant to this Regulation, without prejudice to the ECB's right to exercise these rights itself. In particular, the NCBs shall exercise this right when an institution included in the actual reporting population does not fulfil the minimum standards for transmission, accuracy, compliance with concepts and revisions specified in Annex III.

Article 12

First reporting

1.   First reporting shall begin with quarterly data on assets for the third quarter of 2019 and annual data on liabilities and members for 2019. These data shall be reported in accordance with Article 8.

2.   PFs referred to in Article 7(1)(c) and (d) shall report annual data on assets in accordance with those provisions for 2018 by end-2019.

3.   In order to derive quarterly estimates for liabilities of PFs in accordance with Article 4(2) for 2019, NCBs shall use annual data on liabilities for 2018 available at the relevant NCB or NCA.

Article 13

Transitional provisions

If an NCB grants a derogation pursuant to Article 7(1)(b), the relevant NCB shall ensure that the PFs that contribute to the quarterly aggregated balance sheet account for at least 75 % of the total assets of PFs resident in the relevant euro area Member State for the first reporting and until no later than the date by which reporting agents must transmit quarterly and annual data for 2022 under Article 8.

Article 14

Final provisions

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Official Journal of the European Union

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaties.

Done at Frankfurt am Main, 26 January 2018.

For the Governing Council of the ECB

The President of the ECB

Mario DRAGHI

---

(1)  
  OJ L 318, 27.11.1998, p. 8.

1

(2)  Opinion delivered on 26 September 2017.

2

(3)  Regulation (EU) No 1011/2012 of the European Central Bank of 17 October 2012 concerning statistics on holdings of securities (ECB/2012/24) (OJ L 305, 1.11.2012, p. 6).

3

(4)  Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on the European system of national and regional accounts in the European Union (OJ L 174, 26.6.2013, p. 1).

4

(5)  Regulation (EU) No 1073/2013 of the European Central Bank of 18 October 2013 concerning statistics on the assets and liabilities of investment funds (ECB/2013/38) (OJ L 297, 7.11.2013, p. 73).

5

(6)  Regulation (EU) No 1075/2013 of the European Central Bank of 18 October 2013 concerning statistics on the assets and liabilities of financial vehicle corporations engaged in securitisation transactions (ECB/2013/40) (OJ L 297, 7.11.2013, p. 107).

6

(7)  Regulation (EU) No 1071/2013 of the European Central Bank of 24 September 2013 concerning the balance sheet of the monetary financial institutions sector (ECB/2013/33) (OJ L 297, 7.11.2013, p. 1).

7

(8)  Regulation (EU) No 1374/2014 of the European Central Bank of 28 November 2014 on statistical reporting requirements for insurance corporations (ECB/2014/50) (OJ L 366, 20.12.2014, p. 36).

8

(9)  Directive 2003/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 June 2003 on the activities and supervision of institutions for occupational retirement provision (OJ L 235, 23.9.2003, p. 10).

9

---

ANNEX I

STATISTICAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

PART 1

General statistical reporting requirements

| 1. | The actual reporting population must provide the following statistical information, on a quarterly basis.






  (a) | security-by-security data for securities with ISIN codes; |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

(a)

security-by-security data for securities with ISIN codes;

| (b) | data on securities without ISIN codes either on a security-by-security or aggregated basis, broken down by instrument/maturity categories and counterparties; |
| --- | --- |

(b)

data on securities without ISIN codes either on a security-by-security or aggregated basis, broken down by instrument/maturity categories and counterparties;

| (c) | data on assets other than securities either on an item-by-item or aggregated basis, broken down by instrument/maturity categories and counterparties. |
| --- | --- |

(c)

data on assets other than securities either on an item-by-item or aggregated basis, broken down by instrument/maturity categories and counterparties.

| 2. | The aggregated data must be provided in terms of stocks and, in accordance with the instructions of the relevant national central bank (NCB), in terms of either: (a) revaluations due to price and exchange rate changes; or (b) financial transactions. |
| --- | --- |

2.

| 3. | In addition, pension funds (PFs) resident in a euro area Member State must provide, on an annual basis, data on liabilities as specified in Annex II. |
| --- | --- |

3.

| 4. | The data to be provided to the relevant NCB on a security-by-security basis is specified in Table 2.1 for securities with an ISIN code and in Table 2.2 for securities without an ISIN code. The aggregated quarterly statistical reporting requirements for stocks and for revaluations due to price and exchange rate changes or financial transactions, are specified in Tables 1a and 1c. The aggregated annual statistical reporting requirements for stocks and for revaluations due to price and exchange rate changes or financial transactions, are specified in Table 1b. The annual data to be provided regarding the number of members of pension schemes is specified in Table 3. |
| --- | --- |

4.

PART 2

Pension fund reserves

| 1. | In the context of pension fund reserves, for the annual reporting requirements listed below, reporting agents should derive estimates, if the data cannot be identified directly, in accordance with the relevant NCB's guidance, based on common best practices as may be defined at euro area level:






  — | pension entitlements broken down by defined contribution and defined benefit schemes, |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

—

pension entitlements broken down by defined contribution and defined benefit schemes,

| — | revaluation adjustments (including exchange rate adjustments) or financial transactions for all required breakdowns as shown in Table 1b. |
| --- | --- |

—

revaluation adjustments (including exchange rate adjustments) or financial transactions for all required breakdowns as shown in Table 1b.

| 2. | NCBs will derive quarterly estimates based on data provided on an annual basis by the reporting agents. |
| --- | --- |

2.

PART 3

Reporting tables

Table 1a

ASSETS

Stocks and revaluation adjustments (including exchange rate adjustments) or financial transactions

Data required to be provided on a quarterly basis

| | Total | Domestic/Euro area Member States other than domestic (total) | Rest of the world (total) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | MFIs (S.121 + 122) | Non-MFIs - Total |
| | General government (S.13) | Other residents |
| Total | Non-MMF investment funds (S.124) | Other financial intermediaries (S.125), financial auxiliaries (S.126), captive financial institutions and money lenders (S.127) | Insurance corporations (S.128) | Pension funds (S.129) | Non-financial corporations (S.11) | Households + non-profit institutions serving households (S.14 + S.15) |
| ASSETS (total) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Currency and deposits (ESA 2010: F.21, F.22 and F.29) |

Total

Domestic/Euro area Member States other than domestic (total)

Rest of the world (total)

MFIs (S.121 + 122)

Non-MFIs - Total

General government (S.13)

Other residents

Total

Non-MMF investment funds (S.124)

Other financial intermediaries (S.125), financial auxiliaries (S.126), captive financial institutions and money lenders (S.127)

Insurance corporations (S.128)

Pension funds (S.129)

Non-financial corporations (S.11)

Households + non-profit institutions serving households (S.14 + S.15)

ASSETS (total)

1

o/w transferable deposits (ESA 2010: F.22)

| 2 | Debt securities (ESA 2010: F.3) |
| --- | --- |

2

up to 1 year

over 1 year and up to 2 years

over 2 years

| 3 | Loans (ESA 2010: F.4) |
| --- | --- |

3

up to 1 year

over 1 year and up to 5 years

over 5 years

| 4 | Equity (ESA 2010: F.51) |
| --- | --- |

4

o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511)

o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F.512)

o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519)

| 5 | Investment fund shares/units (ESA 2010: F.52) |
| --- | --- |

5

MMF shares/units (ESA 2010: F.521)

Non-MMF shares/units (ESA 2010: F.522)

o/w bond funds

o/w equity funds

o/w mixed funds

o/w real estate funds

o/w hedge funds

o/w other funds

| 6 | Pension fund reserves (ESA 2010: F.6) |
| --- | --- |

6

o/w claims of pension funds on pension managers (ESA 2010: F.64)

o/w reinsurance recoverables (F.61)

| 7 | Financial derivatives (ESA 2010: F.7) |
| --- | --- |

7

| 8 | Other accounts receivable/payable (ESA 2010: F.8) |
| --- | --- |

8

| 9 | Non-financial assets |
| --- | --- |

9

Table 1b

LIABILITIES

Stocks and revaluation adjustments (including exchange rate adjustments) or financial transactions

Data required to be provided on an annual
   (1)
  basis

| | Total | Domestic/Euro area Member States other than domestic (total) | Rest of the world (total) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | MFIs (S.121 + 122) | Non-MFIs - Total |
| | General government (S.13) | Other residents |
| Total | Non-MMF investment funds (S.124) | Other financial intermediaries (S.125), financial auxiliaries (S.126), captive financial institutions and money lenders (S.127) | Insurance corporations (S.128) | Pension funds (S.129) | Non-financial corporations (S.11) | Households + non-profit institutions serving households (S.14 + S.15) (4) |
| LIABILITIES (total) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Loans received (ESA 2010: F.4) |

Total

Domestic/Euro area Member States other than domestic (total)

Rest of the world (total)

MFIs (S.121 + 122)

Non-MFIs - Total

General government (S.13)

Other residents

Total

Non-MMF investment funds (S.124)

Other financial intermediaries (S.125), financial auxiliaries (S.126), captive financial institutions and money lenders (S.127)

Insurance corporations (S.128)

Pension funds (S.129)

Non-financial corporations (S.11)

Households + non-profit institutions serving households (S.14 + S.15) (4)

LIABILITIES (total)

10

Up to 1 year

Over 1 and up to 5 years

Over 5 years

| 11 | Debt securities issued (ESA 2010: F.3) |
| --- | --- |

11

| 12 | Equity (ESA 2010: F.5, F.519) |
| --- | --- |

12

| 13 | Technical reserves (ESA 2010: F.6)
   (2) |
| --- | --- |

13

| 13.1 | Pension entitlements (ESA 2010: F.63) |
| --- | --- |

13.1

Pension entitlements (ESA 2010: F.63)

o/w defined contribution schemes

o/w defined benefit schemes (3)

| 13.2 | Claims of pension funds on pension managers (ESA 2010: F.64) |
| --- | --- |

13.2

Claims of pension funds on pension managers (ESA 2010: F.64)

| 13.3 | Entitlements to non-pension benefits (ESA 2010: F.65) |
| --- | --- |

13.3

Entitlements to non-pension benefits (ESA 2010: F.65)

| 14 | Financial derivatives (ESA 2010: F.71) |
| --- | --- |

14

| 15 | Other accounts receivable/payable (ESA 2010: F.8) |
| --- | --- |

15

| 16 | Net worth (ESA 2010: B.90) |
| --- | --- |

16

Table 1c

COUNTRY BREAKDOWN

Stocks and revaluation adjustments (including exchange rate adjustments) or financial transactions

Data required to be provided on an annual
   (5)
  basis

| | Other euro area residents (except domestic) |
| --- | --- |
| | BE | DE | EE | IE | EL | ES | FR | IT | CY | LV | LT | LU | MT | NL | AT | PT | SI | SK | FI |
| ASSETS (total) |
| Currency and deposits | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Debt securities (ESA 2010: F.3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| issued by MFIs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| up to 1 year | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| over 1 year | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| issued by non-MFIs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| General government | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| up to 1 year | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| over 1 year | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other residents | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| up to 1 year | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| over 1 year | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Equity (ESA 2010: F.51) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| issued by MFIs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| issued by non-MFIs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| General government | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other residents | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investment fund shares/units (ESA 2010: F.52) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LIABILITIES (total) |
| Pension entitlements (ESA 2010: F.63)
   (6) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Other euro area residents (except domestic)

BE

DE

EE

IE

EL

ES

FR

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

MT

NL

AT

PT

SI

SK

FI

ASSETS (total)

Currency and deposits

Debt securities (ESA 2010: F.3)

issued by MFIs

up to 1 year

over 1 year

issued by non-MFIs

General government

up to 1 year

over 1 year

Other residents

up to 1 year

over 1 year

Equity (ESA 2010: F.51)

issued by MFIs

o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511)

o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512)

o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519)

issued by non-MFIs

General government

o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511)

o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512)

o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519)

Other residents

o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511)

o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512)

o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519)

Investment fund shares/units (ESA 2010: F.52)

LIABILITIES (total)

