# Official Journal C 162/2 Ju

| | ISSN 1725-2423 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 162 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 482 July 2005 |

ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 162

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 482 July 2005

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | I   Information |
| | Commission |
| 2005/C 162/1 | Interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its main refinancing operations: 2,05 % on 1 July 2005 — Euro exchange rates | 1 |
| 2005/C 162/2 | Final report of the Hearing Officer in Case COMP/32.448 and 32.450 — Compagnie Maritime Belge (pursuant to Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings — OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21) (
  1
  ) | 2 |
| 2005/C 162/3 | Summary information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products | 3 |
| 2005/C 162/4 | Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  ) | 5 |
| 2005/C 162/5 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3830 — Goldman Sachs/Treofan) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 7 |

Notice No

Contents

page

I   Information

Commission

2005/C 162/1

Interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its main refinancing operations: 2,05 % on 1 July 2005 — Euro exchange rates

1

2005/C 162/2

Final report of the Hearing Officer in Case COMP/32.448 and 32.450 — Compagnie Maritime Belge (pursuant to Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings — OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21) (
  1
  )

1

2

2005/C 162/3

Summary information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products

3

2005/C 162/4

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  )

1

5

2005/C 162/5

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3830 — Goldman Sachs/Treofan) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

7

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

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(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

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

EN

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I Information

Commission

| 2.7.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 162/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 162/1

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Interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its main refinancing operations (1):

2,05 % on 1 July 2005

Euro exchange rates (2)

1 July 2005

(2005/C 162/01)

1 euro=

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,2087 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 134,24 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4541 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,67900 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,4866 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,5519 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 78,76 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 7,8810 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CYP | Cyprus pound | 0,5735 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 29,990 |
| EEK | Estonian kroon | 15,6466 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 246,64 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,6962 |
| MTL | Maltese lira | 0,4293 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,0233 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 3,6030 |
| SIT | Slovenian tolar | 239,45 |
| SKK | Slovak koruna | 38,315 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 1,6163 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,5960 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4867 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 9,3929 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,7526 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 2,0415 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 246,65 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 8,0775 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 10,0038 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,3045 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 11 815,04 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,594 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 67,482 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 34,6300 |
| THB | Thai baht | 49,923 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2087

JPY

Japanese yen

134,24

DKK

Danish krone

7,4541

GBP

Pound sterling

0,67900

SEK

Swedish krona

9,4866

CHF

Swiss franc

1,5519

ISK

Iceland króna

78,76

NOK

Norwegian krone

7,8810

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CYP

Cyprus pound

0,5735

CZK

Czech koruna

29,990

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

246,64

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,6962

MTL

Maltese lira

0,4293

PLN

Polish zloty

4,0233

RON

Romanian leu

3,6030

SIT

Slovenian tolar

239,45

SKK

Slovak koruna

38,315

TRY

Turkish lira

1,6163

AUD

Australian dollar

1,5960

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4867

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,3929

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,7526

SGD

Singapore dollar

2,0415

KRW

South Korean won

1 246,65

ZAR

South African rand

8,0775

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

10,0038

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,3045

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

11 815,04

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,594

PHP

Philippine peso

67,482

RUB

Russian rouble

34,6300

THB

Thai baht

49,923

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(1)  Rate applied to the most recent operation carried out before the indicated day. In the case of a variable rate tender, the interest rate is the marginal rate.

(2)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

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| 2.7.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 162/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 162/2

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Final report of the Hearing Officer in Case COMP/32.448 and 32.450 — Compagnie Maritime Belge

(pursuant to Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings — OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21)

(2005/C 162/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The draft decision in this case gives rise to the following observations:

A Statement of Objections was sent to Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) and Dafra-Lines on 17 April 2003.

On 1 May 2003 the Commission was informed that Dafra-Lines had been liquidated on 4 March 2003. As a result, the procedure against this company was discontinued.

On 16 May 2003, a list of all documents in the files 32.450 and 32.448 was sent to CMB and to their legal representative.

