# Official Journal C 16/2021

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 16 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 6415 January 2021 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 16

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 6415 January 2021

---

| Contents | page |
| --- | --- |
| | IV   Notices |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2021/C 16/01 | Euro exchange rates — 14 January 2021 | 1 |
| 2021/C 16/02 | Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions at the meeting on 19 February 2020 concerning a draft decision in Case AT.40335 – Romanian gas interconnectors – Rapporteur: Italy | 2 |
| 2021/C 16/03 | Final Report of the Hearing Officer – Case AT.40335 – Romanian gas interconnectors | 3 |
| 2021/C 16/04 | Summary of Commission Decision of 6 March 2020 relating to a proceeding under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Case AT.40335 – Romanian gas interconnectors)
  (notified under document C(2020) 1232) | 4 |

Contents

page

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2021/C 16/01

Euro exchange rates — 14 January 2021

1

2021/C 16/02

Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions at the meeting on 19 February 2020 concerning a draft decision in Case AT.40335 – Romanian gas interconnectors – Rapporteur: Italy

2

2021/C 16/03

Final Report of the Hearing Officer – Case AT.40335 – Romanian gas interconnectors

3

2021/C 16/04

Summary of Commission Decision of 6 March 2020 relating to a proceeding under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Case AT.40335 – Romanian gas interconnectors)
  (notified under document C(2020) 1232)

(notified under document C(2020) 1232)

4

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| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES |
| | European Commission |
| 2021/C 16/05 | Call for proposals – Support for information measures relating to the Common Agricultural Policy for 2021 | 5 |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2021/C 16/06 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10084 — ACP/Marubeni/Toho Gas/GGND) – Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 17 |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | European Commission |
| 2021/C 16/07 | Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to a product specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 17(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 | 19 |

V   Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

2021/C 16/05

Call for proposals – Support for information measures relating to the Common Agricultural Policy for 2021

5

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2021/C 16/06

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10084 — ACP/Marubeni/Toho Gas/GGND) – Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

17

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2021/C 16/07

Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to a product specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 17(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33

19

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

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance.

1

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

EN

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 15.1.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 16/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.1.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 16/1

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Euro exchange rates (1)

14 January 2021

(2021/C 16/01)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,2124 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 126,21 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4393 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,88943 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 10,1059 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,0805 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 156,60 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 10,3108 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 26,190 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 359,57 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,5379 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,8738 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 8,9492 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,5642 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,5381 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 9,4005 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,6853 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,6090 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 330,37 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 18,4147 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,8409 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,5690 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 17 026,94 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,8932 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 58,232 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 89,0900 |
| THB | Thai baht | 36,396 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 6,3888 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 24,0418 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 88,6625 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2124

JPY

Japanese yen

126,21

DKK

Danish krone

7,4393

GBP

Pound sterling

0,88943

SEK

Swedish krona

10,1059

CHF

Swiss franc

1,0805

ISK

Iceland króna

156,60

NOK

Norwegian krone

10,3108

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

26,190

HUF

Hungarian forint

359,57

PLN

Polish zloty

4,5379

RON

Romanian leu

4,8738

TRY

Turkish lira

8,9492

AUD

Australian dollar

1,5642

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,5381

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,4005

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,6853

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,6090

KRW

South Korean won

1 330,37

ZAR

South African rand

18,4147

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,8409

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,5690

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

17 026,94

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,8932

PHP

Philippine peso

58,232

RUB

Russian rouble

89,0900

THB

Thai baht

36,396

BRL

Brazilian real

6,3888

MXN

Mexican peso

24,0418

INR

Indian rupee

88,6625

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

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| 15.1.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 16/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.1.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 16/2

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Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions at the meeting on 19 February 2020 concerning a draft decision in Case AT.40335 – Romanian gas interconnectors

Rapporteur: Italy

(2021/C 16/02)

(1)

The Advisory Committee (9 Member States) shares the Commission’s concerns expressed in its draft Decision under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

(2)

The Advisory Committee (9 Member States) agrees with the Commission that the proceedings can be concluded by means of a decision pursuant to Article 9(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003, as described in the draft Decision.

(3)

The Advisory Committee (9 Member States) agrees with the Commission that the offered commitments are suitable, necessary and proportionate and should be made legally binding, as set out in the draft Decision.

(4)

The Advisory Committee (9 Member States) agrees with the Commission’s draft Decision that, in light of the offered commitments, there are no longer grounds for action by the Commission, without prejudice to Article 9(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003.

(5)

The Advisory Committee (9 Member States) recommends the publication of its opinion in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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| 15.1.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 16/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.1.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 16/3

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Final Report of the Hearing Officer (1)

Case AT.40335 – Romanian gas interconnectors

(2021/C 16/03)

(1)

The draft decision under Article 9(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (2) is addressed to Societatea Naţională de Transport Gaze Naturale Transgaz S.A. (‘Transgaz’). It concerns allegations of anti-competitive behaviour under Article 102 TFEU consisting in the hindering by Transgaz of natural gas exports from Romania to other Member States.

(2)

On 30 May 2017, the Commission initiated proceedings with a view to adopting a decision under Chapter III of Regulation 1/2003.

(3)

On 10 September 2018, the Commission adopted and notified to Transgaz pursuant to Article 9(1) of Regulation 1/2003 a preliminary assessment which set out competition concerns under Article 102 TFEU (‘Preliminary Assessment’).

(4)

On 14 September 2018, Transgaz submitted proposed commitments (‘Initial Commitments’) to the Commission in response to the Preliminary Assessment.

(5)

On 25 September 2018, a notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Union pursuant to Article 27(4) of Regulation 1/2003 (‘Market Test Notice’), summarising the case and the Initial Commitments and inviting interested third parties to give their observations on the Initial Commitments within one month.

(6)

Eleven respondents provided the Commission with their observations on the Initial Commitments, of which Transgaz was informed on 7 November 2018.

(7)

On 31 January 2020, Transgaz submitted an amended proposal for commitments (“Final Commitments”).

(8)

The draft decision makes the Final Commitments binding upon Transgaz until 31 December 2026 and concludes that there are no longer grounds for action in this case.

(9)

I have not received any request or complaint with respect to this case.

(10)

In the light of all the above, I consider that the effective exercise of procedural rights has been respected.

Brussels, 19 February 2020.

Wouter WILS

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(1)  Pursuant to Articles 16 and 17 of Decision 2011/695/EU of the President of the European Commission of 13 October 2011 on the function and terms of reference of the hearing officer in certain competition proceedings (OJ L 275, 20.10.2011, p. 29) (‘Decision 2011/695/EU’).

1

(2)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1) (‘Regulation 1/2003’).

2

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| 15.1.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 16/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.1.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 16/4

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Summary of Commission Decision

of 6 March 2020

relating to a proceeding under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

(Case AT.40335 – Romanian gas interconnectors)

(notified under document C(2020) 1232)

(Only the English text is authentic)

(2021/C 16/04)

On 6 March 2020, the Commission adopted a decision relating to a proceeding under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In accordance with the provisions of Article 30 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (1), the Commission herewith publishes the names of the parties and the main content of the decision, including any penalties imposed, having regard to the legitimate interest of undertakings in the protection of their business secrets.

(1)

The case concerns Societatea Națională de Transport Gaze Naturale Transgaz S.A. (‘Transgaz’), the sole manager and operator of the natural gas transmission network in Romania.

(2)

The concern of the Commission was that Transgaz may have abused its dominant position on the market for natural gas transmission in Romania by creating or maintaining barriers to the cross-border flow of natural gas from Romania to other Member States, in particular Hungary and Bulgaria. Such conduct could lead to the partitioning of the internal market along national borders and discrimination between customers in Romania and customers in other Member States.

(3)

The Commission considers that the commitments offered by Transgaz following the preliminary assessment and the observations submitted by interested third parties are sufficient to address the identified competition concerns. Firstly, the commitments provide that Transgaz will make available increased capacities for natural gas exports towards Hungary and Bulgaria. Secondly, the commitments provide that Transgaz will ensure that the tariff proposals it submits to the Romanian energy regulator will not discriminate against exports. Finally, the commitments provide that Transgaz will not prevent, hinder, or discriminate against, directly or indirectly, gas exports through any other means.

(4)

The decision finds that, in light of the commitments, there are no longer grounds for action by the Commission. The decision will be binding until 31 December 2026.

(5)

The Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions issued a favourable opinion on 19 February 2020.

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(1)  OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1.