Pension entitlements (ESA 2010: F.63)
   (6)

| | Non-participating Member States |
| --- | --- |
| | BG | CZ | DK | HR | HU | PL | RO | SE | UK |
| ASSETS (total) |
| Currency and deposits | | | | | | | | | | |
| Debt securities (ESA 2010: F.3) | | | | | | | | | | |
| issued by MFIs | | | | | | | | | | |
| up to 1 year | | | | | | | | | | |
| over 1 year | | | | | | | | | | |
| issued by non-MFIs | | | | | | | | | | |
| General government | | | | | | | | | | |
| up to 1 year | | | | | | | | | | |
| over 1 year | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other residents | | | | | | | | | | |
| up to 1 year | | | | | | | | | | |
| over 1 year | | | | | | | | | | |
| Equity (ESA 2010: F.51) | | | | | | | | | | |
| issued by MFIs | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511) | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512) | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519) | | | | | | | | | | |
| issued by non-MFIs | | | | | | | | | | |
| General government | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511) | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512) | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other residents | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511) | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512) | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investment funds shares/units (ESA 2010: F.52) | | | | | | | | | | |
| LIABILITIES (total) |
| Pension entitlements (ESA 2010: F.63)
   (7) | | | | | | | | | | |

Non-participating Member States

BG

CZ

DK

HR

HU

PL

RO

SE

UK

ASSETS (total)

Currency and deposits

Debt securities (ESA 2010: F.3)

issued by MFIs

up to 1 year

over 1 year

issued by non-MFIs

General government

up to 1 year

over 1 year

Other residents

up to 1 year

over 1 year

Equity (ESA 2010: F.51)

issued by MFIs

o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511)

o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512)

o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519)

issued by non-MFIs

General government

o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511)

o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512)

o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519)

Other residents

o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511)

o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F. 512)

o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519)

Investment funds shares/units (ESA 2010: F.52)

LIABILITIES (total)

Pension entitlements (ESA 2010: F.63)
   (7)

| | Main counterparties outside the EU |
| --- | --- |
| | Brazil | Canada | China | Hong Kong | India | Japan | Russia | Switzerland | US | EU institutions | Other international organisations | Offshore financial centres (as a group) |
| ASSETS (total) |
| Currency and deposits | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Debt securities (ESA 2010: F.3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| up to 1 year | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| over 1 year | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Equity (ESA 2010: F.51) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F.512) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investment funds shares/units (ESA 2010: F.52) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LIABILITIES (total) |
| Pension entitlements (ESA 2010: F.63)
   (8) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Main counterparties outside the EU

Brazil

Canada

China

Hong Kong

India

Japan

Russia

Switzerland

US

EU institutions

Other international organisations

Offshore financial centres (as a group)

ASSETS (total)

Currency and deposits

Debt securities (ESA 2010: F.3)

up to 1 year

over 1 year

Equity (ESA 2010: F.51)

o/w listed shares (ESA 2010: F.511)

o/w unlisted shares (ESA 2010: F.512)

o/w other equity (ESA 2010: F.519)

Investment funds shares/units (ESA 2010: F.52)

LIABILITIES (total)

Pension entitlements (ESA 2010: F.63)
   (8)

Table 2

Required security-by-security data

Data for the fields in Table 2.1 and Table 2.2 must be reported for each security classified under the categories ‘debt securities’, ‘equity’ and ‘investment fund shares/units’ (as defined in Annex II, Part 1, Table A). While Table 2.1 refers to securities that have been assigned an ISIN code, Table 2.2 refers to securities without an ISIN code.

Table 2.1: Holdings of securities with an ISIN code

Data for the fields must be reported for each security in accordance with the following rules:

| 1. | Data for field 1 must be reported. |
| --- | --- |

1.

Data for field 1 must be reported.

| 2. | If the relevant NCB does not directly collect security-by-security data on transactions, data for two out of the three fields 2, 3 and 4 must be reported (i.e. fields 2 and 3; fields 2 and 4; or fields 3 and 4). If data are collected for field 3, data must also be collected for field 3b. |
| --- | --- |

2.

If the relevant NCB does not directly collect security-by-security data on transactions, data for two out of the three fields 2, 3 and 4 must be reported (i.e. fields 2 and 3; fields 2 and 4; or fields 3 and 4). If data are collected for field 3, data must also be collected for field 3b.

| 3. | If the relevant NCB directly collects security-by-security data on transactions, data for the following fields must also be reported:






  (a) | field 5; or fields 6 and 7; and |
| --- | --- | --- |

3.

If the relevant NCB directly collects security-by-security data on transactions, data for the following fields must also be reported:

(a)

field 5; or fields 6 and 7; and

| (b) | field 4; or fields 2 and 3. |
| --- | --- |

(b)

field 4; or fields 2 and 3.

| 4. | The relevant NCB may also require reporting agents to report data for fields 8, 9, 10 and 11. |
| --- | --- |

4.

The relevant NCB may also require reporting agents to report data for fields 8, 9, 10 and 11.

| 5. | The relevant NCB will ensure that the coverage based on data provided will be 95 % of securities with ISIN codes but the NCB is not required to increase the reporting population by total assets where derogations are granted pursuant to Article 7.






  Field | Title |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | ISIN code |
| 2 | Number of units or aggregated nominal amount |
| 3 | Price |
| 3b | Quotation basis |
| 4 | Total amount at market value |
| 5 | Financial transactions |
| 6 | Securities purchased (assets) or issued (liabilities) |
| 7 | Securities sold (assets) or redeemed (liabilities) |
| 8 | Currency in which the security is recorded |
| 9 | Other changes in volume at nominal value |
| 10 | Other changes in volume at market value |
| 11 | Portfolio investment or direct investment |

5.

The relevant NCB will ensure that the coverage based on data provided will be 95 % of securities with ISIN codes but the NCB is not required to increase the reporting population by total assets where derogations are granted pursuant to Article 7.

Field

Title

1

ISIN code

2

Number of units or aggregated nominal amount

3

Price

3b

Quotation basis

4

Total amount at market value

5

Financial transactions

6

Securities purchased (assets) or issued (liabilities)

7

Securities sold (assets) or redeemed (liabilities)

8

Currency in which the security is recorded

9

Other changes in volume at nominal value

10

Other changes in volume at market value

11

Portfolio investment or direct investment

Table 2.2: Holdings of securities without an ISIN code

Data for the fields must be reported either: (a) for each security; or (b) by aggregating any number of securities as a single item.

In the case of (a) the following rules apply:

| 1. | Data for fields 1, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 must be reported. |
| --- | --- |

1.

Data for fields 1, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 must be reported.

| 2. | If the relevant NCB does not directly collect security-by-security data on transactions, data for two out of the three fields 2, 3 and 4 must be reported (i.e. fields 2 and 3; fields 2 and 4; or fields 3 and 4). |
| --- | --- |

2.

If the relevant NCB does not directly collect security-by-security data on transactions, data for two out of the three fields 2, 3 and 4 must be reported (i.e. fields 2 and 3; fields 2 and 4; or fields 3 and 4).

| 3. | If the relevant NCB directly collects security-by-security data on transactions, data for the following fields must also be reported:






  (a) | field 5; or fields 6 and 7; and |
| --- | --- | --- |

3.

If the relevant NCB directly collects security-by-security data on transactions, data for the following fields must also be reported:

(a)

field 5; or fields 6 and 7; and

| (b) | field 4; or fields 2 and 3. |
| --- | --- |

(b)

field 4; or fields 2 and 3.

| 4. | If data are collected for field 3, data must also be collected for field 3b. |
| --- | --- |

4.

If data are collected for field 3, data must also be collected for field 3b.

| 5. | The relevant NCB may also require reporting agents to report data for fields 3b, 8, 9, 10 and 11. |
| --- | --- |

5.

The relevant NCB may also require reporting agents to report data for fields 3b, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

In the case of (b) the following rules apply:

| 1. | Data for fields 4, 12, 13, 14 and 15 must be reported. |
| --- | --- |

1.

Data for fields 4, 12, 13, 14 and 15 must be reported.

| 2. | Data for field 5 or fields 10 and 16 must be reported. |
| --- | --- |

2.

Data for field 5 or fields 10 and 16 must be reported.

| 3. | The relevant NCB may also require reporting agents to report data for fields 8, 9 and 11.






  Field | Title |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Security identifier code |
| 2 | Number of units or aggregated nominal value |
| 3 | Price |
| 3b | Quotation basis |
| 4 | Total amount at market value |
| 5 | Financial transactions |
| 6 | Securities purchased (assets) or issued (liabilities) |
| 7 | Securities sold (assets) or redeemed (liabilities) |
| 8 | Currency in which the security is recorded |
| 9 | Other changes in volume at nominal value |
| 10 | Other changes in volume at market value |
| 11 | Portfolio investment or direct investment |
| 12 | Instrument:






  — | Debt securities (F.3) |

3.

The relevant NCB may also require reporting agents to report data for fields 8, 9 and 11.

Field

Title

1

Security identifier code

2

Number of units or aggregated nominal value

3

Price

3b

Quotation basis

4

Total amount at market value

5

Financial transactions

6

Securities purchased (assets) or issued (liabilities)

7

Securities sold (assets) or redeemed (liabilities)

8

Currency in which the security is recorded

9

Other changes in volume at nominal value

10

Other changes in volume at market value

11

Portfolio investment or direct investment

12

Instrument:

—

Debt securities (F.3)

| — | Equity (F.51) |
| --- | --- |

—

Equity (F.51)

| — | o/w listed shares (F.511) |
| --- | --- |

—

o/w listed shares (F.511)

| — | o/w unlisted shares (F.512) |
| --- | --- |

—

o/w unlisted shares (F.512)

| — | o/w other equity (F.519) |
| --- | --- |

—

o/w other equity (F.519)

| — | Investment fund shares/units (F.52) |
| --- | --- |

—

Investment fund shares/units (F.52)

| — | o/w money market fund (MMF) shares/units (F.521) |
| --- | --- |

—

o/w money market fund (MMF) shares/units (F.521)

| — | o/w non-MMF investment fund shares/units (F.522) |
| --- | --- |

—

o/w non-MMF investment fund shares/units (F.522)

13

Issue date and maturity date for debt securities. Alternatively, breakdown by maturity brackets as follows: original maturity up to one year, one to two years, over two years and remaining maturity up to one year, one to two years, two to five years, over five years.

14

Sector or subsector of the issuer:

| — | Central bank (S.121) |
| --- | --- |

—

Central bank (S.121)

| — | Deposit-taking corporations except the central bank (S.122) |
| --- | --- |

—

Deposit-taking corporations except the central bank (S.122)

| — | Money market funds (S.123) |
| --- | --- |

—

Money market funds (S.123)

| — | Non-MMF investment funds (S.124) |
| --- | --- |

—

Non-MMF investment funds (S.124)

| — | Other financial intermediaries, except insurance corporations and pension funds; financial auxiliaries; and captive financial institutions and money lenders (S.125 + S.126 + S.127) |
| --- | --- |

—

Other financial intermediaries, except insurance corporations and pension funds; financial auxiliaries; and captive financial institutions and money lenders (S.125 + S.126 + S.127)

| — | Insurance corporations (S.128) |
| --- | --- |

—

Insurance corporations (S.128)

| — | Pension funds (S.129) |
| --- | --- |

—

Pension funds (S.129)

| — | Non-financial corporations (S.11) |
| --- | --- |

—

Non-financial corporations (S.11)

| — | General government (S.13) |
| --- | --- |

—

General government (S.13)

| — | Households and non-profit institutions serving households (S.14 + S.15) (9) |
| --- | --- |

—

Households and non-profit institutions serving households (S.14 + S.15) (9)

15

Issuer country

16

Revaluation adjustments

17

Split date (10) and split factor (11)

Table 3

Number of members of pension schemes

Data required to be provided on an annual basis - End-year data

| | Total |
| --- | --- |
| | Of which: active members | Of which: deferred members | Of which: retired members |
| Number of members | | | | |

Total

Of which: active members

Of which: deferred members

Of which: retired members

Number of members

---

(1)  Quarterly estimates to be provided by NCBs.

(2)  Total technical reserves may include life insurance

(3)  Notional defined contribution schemes and hybrid schemes are grouped as defined benefit schemes

(4)  Entitlements relevant only for households (S.14)

(5)  Quarterly estimates to be provided by NCBs.

(6)  Quarterly estimates to be provided by NCBs.

(7)  Quarterly estimates to be provided by NCBs.

(8)  Quarterly estimates to be provided by NCBs.

(9)  The relevant NCB may require actual reporting agents to separately identify the subsectors ‘households’ (S.14) and ‘non-profit institutions serving households’ (S.15).

