ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 103/2

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 19 March 2007

concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (Seventh EDF) for the financial year 2005

(2007/C 103/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Fourth ACP-EC Convention, signed at Lomé on 15 December 1989 (1), as amended by the Agreement signed in Mauritius on 4 November 1995 (2),

Having regard to Internal Agreement 91/401/EEC on the financing and administration of Community aid under the fourth ACP-EC Convention (3), setting up, amongst others, the Seventh European Development Fund (Seventh EDF) and in particular Article 33(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Financial Regulation of 29 July 1991 applicable to development finance cooperation under the Fourth ACP-EC Convention (4), and in particular Articles 69 to 77 thereof,

Having examined the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet relating to the operations of the Seventh EDF as at 31 December 2005 and the Court of Auditors' report concerning the financial year 2005 together with the Commission's replies (5),

Whereas

(1) Pursuant to Article 33(3) of the Internal Agreement, the discharge for the financial management of the Seventh EDF is to be given to the Commission by the European Parliament on the recommendation of the Council.

(2) The overall implementation by the Commission of the operations of the Seventh EDF during the financial year 2005 has been satisfactory,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the European Parliament give the Commission a discharge in respect of the implementation of the operations of the Seventh EDF for the financial year 2005.

Done at Brussels, on 19 March 2007. For the Council The President H. SEEHOFER

(1) OJ L 229, 17.8.1991, p. 3.

(2) OJ L 156, 29.5.1998, p. 3.

(3) OJ L 229, 17.8.1991, p. 288.

(4) OJ L 266, 21.9.1991, p. 1.

(5) OJ C 263, 31.10.2006, p. 205.
(8)

Schemes under which directors are remunerated in shares, share options or any other right to acquire shares or be remunerated on the basis of share price movements should be better linked to performance and long-term value creation of the company. Therefore, an appropriate vesting period should apply to shares, whereby vesting is made subject to performance conditions. Share options and rights to acquire shares or be remunerated on the basis of share price movements should be not be exercisable during an appropriate period and the right to exercise them should be made subject to performance conditions. In order to further prevent conflicts of interest of directors who hold shares in the company, these directors should be obliged to retain a part of their shares until the end of their mandate.
(7)

There may be operational problems and safety risks associated with the use of marine diesel and gas oil in ships that have not been designed to use such fuels or have not undergone the necessary technical adaptation. The Commission has considered the risks associated with the change of fuels and concluded that the main safety risk relates to use in ships’ boilers which have not yet been assessed and certified for use with the required type of fuel. While boilers can use heavy fuel oil or distillate fuels, a risk arises because marine diesel and gas oils are less viscous and more volatile and heating of the fuel system, which is required for heavy fuel oil, is not necessary for distillate fuels. The numbers of affected ships and the probability of such occurrences are difficult to assess precisely.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 40/37

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 10 February 2009

concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (Ninth EDF) for the financial year 2007

(2009/114/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (1) and amended by the Agreement signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 (2),

Having regard to the Internal Agreement on the financing and administration of Community aid under the Financial Protocol to ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (3), hereinafter referred to as the ‘Internal Agreement’, setting up, amongst others, the Ninth European Development Fund (Ninth EDF), and in particular Article 32(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Financial Regulation of 27 March 2003 applicable to the Ninth European Development Fund (4), and in particular Articles 96 to 103 thereof,

Having examined the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet relating to the operations of the Ninth EDF as at 31 December 2007 and the Court of Auditors′ report concerning the financial year 2007 together with the Commission's replies (5),

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 32(3) of the Internal Agreement, the discharge for the financial management of the Ninth EDF is to be given to the Commission by the European Parliament on the recommendation of the Council.

(2) The overall implementation by the Commission of the operations of the Ninth EDF during the financial year 2007 has been satisfactory,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the European Parliament give the Commission a discharge in respect of the implementation of the operations of the Ninth EDF for the financial year 2007.

Done at Brussels, 10 February 2009. For the Council The President M. KALOUSEK

(1) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.