1

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V Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

| 15.1.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 16/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.1.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 16/5

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CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Support for information measures relating to the Common Agricultural Policy for 2021

(2021/C 16/05)

Table of contents

Page

| 0. | Introduction | 6 |
| --- | --- | --- |

0.

| 1. | Background to the call | 6 |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

| 2. | Objectives – Themes & priorities – Activities that can be funded – Expected impact | 6 |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

| 3. | Timetable & available call budget | 6 |
| --- | --- | --- |

3.

| 4. | Admissibility conditions | 8 |
| --- | --- | --- |

4.

| 5. | Eligibility conditions | 8 |
| --- | --- | --- |

5.

| 6. | Award criteria | 10 |
| --- | --- | --- |

6.

| 7. | Other conditions | 10 |
| --- | --- | --- |

7.

| 8. | Evaluation & award procedure | 13 |
| --- | --- | --- |

8.

| 9. | Legal & financial set-up of the grants | 14 |
| --- | --- | --- |

9.

| 10. | How to submit an application | 15 |
| --- | --- | --- |

10.

0.   Introduction

This is an EU call for grants in the field of Agriculture and Rural Development policy under the Information Measures Relating to the Common Agricultural Policy Programme.

We invite you to read the call documentation carefully, i.e. this call for proposals and the Guide for applicants. These documents provide clarifications and answers to questions you may have when preparing your application:

| — | The call for proposals outlines the:






  — | objectives, themes and priorities, types of activities that can be financed and the expected result, |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

The call for proposals outlines the:

—

objectives, themes and priorities, types of activities that can be financed and the expected result,

| — | timetable and available budget, |
| --- | --- |

—

timetable and available budget,

| — | eligibility, exclusion, selection and award criteria, |
| --- | --- |

—

eligibility, exclusion, selection and award criteria,

| — | evaluation procedure. |
| --- | --- |

—

evaluation procedure.

| — | The Guide for applicants outlines the:






  — | procedures to register and submit proposals online via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (‘Portal’), |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

The Guide for applicants outlines the:

—

procedures to register and submit proposals online via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (‘Portal’),

| — | recommendations for the preparation of the proposal, |
| --- | --- |

—

recommendations for the preparation of the proposal,

| — | explanation on the application form (Proposal Template (Part A and B)), which describes the project, |
| --- | --- |

—

explanation on the application form (Proposal Template (Part A and B)), which describes the project,

| — | overview of the cost eligibility criteria. |
| --- | --- |

—

overview of the cost eligibility criteria.

1.   Background

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the EU’s most important policies. It is a partnership between agriculture and society and between Europe and its farmers. It is a common policy for all the countries and citizens of the EU and benefits them in various ways.

It supports farmers and improves agricultural production, maintains rural areas and landscapes, keeps the rural economy alive and helps tackle climate change and the sustainable management of natural resources.

The Information Measures Relating to the Common Agricultural Policy Programme supports the CAP by funding measures that provide information about it.

2.   Objectives – Themes & priorities – Target public

Objectives

The general objective of the call is to build trust within the EU and amongst all citizens, farmers and non-farmers alike. The common agricultural policy (CAP) is a policy for all the citizens of the EU and the benefits that it provides to them must be clearly demonstrated.

The key issues and messaging should be fully consistent with the Commission’s legal requirement to carry out information measures on the CAP within the meaning of Article 45 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.

The proposals submitted shall provide coherent, objective and comprehensive information, both inside and outside the Union, in order to give an accurate overall picture of the CAP.

The focus should be on addressing misperceptions and disinformation about European agriculture and the CAP using facts and backed up with data with a view to raising public awareness on the relevance of EU support to agriculture and rural development through the CAP.

Themes

The CAP plays a key role in supporting the EU’s farming sector and rural areas. It aims to ensure a sustainable agriculture with respect to economic, social and environmental aspects.

The proposals for information measures shall focus on illustrating how the future CAP as set out in particular in the CAP strategic plan proposal (1) will contribute towards the delivery of the Commission’s political priorities, in particular the European Green Deal (2). In the framework of the European Green Deal, the Commission adopted a Farm to Fork strategy (3) and the Biodiversity Strategy (4) for 2030, both of which address issues relevant to agriculture and rural areas.

The Farm to Fork strategy will enable the transition to a sustainable EU food system that safeguards food security, reduces the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system and strengthens its resilience, protecting citizens’ health and ensuring the livelihoods of economic operators. The strategy sets concrete targets to transform the EUs food system and proposes ambitious measures to ensure that the healthy option is the easiest for EU citizens, including improved labelling to better meet consumers’ information needs on healthy, sustainable foods. The biodiversity strategy as it relates to farming promotes the uptake of agro-ecological practices and seeks to increase agricultural land dedicated to organic farming.

The future CAP will be an important instrument in managing the transition to sustainable food production systems and in strengthening the efforts of European farmers to contribute to the climate objectives of the EU and to protect the environment, as well as reaching the targets set out in the farm-to-fork and the biodiversity strategies.

Target public

The target public for the themes is the general public (in particular young people in urban areas) and/or farmers and other parties active in rural areas.

More specifically:

| — | For school children, teachers and university students: novel approaches should be used to engage with young people and raise their awareness of the CAP and the contribution that it makes in many areas such as the climate change challenge, food, healthy and high quality eating as a lifestyle choice, in relation also with the EU School Scheme for Milk, Fruit and Vegetables (5) and the Tartu Call (6). |
| --- | --- |

—

For school children, teachers and university students: novel approaches should be used to engage with young people and raise their awareness of the CAP and the contribution that it makes in many areas such as the climate change challenge, food, healthy and high quality eating as a lifestyle choice, in relation also with the EU School Scheme for Milk, Fruit and Vegetables (5) and the Tartu Call (6).

| — | For stakeholders: stakeholders should be more aware of the contribution that the CAP makes to the support of sustainability of agriculture. |
| --- | --- |

—

For stakeholders: stakeholders should be more aware of the contribution that the CAP makes to the support of sustainability of agriculture.

3.   Timetable & available budget

Timetable

| Timing (planned) |
| --- |
| Publication: | 30.10.2020 |
| Opening for submission: | 3.11.2020 |
| Deadline for submission: | 21.1.2021 – 17.00 CET |
| Evaluation: | 3.2.2021 to 22.3.2021 |
| Information on evaluation result: | April 2021 |
| Grant agreement signature: | June/July 2021 |
| Starting date: | June/July 2021 |

Timing (planned)

Publication:

30.10.2020

Opening for submission:

3.11.2020

Deadline for submission:

21.1.2021 – 17.00 CET

Evaluation:

3.2.2021 to 22.3.2021

Information on evaluation result:

April 2021

Grant agreement signature:

June/July 2021

Starting date:

June/July 2021

Budget

The total available call budget is EUR 4 000 000.

Grants awarded are expected to range between EUR 75 000 and EUR 500 000.

The availability of the call budget still depends on the adoption of the budget 2021 by the budgetary authority.

We reserve the right not to award all available funds, depending on the applications received and the evaluation results.

4.   Admissibility conditions

Admissibility

Applications must be submitted before the call deadline (see timetable Section 3).

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Portal Electronic Submission System (accessible via the Call Topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section). Paper submissions are no longer possible.

Applications (including annexes and supporting documents) must be submitted using the forms provided inside the Electronic Submission System (not the documents available on the Call Topic page – they are only for information).

Your application must be readable, accessible and printable and contain all the requested information and all required annexes and supporting documents (see Section 10).

5.   Eligibility conditions

Participants

The actions supported under this call are mono-beneficiary actions. This means that there is one legal entity applying for a grant.

The applicants must be legal entities established in an EU Member State (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)).

Entities which do not have legal personality under the applicable national law may participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.

Natural persons are not eligible.

To prove eligibility, all applicants must register in the Participant Register – before the call deadline – and will be requested to upload the necessary documents showing legal status and origin later on.

Linked third parties (affiliated entities (7)) are allowed under the following conditions.

Legal entities having a legal or capital link with applicants, which is neither limited to the information measure nor established for the sole purpose of its implementation (e.g. members of networks, federations, trade unions), may take part in the information measure as affiliated entities, and may declare eligible costs.

The legal and capital link defining the affiliation encompasses three notions:

| (i) | Control, as defined in Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings, amending Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC . |
| --- | --- |

(i)

Control, as defined in Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings, amending Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC .

Entities affiliated to a beneficiary may hence be:

| — | entities directly or indirectly controlled by the beneficiary (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the beneficiary (granddaughter companies or second tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control, |
| --- | --- |

—

entities directly or indirectly controlled by the beneficiary (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the beneficiary (granddaughter companies or second tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control,

| — | entities directly or indirectly controlling the beneficiary (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the beneficiary, |
| --- | --- |

—

entities directly or indirectly controlling the beneficiary (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the beneficiary,

| — | entities under the same direct or indirect control as the beneficiary (sister companies). |
| --- | --- |

—

entities under the same direct or indirect control as the beneficiary (sister companies).