(10)  The split date is the date on which the last stock split or reverse split took place. Stock splits are operations that split existing shares, thereby reducing the share price and increasing the number of shares available on the market in the same proportion. Reverse splits increase the share price and reduce the number of shares available on the market in the same proportion.

(11)  The split factor is calculated as the number of shares after the split divided by the number of shares before the split.

---

ANNEX II

DESCRIPTIONS

PART 1

Descriptions of instrument categories

| 1. | This table provides a detailed standard description of the instrument categories which national central banks (NCBs) must transpose into their national categories in accordance with this Regulation. Neither the list of individual financial instruments in the table nor their corresponding descriptions are intended to be exhaustive. The descriptions refer to the European system of accounts set up by Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 (hereinafter the ‘ESA 2010’). |
| --- | --- |

1.

| 2. | For some of the instrument categories, maturity breakdowns are required. These refer to original maturity, i.e. maturity at issue, which is the fixed period of life of a financial instrument before which it cannot be redeemed, e.g. debt securities, or before which it can only be redeemed with a penalty, e.g. some types of deposits. |
| --- | --- |

2.

| 3. | Financial claims can be distinguished by whether they are negotiable or not. A claim is negotiable if its ownership is readily capable of being transferred from one unit to another by delivery or endorsement or of being offset in the case of financial derivatives. While any financial instrument can be traded, negotiable instruments are designed to be traded on an organised exchange or ‘over-the-counter’, although actual trading is not a necessary condition for negotiability. |
| --- | --- |

3.

Table A

Description of instrument categories in the assets and liabilities of pension funds

ASSETS

| Instrument category | Description of main features |
| --- | --- |
| 1. | Currency and deposits |

Instrument category

Description of main features

1.

Currency and deposits

Holdings of euro and foreign currency banknotes and coins in circulation that are commonly used to make payments and deposits placed by the pension fund (PF) with monetary financial institutions (MFIs). They may include overnight deposits, deposits with agreed maturity and deposits redeemable at notice, as well as claims under reverse repos or securities borrowing against cash collateral (this applies only if the counterparty is a deposit-taking corporation (ESA 2010, paragraph 5.130)).

| 1.1 | Transferable deposits |
| --- | --- |

1.1

Transferable deposits

Transferable deposits are deposits which are directly transferable on demand to make payments to other economic agents by commonly used means of payment, such as credit transfer and direct debit, possibly also by credit or debit card, e-money transactions, cheques, or similar means, without significant delay, restriction or penalty. Deposits that can only be used for cash withdrawal and/or deposits from which funds can only be withdrawn or transferred through another account of the same owner are not to be included as transferable deposits.

| 2. | Debt securities |
| --- | --- |

2.

Debt securities

Holdings of debt securities, which are negotiable financial instruments serving as evidence of debt, are usually traded on secondary markets. They can also be offset on the market and do not grant the holder any ownership rights over the issuing institution.

This category includes:

| — | holdings of securities which give the holder the unconditional right to a fixed or contractually determined income in the form of coupon payments and/or a stated fixed sum at a specific date or dates, or starting from a date fixed at the time of issue, |
| --- | --- |

—

holdings of securities which give the holder the unconditional right to a fixed or contractually determined income in the form of coupon payments and/or a stated fixed sum at a specific date or dates, or starting from a date fixed at the time of issue,

| — | loans which have become negotiable on an organised market, i.e. traded loans, provided that there is evidence of secondary market trading, including the existence of market makers, and frequent pricing of the financial asset, such as demonstrated by bid-offer spreads. Where these criteria are not fulfilled they should be classified under category 3 ‘Loans’ (see also ‘traded loans’ in the same category), |
| --- | --- |

—

loans which have become negotiable on an organised market, i.e. traded loans, provided that there is evidence of secondary market trading, including the existence of market makers, and frequent pricing of the financial asset, such as demonstrated by bid-offer spreads. Where these criteria are not fulfilled they should be classified under category 3 ‘Loans’ (see also ‘traded loans’ in the same category),

| — | subordinated debt in the form of debt securities (see also ‘subordinated debt in the form of loans’ in category 3 ‘Loans’). |
| --- | --- |

—

subordinated debt in the form of debt securities (see also ‘subordinated debt in the form of loans’ in category 3 ‘Loans’).

Securities lent out under securities lending operations or sold under a repurchase agreement remain on the original owner's balance sheet (and are not to be recorded in the balance sheet of the temporary acquirer) where there is a firm commitment to reverse the operation, and not simply an option to do so. Where the temporary acquirer sells the securities received, this sale must be recorded as an outright transaction in securities and entered in the balance sheet of the temporary acquirer as a negative position in the securities portfolio.

| 3. | Loans |
| --- | --- |

3.

Loans

For the purposes of the reporting scheme, this category consists of funds lent by PFs to borrowers, or loans acquired by PFs, which are either evidenced by non-negotiable documents or not evidenced by documents.

It includes the following items:

| — | holdings of non-negotiable securities: holdings of debt securities which are not negotiable and cannot be traded on secondary markets, |
| --- | --- |

—

holdings of non-negotiable securities: holdings of debt securities which are not negotiable and cannot be traded on secondary markets,

| — | traded loans: loans that have de facto become negotiable are classified under the category ‘Loans’ provided that there is no evidence of secondary market trading. Otherwise they are classified as debt securities (category 2), |
| --- | --- |

—

traded loans: loans that have de facto become negotiable are classified under the category ‘Loans’ provided that there is no evidence of secondary market trading. Otherwise they are classified as debt securities (category 2),

| — | subordinated debt in the form of loans: subordinated debt instruments provide a subsidiary claim on the issuing institution that can only be exercised after all claims with a higher status have been satisfied, giving them some of the characteristics of equity. For statistical purposes, subordinated debt is classified as either ‘loans’ or ‘debt securities’ according to the nature of the instrument. Where a PF's holdings of all forms of subordinated debt are identified as a single figure for statistical purposes, this figure is to be classified under the category ‘debt securities’, on the grounds that subordinated debt is predominantly constituted in the form of debt securities, rather than as loans, |
| --- | --- |

—

subordinated debt in the form of loans: subordinated debt instruments provide a subsidiary claim on the issuing institution that can only be exercised after all claims with a higher status have been satisfied, giving them some of the characteristics of equity. For statistical purposes, subordinated debt is classified as either ‘loans’ or ‘debt securities’ according to the nature of the instrument. Where a PF's holdings of all forms of subordinated debt are identified as a single figure for statistical purposes, this figure is to be classified under the category ‘debt securities’, on the grounds that subordinated debt is predominantly constituted in the form of debt securities, rather than as loans,

| — | claims under reverse repos or securities borrowing against cash collateral (this applies only if the counterparty is not a deposit-taking corporation (ESA 2010, paragraph 5.130)): counterpart of cash paid out in exchange for securities purchased by reporting agents at a given price under a firm commitment to resell the same or similar securities at a fixed price on a specified future date, or securities borrowing against cash collateral. |
| --- | --- |

—

claims under reverse repos or securities borrowing against cash collateral (this applies only if the counterparty is not a deposit-taking corporation (ESA 2010, paragraph 5.130)): counterpart of cash paid out in exchange for securities purchased by reporting agents at a given price under a firm commitment to resell the same or similar securities at a fixed price on a specified future date, or securities borrowing against cash collateral.

This category excludes assets in the form of deposits placed by PFs (which are included in category 1).

| 4. | Equity |
| --- | --- |

4.

Equity

Financial assets that represent ownership rights in corporations or quasi-corporations. Such financial assets generally entitle the holders to a share in the profits of the corporations or quasi-corporations, and to a share in their net assets in the event of liquidation.

This category includes listed and unlisted shares and other equity.

Equity securities lent out under securities lending operations or sold under repurchase agreements are treated in accordance with category 2 ‘Debt securities’.

| 4.1 | Listed shares |
| --- | --- |

4.1

Listed shares

Equity securities listed on an exchange. The exchange may be a recognised stock exchange or any other form of secondary market. Listed shares are also referred to as quoted shares.

| 4.2 | Unlisted shares |
| --- | --- |

4.2

Unlisted shares

Unlisted shares are equity securities not listed on an exchange.

| 4.3 | Other equity |
| --- | --- |

4.3

Other equity

Other equity comprises all forms of equity other than listed shares and unlisted shares.

| 5. | Investment fund shares/units |
| --- | --- |

5.

Investment fund shares/units

This category includes holdings of shares or units issued by money market funds (MMFs) and non-MMF investment funds (i.e. investment funds other than MMFs).

| 5.1 | MMF shares/units |
| --- | --- |

5.1

MMF shares/units

Holdings of shares or units issued by MMFs as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1071/2013 (ECB/2013/33).

| 5.2 | Non-MMF shares/units |
| --- | --- |

5.2

Non-MMF shares/units

Holdings of shares or units issued by investment funds (IFs) other than MMFs as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1073/2013 (ECB/2013/38).

| 6. | Pension fund reserves |
| --- | --- |

6.

Pension fund reserves

This category includes:

| — | PFs' claims on pension managers as defined in ESA 2010, paragraphs 5.186 and 17.78, |
| --- | --- |

—

PFs' claims on pension managers as defined in ESA 2010, paragraphs 5.186 and 17.78,

| — | financial claims of PFs against reinsurance corporations connected with pension reserves (reinsurance recoverables). |
| --- | --- |

—

financial claims of PFs against reinsurance corporations connected with pension reserves (reinsurance recoverables).

| 7. | Financial derivatives |
| --- | --- |

7.

Financial derivatives

Financial derivatives are financial instruments linked to a specified financial instrument, indicator, or commodity, through which specific financial risks can be traded in financial markets in their own right.

This category includes:

| — | options, |
| --- | --- |

—

options,

| — | warrants, |
| --- | --- |

—

warrants,

| — | futures, |
| --- | --- |

—

futures,

| — | forwards, |
| --- | --- |

—

forwards,

| — | swaps, |
| --- | --- |

—

swaps,

| — | credit derivatives. |
| --- | --- |

—

credit derivatives.

Financial derivatives are recorded at market value on the balance sheet on a gross basis. Individual derivative contracts with positive market values are recorded on the asset side of the balance sheet and contracts with negative market values on the liability side of the balance sheet.

Gross future commitments arising from derivative contracts should not be entered as on-balance-sheet items.

Financial derivatives may be recorded on a net basis according to different valuation methods. In the event that only net positions are available, or positions are recorded other than at market value, these positions are reported instead.

This category does not include financial derivatives that are not subject to on-balance-sheet recording according to national rules.

| 8. | Other accounts receivable/payable |
| --- | --- |

8.

Other accounts receivable/payable

This is the residual item on the asset side of the balance sheet, defined as ‘assets not included elsewhere’. NCBs may require the reporting of specific sub-positions included in this category, such as:

| — | dividends receivable, |
| --- | --- |

—

dividends receivable,

| — | accrued interest receivable on deposits, |
| --- | --- |

—

accrued interest receivable on deposits,

| — | accrued interest receivable on loans, |
| --- | --- |

—

accrued interest receivable on loans,

| — | accrued interest receivable on debt securities, |
| --- | --- |

—

accrued interest receivable on debt securities,

| — | accrued rent receivable, |
| --- | --- |

—

accrued rent receivable,

| — | amounts receivable which do not relate to the PF's main business. |
| --- | --- |

—

amounts receivable which do not relate to the PF's main business.

| 9. | Non-financial assets |
| --- | --- |

9.

Non-financial assets

Tangible and intangible assets, other than financial assets.

This category includes dwellings, other buildings and structures, machinery and equipment, valuables, and intellectual property products such as computer software and databases.

LIABILITIES

| Instrument category | Description of main features |
| --- | --- |
| 10. | Loans received |

Instrument category

Description of main features

10.