(2) OJ L 287, 28.10.2005, p. 4.

(3) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 355.

(4) OJ L 83, 1.4.2003, p. 1.

(5) OJ C 286, 10.11.2008, p. 273.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 56/1

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 15 February 2011

on the appointment of a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank

2011/C 56/01

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 283(2) and 139(2)(h) thereof, and Articles 11.2 and 42.3 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL:

To appoint Mr Peter PRAET as member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank for a term of office of eight years with effect from 1 June 2011.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 364/6

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 30 November 2011

on the appointment of a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank

2011/C 364/03

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 283(2) thereof,

Having regard to the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 11.2 thereof,

Whereas it is necessary to appoint a new member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank following the decision of Mr Lorenzo BINI SMAGHI to resign with effect from the end of 31 December 2011,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL:

To appoint Mr Benoît COEURÉ as member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank for a term of office of eight years.
3.

When adopting revised performance targets, Member States concerned are requested to ensure that the recommendations set out in the assessment report of the Performance Review Body are taken into account. In particular, having taken note of the circumstances of each Member State: (a) Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria and the United Kingdom should improve their capacity targets to reach or fall below, by 2014, the following reference values (values as computed by Eurocontrol and used in the assessment report of the Performance Review Body): — Greece: 0,26 minute of average delay per flight, — Spain: 0,31 minute of average delay per flight, — Poland: 0,26 minute of average delay per flight, — Austria: 0,23 minute of average delay per flight, — United Kingdom: 0,27 minute of average delay per flight; (b) Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands should improve the capacity target for FABEC to reach or fall below, by 2014, the reference value of 0,4 minute of average delay per flight; (c) Member States referred to in paragraph 2 c) should take every opportunity for further improving cost-efficiency targets in national or functional airspace block performance plans during the reference period, in particular with regard to the evolution of the general context, the reduction of the cost of capital and support costs (costs other than those for air traffic controllers in operation), the increase in productivity and the rationalisation of investments in the context of the establishment of functional airspace blocks; (d) Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, France, Malta, Austria, Slovakia, Finland and the United Kingdom should review the assumptions underlying the risk premium and, consequently, the return on equity, and should provide justifications for the significant increases in the cost of capital; (e) Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Italy, Latvia, Hungary, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and United Kingdom should re-assess the size of and need for investments necessary to achieve the performance targets over the reference period, taking account of the opportunity for their rationalisation in the context of functional airspace blocks or regional projects.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 255/12

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 15 February 2011

concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (10th EDF) for the financial year 2009

(2011/644/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the Partnership agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (1), amended by the Agreement signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 (2),

Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the financing of Community aid under the multiannual financial framework for the period 2008 to 2013 in accordance with the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement and on the allocation of financial assistance for the Overseas Countries and Territories to which Part Four of the EC Treaty applies (3) (the ‘Internal Agreement’) setting up, amongst others, the 10th European Development Fund (10th EDF), and in particular Article 11(8) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 215/2008 of 18 February 2008 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the 10th European Development Fund (4), and in particular Articles 142 to 144 thereof,

Having examined the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet relating to the operations of the 10th EDF as at 31 December 2009 and the Annual Report of the Court of Auditors on the activities funded by the eighth, ninth and tenth European Development Funds (EDFs) (5), concerning the financial year 2009, together with the Commission’s replies contained in that Annual Report,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 11(8) of the Internal Agreement, the discharge for the financial management of the 10th EDF is to be given to the Commission by the European Parliament on the recommendation of the Council.

(2) The overall implementation by the Commission of the operations of the 10th EDF during the financial year 2009 has been satisfactory,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the European Parliament give the Commission a discharge in respect of the implementation of the operations of the 10th EDF for the financial year 2009.

Done at Brussels, 15 February 2011. For the Council The President MATOLCSY Gy.

(1) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.

(2) OJ L 287, 28.10.2005, p. 4.

(3) OJ L 247, 9.9.2006, p. 32.

(4) OJ L 78, 19.3.2008, p. 1.