Control should be based on holding a majority of voting rights, but control may also exist where there are agreements with fellow shareholders or members. In certain circumstances control may be effectively exercised where the parent holds a minority or none of the shares in the subsidiary. Member States may require that undertakings not subject to control, but which are managed on a unified basis or have a common administrative, managerial or supervisory body, be included in consolidated financial statements.

| (ii) | Membership, i.e. the beneficiary is legally defined as a, e.g. network, federation, association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate or the beneficiary participates in the same entity (e.g. network, federation, association) as the proposed affiliated entities. |
| --- | --- |

(ii)

Membership, i.e. the beneficiary is legally defined as a, e.g. network, federation, association in which the proposed affiliated entities also participate or the beneficiary participates in the same entity (e.g. network, federation, association) as the proposed affiliated entities.

| (iii) | The specific case of public bodies and publicly owned entities |
| --- | --- |

(iii)

The specific case of public bodies and publicly owned entities

Publicly owned entities and public bodies (entities established as such under national, European or international law) are not always considered as affiliated entities (for example, public universities or research centres).

The notion of affiliation in the public sphere covers:

| — | the different levels of the administrative structure in the case of decentralised administration (e.g. national, regional or local ministries (in the case of separate legal entities) can be considered as affiliated to the State, |
| --- | --- |

—

the different levels of the administrative structure in the case of decentralised administration (e.g. national, regional or local ministries (in the case of separate legal entities) can be considered as affiliated to the State,

| — | a public body established by a public authority to serve an administrative purpose and which is supervised by the public authority. This condition is to be verified on the basis of the statutes or other acts establishing the public body. It does not necessarily entail that the public body is financed, in full or in part, from the public budget (e.g. national schools affiliated to the State). |
| --- | --- |

—

a public body established by a public authority to serve an administrative purpose and which is supervised by the public authority. This condition is to be verified on the basis of the statutes or other acts establishing the public body. It does not necessarily entail that the public body is financed, in full or in part, from the public budget (e.g. national schools affiliated to the State).

The following are not entities affiliated to a beneficiary:

| — | entities that have entered into a (procurement) contract or subcontract with the beneficiary, act as concessionaires or delegates for public services for the beneficiary, |
| --- | --- |

—

entities that have entered into a (procurement) contract or subcontract with the beneficiary, act as concessionaires or delegates for public services for the beneficiary,

| — | entities that receive financial support from the beneficiary, |
| --- | --- |

—

entities that receive financial support from the beneficiary,

| — | entities that cooperate on a regular basis with the beneficiary on the basis of a memorandum of understanding or share some assets, |
| --- | --- |

—

entities that cooperate on a regular basis with the beneficiary on the basis of a memorandum of understanding or share some assets,

| — | entities that have signed a consortium agreement under the grant agreement, |
| --- | --- |

—

entities that have signed a consortium agreement under the grant agreement,

| — | entities that have signed a franchise agreement that does not establish capital or legal link, |
| --- | --- |

—

entities that have signed a franchise agreement that does not establish capital or legal link,

| — | entities that have signed a cooperation agreement for twinning projects. |
| --- | --- |

—

entities that have signed a cooperation agreement for twinning projects.

If affiliated entities take part in the information measure, the application shall:

| — | identify such affiliated entities in the application form, |
| --- | --- |

—

identify such affiliated entities in the application form,

| — | contain the written agreement of the affiliated entities, |
| --- | --- |

—

contain the written agreement of the affiliated entities,

| — | provide the supporting documents allowing verification of their complying with the eligibility and non-exclusion criteria. |
| --- | --- |

—

provide the supporting documents allowing verification of their complying with the eligibility and non-exclusion criteria.

Entities composed of members may participate as ‘sole beneficiaries’ or ‘beneficiaries without legal personality’ (8). If the action is in practice implemented by the members, they should however also participate (as linked third parties, otherwise their costs will not be eligible).

Activities

Eligible activities are the ones set out in Section 2 above.

The information measures should include one or several activities such as:

| — | production and distribution of multimedia or audiovisual material, |
| --- | --- |

—

production and distribution of multimedia or audiovisual material,

| — | web and social media outreach activities, |
| --- | --- |

—

web and social media outreach activities,

| — | media events, |
| --- | --- |

—

media events,

| — | conferences, seminars, workshops and studies on CAP-related issues. |
| --- | --- |

—

conferences, seminars, workshops and studies on CAP-related issues.

The following activities are not eligible:

| — | measures required by law, |
| --- | --- |

—

measures required by law,

| — | general or statutory meetings, |
| --- | --- |

—

general or statutory meetings,

| — | financial support to third parties. |
| --- | --- |

—

financial support to third parties.

Geographical scope

The information measures must be implemented:

| — | in an EU Member State (multi-regional or national level), or |
| --- | --- |

—

in an EU Member State (multi-regional or national level), or

| — | in two or more Member States (EU level). |
| --- | --- |

—

in two or more Member States (EU level).

Duration

Projects may not be longer than 12 months.

6.   Award criteria

Admissible and eligible applications will be evaluated and ranked against of the following award criteria:

| 1. | Relevance: the ex ante analysis of the needs and the specific, measurable, attainable and relevant objective and its innovative character. (20 points; minimum required 10 points) |
| --- | --- |

1.

Relevance: the ex ante analysis of the needs and the specific, measurable, attainable and relevant objective and its innovative character. (20 points; minimum required 10 points)

| 2. | Effectiveness: themes, messages and target public, detailed programme, timetable and ex post evaluation methodology. (35 points; minimum required 17,5 points) |
| --- | --- |

2.

Effectiveness: themes, messages and target public, detailed programme, timetable and ex post evaluation methodology. (35 points; minimum required 17,5 points)

| 3. | Efficiency: the cost-effectiveness in terms of the proposed resources. (25 points; minimum required 12,5 points) |
| --- | --- |

3.

Efficiency: the cost-effectiveness in terms of the proposed resources. (25 points; minimum required 12,5 points)

| 4. | Quality of the project management: the quality of the procedures, the allocation of tasks in view of implementing the various activities of the proposed measure. (20 points; minimum required 10 points)







  Award criteria | Minimum pass score | Maximum score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Relevance | 10 | 20 |
| Effectiveness | 17,5 | 35 |
| Efficiency | 12,5 | 25 |
| Quality of the project management | 10 | 20 |
| Overall (pass) scores | 50 | 100 |

4.

Quality of the project management: the quality of the procedures, the allocation of tasks in view of implementing the various activities of the proposed measure. (20 points; minimum required 10 points)

Award criteria

Minimum pass score

Maximum score

Relevance

10

20

Effectiveness

17,5

35

Efficiency

12,5

25

Quality of the project management

10

20

Overall (pass) scores

50

100

A maximum of 100 points will be awarded for the quality of the proposal. The required minimum overall score is 50 points and a minimum score of 50 % is required for each criterion.

Applications that pass the individual threshold AND the overall threshold will be considered for funding – within the limits of the available call budget.

Other applications will be rejected.

The evaluation procedure is explained further in Section 8.

7.   Other conditions

Financial capacity

Applicants must have stable and sufficient resources in their own structure to successfully implement the project and contribute their share. Organisations participating in several projects must have sufficient internal operational capacity to implement several projects. The financial capacity check will be done on the basis of the documents you will be requested to upload in the Participant Register (profit and loss account and balance sheet for the last two closed financial years, or for newly created entities possibly the business plan; for applicants requesting more than EUR 100 000: audit report produced by an approved external auditor, certifying the accounts for the last closed financial year).

If needed, it may also be done for linked third parties.

The analysis will take into account elements such as dependency on EU funding and deficit and revenue in previous years.

It will normally be done for all applicants, except:

| — | public bodies (entities established as public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations, |
| --- | --- |

—

public bodies (entities established as public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations,

| — | if the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (low-value grant). |
| --- | --- |

—

if the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (low-value grant).

If we consider that your financial capacity is not satisfactory, we may request further information and if found unsatisfactory, reject the entire application.

Image 1 For more information, see Rules on Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment.

Operational capacity

Applicants must have the sufficient internal staff (9), the know-how and the qualifications to successfully implement the project (including sufficient experience in EU/transnational projects of comparable size).

This capacity will be assessed on the basis of the experience of the applicants and their internal staff.

Applicant will have to show this via the following information in the Proposal Template (Part B):

| — | general profiles (qualifications and experiences) of the internal staff responsible for managing and implementing the project, |
| --- | --- |

—

general profiles (qualifications and experiences) of the internal staff responsible for managing and implementing the project,

| — | the organisation’s activity reports of last year, |
| --- | --- |

—

the organisation’s activity reports of last year,

| — | a list of EU-funded actions/projects for the last 4 years. |
| --- | --- |

—

a list of EU-funded actions/projects for the last 4 years.

Additional supporting documents may be requested, if needed to confirm the operational capacity of any applicant.

Public bodies, Member States organisations and international organisations are exempted from the operational capacity check.