Loans received

Amounts owed to creditors by the PF, other than those arising from the issue of negotiable securities. This category consists of:

| — | loans: loans granted to the PFs which are either evidenced by non-negotiable documents or not evidenced by documents, |
| --- | --- |

—

loans: loans granted to the PFs which are either evidenced by non-negotiable documents or not evidenced by documents,

| — | repos and repo-type operations against cash collateral: counterpart of cash received in exchange for securities sold by the PF at a given price under a firm commitment to repurchase the same (or similar) securities at a fixed price on a specified future date. Amounts received by the PF in exchange for securities transferred to a third party (the ‘temporary acquirer’) are to be classified here where there is a firm commitment to reverse the operation and not merely an option to do so. This implies that the PF retains all risks and rewards of the underlying securities during the operation, |
| --- | --- |

—

repos and repo-type operations against cash collateral: counterpart of cash received in exchange for securities sold by the PF at a given price under a firm commitment to repurchase the same (or similar) securities at a fixed price on a specified future date. Amounts received by the PF in exchange for securities transferred to a third party (the ‘temporary acquirer’) are to be classified here where there is a firm commitment to reverse the operation and not merely an option to do so. This implies that the PF retains all risks and rewards of the underlying securities during the operation,

| — | cash collateral received in exchange for securities lending: amounts received in exchange for securities temporarily transferred to a third party in the form of securities lending operations against cash collateral, |
| --- | --- |

—

cash collateral received in exchange for securities lending: amounts received in exchange for securities temporarily transferred to a third party in the form of securities lending operations against cash collateral,

| — | cash collateral received in operations involving the temporary transfer of gold against collateral. |
| --- | --- |

—

cash collateral received in operations involving the temporary transfer of gold against collateral.

| 11 | Debt securities issued |
| --- | --- |

11

Debt securities issued

Securities issued by the PF, other than equity, that are usually negotiable instruments and traded on secondary markets, or that can be offset on the market, and do not grant the holder any ownership rights in respect of the issuing institution.

| 12. | Equity |
| --- | --- |

12.

Equity

See category 4.

| 13. | Technical reserves |
| --- | --- |

13.

Technical reserves

The amount of capital that the PF holds in order to meet the future pension claims of its policyholders.

| 13.1 | o/w pension entitlements |
| --- | --- |

13.1

o/w pension entitlements

The amount of capital that the PF holds in order to meet the future claims of its pension schemes.

Pension entitlements, o/w defined contribution schemes

The amount of capital that the PF holds in order to meet the future pension claims of its defined contribution scheme policyholders.

In a defined contribution scheme the benefits paid are dependent on the performance of the assets acquired by the pension scheme. The liability of a defined contribution scheme is the current market value of the fund's assets.

Pension entitlements, o/w defined benefit schemes

The amount of capital that the PF holds in order to meet the future pension claims of its defined benefit scheme policyholders.

In a defined benefit pension scheme the level of pension benefits promised to participating employees is determined by a formula agreed in advance. The liability of a defined benefit pension scheme is equal to the present value of the promised benefits.

Notional defined contribution schemes and hybrid schemes are grouped as defined benefit schemes (ESA 2010, paragraph 17.59). A notional defined contribution scheme is similar to a defined contribution scheme but with a guaranteed minimum amount payable. Hybrid schemes are those schemes which have both a defined benefit and a defined contribution element. A scheme is classified as ‘hybrid’ either because both defined benefit and defined contribution provisions are present or because it embodies a notional defined contribution scheme and, at the same time, a defined benefit or defined contribution provision.

| 13.2 | Claims of pension funds on pension managers |
| --- | --- |

13.2

Claims of pension funds on pension managers

See category 6.

| 13.3 | Entitlements to non-pension benefits |
| --- | --- |

13.3

Entitlements to non-pension benefits

This is the excess of net contributions over benefits, which represents an increase in the liability of the insurance scheme towards the beneficiaries (defined in ESA 2010, paragraph 5.187).

| 14. | Financial derivatives |
| --- | --- |

14.

Financial derivatives

See category 7.

| 15. | Other accounts receivable/payable |
| --- | --- |

15.

Other accounts receivable/payable

This is the residual item on the liabilities side of the balance sheet, defined as ‘liabilities not included elsewhere’. NCBs may require the reporting of specific sub-positions included in this category, such as:

| — | amounts payable not related to the PF's main business, i.e. amounts due to suppliers, tax, wages, social contributions, etc., |
| --- | --- |

—

amounts payable not related to the PF's main business, i.e. amounts due to suppliers, tax, wages, social contributions, etc.,

| — | provisions representing liabilities against third parties, i.e. pensions, dividends, etc., |
| --- | --- |

—

provisions representing liabilities against third parties, i.e. pensions, dividends, etc.,

| — | net positions arising from securities lending without cash collateral, |
| --- | --- |

—

net positions arising from securities lending without cash collateral,

| — | net amounts payable in respect of future settlements of transactions in securities, |
| --- | --- |

—

net amounts payable in respect of future settlements of transactions in securities,

| — | accrued interest payable on loans. |
| --- | --- |

—

accrued interest payable on loans.

| 16. | Net worth |
| --- | --- |

16.

Net worth

This is the balancing item of a balance sheet (B.90) (ESA 2010, paragraph 7.02). The stock of the assets and liabilities recorded in the balance sheet are valued at the appropriate prices, which are usually the market prices prevailing on the date to which the balance sheet relates. In a defined benefit pension scheme, however, the level of pension benefits promised to participating employees is determined by a formula agreed in advance. The liability of a defined benefit pension scheme is equal to the present value of the promised benefits, and therefore in a defined benefit pension scheme net worth can be different from zero.

In a defined contribution scheme the benefits paid are dependent on the performance of the assets acquired by the pension scheme. The liability of a defined contribution scheme is the current market value of the fund's assets. The fund's net worth is always zero.

PART 2

Descriptions of security-by-security attributes

Table B

Descriptions of security-by-security attributes

| Field | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Security identifier code | A code that uniquely identifies a security, subject to the NCB's instructions (e.g. NCB identification number, CUSIP, SEDOL). This code must be kept consistent over time. |
| Number of units or aggregated nominal amount | Number of units of a security, or aggregated nominal amount if the security is traded in amounts rather than in units, excluding accrued interest. |
| Price | Market price per unit of a security, or percentage of the aggregated nominal amount if the security is traded in amounts rather than in units. NCBs may also require accrued interest to be reported under this position. |
| Quotation basis | Indicates whether the security is quoted as a percentage or in units. |
| Total amount | Total market value of a security. In the case of securities that are traded in units, this amount equals the number of securities multiplied by the price per unit. Where securities are traded in amounts rather than in units, this amount equals the aggregated nominal amount multiplied by the price expressed as a percentage of the nominal amount.
  NCBs must in principle require accrued interest to be reported either under this position or separately. However, NCBs may at their discretion require data excluding accrued interest. |
| Financial transactions | The sum of purchases minus sales (securities on the asset side) or issues minus redemptions (securities on the liability side) of a security recorded at transaction value in euro. |
| Securities purchased (assets) or issued (liabilities) | The sum of purchases (securities on the asset side) or issues (securities on the liability side) of a security recorded at transaction value. |
| Securities sold (assets) or redeemed (liabilities) | The sum of sales (securities on the asset side) or redemptions (securities on the liability side) of a security recorded at transaction value. |
| Currency of recording of the security | ISO code or equivalent of the currency used to express the price and/or the outstanding amount of the security. |
| Other changes in volume at nominal value | Other changes in the volume of the security held, at nominal value in nominal currency/unit or euro. |
| Other changes in volume at market value | Other changes in the volume of the security held, at market value in euro. |
| Portfolio investment or direct investment | The function of the investment according to its classification in balance of payments statistics (1). |
| Issuer country | The residence of the issuer. In the case of investment fund shares/units, the issuer country refers to the place where the investment fund is resident and not the residence of the fund manager. |

Field

Description

Security identifier code

A code that uniquely identifies a security, subject to the NCB's instructions (e.g. NCB identification number, CUSIP, SEDOL). This code must be kept consistent over time.

Number of units or aggregated nominal amount

Number of units of a security, or aggregated nominal amount if the security is traded in amounts rather than in units, excluding accrued interest.

Price

Market price per unit of a security, or percentage of the aggregated nominal amount if the security is traded in amounts rather than in units. NCBs may also require accrued interest to be reported under this position.

Quotation basis

Indicates whether the security is quoted as a percentage or in units.

Total amount

Total market value of a security. In the case of securities that are traded in units, this amount equals the number of securities multiplied by the price per unit. Where securities are traded in amounts rather than in units, this amount equals the aggregated nominal amount multiplied by the price expressed as a percentage of the nominal amount.

NCBs must in principle require accrued interest to be reported either under this position or separately. However, NCBs may at their discretion require data excluding accrued interest.

Financial transactions

The sum of purchases minus sales (securities on the asset side) or issues minus redemptions (securities on the liability side) of a security recorded at transaction value in euro.

Securities purchased (assets) or issued (liabilities)

The sum of purchases (securities on the asset side) or issues (securities on the liability side) of a security recorded at transaction value.

Securities sold (assets) or redeemed (liabilities)

The sum of sales (securities on the asset side) or redemptions (securities on the liability side) of a security recorded at transaction value.

Currency of recording of the security

ISO code or equivalent of the currency used to express the price and/or the outstanding amount of the security.

Other changes in volume at nominal value

Other changes in the volume of the security held, at nominal value in nominal currency/unit or euro.

Other changes in volume at market value

Other changes in the volume of the security held, at market value in euro.

Portfolio investment or direct investment

The function of the investment according to its classification in balance of payments statistics (1).

Issuer country

The residence of the issuer. In the case of investment fund shares/units, the issuer country refers to the place where the investment fund is resident and not the residence of the fund manager.

PART 3

Descriptions of number of members of pension schemes

Table C

Descriptions of number of members of pension schemes

| Category | Description |
| --- | --- |
| 1. | Number of members of pension schemes (total) |

Category

Description

1.

Number of members of pension schemes (total)

The total number of members of pension schemes. This amount equals the sum of active members, deferred members and retired members.

See categories 2, 3 and 4.

| 2. | o/w active members |
| --- | --- |

2.

o/w active members

Number of active members of the pension scheme.

An active member is a pension scheme member who is making contributions (and/or on behalf of whom contributions are being made) and is accumulating assets or has accrued assets in the past and is not yet retired.

| 3. | o/w deferred members |
| --- | --- |

3.

o/w deferred members

Number of deferred members of the pension scheme.

A deferred member is a pension scheme member who no longer contributes to or accrues benefits from the scheme but has not yet begun to receive retirement benefits from that scheme.

| 4. | o/w retired members |
| --- | --- |

4.

o/w retired members

Number of retired members of the pension scheme

A retired member is a pension scheme member who no longer contributes to or accrues benefits from the scheme and has begun to receive retirement benefits from that scheme.

PART 4

Descriptions by sector

The ESA 2010 provides the standard for sector classification. Table D provides a detailed description of those sectors which NCBs must transpose into their national classifications in accordance with this Regulation. Counterparties resident in euro area Member States are identified according to their sector in accordance with the lists maintained by the European Central Bank (ECB) for statistical purposes and the guidance for the statistical classification of counterparties provided in the ECB's ‘Monetary financial institutions and markets statistics sector manual: Guidance for the statistical classification of customers’.

Table D

Descriptions by sector

| Sector | Description |
| --- | --- |
| 1. | MFIs |

Sector

Description

1.

MFIs

MFIs as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1071/2013 (ECB/2013/33). This sector consists of NCBs (S.121), credit institutions as defined in Union law, MMFs, other financial institutions whose business is to receive deposits and/or close substitutes for deposits from entities other than MFIs and, for their own account, at least in economic terms, to grant loans and/or make investments in securities, and electronic money institutions that are principally engaged in financial intermediation in the form of issuing electronic money (S.122).

| 2. | General government |
| --- | --- |

2.

General government

The general government sector (S.13) consists of institutional units that are non-market producers whose output is intended for individual and collective consumption and that are financed by compulsory payments made by units belonging to other sectors, and institutional units principally engaged in the redistribution of national income and wealth (ESA 2010, paragraphs 2.111 to 2.113).

| 3. | Other financial intermediaries, except insurance corporations and pension funds + financial auxiliaries + captive financial institutions and money lenders |
| --- | --- |

3.

Other financial intermediaries, except insurance corporations and pension funds + financial auxiliaries + captive financial institutions and money lenders

The other financial intermediaries, except insurance corporations and pension funds subsector (S.125) consists of all financial corporations and quasi-corporations which are principally engaged in financial intermediation by incurring liabilities in forms other than currency, deposits (or close substitutes for deposits), IF shares/units, or in relation to insurance, pension and standardised guarantee schemes from institutional units. Financial vehicle corporations as defined in Regulation (EU) No 1075/2013 (ECB/2013/40) are included in this subsector (ESA 2010, paragraphs 2.86 to 2.94).

The financial auxiliaries subsector (S.126) consists of all financial corporations and quasi-corporations which are principally engaged in activities closely related to financial intermediation but which are not financial intermediaries themselves. This subsector also includes head offices whose subsidiaries are all or mostly financial corporations (ESA 2010, paragraphs 2.95 to 2.97).