(5) OJ C 303, 9.11.2010, p. 243.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 215/4

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 10 July 2012

on the appointment of a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank

2012/C 215/05

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 283(2) thereof,

Having regard to the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 11.2 thereof,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL:

To appoint Mr Yves MERSCH as member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank for a term of office of eight years.
(10)

Based on the assessment of the Convergence Programme pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1466/97, the Council is of the opinion that the macroeconomic scenario underpinning the budgetary projections in that Programme is plausible. It is broadly in line with the Commission services’ 2012 spring forecast for 2012 and 2013. The objective of the budgetary strategy outlined in the Convergence Programme is to correct the excessive deficit by 2012 as recommended by the Council and progressing towards the medium-term budgetary objective (MTO) thereafter. The Convergence Programme confirms the previous MTO, namely a structural general government surplus of 0,5 % of GDP, which adequately reflects the requirements of the Stability and Growth Pact, and outlines a consolidation of at least 1 percentage point per year, planning a balanced budget by 2015. While the budgetary plans are in line with a timely correction of the excessive deficit, the average annual fiscal effort in 2010-12, based on the (recalculated) structural budget balance (5), is expected to be lower than the 2,25 % of GDP required by the Council in its recommendation of 16 February 2010. The planned annual progress towards the MTO in the years following the correction of the excessive deficit is slightly higher than 0,5 % of GDP in structural terms, that is, the benchmark of the Stability and Growth Pact. The planned rate of growth of government expenditure, taking into account discretionary revenue measures, complies with the expenditure benchmark of the Stability and Growth Pact in 2013 and 2014, but not in 2015. General government debt is projected to remain below 60 % of GDP over the Convergence Programme period, increasing to nearly 41 % of GDP in 2013, according to the Commission services’ 2012 spring forecast, while the Convergence Programme targets the debt to decrease to around 35 % by 2015. The reform of budget planning and execution is progressing but the Government has still to approve the proposed laws. These laws would improve accountability within the fiscal framework, by establishing an independent body, and tighten rules on treasury reserves.
(8)

The objective of the budgetary strategy outlined in the 2014 Convergence Programme is to keep the general government deficit below the 3 % of GDP Treaty reference value over the programme period. The Convergence Programme mentions the medium‐term objective of ‐ 1 % of GDP, which reflects the requirements of the Stability and Growth Pact. While the budgetary strategy is in line with the Stability and Growth Pact in2014, the required adjustment in structural terms is not expected to be met in 2015 as the recalculated structural balance is projected to deteriorate by 0,6 percentage points. In addition, government expenditure is expected to grow at a pace not consistent with the expenditure benchmark. The recalculated structural balance is foreseen to deviate from the required adjustment path also in 2016 and 2017 with the recalculated structural balance projected at ‐ 1,6 % and ‐ 1,9 % of GDP respectively. Overall, a risk of deviation from the adjustment path towards the medium‐term objective is to be expected as of 2015. According to the Convergence Programme, the debt ratio, which is below the 60 % of GDP reference value, is projected to fall temporarily by 1,1 percentage points to 45 % of GDP in 2014 and to increase to 46 % of GDP in 2015. The macroeconomic scenario underpinning the budgetary projections in the Convergence Programme is plausible. The Czech economy is expected to grow by 1,7 % in 2014 and 2 % in 2015 according to the Convergence Programme compared to 2 % and 2,4 % envisaged by the Commission services 2014 Spring forecast. The main risks to the budgetary outlook stem from high uncertainty about the future development of public investment and from a potential one‐off expenditure related to the planned lease contract for fighter jets with an expected deficit‐increasing impact of 0,5 % of GDP in 2015. According to the Commission forecast there is a risk of significant deviation from the medium‐term objective in 2015. The difference with the Convergence Programme scenario lies in different assumptions on policies and discretionary measures in 2015. Based on its assessment of the Convergence Programme and the Commission forecast, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1466/97, the Council is of the opinion that the deficit has been sustainably brought below 3 % of GDP in 2013, in line with the Council recommendation, and that while the medium‐term objective is expected to be reached in 2014, there is a risk of significant deviation from it as of 2015.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 289/4