Exclusion (10)

Applicants that are subject to an EU administrative sanction (i.e. exclusion or financial penalty decision) (11) or in one of the following situations (12) are excluded from receiving EU grants and can therefore not participate:

| — | bankruptcy, winding up, affairs administered by the courts, arrangement with creditors, suspended business activities or other similar procedures (including procedures for persons with unlimited liability for the applicant’s debts), |
| --- | --- |

—

bankruptcy, winding up, affairs administered by the courts, arrangement with creditors, suspended business activities or other similar procedures (including procedures for persons with unlimited liability for the applicant’s debts),

| — | in breach of social security or tax obligations (including if done by persons with unlimited liability for the applicant’s debts), |
| --- | --- |

—

in breach of social security or tax obligations (including if done by persons with unlimited liability for the applicant’s debts),

| — | guilty of grave professional misconduct (13) (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant), |
| --- | --- |

—

guilty of grave professional misconduct (13) (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant),

| — | committed fraud, corruption, links to a criminal organisation, money laundering, terrorism-related crimes (including terrorism financing), child labour or human trafficking (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant), |
| --- | --- |

—

committed fraud, corruption, links to a criminal organisation, money laundering, terrorism-related crimes (including terrorism financing), child labour or human trafficking (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant),

| — | shown significant deficiencies in complying with main obligations under an EU procurement contract, grant agreement or grant decision (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant), |
| --- | --- |

—

shown significant deficiencies in complying with main obligations under an EU procurement contract, grant agreement or grant decision (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant),

| — | guilty of irregularities within the meaning of Article 1(2) of Regulation No 2988/95 (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant), |
| --- | --- |

—

guilty of irregularities within the meaning of Article 1(2) of Regulation No 2988/95 (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant),

| — | created under a different jurisdiction with the intent to circumvent fiscal, social or other legal obligations in the country of origin or created another entity with this purpose (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant). |
| --- | --- |

—

created under a different jurisdiction with the intent to circumvent fiscal, social or other legal obligations in the country of origin or created another entity with this purpose (including if done by persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control, beneficial owners or natural persons who are essential for the award/implementation of the grant).

Applicants will also be refused if it turns out during the grant award procedure that they (14):

| — | misrepresented information required as a condition for participating in the grant award procedure or failed to supply that information, |
| --- | --- |

—

misrepresented information required as a condition for participating in the grant award procedure or failed to supply that information,

| — | were previously involved in the preparation of grant award documents where this entails a distortion of competition that cannot be remedied otherwise (conflict of interest). |
| --- | --- |

—

were previously involved in the preparation of grant award documents where this entails a distortion of competition that cannot be remedied otherwise (conflict of interest).

| IMPORTANT







  — | Linked third parties – Applicants may participate with linked third parties (i.e. affiliated entities) that receive funding. Linked third parties must comply with all the conditions set out in this call (just like applicants), but they do not sign the grant agreement and do not count towards the minimum eligibility criteria for consortium composition. |
| --- | --- |

Image 2
  IMPORTANT

—

Linked third parties – Applicants may participate with linked third parties (i.e. affiliated entities) that receive funding. Linked third parties must comply with all the conditions set out in this call (just like applicants), but they do not sign the grant agreement and do not count towards the minimum eligibility criteria for consortium composition.

| — | Subcontractors – Subcontracting is allowed except for project’s core tasks and subject to strict limits (see Section 9). |
| --- | --- |

—

Subcontractors – Subcontracting is allowed except for project’s core tasks and subject to strict limits (see Section 9).

| — | Registration – All applicants must register in the Participant Register – before the call deadline – and upload the necessary documents showing legal status and origin. Linked third parties can register later (during grant preparation). |
| --- | --- |

—

Registration – All applicants must register in the Participant Register – before the call deadline – and upload the necessary documents showing legal status and origin. Linked third parties can register later (during grant preparation).

| — | Completed/ongoing projects – Applications for projects that have already been completed will be rejected; applications for projects that have already started will be assessed on a case-by-case basis (in this case, no costs can be reimbursed for activities that took place before proposal submission). |
| --- | --- |

—

Completed/ongoing projects – Applications for projects that have already been completed will be rejected; applications for projects that have already started will be assessed on a case-by-case basis (in this case, no costs can be reimbursed for activities that took place before proposal submission).

| — | Balanced budget – Applicants must ensure a balanced budget and sufficient other resources to implement the project successfully (e.g. own contributions, income generated by the action, financial contributions from third parties). You may be requested to lower your estimated costs, if they are ineligible (including excessive). |
| --- | --- |

—

Balanced budget – Applicants must ensure a balanced budget and sufficient other resources to implement the project successfully (e.g. own contributions, income generated by the action, financial contributions from third parties). You may be requested to lower your estimated costs, if they are ineligible (including excessive).

| — | No-profit rule – Grants may NOT give a profit (i.e. surplus of receipts + EU grant over costs). This will be checked by us at the end of the projects. Any surplus would be deducted from the final grant awarded. |
| --- | --- |

—

No-profit rule – Grants may NOT give a profit (i.e. surplus of receipts + EU grant over costs). This will be checked by us at the end of the projects. Any surplus would be deducted from the final grant awarded.

| — | No double funding – Any given action may receive only one grant from the EU budget. The project must therefore NOT receive any financial support under any other EU funding programme (including EU funding managed by authorities in EU Member States or other funding bodies, e.g. Regional Funds, Agricultural Funds, EIB loans, etc.). Cost items may NOT be declared twice under different EU actions. |
| --- | --- |

—

No double funding – Any given action may receive only one grant from the EU budget. The project must therefore NOT receive any financial support under any other EU funding programme (including EU funding managed by authorities in EU Member States or other funding bodies, e.g. Regional Funds, Agricultural Funds, EIB loans, etc.). Cost items may NOT be declared twice under different EU actions.

| — | Combination with EU operating grants – Combination with EU operating grants is possible if the project remains outside the operating grant work programme and you make sure that cost items are clearly separated in your accounting and NOT declared twice. See the Guide for applicants for the detailed cost eligibility conditions for indirect costs. |
| --- | --- |

—

Combination with EU operating grants – Combination with EU operating grants is possible if the project remains outside the operating grant work programme and you make sure that cost items are clearly separated in your accounting and NOT declared twice. See the Guide for applicants for the detailed cost eligibility conditions for indirect costs.

| — | Multiple applications – You may NOT submit more than one application for this call. If you do, only one application will be accepted and evaluated (the applicants will be asked to withdraw one of them or it will be rejected). |
| --- | --- |

—

Multiple applications – You may NOT submit more than one application for this call. If you do, only one application will be accepted and evaluated (the applicants will be asked to withdraw one of them or it will be rejected).

| — | Language – You can submit your proposal in any official EU language. However, for reasons of efficiency, we strongly advise you to use English. If you need the call documents in another official EU language, please submit a request within 10 days after call publication (for the contact information, see Section 10). Please note that if selected for funding, you will be invited to sign a grant agreement with the European Commission. Such grant agreement is in English. All correspondence and reporting will be in English language only. For the preparation of the grant agreement, the beneficiary will be requested to provide a complete ‘Description of the Action’ in English language. |
| --- | --- |

—

Language – You can submit your proposal in any official EU language. However, for reasons of efficiency, we strongly advise you to use English. If you need the call documents in another official EU language, please submit a request within 10 days after call publication (for the contact information, see Section 10). Please note that if selected for funding, you will be invited to sign a grant agreement with the European Commission. Such grant agreement is in English. All correspondence and reporting will be in English language only. For the preparation of the grant agreement, the beneficiary will be requested to provide a complete ‘Description of the Action’ in English language.

| — | Applications that do not comply with all the call conditions will be rejected. |
| --- | --- |

—

Applications that do not comply with all the call conditions will be rejected.

8.   Evaluation & award procedure

This call is subject to the standard submission and evaluation procedure (one-stage submission + one-step evaluation).

Applications will be checked by us for formal requirements (admissibility and eligibility) and will be evaluated by an evaluation committee against the operational capacity and award criteria and then listed in a ranked list according to their quality score.

Unsuccessful applications will be informed about their evaluation result (see timetable Section 3).

Successful applications will be invited for grant preparation.

| IMPORTANT







  — | No commitment for funding – Invitation to grant preparation does NOT constitute a formal commitment for funding. We will still need to make various legal checks before grant award: legal entity validation, financial capacity, exclusion check etc. |
| --- | --- |

Image 3
  IMPORTANT

—

No commitment for funding – Invitation to grant preparation does NOT constitute a formal commitment for funding. We will still need to make various legal checks before grant award: legal entity validation, financial capacity, exclusion check etc.

| — | Grant preparation will involve a dialogue in order to fine-tune technical or financial aspects of the project and may require extra information from your side. It may also include adjustments to the proposal to address recommendations of the evaluation committee or other concerns. Compliance will be a pre-condition for receiving the grant. |
| --- | --- |

—

Grant preparation will involve a dialogue in order to fine-tune technical or financial aspects of the project and may require extra information from your side. It may also include adjustments to the proposal to address recommendations of the evaluation committee or other concerns. Compliance will be a pre-condition for receiving the grant.