The captive financial institutions and money lenders subsector (S.127) consists of all financial corporations and quasi-corporations which are neither engaged in financial intermediation nor in providing financial auxiliary services, and where most of either their assets or their liabilities are not transacted on open markets. This subsector includes holding companies that hold controlling levels of equity in a group of subsidiary corporations and whose principal activity is owning the group without providing any other service to the businesses in which the equity is held, that is, they do not administer or manage other units (ESA 2010, paragraphs 2.98 and 2.99).

| 4. | Non-MMF IFs |
| --- | --- |

4.

Non-MMF IFs

IFs as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1073/2013 (ECB/2013/38). This subsector consists of all collective investment undertakings, except MMFs, that invest in financial and/or non-financial assets, to the extent that the objective is investing capital raised from the public (S.124).

| 5. | Insurance corporations |
| --- | --- |

5.

Insurance corporations

Insurance corporations (ICs, S.128) as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1374/2014 (ECB/2014/50).

| 6. | Pension funds |
| --- | --- |

6.

Pension funds

PFs as defined in Article 1 of this Regulation (S.129).

| 6.1 | Pension managers |
| --- | --- |

6.1

Pension managers

Pension manager as defined in Article 1 of this Regulation.

| 7. | Non-financial corporations |
| --- | --- |

7.

Non-financial corporations

The non-financial corporations sector (S.11) consists of institutional units that are independent legal entities and market producers, and whose principal activity is the production of goods and non-financial services. This sector also includes non-financial quasi-corporations (ESA 2010, paragraphs 2.45 to 2.50).

| 8. | Households + non-profit institutions serving households |
| --- | --- |

8.

Households + non-profit institutions serving households

The households sector (S.14) consists of individuals or groups of individuals, as consumers and as entrepreneurs, producing market goods and providing non-financial and financial services (market producers), provided that the production of goods and services is not carried out by separate entities treated as quasi-corporations. It also includes individuals or groups of individuals that produce goods and non-financial services for exclusively own final use. The households sector includes sole proprietorships and partnerships that are not independent legal entities, other than those treated as quasi-corporations, and that are market producers (ESA 2010, paragraphs 2.118 to 2.128).

The non-profit institutions serving households (NPISHs) sector (S.15) consists of non-profit institutions that are separate legal entities, serve households and are private non-market producers. Their principal resources are voluntary contributions in cash or in kind from households in their capacity as consumers, from payments made by general government and from property income (ESA 2010, paragraphs 2.129 and 2.130).

PART 5

Descriptions of financial transactions and revaluation adjustments

| 1. | ‘Financial transactions’ refers to those transactions that arise out of the creation, liquidation or change in ownership of financial assets or liabilities. These transactions are measured in terms of the difference between stock positions at end-period reporting dates, from which the effects of changes resulting from the influence of ‘revaluation adjustments’ (as a consequence of price and exchange rate changes) and ‘reclassifications and other adjustments’ are removed. The ECB requires statistical information for the purpose of compiling data on financial transactions in the form of adjustments that involve ‘reclassifications and other adjustments’ as well as ‘price and exchange rate revaluations’. |
| --- | --- |

1.

| 2. | ‘Revaluation adjustments’ refers to changes to the valuation of assets and liabilities that arise from changes in the price of assets and liabilities and/or the effect of exchange rates on the values, expressed in euro, of assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency. The adjustment in respect of price revaluations of assets/liabilities refers to changes to the valuation of assets/liabilities that arise because of a change in the price at which assets/liabilities are recorded or traded. The price revaluations include the changes that occur over time in the value of end-period stocks because of changes in the reference value at which they are recorded, i.e. holding gains/losses. Movements in exchange rates against the euro that occur between end-period reporting dates give rise to changes in the value of foreign currency assets/liabilities when expressed in euro. As these changes represent holding gains/losses and are not due to financial transactions, these effects need to be removed from the transactions data. In principle, revaluation adjustments also contain valuation changes that result from transactions in assets/liabilities, i.e. realised gains/losses; however, there are different national practices in this respect. |
| --- | --- |

2.

| 3. | ‘Write-offs/write-downs’ refers to the reduction in the value of a loan recorded on the balance sheet where the loan is considered to be a worthless asset (write-off) or where it is deemed that the loan will not be fully recovered (write-down). Write-offs/write-downs recognised at the time a loan is sold or transferred to a third party are also included, where identifiable. |
| --- | --- |

3.

---

(1)  Guideline ECB/2011/23 of the European Central Bank of 9 December 2011 on the statistical reporting requirements of the European Central Bank in the field of external statistics (OJ L 65, 3.3.2012, p. 1).

---

ANNEX III

MINIMUM STANDARDS TO BE APPLIED BY THE ACTUAL REPORTING POPULATION

Reporting agents must meet the following minimum standards to fulfil the statistical reporting requirements of the European Central Bank (ECB).

| 1. | Minimum standards for transmission:






  (a) | reporting must be timely and within the deadlines set by the relevant national central bank (NCB); |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

Minimum standards for transmission:

(a)

reporting must be timely and within the deadlines set by the relevant national central bank (NCB);

| (b) | statistical reports must take their form and format from the technical reporting requirements set by the relevant NCB; |
| --- | --- |

(b)

statistical reports must take their form and format from the technical reporting requirements set by the relevant NCB;

| (c) | the reporting agent must provide details of one or more contact persons to the relevant NCB; |
| --- | --- |

(c)

the reporting agent must provide details of one or more contact persons to the relevant NCB;

| (d) | the technical specifications for data transmission to the relevant NCB must be followed; |
| --- | --- |

(d)

the technical specifications for data transmission to the relevant NCB must be followed;

| (e) | for security-by-security reporting, if the relevant NCB so requests, the reporting agents must provide further information (e.g. name of issuer, issue date) needed to identify securities whose security identification codes are either erroneous or not publicly available. |
| --- | --- |

(e)

for security-by-security reporting, if the relevant NCB so requests, the reporting agents must provide further information (e.g. name of issuer, issue date) needed to identify securities whose security identification codes are either erroneous or not publicly available.

| 2. | Minimum standards for accuracy:






  (a) | statistical information must be correct: all linear constraints must be fulfilled (e.g. subtotals must add up to totals); |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

Minimum standards for accuracy:

(a)

statistical information must be correct: all linear constraints must be fulfilled (e.g. subtotals must add up to totals);

| (b) | reporting agents must be able to provide information on the developments implied by the transmitted data; |
| --- | --- |

(b)

reporting agents must be able to provide information on the developments implied by the transmitted data;

| (c) | statistical information must be complete and must not contain continuous and structural gaps; existing gaps should be acknowledged, explained to the relevant NCB and, where applicable, bridged as soon as possible; |
| --- | --- |

(c)

statistical information must be complete and must not contain continuous and structural gaps; existing gaps should be acknowledged, explained to the relevant NCB and, where applicable, bridged as soon as possible;

| (d) | reporting agents must follow the dimensions, rounding policy and decimals set by the relevant NCB for the technical transmission of the data. |
| --- | --- |

(d)

reporting agents must follow the dimensions, rounding policy and decimals set by the relevant NCB for the technical transmission of the data.

| 3. | Minimum standards for compliance with concepts:






  (a) | statistical information must comply with the definitions and classifications contained in this Regulation; |
| --- | --- | --- |

3.

Minimum standards for compliance with concepts:

(a)

statistical information must comply with the definitions and classifications contained in this Regulation;

| (b) | in the event of deviations from these definitions and classifications, reporting agents must monitor and quantify the difference between the measure used and the measure contained in this Regulation on a regular basis; |
| --- | --- |

(b)

in the event of deviations from these definitions and classifications, reporting agents must monitor and quantify the difference between the measure used and the measure contained in this Regulation on a regular basis;

| (c) | reporting agents must be able to explain breaks in the transmitted data compared with the previous periods' figures. |
| --- | --- |

(c)

reporting agents must be able to explain breaks in the transmitted data compared with the previous periods' figures.

| 4. | Minimum standards for revisions:
  The revisions policy and procedures set by the ECB and the relevant NCB must be followed. Revisions deviating from regular revisions must be accompanied by an explanatory note. |
| --- | --- |

4.

Minimum standards for revisions:

The revisions policy and procedures set by the ECB and the relevant NCB must be followed. Revisions deviating from regular revisions must be accompanied by an explanatory note.

---

DECISIONS

| 17.2.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 45/31 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.2.2018

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 45/31

---

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2018/232

of 15 February 2018

concerning the extension of the action taken by Belgium on the making available on the market and use of the biocidal products VectoMax G and Aqua-K-Othrine in accordance with Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(notified under document C(2018) 759)

(Only the Dutch and French texts are authentic)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products (1) and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 55(1) thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | On 3 May 2017 Belgium adopted a decision in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, to permit until 31 October 2017 the making available on the market and use in the Flemish Region of the biocidal products VectoMax G and Aqua-K-Othrine for the control of larvae and adult invasive exotic mosquitoes (genus Aedes) (hereinafter referred to as ‘mosquitoes’) and of any new populations discovered in the Flemish Region in the context of the exotic mosquito monitoring project in Belgium known as ‘MEMO’ (‘the action’). Belgium informed without delay the Commission and the other Member States about the action and the justification for it, in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 55(1) of that Regulation. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

On 3 May 2017 Belgium adopted a decision in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, to permit until 31 October 2017 the making available on the market and use in the Flemish Region of the biocidal products VectoMax G and Aqua-K-Othrine for the control of larvae and adult invasive exotic mosquitoes (genus Aedes) (hereinafter referred to as ‘mosquitoes’) and of any new populations discovered in the Flemish Region in the context of the exotic mosquito monitoring project in Belgium known as ‘MEMO’ (‘the action’). Belgium informed without delay the Commission and the other Member States about the action and the justification for it, in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 55(1) of that Regulation.

| (2) | VectoMax G contains Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis serotype H14, strain AM65-52 and Bacillus sphaericus subsp. 2362, strain ABTS-1743 (hereinafter referred to as ‘Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis’ and ‘Bacillus sphaericus’ respectively) as active substances and Aqua-K-Othrine contains deltamethrin as active substance, all of them for use in product type 18 as defined in Annex V to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. According to the information provided by Belgium, the action was necessary in order to protect the public health since those mosquitoes, found in Belgium in two locations in the Province of East Flanders, can be vector for diseases like dengue and chikungunya, and their possible proliferation should be prevented as much and as early as possible. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

VectoMax G contains Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis serotype H14, strain AM65-52 and Bacillus sphaericus subsp. 2362, strain ABTS-1743 (hereinafter referred to as ‘Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis’ and ‘Bacillus sphaericus’ respectively) as active substances and Aqua-K-Othrine contains deltamethrin as active substance, all of them for use in product type 18 as defined in Annex V to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. According to the information provided by Belgium, the action was necessary in order to protect the public health since those mosquitoes, found in Belgium in two locations in the Province of East Flanders, can be vector for diseases like dengue and chikungunya, and their possible proliferation should be prevented as much and as early as possible.

| (3) | On 27 September 2017 the Commission received a reasoned request from Belgium to extend the action in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. The reasoned request was made based on the concerns raised by the threat for the public health posed by the mosquitoes. As the campaign to combat the identified populations of mosquitoes in Belgium has not yet been concluded, and the monitoring project MEMO is still ongoing, the abovementioned products would be needed to control identified and any new populations of mosquitoes that might be detected in the Flemish Region, due to the lack of appropriate alternative products in Belgium. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

On 27 September 2017 the Commission received a reasoned request from Belgium to extend the action in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 55(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. The reasoned request was made based on the concerns raised by the threat for the public health posed by the mosquitoes. As the campaign to combat the identified populations of mosquitoes in Belgium has not yet been concluded, and the monitoring project MEMO is still ongoing, the abovementioned products would be needed to control identified and any new populations of mosquitoes that might be detected in the Flemish Region, due to the lack of appropriate alternative products in Belgium.

| (4) | The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control acknowledges that the invasive mosquitoes, among which the Aedes genus, have undergone a dramatic global expansion facilitated in particular by human activities and have the potential to become a serious health threat. |
| --- | --- |

(4)

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control acknowledges that the invasive mosquitoes, among which the Aedes genus, have undergone a dramatic global expansion facilitated in particular by human activities and have the potential to become a serious health threat.

| (5) | As the lack of appropriate control of the mosquitoes, which cannot be contained by other means, might lead to a danger to public health it is appropriate to allow Belgium to extend the action for a period not exceeding 550 days and under certain conditions. |
| --- | --- |

(5)

As the lack of appropriate control of the mosquitoes, which cannot be contained by other means, might lead to a danger to public health it is appropriate to allow Belgium to extend the action for a period not exceeding 550 days and under certain conditions.

| (6) | The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products, |
| --- | --- |

(6)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Belgium may extend for a period not exceeding 550 days the action to make available on the market and use the biocidal products VectoMax G and Aqua-K-Othrine for product type 18 as defined in Annex V to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 for vector mosquito control, ensuring that those products are only used by certified operators and under the supervision of the competent authority.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium.