On 26 May 2003, CMB requested a two month extension of the deadline to reply to the Statement of Objections, arguing that they had received the Statement of Objections shortly before the Easter weekend and that it was difficult to give an adequate reply within the deadline since the case dated back to the 1980s. I granted an extension of four weeks, that is until 15 July 2003.

Access to the file was not requested by CMB.

On 16 July 2004, CMB submitted a reply to the Statement of Objections and requested a formal oral hearing.

The formal oral hearing took place on 24 September 2003.

In the light of the above, I consider that the rights to be heard have been respected in the present case. The draft decision deals only with objections in respect of which the parties have been afforded the opportunity of making known their views.

Brussels, 15 April 2004.

Karen WILLIAMS

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| 2.7.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 162/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 162/3

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Summary information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 of 23 December 2003 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products

(2005/C 162/03)

Aid No: XA 13/05

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Cross Compliance Advice Programme — Practical Advice for Land Managers (England)

Legal basis: The scheme is non-statutory. The Agriculture Act 1986 (section 1) provides the legal base for the provision by Government of advice in connection with any agricultural activity.

Expenditure planned under the scheme: Total value of GBP 2 007 052,23 over 3 programme years. The funding is provided from 4 financial years listed below:

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %.

Date of implementation: Farmers will be able to sign up from 4 April 2005 the first events will take place after this date.

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will be open to new participants throughout. Activities funded under the scheme will take place after 4 April 2005 and until 30 June 2007.

Objective of aid: Sectoral development. This is a programme for practising farmers and other interested businesses. The purpose of the programme, consisting of a range of on-farm workshops, farm walks, helpline and website, is to provide farmers and other land managers with clear and targeted guidance on what the Statutory Management Requirements (SMR) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) requirements are and what they mean in terms of required farm management. This will increase the professionalism of the sector.

The aid will be paid in line with Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2004 and the eligible costs will be costs of organising and delivering training programmes and consultancy services.

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to businesses active in the production of agricultural products only. The scheme is open to businesses producing any type of agricultural product.

Name and address of the granting authority:

| Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs |
| --- |
| Farm Advice Unit |
| Rural Development Service |
| Area 4A, Ergon House |
| Horseferry Road |
| London |
| United Kingdom |
| SW1P 2AL |

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Farm Advice Unit

Rural Development Service

Area 4A, Ergon House

Horseferry Road

London

United Kingdom

SW1P 2AL

Web address: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/exist-exempt.htm.

Click on ‘Cross Compliance Advice Programme — Practical Advice for Land Managers’.

Alternatively, you can go direct to:

www.defra.gov.uk/farm/state-aid/setup/schemes/cross-compliance.pdf.

Other information: The scheme will be made available to all rural businesses, not just agricultural businesses. Aid to non-agricultural businesses will be paid with regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 on de minimis aid.

Beneficiaries will not be able to choose the service provider. The service provider will be Momenta who were selected by a tender exercise.

Aid No: XA 14/05

Member State: Latvia

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving individual aid: Aid scheme for risk reduction in branches of the agricultural industry

Legal basis:

Ministru kabineta 2005. gada 25. janvāra noteikumi Nr. 70 ‘Noteikumi par valsts atbalstu lauksaimniecībai 2005. gadā un tā piešķiršanas kārtība’ 10. pielikums

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Overall aid scheme expenditure in 2005: LVL 506 250 (EUR 720 329).

Maximum aid intensity: Aid is granted towards the cost of insurance premiums to insure cultivated plants and productive livestock. Aid is granted at a level of 50 % relative to agreements established between insurance undertakings and policy holders, but does not exceed LVL 25 per unit (hectare or unit of livestock), LVL 50 for potatoes and vegetables, and LVL 150 for fruit trees and berry bushes.

Date of implementation:

Duration of scheme or individual aid grant:

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to reduce the production risks involved in cultivating plants and breeding livestock by partly compensating losses incurred by farmers.