9.   Legal & financial set-up of the grants

If your project is selected for funding, you will be asked to sign a grant agreement (available on Portal Reference Documents) using an EC corporate IT tool.

This grant agreement will set the framework for your grant and its terms and conditions, in particular provisions on deliverables, reporting and payments.

Starting date & project duration

The project starting date and duration will be fixed in your grant agreement (Art. 3 GA). Normally the starting date will be after the grant signature. Retroactive starting date can be granted exceptionally for duly justified reasons – but never earlier than the proposal submission date.

Project duration: 12 months.

Maximum grant amount, reimbursement of eligible costs & funding rate

All grant parameters (maximum grant amount, funding rate, total eligible costs etc.) will be fixed in your grant agreement (Art. 5)).

Grant awarded: between EUR 75 000 and EUR 500 000 per proposal (see Section 3 above).

The grant will be a reimbursement of actual costs. This means that it will reimburse ONLY certain types of costs (eligible costs) and ONLY those costs you actually incurred for your project (NOT the budgeted costs).

The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rate fixed in the grant agreement (60 %).

EU grants may NOT produce a profit. If there is a profit (i.e. surplus of receipts + EU grant over costs), we will deduct it from your final grant amount.

The final grant amount you will receive will therefore depend on a variety of criteria (actual costs incurred and project income; eligibility; compliance with all the rules under the grant agreement, etc.).

Cost eligibility rules

For the cost eligibility rules, see the model grant agreement (Art. 6) and the Guide for applicants.

Special cost eligibility rules for this call:

| — | 7 % fixed flat-rate for indirect costs, |
| --- | --- |

—

7 % fixed flat-rate for indirect costs,

| — | depreciation costs for equipment, |
| --- | --- |

—

depreciation costs for equipment,

| — | project activities must take place in one of the eligible countries, |
| --- | --- |

—

project activities must take place in one of the eligible countries,

| — | financial support to third parties is not allowed, |
| --- | --- |

—

financial support to third parties is not allowed,

| — | subcontracting of action tasks is subject to special rules and must be approved by us (either as part of your proposal or in the final report), |
| --- | --- |

—

subcontracting of action tasks is subject to special rules and must be approved by us (either as part of your proposal or in the final report),

| — | in-kind contributions against payment are allowed (in-kind contributions for free are not prohibited, but they are cost-neutral, i.e. cannot be declared as cost and will not be counted as receipts), |
| --- | --- |

—

in-kind contributions against payment are allowed (in-kind contributions for free are not prohibited, but they are cost-neutral, i.e. cannot be declared as cost and will not be counted as receipts),

| — | VAT – please note that there are new rules in place since 2013 for public entities (VAT paid by beneficiaries that are public bodies acting as public authority is NOT eligible), |
| --- | --- |

—

VAT – please note that there are new rules in place since 2013 for public entities (VAT paid by beneficiaries that are public bodies acting as public authority is NOT eligible),

| — | costs for the introductory meeting (see Section 10) will be eligible as travel costs (2 persons, return ticket to Brussels, accommodation for one night) – if the meeting takes place after the project starting date set out in the grant agreement. |
| --- | --- |

—

costs for the introductory meeting (see Section 10) will be eligible as travel costs (2 persons, return ticket to Brussels, accommodation for one night) – if the meeting takes place after the project starting date set out in the grant agreement.

Reporting & payment arrangements

The reporting and payment arrangements will be fixed in the grant agreement (Art. 15 and 16).

There will be no pre-financing and no interim payments

At the end of the project, you will be invited to submit a technical and financial report used for calculating the final grant amount.

Deliverables

Standard deliverables will be listed in the grant agreement (Art. 14). The project-specific deliverables will be listed in Annex 1 GA.

Standard deliverables for this call: Monthly Activity Reports.

Pre-financing guarantee

Not applicable

Special provisions

IPR rules: see model grant agreement (Art. 19)

Promotion & visibility of EU funding: see model grant agreement (Art. 22)

Cost rejection, grant reduction, recovery, suspension & termination

The grant agreement (Chapter 6) provides for the measures we may take in case of breach of contract (and other violations of law).

Liability regime for recoveries

Not applicable (mono-beneficiary action).

10.   How to submit an application

All applications must be submitted electronically via the Portal Electronic Submission System (accessible via the Call Topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section). Paper submissions are no longer possible.

The application will have 3 parts:

| — | Part A (to be filled in directly online) – contains administrative information about the applicant organisations and the summarised budget for the proposal, |
| --- | --- |

—

Part A (to be filled in directly online) – contains administrative information about the applicant organisations and the summarised budget for the proposal,

| — | Part B (to be filled out as word template and uploaded as PDF file) – contains the description of the action which covers the technical content of the proposal, |
| --- | --- |

—

Part B (to be filled out as word template and uploaded as PDF file) – contains the description of the action which covers the technical content of the proposal,

| — | Annexes & supporting documents (to be uploaded as PDF files). |
| --- | --- |

—

Annexes & supporting documents (to be uploaded as PDF files).

Mandatory annexes & supporting documents (directly available in the Submission System) for this call:

| — | detailed budget table, |
| --- | --- |

—

detailed budget table,

| — | CVs of core project team, |
| --- | --- |

—

CVs of core project team,

| — | activity report of last year. |
| --- | --- |

—

activity report of last year.

The submission process is explained in the Online Manual (together with detailed instructions for the IT tool).

Contact

For questions on the Portal Submission System, please contact the IT Helpdesk.

Non-IT-related questions should be sent to the following email address: agri-grants@ec.europa.eu

Please indicate clearly the reference of the call for proposal and the topic to which your question relates (see Call document cover page).

| IMPORTANT







  — | Consult the Portal Call Topic page regularly. We will use it to publish updates and additional information on the call (call updates). |
| --- | --- |

Image 4
  IMPORTANT

—

Consult the Portal Call Topic page regularly. We will use it to publish updates and additional information on the call (call updates).

| — | Don’t wait until the end. |
| --- | --- |

—

Don’t wait until the end.

| — | Questions received later than 7 days before the call deadline cannot be answered. |
| --- | --- |

—

Questions received later than 7 days before the call deadline cannot be answered.

| — | We strongly advise you to complete your proposal sufficiently in advance of the deadline, to avoid any last minute technical problems. Any problems due to last minute submissions (e.g. congestion, etc.) will be at your risk. The call deadline will NOT be extended. |
| --- | --- |

—

We strongly advise you to complete your proposal sufficiently in advance of the deadline, to avoid any last minute technical problems. Any problems due to last minute submissions (e.g. congestion, etc.) will be at your risk. The call deadline will NOT be extended.

| — | Before submitting a proposal, all applicants must be registered in the Participant Register and obtain a participant identification code (PIC) (one for each applicant). |
| --- | --- |

—

Before submitting a proposal, all applicants must be registered in the Participant Register and obtain a participant identification code (PIC) (one for each applicant).

| — | By submitting their proposal, all applicants accept:






  — | the terms and conditions of this call (as described in this Call document and the documents it refers to) |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

By submitting their proposal, all applicants accept:

—

the terms and conditions of this call (as described in this Call document and the documents it refers to)

| — | to use the electronic exchange system in accordance with the Portal Terms & Conditions. |
| --- | --- |

—

to use the electronic exchange system in accordance with the Portal Terms & Conditions.

| — | After the call deadline, the proposal is locked and can no longer be changed. |
| --- | --- |

—

After the call deadline, the proposal is locked and can no longer be changed.

| — | You may be contacted later on if there is a need to clarify certain aspects of your proposal or for the correction of clerical mistakes. |
| --- | --- |

—

You may be contacted later on if there is a need to clarify certain aspects of your proposal or for the correction of clerical mistakes.

| — | You may be asked to submit additional documents later on (e.g. for the legal entity validation, LEAR appointment and financial capacity check). |
| --- | --- |

—

You may be asked to submit additional documents later on (e.g. for the legal entity validation, LEAR appointment and financial capacity check).

| — | We intend to organise an introductory meeting for successful applicants to discuss project management, administrative and financial aspects and reporting obligations. Participation by the persons in charge of project coordination and financial matters is mandatory. |
| --- | --- |

—

We intend to organise an introductory meeting for successful applicants to discuss project management, administrative and financial aspects and reporting obligations. Participation by the persons in charge of project coordination and financial matters is mandatory.

| — | We are committed to transparency. Each year, information about EU grants awarded is published on the Europa website. This includes:






  — | the beneficiaries’ names, |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

We are committed to transparency. Each year, information about EU grants awarded is published on the Europa website. This includes:

—

the beneficiaries’ names,

| — | the beneficiaries’ addresses, |
| --- | --- |

—

the beneficiaries’ addresses,

| — | the purpose for which the grant was awarded, |
| --- | --- |

—

the purpose for which the grant was awarded,

| — | the maximum amount awarded. |
| --- | --- |

—

the maximum amount awarded.