Done at Brussels, 15 February 2018.

For the Commission

Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS

Member of the Commission

---

(1)  
  OJ L 167, 27.6.2012, p. 1.

1

---

| 17.2.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 45/33 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.2.2018

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 45/33

---

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2018/233

of 15 February 2018

amending Decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Article 29 of Council Directive 96/23/EC

(notified under document C(2018) 818)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC (1), and in particular the fourth subparagraph of Article 29(1) thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | Directive 96/23/EC lays down measures to monitor the substances and groups of residues listed in Annex I thereto. Article 29 of that Directive requires that third countries from which Member States are authorised to import animals and animal products covered by that Directive submit a residue monitoring plan providing required guarantees (‘the plan’). The plan should at least apply to the groups of residues and substances listed in that Annex I. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

Directive 96/23/EC lays down measures to monitor the substances and groups of residues listed in Annex I thereto. Article 29 of that Directive requires that third countries from which Member States are authorised to import animals and animal products covered by that Directive submit a residue monitoring plan providing required guarantees (‘the plan’). The plan should at least apply to the groups of residues and substances listed in that Annex I.

| (2) | Commission Decision 2011/163/EU (2) approves plans submitted by certain third countries concerning specified animal and animal products as listed in the Annex to that Decision (‘the list’). |
| --- | --- |

(2)

Commission Decision 2011/163/EU (2) approves plans submitted by certain third countries concerning specified animal and animal products as listed in the Annex to that Decision (‘the list’).

| (3) | While Andorra has not provided a residue monitoring plan for domestically produced porcine, Andorra has provided guarantees in respect of porcine raw material originating either from Member States or from third countries which are approved to export such raw material to the European Union. An entry for Andorra for porcine with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added in the list. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

While Andorra has not provided a residue monitoring plan for domestically produced porcine, Andorra has provided guarantees in respect of porcine raw material originating either from Member States or from third countries which are approved to export such raw material to the European Union. An entry for Andorra for porcine with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added in the list.

| (4) | Burkina Faso has submitted a plan for honey to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for Burkina Faso for honey should therefore be included in the list. |
| --- | --- |

(4)

Burkina Faso has submitted a plan for honey to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for Burkina Faso for honey should therefore be included in the list.

| (5) | Benin has submitted a plan for honey to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for Benin for honey should therefore be included in the list. |
| --- | --- |

(5)

Benin has submitted a plan for honey to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for Benin for honey should therefore be included in the list.

| (6) | While Mauritius has not provided a residue monitoring plan for domestically produced honey, Mauritius has provided guarantees in respect of honey raw material originating either from Member States or from third countries which are approved to export such raw material to the European Union. An entry for the Mauritius for honey with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added in the list. |
| --- | --- |

(6)

While Mauritius has not provided a residue monitoring plan for domestically produced honey, Mauritius has provided guarantees in respect of honey raw material originating either from Member States or from third countries which are approved to export such raw material to the European Union. An entry for the Mauritius for honey with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added in the list.

| (7) | San Marino has submitted a plan for milk to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for San Marino for milk should therefore be included in the list. |
| --- | --- |

(7)

San Marino has submitted a plan for milk to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for San Marino for milk should therefore be included in the list.

| (8) | South Africa is currently included in the list for farmed game. However, the latest audit carried out by the Commission in South Africa has confirmed shortcomings in the capacity of the South African authorities to carry out reliable checks for farmed game. The entry for South Africa concerning farmed game should therefore be deleted from the list. South Africa has been informed accordingly. |
| --- | --- |

(8)

South Africa is currently included in the list for farmed game. However, the latest audit carried out by the Commission in South Africa has confirmed shortcomings in the capacity of the South African authorities to carry out reliable checks for farmed game. The entry for South Africa concerning farmed game should therefore be deleted from the list. South Africa has been informed accordingly.

| (9) | Zimbabwe is currently included in the list for aquaculture and farmed game. However, Zimbabwe has not provided a plan as required by Article 29 of Directive 96/23/EC and has declared that residue testing is not currently being carried out and it is not expected to be implemented, and that export of aquaculture to the EU could no longer take place. The entries for Zimbabwe concerning aquaculture and farmed game should therefore be deleted from the list. Zimbabwe has been informed accordingly. |
| --- | --- |

(9)

Zimbabwe is currently included in the list for aquaculture and farmed game. However, Zimbabwe has not provided a plan as required by Article 29 of Directive 96/23/EC and has declared that residue testing is not currently being carried out and it is not expected to be implemented, and that export of aquaculture to the EU could no longer take place. The entries for Zimbabwe concerning aquaculture and farmed game should therefore be deleted from the list. Zimbabwe has been informed accordingly.

| (10) | In order to avoid any disruption to trade, transitional periods should be laid down to cover the relevant consignments from South Africa and from Zimbabwe which were dispatched to the Union before the date of application of this Decision. |
| --- | --- |

(10)

In order to avoid any disruption to trade, transitional periods should be laid down to cover the relevant consignments from South Africa and from Zimbabwe which were dispatched to the Union before the date of application of this Decision.

| (11) | Decision 2011/163/EU should therefore be amended accordingly. |
| --- | --- |

(11)

Decision 2011/163/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.

| (12) | The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, |
| --- | --- |

(12)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Annex to Decision 2011/163/EU is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

For a transitional period until 15 April 2018, Member States shall accept consignments of farmed game from South Africa and Zimbabwe provided that the importer can demonstrate that such consignments were certified and dispatched to the Union prior to 1 March 2018 in accordance with Decision 2011/163/EU.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 15 February 2018.

For the Commission

Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS

Member of the Commission

---

(1)  
  OJ L 125, 23.5.1996, p. 10.

1

(2)  Commission Decision 2011/163/EU of 16 March 2011 on the approval of plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Article 29 of Council Directive 96/23/EC (OJ L 70, 17.3.2011, p. 40).

2

---

ANNEX

‘ANNEX

| Code ISO2 | Country | Bovine | Ovine/caprine | Porcine | Equine | Poultry | Aquaculture | Milk | Eggs | Rabbit | Wild game | Farmed game | Honey |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AD | Andorra | X | X | X (3) | X | | | | | | | | X |
| AE | United Arab Emirates | | | | | | X (3) | X (1) | | | | | |
| AL | Albania | | X | | | | X | | X | | | | |
| AM | Armenia | | | | | | X | | | | | | X |
| AR | Argentina | X | X | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| AU | Australia | X | X | | X | | X | X | | | X | X | X |
| BA | Bosnia and Herzegovina | | | | | X | X | X | X | | | | X |
| BD | Bangladesh | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| BF | Burkina Faso | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| BJ | Benin | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| BN | Brunei | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| BR | Brazil | X | | | X | X | X | | | | | | X |
| BW | Botswana | X | | | X | | | | | | | X | |
| BY | Belarus | | | | X (2) | | X | X | X | | | | |
| BZ | Belize | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| CA | Canada | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| CH | Switzerland | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| CL | Chile | X | X | X | | X | X | X | | | X | | X |
| CM | Cameroon | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| CN | China | | | | | X | X | | X | X | | | X |
| CO | Colombia | | | | | | X | X | | | | | |
| CR | Costa Rica | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| CU | Cuba | | | | | | X | | | | | | X |
| DO | Dominican Republic | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| EC | Ecuador | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| ET | Ethiopia | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| FK | Falkland Islands | X | X | | | | X | | | | | | |
| FO | Faeroe Islands | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| GE | Georgia | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| GH | Ghana | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| GL | Greenland | | X | | | | | | | | X | X | |
| GT | Guatemala | | | | | | X | | | | | | X |
| HN | Honduras | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| ID | Indonesia | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| IL | Israel (7) | | | | | X | X | X | X | | | X | X |
| IN | India | | | | | | X | | X | | | | X |
| IR | Iran | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| JM | Jamaica | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| JP | Japan | X | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| KE | Kenya | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| KG | Kyrgyzstan | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| KR | South Korea | | | | | X | X | | | | | | |
| LK | Sri Lanka | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| MA | Morocco | | | | | X | X | | | | | | |
| MD | Moldova | | | | | X | X | | X | | | | X |
| ME | Montenegro | X | X | X | | X | X | X | X | | | | X |
| MG | Madagascar | | | | | | X | | | | | | X |
| MK | former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (4) | X | X | X | | X | X | X | X | | X | | X |
| MM | Republic of the Union of Myanmar | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| MU | Mauritius | | | | | | X | | | | | | X (3) |
| MX | Mexico | | | | | | X | | X | | | | X |
| MY | Malaysia | | | | | X (3) | X | | | | | | |
| MZ | Mozambique | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| NA | Namibia | X | X | | | | | | | | | | |
| NC | New Caledonia | X (3) | | | | | X | | | | X | X | X |
| NI | Nicaragua | | | | | | X | | | | | | X |
| NZ | New Zealand | X | X | | X | | X | X | | | X | X | X |
| PA | Panama | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| PE | Peru | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| PH | Philippines | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| PM | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | | | | | X | | | | | | | |
| PN | Pitcairn Islands | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| PY | Paraguay | X | | | | | | | | | | | |
| RS | Serbia (5) | X | X | X | X (2) | X | X | X | X | | X | | X |
| RU | Russia | X | X | X | | X | | X | X | | | X (6) | X |
| RW | Rwanda | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| SA | Saudi Arabia | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| SG | Singapore | X (3) | X (3) | X (3) | X (8) | X (3) | X | X (3) | | | X (8) | X (8) | |
| SM | San Marino | X | | X (3) | | | | X | | | | | X |
| SR | Suriname | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| SV | El Salvador | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| SZ | Swaziland | X | | | | | | | | | | | |
| TH | Thailand | | | | | X | X | | | | | | X |
| TN | Tunisia | | | | | X | X | | | | X | | |
| TR | Turkey | | | | | X | X | X | X | | | | X |
| TW | Taiwan | | | | | | X | | | | | | X |
| TZ | Tanzania | | | | | | X | | | | | | X |
| UA | Ukraine | X | | X | | X | X | X | X | X | | | X |
| UG | Uganda | | | | | | X | | | | | | X |
| US | United States | X | X | X | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| UY | Uruguay | X | X | | X | | X | X | | | X | | X |
| VE | Venezuela | | | | | | X | | | | | | |
| VN | Vietnam | | | | | | X | | | | | | X |
| ZA | South Africa | | | | | | | | | | X | | |
| ZM | Zambia | | | | | | | | | | | | X |

Code ISO2

Country

Bovine

Ovine/caprine

Porcine

Equine

Poultry

Aquaculture

Milk

Eggs

Rabbit

Wild game

Farmed game

Honey

AD

Andorra

X

X

X (3)

X

X

AE

United Arab Emirates

X (3)

X (1)

AL

Albania

X

X

X

AM

Armenia

X

X

AR

Argentina

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

AU

Australia

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

BA

Bosnia and Herzegovina

X

X

X

X

X

BD

Bangladesh

X

BF

Burkina Faso

X

BJ

Benin

X

BN

Brunei

X

BR

Brazil

X

X

X

X

X

BW

Botswana

X

X

X

BY

Belarus

X (2)

X

X

X

BZ

Belize

X

CA

Canada

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

CH

Switzerland

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

CL

Chile

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

CM

Cameroon

X

CN

China

X

X

X

X

X

CO

Colombia

X

X

CR

Costa Rica

X

CU

Cuba

X

X

DO

Dominican Republic

X

EC

Ecuador

X

ET

Ethiopia

X

FK

Falkland Islands

X

X

X

FO

Faeroe Islands

X

GE

Georgia

X

GH

Ghana

X

GL

Greenland

X

X

X

GT

Guatemala

X

X

HN

Honduras

X

ID

Indonesia

X

IL

Israel (7)

X

X

X

X

X

X

IN

India

X

X

X

IR

Iran

X

JM

Jamaica

X

JP

Japan

X

X

KE

Kenya

X

KG

Kyrgyzstan

X

KR

South Korea

X

X

LK

Sri Lanka

X

MA

Morocco

X

X

MD

Moldova

X

X

X

X

ME

Montenegro

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

MG

Madagascar

X

X

MK

former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (4)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

MM

Republic of the Union of Myanmar

X

MU

Mauritius

X

X (3)

MX

Mexico

X

X

X

MY

Malaysia

X (3)

X

MZ

Mozambique

X

NA

Namibia

X

X

NC

New Caledonia

X (3)

X

X

X

X

NI

Nicaragua

X

X

NZ

New Zealand

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

PA

Panama

X

PE

Peru

X

PH

Philippines

X

PM

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

X

PN

Pitcairn Islands

X

PY

Paraguay

X

RS

Serbia (5)

X

X

X

X (2)

X

X

X

X

X

X

RU

Russia

X

X

X

X

X

X

X (6)

X

RW

Rwanda

X

SA

Saudi Arabia

X

SG

Singapore

X (3)

X (3)

X (3)

X (8)

X (3)

X

X (3)

X (8)

X (8)

SM

San Marino

X

X (3)

X

X

SR

Suriname

X

SV

El Salvador

X

SZ

Swaziland

X

TH

Thailand

X

X

X

TN

Tunisia

X

X

X

TR

Turkey

X

X

X

X

X

TW

Taiwan

X

X

TZ

Tanzania

X

X

UA

Ukraine

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

UG

Uganda

X

X

US

United States

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

UY

Uruguay

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

VE

Venezuela

X

VN

Vietnam

X

X

ZA

South Africa

X

ZM

Zambia

X

---

(1)  Camel milk only.