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 18 February 2014

concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (tenth EDF) for the financial year 2012

2014/C 289/03

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (1) and amended by the Agreement signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 (2),

Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the financing of Community aid under the multiannual financial framework for the period 2008 to 2013 in accordance with the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement and on the allocation of financial assistance for the Overseas Countries and Territories to which Part Four of the EC Treaty applies (3) (the ‘Internal Agreement’) setting up, amongst others, the tenth European Development Fund (tenth EDF), and in particular Article 11(8) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 215/2008 of 18 February 2008 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the 10th European Development Fund (4), and in particular Articles 142 to 144 thereof,

Having examined the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet relating to the operations of the tenth EDF as at 31 December 2012 and the Annual Report of the Court of Auditors on the activities funded by the 8th, 9th and 10th European Development Funds (EDFs) (5), concerning the financial year 2012, together with the Commission’s replies contained in that Annual Report,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 11(8) of the Internal Agreement, the discharge for the financial management of the tenth EDF is to be given to the Commission by the European Parliament on the recommendation of the Council.

(2) The overall implementation by the Commission of the operations of the tenth EDF during the financial year 2012 has been satisfactory,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the European Parliament give the Commission a discharge in respect of the implementation of the operations of the tenth EDF for the financial year 2012.

Done at Brussels, 18 February 2014. For the Council The President G. STOURNARAS

(1) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.

(2) OJ L 287, 28.10.2005, p. 4.

(3) OJ L 247, 9.9.2006, p. 32.

(4) OJ L 78, 19.3.2008, p. 1.

(5) OJ C 331, 14.11.2013, p. 261.
(8)

The Czech Republic is currently in the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact. In its 2015 Convergence Programme, the Government plans to gradually improve the headline deficit to 1,9 % of GDP in 2015 and further to 0,6 % of GDP in 2018. The Government sets out its intention to meet the medium-term objective — a structural deficit of 1 % of GDP — in 2018, but according to the recalculated structural balance (5) it is expected to be met by 2016. According to the Convergence Programme, the government debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to reach almost 41 % in 2015 and to gradually decline to 40,2 % in 2018. The macroeconomic scenario underpinning these budgetary projections is plausible and the measures to support the planned deficit targets from 2016 onwards are sufficiently specified. However, there is a risk that the impact of the planned revenue measures may be lower than estimated. Based on the Commission's 2015 spring forecast, the expenditure benchmark is expected to be complied with in 2015. In 2016, some deviation is expected as net expenditure growth exceeds the benchmark by 0,3 % of GDP. Therefore, further measures will be needed in 2016. Based on its assessment of the Convergence Programme and taking into account the Commission's 2015 spring forecast, the Council is of the opinion that the Czech Republic is expected to broadly comply with the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact. The main elements of the current fiscal framework are in place. However the scope of medium-term budgetary planning and of the numerical fiscal rule is limited, and enforcement has been weak. A draft reform package has been modified and delayed several times and its adoption is currently planned during 2015. The Czech Republic still faces challenges with respect to long-term fiscal sustainability, largely due to projected increases in pension and healthcare expenditure. There has been some improvement in the outlook for the pension system as a result of more favourable demographic projections. The statutory retirement age is legislated to gradually increase, but the change programmed for the medium term is too slow. Changes to the current system of pension indexation are currently being discussed but no measures have yet been adopted. Although some measures have been taken to improve the cost efficiency and governance of the healthcare sector, limited progress has been made in this area. Indicators used to measure the performance of the hospital sector show that medical treatment is not always delivered in a cost-efficient way, while the allocation of resources is hampered by ongoing difficulties in rolling out a reimbursement system for costs incurred by hospitals. There are also signs that general practitioners are not adequately fulfilling their role as gate-keepers. Public procurement in the healthcare sector suffers from a high incidence of irregularities, suggesting insufficient guidance and supervision.