The publication can exceptionally be waived (on reasoned and duly substantiated request), if there is a risk that the disclosure could jeopardise the rights and freedoms under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights or harm your commercial interests.

| — | Data privacy – The submission of an application under this call involves the collection, use and processing of personal data (such as name, address and CV). This data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. It will be processed solely for the purpose of evaluating your proposal (and subsequent management of your grant and, if needed, programme monitoring, evaluation and communication). Details are explained in the Portal Privacy Statement. |
| --- | --- |

—

Data privacy – The submission of an application under this call involves the collection, use and processing of personal data (such as name, address and CV). This data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. It will be processed solely for the purpose of evaluating your proposal (and subsequent management of your grant and, if needed, programme monitoring, evaluation and communication). Details are explained in the Portal Privacy Statement.

| — | Cancellation – There may be circumstances which may require the cancellation of the call. In this case, you will be informed via a call update. Please note that cancellations are without entitlement to compensation. |
| --- | --- |

—

Cancellation – There may be circumstances which may require the cancellation of the call. In this case, you will be informed via a call update. Please note that cancellations are without entitlement to compensation.

---

(1)  COM(2018)392 final ; factsheet: How the future CAP will contribute to the EU Green Deal, SWD(2020) 93 final.

(2)  COM(2019) 640 final.

(3)  COM(2020) 381 final.

(4)  COM/2020/380 final.

(5)  Regulation (EU) 2016/791 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013 and (EU) No 1306/2013 as regards the aid scheme for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas and milk in educational establishments.

(6)  The Tartu Call is designed to promote and support healthier lifestyles for European citizens of all ages, with a special emphasis on the young generation: children who learn healthy habits are more likely to maintain them in later life.

(7)  See Article 187 Financial Regulation (EU) 2018/1046.

(8)  For the definitions, see Articles 187(2) and 197(2)(c) Financial Regulation (EU) 2018/1046.

(9)  Salaried staff or in-house consultants only.

(10)  See Article 136(1) of Financial Regulation (EU) 2018/1046.

(11)  See Article 136(1) Financial Regulation (EU) 2018/1046.

(12)  See Articles 136(1) and 141(1) Financial Regulation (EU) 2018/1046.

(13)  Professional misconduct includes: violation of ethical standards of the profession, wrongful conduct with impact on professional credibility, false declarations/misrepresentation of information, participation in a cartel or other agreement distorting competition, violation of IPR, attempting to influence decision-making processes or obtain confidential information from public authorities to gain advantage.

(14)  See Article 141(1) Financial Regulation (EU) 2018/1046.

---

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

| 15.1.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 16/17 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.1.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 16/17

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.10084 — ACP/Marubeni/Toho Gas/GGND)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2021/C 16/06)

1.

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

| — | Allianz Capital Partners GmbH (‘ACP’, Germany), belonging to the Allianz Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Allianz Capital Partners GmbH (‘ACP’, Germany), belonging to the Allianz Group,

| — | Marubeni Corporation (‘Marubeni’, Japan), |
| --- | --- |

—

Marubeni Corporation (‘Marubeni’, Japan),

| — | Toho Gas Co. Ltd. (‘Toho Gas’, Japan), |
| --- | --- |

—

Toho Gas Co. Ltd. (‘Toho Gas’, Japan),

| — | Galp Gás Natural Distribuição, S.A. (‘GGND’, Portugal). |
| --- | --- |

—

Galp Gás Natural Distribuição, S.A. (‘GGND’, Portugal).

ACP, Marubeni and Toho Gas acquire joint control within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation of the whole of GGND.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2.

| — | for ACP: mainly active as regards private equity, infrastructure and renewable energy investments, |
| --- | --- |

—

for ACP: mainly active as regards private equity, infrastructure and renewable energy investments,

| — | for Marubeni: active in global trading across various industries, including in energy and energy related projects, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Marubeni: active in global trading across various industries, including in energy and energy related projects,

| — | for Toho Gas: mainly supplying natural gas and related services in Japan, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Toho Gas: mainly supplying natural gas and related services in Japan,

| — | for GGND: primarily active in the distribution and retail of natural gas in Portugal. |
| --- | --- |

—

for GGND: primarily active in the distribution and retail of natural gas in Portugal.

3.

Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.10084 — ACP/Marubeni/Toho Gas/GGND

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

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

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

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

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

1

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

2

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OTHER ACTS

European Commission

| 15.1.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 16/19 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

15.1.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 16/19

---

Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to a product specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 17(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33

(2021/C 16/07)

This communication is published in accordance with Article 17(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (1).

COMMUNICATION OF STANDARD AMENDMENT MODIFYING THE SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘LEÓN’

PDO-ES-A0882-AM03

Date of communication: 6 November 2020

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Amendments to the description of white and rosé wines

DESCRIPTION:

The total acidity in white and rosé wines has been reduced and it is now specified that these wines may or may not be aged.

Accordingly, section 2(a) of the product specification and section 4 of the single document have been amended.

This is a standard amendment and does not change the essential characteristics of the product, which remain those defined in the product specification and which derive from the interplay between natural and human factors, as described in the section on the link. This type of amendment cannot be classified under any of the types of amendment requiring EU approval under Article 14(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33.

REASONS:

Given the new trends in winemaking enabled by the availability of safer technology and the rise in average temperatures as a result of climate change, it is necessary to adjust the physico-chemical properties, while also adapting the products to new market demands.

As regards ageing for white and rosé wines, this is not a new addition, as it was already provided for in the product specification; it is simply stated more clearly.

2.   Amendment to cultural practice

DESCRIPTION:

A maximum limit for fruitful buds per hectare has been included.

Section 3(a) of the product specification and section 5(a) of the single document have been amended accordingly.

This is a standard amendment and does not change the essential characteristics of the product, which remain those defined in the product specification and which derive from the interplay between natural and human factors, as described in the section on the link. This type of amendment cannot be classified under any of the types of amendment requiring EU approval under Article 14(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33.

REASONS:

Experience in recent years has shown that this is a very suitable measure for maintaining vine balance and, therefore, for achieving a higher-quality raw material and thus a higher-quality end product.

3.   Amendment to the specific oenological ageing practices

DESCRIPTION:

The maximum capacity of 330 litres for the oak barrels in which the wines covered by ‘León’ PDO are aged has been removed. It has also been clarified that white and rosé wines can be fermented or held in oak barrels, although this was already possible.

Section 3(b)(3) of the product specification and section 5(a) of the single document have been amended accordingly.

This is a standard amendment and does not change the essential characteristics of the product, which remain those defined in the product specification and which derive from the interplay between natural and human factors, as described in the section on the link. This type of amendment cannot be classified under any of the types of amendment requiring EU approval under Article 14(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33.

REASONS:

Winemaking nowadays has evolved enormously, with the appearance of barrels of different capacities.

The use of barrels with higher capacity — 400 l, 500 l and even up to 600 l — causes the wines to develop much more slowly, improving their end quality. Moreover, it has been found that the specific characteristics of the red variety ‘Prieto Picudo’ are well suited to the use of such barrels.

Furthermore, Law 6/2015, which regulates the use of the traditional terms ‘crianza’, ‘reserva’ and ‘gran reserva’, already limits maximum barrel capacity. It is therefore necessary to adapt the production of ‘León’ PDO wines to this significant change.

4.   Amendment to the restrictions on making the wines

DESCRIPTION:

Certain white varieties authorised in the production of white wine and rosé wine have been removed from the section on restrictions on making the wines in application of the change in varieties described in the next amendment.

The Mencía variety has been included for rosé wines in order to bring it into line with the product specification.

Section 3(c) of the product specification and section 4 of the single document have been amended accordingly.

This type of amendment cannot be classified under any of the types of amendment requiring EU approval under Article 14(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33.

REASONS:

This is a standard amendment to reflect the deletion of authorised white varieties in this section.

5.   Removal of authorised white grape varieties

DESCRIPTION:

The authorised white varieties Palomino and Malvasia have been removed, taking into account the production practices of the wineries.

Section 6 of the product specification has been amended, but this does not affect the single document as these varieties were considered secondary varieties.

This is a standard amendment and does not change the essential characteristics of the product, as these varieties were not being used in the production of ‘León’ PDO wines. This type of amendment cannot be classified under any of the types of amendment requiring EU approval under Article 14(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33.

REASONS:

Palomino and Malvasia were originally included as authorised white varieties because they existed to a very minor extent in the demarcated area. The total number of hectares registered under the ‘León’ Designation of Origin with the Malvasia and Palomino varieties is 2,88 ha (0,18 ha and 2,71 ha respectively). However, these varieties have not been used in the production of wines covered by the ‘León’ Designation of Origin for the last decade, which is why it is appropriate to remove them from the product specification.

6.   Amendment to the packaging and bottling requirements

DESCRIPTION:

Section 8(b)(2) of the product specification on why packaging (bottling) must take place in the demarcated region has been reworded in accordance with Article 4(2) of the new Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33.