1

(2)  Export to the Union of live equidae for slaughter (food-producing animals only).

2

(3)  Third countries using only raw material either from Member States or from other third countries approved for imports of such raw material to the Union, in accordance with Article 2.

3

(4)  The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the definitive nomenclature for this country will be agreed following current negotiations at UN level.

4

(5)  Not including Kosovo (this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence).

5

(6)  Only for reindeer from the Murmansk and Yamalo-Nenets regions.

6

(7)  Hereafter understood as the State of Israel, excluding the territories under Israeli administration since June 1967, namely the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank.

7

(8)  Only for commodities of fresh meat originating from New Zealand, destined to the Union and being unloaded, reloaded and transited with or without storage through Singapore.

8

---

RECOMMENDATIONS

| 17.2.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 45/40 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.2.2018

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 45/40

---

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION (EU) 2018/234

of 14 February 2018

on enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 292 thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | Article 10(2) of the Treaty on European Union states that citizens are directly represented at Union level in the European Parliament. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

Article 10(2) of the Treaty on European Union states that citizens are directly represented at Union level in the European Parliament.

| (2) | Article 10(3) of the Treaty on European Union states that every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union and that decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

Article 10(3) of the Treaty on European Union states that every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union and that decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen.

| (3) | Article 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union states that the European Council must take into account the elections to the European Parliament when proposing a candidate for President of the European Commission. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

Article 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union states that the European Council must take into account the elections to the European Parliament when proposing a candidate for President of the European Commission.

| (4) | To further enhance the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament, it is necessary to update and complement some elements of the Commission Recommendation 2013/142/EU (1) in good time ahead of the 2019 elections. |
| --- | --- |

(4)

To further enhance the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament, it is necessary to update and complement some elements of the Commission Recommendation 2013/142/EU (1) in good time ahead of the 2019 elections.

| (5) | Reinforcing the democratic legitimacy of the EU and ensuring the participation of citizens in the political life at European level is essential. Citizens would be readier to vote in the elections to the European Parliament if they were more aware of the impact of EU policies in their day-to-day life, and if they would trust that they can have their say on the Union's most important choices, such as the selection of the leaders of the EU institutions and the establishment of priorities for the future of the Union. |
| --- | --- |

(5)

Reinforcing the democratic legitimacy of the EU and ensuring the participation of citizens in the political life at European level is essential. Citizens would be readier to vote in the elections to the European Parliament if they were more aware of the impact of EU policies in their day-to-day life, and if they would trust that they can have their say on the Union's most important choices, such as the selection of the leaders of the EU institutions and the establishment of priorities for the future of the Union.

| (6) | The need to strengthen accountability and transparency also has implications for the Commission. The Commission has reviewed the Code of Conduct for the Members of the Commission (2). The new Code allows Members of the Commission to stand as candidates in the elections to the European Parliament without having to take a leave of absence. The relevant rules of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission, have been revised to take account of this change (3). |
| --- | --- |

(6)

The need to strengthen accountability and transparency also has implications for the Commission. The Commission has reviewed the Code of Conduct for the Members of the Commission (2). The new Code allows Members of the Commission to stand as candidates in the elections to the European Parliament without having to take a leave of absence. The relevant rules of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission, have been revised to take account of this change (3).

| (7) | Policies decided at European level have direct implications for citizens' everyday lives and are felt at local level. Citizens need to know what is at stake at European level to make their choice in the elections to the European Parliament. Engaging with citizens on European issues encourages democratic participation of citizens in EU policymaking. Since January 2015, the current Commission has held 478 Citizens' Dialogues across all Member States, also in cooperation with institutional partners such as the European Parliament, national Parliaments, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee. Between February 2018 and 9 May 2019, the Commission will be organising or helping to organise around 500 additional Dialogues in cooperation with the Member States, regional, local authorities as well as with the European Parliament and other European institutions. |
| --- | --- |

(7)

Policies decided at European level have direct implications for citizens' everyday lives and are felt at local level. Citizens need to know what is at stake at European level to make their choice in the elections to the European Parliament. Engaging with citizens on European issues encourages democratic participation of citizens in EU policymaking. Since January 2015, the current Commission has held 478 Citizens' Dialogues across all Member States, also in cooperation with institutional partners such as the European Parliament, national Parliaments, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee. Between February 2018 and 9 May 2019, the Commission will be organising or helping to organise around 500 additional Dialogues in cooperation with the Member States, regional, local authorities as well as with the European Parliament and other European institutions.

| (8) | Several Member States have announced their readiness to engage in broad public discussions on the future of Europe, and such national dialogues are already taking place in a number of Member States. By engaging with citizens across Europe and holding outreach events, organised according to their respective political structures and practices, Member States could help raise awareness among citizens on the importance of their vote in determining which vision would best advance the European project. Such events should take place over the period between the Leaders' meeting of 23 February 2018 and the Summit in Sibiu on 9 May 2019, just ahead of the elections to the European Parliament, where Heads of State or Government are expected to draw conclusions on the next steps for the Union. |
| --- | --- |

(8)

Several Member States have announced their readiness to engage in broad public discussions on the future of Europe, and such national dialogues are already taking place in a number of Member States. By engaging with citizens across Europe and holding outreach events, organised according to their respective political structures and practices, Member States could help raise awareness among citizens on the importance of their vote in determining which vision would best advance the European project. Such events should take place over the period between the Leaders' meeting of 23 February 2018 and the Summit in Sibiu on 9 May 2019, just ahead of the elections to the European Parliament, where Heads of State or Government are expected to draw conclusions on the next steps for the Union.

| (9) | European political parties play a key role in forming European political awareness, encouraging voter participation and in expressing the will of the citizens of the Union. This role could be enhanced if, over the months to come, European political parties would reach out to their national affiliate parties and civil society and raise awareness on choices regarding the future of Europe and the interests of the citizens they are representing. |
| --- | --- |

(9)

European political parties play a key role in forming European political awareness, encouraging voter participation and in expressing the will of the citizens of the Union. This role could be enhanced if, over the months to come, European political parties would reach out to their national affiliate parties and civil society and raise awareness on choices regarding the future of Europe and the interests of the citizens they are representing.

| (10) | The system of lead candidates for President of the Commission — ‘Spitzenkandidaten’ — was implemented for the first time in the 2014 elections to the European Parliament. |
| --- | --- |

(10)

The system of lead candidates for President of the Commission — ‘Spitzenkandidaten’ — was implemented for the first time in the 2014 elections to the European Parliament.

| (11) | This process has helped to reinforce the Union's efficiency and its democratic legitimacy, which rests on the dual pillars of direct representation of citizens in the European Parliament and their indirect representation by governments of the Member States in the European Council and the Council. It has also contributed to strengthening the Commission's accountability, in line with Article 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union. It should be continued and improved in view of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament. |
| --- | --- |

(11)

This process has helped to reinforce the Union's efficiency and its democratic legitimacy, which rests on the dual pillars of direct representation of citizens in the European Parliament and their indirect representation by governments of the Member States in the European Council and the Council. It has also contributed to strengthening the Commission's accountability, in line with Article 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union. It should be continued and improved in view of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament.

| (12) | European and national political parties should announce well ahead of the start of the electoral campaign, ideally by the end of 2018, the candidate for President of the Commission they support and, ideally by early 2019, the candidate's own programme. This would make more transparent the link between the individual vote of a citizen of the Union for a particular political party in the elections to the European Parliament, the candidate for President of the Commission supported by that party and his/her vision for the future of Europe. |
| --- | --- |

(12)

European and national political parties should announce well ahead of the start of the electoral campaign, ideally by the end of 2018, the candidate for President of the Commission they support and, ideally by early 2019, the candidate's own programme. This would make more transparent the link between the individual vote of a citizen of the Union for a particular political party in the elections to the European Parliament, the candidate for President of the Commission supported by that party and his/her vision for the future of Europe.

| (13) | By selecting their lead candidates in an open, inclusive and transparent way, e.g. through ‘primary’ elections, European political parties and their national member parties would further strengthen this process. This would also help to raise wider attention as well as to mobilise voters. |
| --- | --- |

(13)

By selecting their lead candidates in an open, inclusive and transparent way, e.g. through ‘primary’ elections, European political parties and their national member parties would further strengthen this process. This would also help to raise wider attention as well as to mobilise voters.

| (14) | Article 10(4) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 12(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union assigns a key role to European political parties. The statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations is regulated at European level. For reasons of transparency, scrutiny and democratic accountability of European political parties, the Commission has proposed to change relevant rules ahead of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament (4). In particular, access to funding from the general budget of the European Union should be made conditional upon the publication by the affiliated parties of the programme and logo of the European political party concerned. Citizens should be offered clear and relevant information upfront, in order to understand the impact of their votes at the European party level. Party events, such as congresses, and the electoral campaigns of the national parties are appropriate and efficient additional means of making this affiliation known and giving it clear visibility. |
| --- | --- |

(14)

Article 10(4) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 12(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union assigns a key role to European political parties. The statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations is regulated at European level. For reasons of transparency, scrutiny and democratic accountability of European political parties, the Commission has proposed to change relevant rules ahead of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament (4). In particular, access to funding from the general budget of the European Union should be made conditional upon the publication by the affiliated parties of the programme and logo of the European political party concerned. Citizens should be offered clear and relevant information upfront, in order to understand the impact of their votes at the European party level. Party events, such as congresses, and the electoral campaigns of the national parties are appropriate and efficient additional means of making this affiliation known and giving it clear visibility.

| (15) | Starting the campaigns for the elections to the European Parliament much earlier than in the past and making known the European affiliations of participating national parties ahead of the campaign, should contribute to increasing the European dimension of these elections. |
| --- | --- |

(15)

Starting the campaigns for the elections to the European Parliament much earlier than in the past and making known the European affiliations of participating national parties ahead of the campaign, should contribute to increasing the European dimension of these elections.

| (16) | While taking account of the specificities of the national party political landscapes of the Member States, European political parties are encouraged to make known ahead of the start of the campaign, and preferably when announcing their candidates for President of the Commission, which political group in the European Parliament they intend to join or create in the next legislature. This would further increase transparency of the link between national parties, European political parties and political groups in the European Parliament. |
| --- | --- |

(16)

While taking account of the specificities of the national party political landscapes of the Member States, European political parties are encouraged to make known ahead of the start of the campaign, and preferably when announcing their candidates for President of the Commission, which political group in the European Parliament they intend to join or create in the next legislature. This would further increase transparency of the link between national parties, European political parties and political groups in the European Parliament.