Sectors concerned: Aid is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in agricultural work.

Aid is intended for branches of the industry concerned with plant cultivation and livestock breeding.

Name and address of granting authority:

| Latvian Ministry for Agriculture |
| --- |
| Riga, LV — 1981, Latvia |

Latvian Ministry for Agriculture

Riga, LV — 1981, Latvia

Web address: www.zm.gov.lv

http://www.zm.gov.lv/data/n0195_5p12.doc

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| 2.7.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 162/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 162/5

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Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 162/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of adoption:

Member State: Poland

Aid No: N 81/2005

Title: Temporary Defensive Measures for Shipbuilding, Grant

Objective (sector): Contract related aid

Legal basis: Ustawa o dopłatach do umów na budowę niektórych typów statków morskich

Rozporządzenie ministra gospodarki i pracy w sprawie wzoru wniosku, informacji i dokumentów niezbędnych do ubiegania się o dopłaty do umów na budowę niektórych typów statków morskich

Budget: PLN 375 000 000

Aid intensity or amount: 6 %

Duration: 25.10.2002 — 31.3.2005;

LNG: 25.6.2003 — 31.3.2005

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision:

Member State: France (Aquitaine)

Aid No: N 381/04

Title: Project for a high-capacity telecommunications network in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Objective: Financing of services of general economic interest

Legal basis:

| — | Article 1511-6 du Code Général des Collectivités Territoriales (abrogé) |
| --- | --- |

—

Article 1511-6 du Code Général des Collectivités Territoriales (abrogé)

| — | Article 1425-1 du Code Général des Collectivités territoriales (JO no 143 du 22 juin 2004. Loi no 2004-575 du 21 juin 2004 pour la confiance dans l'économie numérique). |
| --- | --- |

—

Article 1425-1 du Code Général des Collectivités territoriales (JO no 143 du 22 juin 2004. Loi no 2004-575 du 21 juin 2004 pour la confiance dans l'économie numérique).

Budget: The total cost of financing is EUR 61 879 482 of which: (i) Region: EUR 7 000 000; (ii) General Council of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques: EUR 15 000 000; (iii) European Union (ERDF): EUR 20 000 000; and (iv) delegatee's contribution: EUR 19 879 482

Aid intensity or amount: Measure not constituting aid

Duration: 20-year concession

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption:

Member State: Spain

Aid No: N 517/2004

Title: Bangladesh (Astilleros de Huelva), Loan

Objective: Development aid

Legal basis:

Fondo de Ayuda al Desarollo, de la Ley 62/2003 de 30 de deciembre, de medidas fiscales, administrativas y del ordre social.

Aid intensity or amount: 50 %

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption:

Member State: Ireland

Aid No: N 540/2003

Title: Amendments to Alternative Energy Requirement Scheme (AER VI)

Objective: Operating aid to compensate the overcost or RES electricity production in Ireland through 15-year and 10-year guaranteed price contracts awarded to the lowest bidder through open tendering procedures.

Legal basis: Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Section 39), Number 23 of 1999.

Duration: No invitations to tender will be made after 2005. Contracts will not exceed 15 years; in the case of biomass fed chp, contracts will not exceed 10 years.

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

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| 2.7.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 162/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 162/7

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3830 — Goldman Sachs/Treofan)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 162/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

| 1. | On 24 June 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (‘Goldman Sachs’, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Treofan Germany GmbH & Co. KG (‘Treofan’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 24 June 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (‘Goldman Sachs’, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Treofan Germany GmbH & Co. KG (‘Treofan’, Germany) by way of purchase of shares.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for Goldman Sachs: global investment banking, securities and investment firm, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Goldman Sachs: global investment banking, securities and investment firm,

| — | for Treofan: manufacture and marketing of flexible packaging materials. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Treofan: manufacture and marketing of flexible packaging materials.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3830 — Goldman Sachs/Treofan to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition, |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Brussels |

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.3830 — Goldman Sachs/Treofan to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition,

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Brussels

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

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

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