Section 8(b)(2) of the product specification and section 9 of the single document have been amended.

As this restriction already existed, this amendment cannot be classified under any of the types set out in Article 14(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2019/33.

REASONS:

This practice was already mandatory and therefore this amendment does not entail any further restrictions on marketing. It is simply a change in wording to align it more closely with the legislation in force.

7.   Amendment to the labelling requirements

DESCRIPTION:

The reference to legislation in relation to the terms ‘Designation of Origin’ and ‘Protected Designation of Origin’ has been amended to bring it into line with existing legislation and case law, making specific reference to Regulation (EC) No 1308/2013.

The reference to legislation in relation to the traditional terms ‘crianza’, ‘reserva’ and ‘gran reserva’ has been amended to bring it into line with existing legislation and case law, removing the reference to the repealed Regulation (EEC) No 1234/2007.

Furthermore, the competent authority has recently regulated the expressions linked to the use of a smaller geographical unit, including ‘vino de pueblo’ (town wine) for when at least 85 % of the grapes used to make a wine have been harvested from parcels located within the boundaries of a given municipality or ‘smaller local entity’.

Section 8(b)(3) of the product specification and section 9 of the single document have been amended.

These optional labelling particulars give consumers more information on where the product is from and how it is made but they do not under any circumstances entail a restriction on marketing. This amendment therefore cannot be classified under any of the types set out in Article 14(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2019/33.

REASONS:

This amendment is justified by the growing demand from consumers for information specifying the exact provenance from among the municipalities and places covered by the PDO.

In compliance with Article 55(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33, in order for the name of a smaller geographical unit to be featured on the label, it must be regulated in the product specification and in the single document.

It has also been decided to reword section 8(b)(3) entirely, making a distinction between mandatory and optional labelling particulars. No new requirements have been added; the section has just been restructured to make it easier to understand.

8.   Alignment with the rules on verifying compliance with the product specification

DESCRIPTION:

The information on the control body and the wording with regard to the checks to verify compliance with the product specification have been updated.

Section 9 of the product specification has been amended, but the single document is not affected.

This amendment does not fall into any of the categories provided for in Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/33.

REASONS:

Adaptation to the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 and of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/34 of 17 October 2018, in particular Article 19 of the latter, which explains how the annual verification by the competent authority or control body to verify compliance with the product specification must be carried out. This amendment is part of a necessary update that needs to be made to the product specification to make sure that it complies with the criteria laid down in the UNE-EN-ISO 17065 standard.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1.   Name of the product

León

2.   Geographical indication type

PDO — Protected Designation of Origin

3.   Categories of grapevine product

| 1. | Wine |
| --- | --- |

1.

4.   Description of the wine(s)

WINE — Aged and unaged white wines

The white wines made from the Albarín Blanco, Verdejo and Godello grape varieties are very well balanced in terms of taste and aroma, and are fresh and complex.

| * | Minimum total alcoholic strength: 10,5 % vol. |
| --- | --- |

*

| General analytical characteristics |
| --- |
| Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) | |
| Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) | 10,5 |
| Minimum total acidity | 4,3 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid |
| Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) | 11,67 |
| Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) | 160 |

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)

10,5

Minimum total acidity

4,3 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)

11,67

Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

160

WINE — Aged and unaged rosé wines

The Prieto Picudo rosé wines are very aromatic, fresh (high natural acidity), and have considerable body and structure in the mouth (balance between alcohol and acidity).

| * | Minimum total alcoholic strength: 11 % vol. |
| --- | --- |

*

| General analytical characteristics |
| --- |
| Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) | |
| Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) | 11 |
| Minimum total acidity | 4,3 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid |
| Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) | 11,67 |
| Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) | 160 |

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)

11

Minimum total acidity

4,3 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)

11,67

Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

160

WINE — Red wines

Red wines: marked intensity of colour, aromatic (red and black fruits), meaty and full-bodied, slightly astringent and long.

| * | Minimum total alcoholic strength: 11,5 % vol. |
| --- | --- |

*

| General analytical characteristics |
| --- |
| Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) | |
| Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) | 11,5 |
| Minimum total acidity | 4,3 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid |
| Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) | 11,67 |
| Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) | 150 |

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)

11,5

Minimum total acidity

4,3 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)

11,67

Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

150

WINE — Aged red wines

Aged red wines retain the characteristics of the grape variety (Prieto Picudo), but have more complexity, are less astringent, and are balanced, tannic and have a long finish.

| * | Minimum total alcoholic strength: 12 % vol. |
| --- | --- |

*

| * | The upper limit for acetic acid is calculated as follows: 0,7 grams per litre up to 10 % vol., plus 0,06 grams per litre for each percentage point over 10 % vol. |
| --- | --- |

*

| General analytical characteristics |
| --- |
| Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) | |
| Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) | 12 |
| Minimum total acidity | 4,3 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid |
| Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) | |
| Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) | 150 |

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)

12

Minimum total acidity

4,3 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)

Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

150

5.   Wine-making practices

a.   Specific oenological practices

Specific oenological practice

| — | Minimum potential alcoholic strength of the grape: 11,5 % (red), 10,5 % (white). |
| --- | --- |

—

Minimum potential alcoholic strength of the grape: 11,5 % (red), 10,5 % (white).

| — | Maximum extraction rate: 74 litres per 100 kilograms of grapes. |
| --- | --- |

—

Maximum extraction rate: 74 litres per 100 kilograms of grapes.

| — | For wines which are going to use the terms ‘crianza’, ‘reserva’ or ‘gran reserva’, oak barrels must be used that are no more than 10 years old. |
| --- | --- |

—

For wines which are going to use the terms ‘crianza’, ‘reserva’ or ‘gran reserva’, oak barrels must be used that are no more than 10 years old.

Relevant restriction on making the wines

| — | White wine must be made from the white grape varieties Verdejo, Albarín Blanco and Godello. |
| --- | --- |

—

White wine must be made from the white grape varieties Verdejo, Albarín Blanco and Godello.

| — | In rosé wines, at least 60 % of the grapes used must be from the main red varieties Prieto Picudo and/or Mencía. The authorised red varieties Tempranillo and Garnacha and/or white varieties may be used for the remaining 40 %. |
| --- | --- |

—

In rosé wines, at least 60 % of the grapes used must be from the main red varieties Prieto Picudo and/or Mencía. The authorised red varieties Tempranillo and Garnacha and/or white varieties may be used for the remaining 40 %.

| — | In red wines, at least 60 % of the grapes used must be from the main red varieties Prieto Picudo and/or Mencía. The remaining 40 % may be shared among the other red grape varieties described above. |
| --- | --- |

—

In red wines, at least 60 % of the grapes used must be from the main red varieties Prieto Picudo and/or Mencía. The remaining 40 % may be shared among the other red grape varieties described above.

Cultural practice

| 1. | The vine density for both red and white varieties must be between 1 100 and 4 000 vines per hectare, for both goblet-trained and trellised vines. For these systems and their variants, there is an upper limit of 40 000 fruitful buds per hectare. |
| --- | --- |

1.

b.   Maximum yields

Goblet-trained white varieties

7 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare

51,80 hectolitres per hectare

Trellised white varieties

10 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare

74 hectolitres per hectare

Goblet-trained red varieties

6 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare

44,44 hectolitres per hectare

Trellised red varieties

8 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare

59,2 hectolitres per hectare

6.   Demarcated geographical area

In the Province of León:

Algadefe, Alija del Infantado, Antigua (La), Ardón, Armunia (district within a municipality), Bañeza (La), Bercianos del Páramo, Bercianos del Real Camino, Burgo Ranero (El), Cabreros del Río, Calzada del Coto, Campazas, Campo de Villavidel, Castilfalé, Castrocalbón, Castrotierra de Valmadrigal, Cebrones del Río, Cimanes de la Vega, Corbillos de los Oteros, Cubillas de los Oteros, Chozas de Abajo, Fresno de la Vega, Fuentes de Carvajal, Gordaliza del Pino, Gordoncillo, Grajal de Campos, Gusendos de los Oteros, Izagre, Joarilla de las Matas, Laguna de Negrillos, Matadeón de los Oteros, Matanza, Onzonilla, Pajares de los Oteros, Palacios de la Valduerna, Pobladura de Pelayo García, Pozuelo del Páramo, Quintana del Marco, Quintana y Congosto, Riego de la Vega, Roperuelos del Páramo, Sahagún, San Adrián del Valle, San Esteban de Nogales, San Millán de los Caballeros, Santa Cristina de Valmadrigal, Santa Elena de Jamuz, Santa María del Monte Cea, Santas Martas, Santovenia de la Valdoncina, Toral de los Guzmanes, Valdemora, Valderas, Valdevimbre, Valencia de Don Juan, Valverde Enrique, Vallecillo, Vega de Infanzones, Villabraz, Villademor de la Vega, Villamandos, Villamañán, Villamontán de la Valduerna, Villamoratiel de las Matas, Villanueva de las Manzanas, Villaornate y Castro, Villaquejida, Villaturiel and Zotes del Páramo.