| (17) | By encouraging and facilitating the provision of information to the electorate on the affiliation of national parties to European political parties during campaigns for the elections to the European Parliament and, where possible, also on the ballots used in those elections, Member States would increase the visibility of the European political parties and the platforms they propose during the whole European electoral process. |
| --- | --- |

(17)

By encouraging and facilitating the provision of information to the electorate on the affiliation of national parties to European political parties during campaigns for the elections to the European Parliament and, where possible, also on the ballots used in those elections, Member States would increase the visibility of the European political parties and the platforms they propose during the whole European electoral process.

| (18) | Article 22(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union states that citizens of the Union have the right to vote and to stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament in the Member State where they choose to live, with Council Directive 93/109/EC (5). |
| --- | --- |

(18)

Article 22(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union states that citizens of the Union have the right to vote and to stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament in the Member State where they choose to live, with Council Directive 93/109/EC (5).

| (19) | In order to support citizens' participation and the European dimension of the elections to the European Parliament, it is encouraged to foster the identification and dissemination of Member States' best practices and measures implemented by Member States in the preparation and administration of those elections, including with regard to the right to vote of European citizens resident in another Member State as well as the promotion of the exercise of electoral rights of underrepresented groups, including persons with disabilities. |
| --- | --- |

(19)

In order to support citizens' participation and the European dimension of the elections to the European Parliament, it is encouraged to foster the identification and dissemination of Member States' best practices and measures implemented by Member States in the preparation and administration of those elections, including with regard to the right to vote of European citizens resident in another Member State as well as the promotion of the exercise of electoral rights of underrepresented groups, including persons with disabilities.

| (20) | In the light of risks to the electoral process from cyber attacks and disinformation seen in recent elections and campaigns, sharing experience among Member States on related issues should be encouraged. |
| --- | --- |

(20)

In the light of risks to the electoral process from cyber attacks and disinformation seen in recent elections and campaigns, sharing experience among Member States on related issues should be encouraged.

| (21) | Member States, as well as European and national political parties, have a particular responsibility in enhancing the democratic and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament, |
| --- | --- |

(21)

Member States, as well as European and national political parties, have a particular responsibility in enhancing the democratic and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament,

HAS ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION:

Engaging with European citizens in debates on European issues ahead of elections to the European Parliament

| 1. | Starting from the Leaders' meeting of 23 February 2018, and taking into account the respective national political structures and practices, Member States should hold outreach events to engage with citizens in public debates concerning European Union issues and the future of Europe. These outreach events should continue until the Leaders' meeting in Sibiu of 9 May 2019, shortly before the elections to the European Parliament.
  In the same period, European political parties and national parties should help raise citizens' awareness on the issues at stake at Union level and on how they intend to address them during the upcoming legislature. |
| --- | --- |

1.

In the same period, European political parties and national parties should help raise citizens' awareness on the issues at stake at Union level and on how they intend to address them during the upcoming legislature.

Support for a candidate for President of the European Commission

| 2. | Sufficiently early ahead of the elections to the European Parliament, ideally by the end of 2018, each European political party should make known the candidate for the function of the President of the European Commission they support. Ideally by early 2019 they should also make known the candidate's own political programme.
  European political parties and their national member parties are encouraged to select their lead candidates in an open, inclusive and transparent way.
  National political parties should ensure that their political information, including their political broadcasts, in view of the elections to the European Parliament are also used to inform citizens about the candidate for the function of President of the European Commission they support and about their candidate's programme. |
| --- | --- |

2.

European political parties and their national member parties are encouraged to select their lead candidates in an open, inclusive and transparent way.

National political parties should ensure that their political information, including their political broadcasts, in view of the elections to the European Parliament are also used to inform citizens about the candidate for the function of President of the European Commission they support and about their candidate's programme.

Informing voters about the affiliation between national parties and European political parties

| 3. | While taking account of the specificities of the national party political landscapes of the Member States, national political parties participating in the elections to the European Parliament should make publicly known ahead of those elections and before the start of the electoral campaign, if and with which European political party they are affiliated and which lead candidate they support.
  To the extent possible, national political parties should prominently display this information, including, where appropriate, the logo of the European political party, in all campaign materials, communications and political broadcasts.
  European political parties are encouraged to make known ahead of the start of the campaign, and preferably when announcing their candidates for President of the Commission, which political group in the European Parliament they intend to join or create in the next legislature. |
| --- | --- |

3.

To the extent possible, national political parties should prominently display this information, including, where appropriate, the logo of the European political party, in all campaign materials, communications and political broadcasts.

European political parties are encouraged to make known ahead of the start of the campaign, and preferably when announcing their candidates for President of the Commission, which political group in the European Parliament they intend to join or create in the next legislature.

Encouraging and facilitating information for voters on the affiliation between national parties and European political parties

| 4. | Member States should encourage and facilitate the provision of information to the electorate on the affiliation between national parties and European political parties as well as their lead candidates before and during the elections to the European Parliament, such as by allowing and encouraging the indication of such an affiliation in the campaign material, on the websites of national and regional member parties, and, where possible, on the ballots used in those elections. |
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4.

Efficient conduct

| 5. | To ensure that European citizens resident in another Member State can use their right to vote in that Member State, to promote the exercise of electoral rights of underrepresented groups, including persons with disabilities, and overall to support democratic conduct and a high turnout, the competent national authorities are encouraged to meet in spring 2018, with the support of the Commission, to exchange best practices and practical measures.
  The competent national authorities are further encouraged to identify, based on the experiences of Member States, best practices in the identification, mitigation and management of risks to the electoral process from cyber attacks and disinformation. |
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5.

The competent national authorities are further encouraged to identify, based on the experiences of Member States, best practices in the identification, mitigation and management of risks to the electoral process from cyber attacks and disinformation.

This Recommendation is addressed to the Member States and to the European and national political parties.

Done at Brussels, 14 February 2018

For the Commission

The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER

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(1)  Commission Recommendation 2013/142/EU of 12 March 2013 on enhancing the democratic and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament (OJ L 79, 21.3.2013, p. 29).

1

(2)  Commission Decision of 31 January 2018 on a Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission (C(2018) 700 final).

2

(3)  European Parliament decision of 7 February 2018 on the revision of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission (2017/2233(ACI)).

3

(4)  Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations — COM(2017) 481 of 13 September 2017.

4

(5)  Council Directive 93/109/EC of 6 December 1993 laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament for citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals (OJ L 329, 30.12.1993, p. 34).

5

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ACTS ADOPTED BY BODIES CREATED BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

| 17.2.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 45/44 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.2.2018

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 45/44

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DECISION No 1/2017 OF THE EU-UKRAINE TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUB-COMMITTEE

of 30 May 2017

adopting its Rules of Procedure [2018/235]

THE EU-UKRAINE TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUB-COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (1), and in particular Article 300 thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | In accordance with Article 486 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), parts of the Agreement, including Chapter 13 (Trade and sustainable development) of Title IV (Trade and trade-related matters), are applied provisionally as of 1 January 2016. |
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(1)

In accordance with Article 486 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), parts of the Agreement, including Chapter 13 (Trade and sustainable development) of Title IV (Trade and trade-related matters), are applied provisionally as of 1 January 2016.

| (2) | Article 300 of the Agreement provides that the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee (‘the TSD Sub-Committee’) is to oversee the implementation of Chapter 13 of Title IV of the Agreement. |
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(2)

Article 300 of the Agreement provides that the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee (‘the TSD Sub-Committee’) is to oversee the implementation of Chapter 13 of Title IV of the Agreement.

| (3) | Article 300(1) of the Agreement provides that the TSD Sub-Committee is to establish its own rules of procedure, |
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(3)

Article 300(1) of the Agreement provides that the TSD Sub-Committee is to establish its own rules of procedure,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Rules of Procedure of the Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee, as set out in the Annex to this Decision, are hereby adopted.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 30 May 2017.

For the EU-Ukraine Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee

The Chair

M. TUININGA

Secretaries

M. VADIS

D. KRAMER

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(1)  
  OJ L 161, 29.5.2014, p. 3.

1

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ANNEX

Rules of Procedure of the EU-Ukraine Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee

Article 1

General provisions

1.   The Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee (‘the TSD Sub-Committee’), established pursuant to Article 300 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (1) (‘the Agreement’), shall assist the Association Committee in its Trade configuration, as referred to in Article 465(4) of the Agreement, in the performance of its duties.

2.   The TSD Sub-Committee shall perform the functions set out in Chapter 13 (Trade and sustainable development) of Title IV (Trade and trade-related matters) of the Agreement.

3.   The TSD Sub-Committee shall be composed of representatives from within the administration of each Party, responsible for trade and sustainable development matters.

4.   A representative of the European Commission or of Ukraine responsible for trade and sustainable development matters shall act as Chair of the TSD Sub-Committee.

5.   For the purposes of these Rules of Procedure, the definition of the term ‘Parties’ set out in Article 482 of the Agreement applies.

Article 2

Specific provisions

1.   Articles 2 to 14 of the Rules of Procedure of the EU-Ukraine Association Committee shall apply mutatis mutandis, unless otherwise provided for in these Rules of Procedure.

2.   The references to the Association Council shall be read as references to the Association Committee in its Trade configuration. The references to the Association Committee or the Association Committee in its Trade configuration shall be read as references to the TSD Sub-Committee.

Article 3

Meetings

The TSD Sub-Committee shall meet as necessary. The Parties shall aim to meet once per year.

Article 4

Amendment

These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a decision of the TSD Sub-Committee in accordance with Article 300(1) of the Agreement.

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(1)  
  OJ L 161, 29.5.2014, p. 3.

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INTERINSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS

| 17.2.2018 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 45/46 |
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17.2.2018

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 45/46

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AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

amending point 4 of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

having regard to the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Article 295 thereof, and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,

AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

Point 4 of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission (1) is replaced by the following:

| ‘4. | Each Member of the Commission shall take political responsibility for action in the field of which he/she is in charge, without prejudice to the principle of Commission collegiality.
  The President of the Commission shall be fully responsible for identifying any conflict of interest which renders a Member of the Commission unable to perform his/her duties.
  The President of the Commission shall likewise be responsible for any subsequent action taken in such circumstances and shall inform the President of Parliament thereof immediately and in writing.
  The participation of Members of the Commission in electoral campaigns is governed by the Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission.
  Members of the Commission may participate in electoral campaigns in elections to the Parliament, including as candidates. They may also be chosen by European political parties as lead candidate (‘Spitzenkandidat’) for the position of President of the Commission.
  The President of the Commission shall inform Parliament in due time whether one or more Members of the Commission will stand as candidates in electoral campaigns for elections to the Parliament, as well as of the measures taken to ensure the respect of the principles of independence, integrity and discretion provided for by Article 245 TFEU and the Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission.
  Any Member of the Commission standing as candidate or participating in an electoral campaign for elections to the Parliament will undertake to refrain from adopting a position, in the course of the campaign, that would not be in line with his/her duty of confidentiality, or that would infringe the principle of collegiality.
  Members of the Commission standing as candidates or participating in electoral campaigns for elections to the Parliament may not use the Commission's human or material resources for activities linked to the electoral campaign.’. |
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‘4.

The President of the Commission shall be fully responsible for identifying any conflict of interest which renders a Member of the Commission unable to perform his/her duties.

The President of the Commission shall likewise be responsible for any subsequent action taken in such circumstances and shall inform the President of Parliament thereof immediately and in writing.

The participation of Members of the Commission in electoral campaigns is governed by the Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission.

Members of the Commission may participate in electoral campaigns in elections to the Parliament, including as candidates. They may also be chosen by European political parties as lead candidate (‘Spitzenkandidat’) for the position of President of the Commission.

The President of the Commission shall inform Parliament in due time whether one or more Members of the Commission will stand as candidates in electoral campaigns for elections to the Parliament, as well as of the measures taken to ensure the respect of the principles of independence, integrity and discretion provided for by Article 245 TFEU and the Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission.

Any Member of the Commission standing as candidate or participating in an electoral campaign for elections to the Parliament will undertake to refrain from adopting a position, in the course of the campaign, that would not be in line with his/her duty of confidentiality, or that would infringe the principle of collegiality.

Members of the Commission standing as candidates or participating in electoral campaigns for elections to the Parliament may not use the Commission's human or material resources for activities linked to the electoral campaign.’.

Done at Strasbourg, 7 February 2018.

For the European Parliament

The President

A. TAJANI

For the European Commission

The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER

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(1)  
  OJ L 304, 20.11.2010, p. 47.

1

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