In the Province of Valladolid:

Becilla de Valderaduey, Bustillo de Chaves, Cabezón de Valderaduey, Castrobol, Castroponce, Cuenca de Campos, Mayorga, Melgar de Abajo, Melgar de Arriba, Monasterio de Vega, Quintanilla del Molar, Roales de Campos, Saelices de Mayorga, Santervas de Campos, Unión de Campos (La), Valdunquillo, Villacid de Campos, Villagómez la Nueva and Villalba de la Loma.

7.   Main wine grape variety(ies)

| | ALBARÍN BLANCO |
| --- | --- |

ALBARÍN BLANCO

| | GODELLO |
| --- | --- |

GODELLO

| | MENCÍA |
| --- | --- |

MENCÍA

| | PRIETO PICUDO |
| --- | --- |

PRIETO PICUDO

| | VERDEJO |
| --- | --- |

VERDEJO

8.   Description of the link(s)

WINE

| 1. | When we talk about wines made from the Prieto Picudo variety, we always highlight the freshness of the rosé wines and the quality of the red wines. Both of these attributes are the result of the organoleptic characteristics of the grapes, which in turn result from the climate conditions in the area, the soil characteristics and the influence of human factors. |
| --- | --- |

1.

| 2. | In describing the climate of the area, we have commented on several aspects that should be highlighted in order to understand why the Prieto Picudo, which is the basis of ‘León’ PDO wines, is different and unique:






  — | The high levels of light that the leaves and grapes are exposed to during the summer facilitates the plant’s photosynthesis activities, encouraging the accumulation of sugars and also polyphenols, which are later responsible for the very intense and warm colours visible in our rosé and red wines. |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

—

The high levels of light that the leaves and grapes are exposed to during the summer facilitates the plant’s photosynthesis activities, encouraging the accumulation of sugars and also polyphenols, which are later responsible for the very intense and warm colours visible in our rosé and red wines.

| — | The differences between daytime and night-time temperatures during the summer (temperatures can be scorching during the day, but are considerably lower at night) allow the plant to perform cellular respiration processes that promote the development of the natural acidity that is so characteristic of the grapes. This achieves acidity values of around 5,5 g/l of tartaric acid in must, which results in the freshness that is so typical of the rosé wines. |
| --- | --- |

—

The differences between daytime and night-time temperatures during the summer (temperatures can be scorching during the day, but are considerably lower at night) allow the plant to perform cellular respiration processes that promote the development of the natural acidity that is so characteristic of the grapes. This achieves acidity values of around 5,5 g/l of tartaric acid in must, which results in the freshness that is so typical of the rosé wines.

| — | These differences in temperature also encourage the proper development and accumulation of polyphenols in the grapes, due to the long hours of daylight that our vineyards enjoy in the summer. |
| --- | --- |

—

These differences in temperature also encourage the proper development and accumulation of polyphenols in the grapes, due to the long hours of daylight that our vineyards enjoy in the summer.

| — | It should also be noted that the Prieto Picudo variety is characterised by the high aromatic intensity of the resulting wines. For the wines to have these aromatic characteristics, the terpenes responsible for these aromas must properly accumulate in the skin of the grapes. The high temperatures reached during the summer periods play a key role in this. |
| --- | --- |

—

It should also be noted that the Prieto Picudo variety is characterised by the high aromatic intensity of the resulting wines. For the wines to have these aromatic characteristics, the terpenes responsible for these aromas must properly accumulate in the skin of the grapes. The high temperatures reached during the summer periods play a key role in this.

| — | These high summer temperatures, combined with the high levels of sunlight during this period, encourage photosynthesis and allow sugar to accumulate in the grapes, which results in high alcoholic strengths. This factor, together with the variety’s high natural acidity values, allows the winegrowers and producers included in our Designation to produce young and fresh red wines as well as red wines with longer ageing times. |
| --- | --- |

—

These high summer temperatures, combined with the high levels of sunlight during this period, encourage photosynthesis and allow sugar to accumulate in the grapes, which results in high alcoholic strengths. This factor, together with the variety’s high natural acidity values, allows the winegrowers and producers included in our Designation to produce young and fresh red wines as well as red wines with longer ageing times.

| — | The autumn periods in our area are mild and somewhat rainy, which is essential for the grapes to finishing ripening properly. This successful completion of the ripening process can be seen in the balance between alcoholic strength, acidity and polyphenols. |
| --- | --- |

—

The autumn periods in our area are mild and somewhat rainy, which is essential for the grapes to finishing ripening properly. This successful completion of the ripening process can be seen in the balance between alcoholic strength, acidity and polyphenols.

| — | In order to combat the irregular production of the Prieto Picudo variety, the product specification already states that winegrowers use the well-known ‘long’ or cane pruning technique in order to promote and regulate the production of this variety more effectively and achieve high-quality products. |
| --- | --- |

—

In order to combat the irregular production of the Prieto Picudo variety, the product specification already states that winegrowers use the well-known ‘long’ or cane pruning technique in order to promote and regulate the production of this variety more effectively and achieve high-quality products.

| — | The various types of soils described above are all characterised by low organic matter content. This factor is decisive when it comes to obtaining high-quality products, for both red and white varieties. White wines in particular have a strong aromatic expression due to the fact that the soils in which they grow are particularly light, with low levels of organic matter and clay, excellent internal drainage conditions, acceptable water retention capacity, ease of aeration and root penetration, low mineral salt content, good depth and adequate limestone content. These conditions are all essential for the production of high-quality white wines. |
| --- | --- |

—

The various types of soils described above are all characterised by low organic matter content. This factor is decisive when it comes to obtaining high-quality products, for both red and white varieties. White wines in particular have a strong aromatic expression due to the fact that the soils in which they grow are particularly light, with low levels of organic matter and clay, excellent internal drainage conditions, acceptable water retention capacity, ease of aeration and root penetration, low mineral salt content, good depth and adequate limestone content. These conditions are all essential for the production of high-quality white wines.

| — | Finally, the production of rosé wines using the ‘madreo’ technique, in which whole bunches of grapes are added to the wine during fermentation, should be highlighted once more. This technique is only used in our region, and many wineries, as well as producing classic rosé wines, always set aside a few litres of must to be used in the ‘madreo’ production technique. |
| --- | --- |

—

Finally, the production of rosé wines using the ‘madreo’ technique, in which whole bunches of grapes are added to the wine during fermentation, should be highlighted once more. This technique is only used in our region, and many wineries, as well as producing classic rosé wines, always set aside a few litres of must to be used in the ‘madreo’ production technique.

9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Legal framework:

In national legislation

Type of further condition:

Packaging within the demarcated geographical area

Description of the condition:

The winemaking process includes bottling and refinement, and thus the organoleptic, physical and chemical characteristics described in this product specification can only be guaranteed if all of the wine-handling operations take place in the production area. Consequently, and with a view to ensuring quality and providing assurance as to origin and control, bottling must take place in the bottling facilities of wineries located in the production area defined in the product specification, given that the bottling of wines covered by the ‘León’ PDO is one of the critical factors in guaranteeing the characteristics acquired during the production and ageing process, as set out in the product specification.

Legal framework:

In national legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

| — | The traditional term Denominación de Origen (‘Designation of Origin’) may be used on the labelling instead of Denominación de Origen Protegida (‘Protected Designation of Origin’). |
| --- | --- |

—

The traditional term Denominación de Origen (‘Designation of Origin’) may be used on the labelling instead of Denominación de Origen Protegida (‘Protected Designation of Origin’).

| — | The vintage year must be indicated on the label, even if the wines have not been aged. |
| --- | --- |

—

The vintage year must be indicated on the label, even if the wines have not been aged.

| — | Red wines may be labelled with the traditional terms ‘crianza’, ‘reserva’ and ‘gran reserva’ on their labelling, provided they comply with the conditions laid down in the legislation in force. |
| --- | --- |

—

Red wines may be labelled with the traditional terms ‘crianza’, ‘reserva’ and ‘gran reserva’ on their labelling, provided they comply with the conditions laid down in the legislation in force.

| — | The name of a geographical unit smaller than those listed in section 4 of this product specification (municipalities) may be used along with the term ‘Vino de Pueblo’ (town wine), as long as 85 % of the grapes used to make the protected wine have been sourced from parcels located within the relevant municipality. |
| --- | --- |

—

The name of a geographical unit smaller than those listed in section 4 of this product specification (municipalities) may be used along with the term ‘Vino de Pueblo’ (town wine), as long as 85 % of the grapes used to make the protected wine have been sourced from parcels located within the relevant municipality.

Link to the product specification

http://www.itacyl.es/calidad-diferenciada/dop-e-igp/listado-dop-vinicas

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(1)  OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.

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