ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
(9)

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 the Programme is plausible. Economic growth is expected to slow down somewhat, to around 4 % per year, over the Programme period, while price increases are projected to remain moderate. The general government deficit declined in 2012 to a level well below the 3 % of GDP Treaty reference value and the medium-term objective (MTO) was reached in that year, considerably earlier than what was foreseen in Latvia’s Convergence Programme for 2012-2015. The Convergence Programme confirms the previous MTO of -0,5 %, which adequately reflects the objectives of the Stability and Growth Pact. The objective of the budgetary strategy outlined in the Convergence Programme is to maintain a structural budgetary position which is based on the MTO, with any deviation limited to the incremental impact of systemic pension reform. This reform entails a gradual increase in the share of social security contributions which is diverted to a funded pension scheme and is implemented in 2013, 2015 and 2016. However, following an overall assessment with the recalculated structural balance as a reference, including an analysis of expenditure net of discretionary measures, it appears that the structural balance is set to deviate from the MTO by 1,0 percentage point of GDP in 2013, which is significantly more than the incremental impact of the systemic pension reform, and by a further 0,2 percentage point in 2014. Government debt is set to remain well below 60 % over the whole Programme period, increasing from 40,7 % of GDP in 2012 to 44,5 % in 2013, as the Government accumulates assets for debt repayments, and is declining from 2014 as repayments take effect, reaching 34,6 % by the end of the Programme period. The Fiscal Discipline Law was approved by the Latvian Parliament in January 2013 and entered into force in March 2013. If effectively implemented, the new law would considerably strengthen the fiscal framework in Latvia, providing an effective mechanism to limit expenditure growth in good economic times and serving as a basis for rules-based multi-annual budgeting.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 8/1

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 7 January 2014

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

2014/C 8/01

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 Protocol (No 4) 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 Ms Sabine LAUTENSCHLÄGER as member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank for a term of office of 8 years.
(17)

Appropriate disclosure of departures from the relevant codes and of the reasons for such departures is very important to ensure that stakeholders can make informed decisions about companies. Such disclosure reduces the information asymmetry between the company directors and its shareholders, and therefore, decreases the monitoring costs for the latter. Companies should clearly indicate which recommendations of the code they have departed from and, for each instance provide an explanation regarding: the manner in which the company has departed, the reasons for the departure, the way in which the decision to depart from a recommendation has been arrived at, the timeframe of the departure and the measures taken to ensure that the company action remains consistent with the objectives of the recommendation, and of the code.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 39/61

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION (EU) 2016/212

of 12 February 2016

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 2014

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 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 2014 and the Annual Report of the Court of Auditors on the activities funded by the eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th European Development Funds (EDFs) concerning the financial year 2014, together with the Commission's replies contained in that Annual Report (5),

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 2014 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 2014.

Done at Brussels, 12 February 2016. For the Council The President J.R.V.A. DIJSSELBLOEM

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

(2) OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p. 27.

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

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

(5) OJ C 373, 10.11.2015, p. 289.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 67/1

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 20 February 2018

on the appointment of the Vice-President of the European Central Bank

(2018/C 67/01)

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) thereof,

Having regard to Protocol No 4 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 Luis DE GUINDOS JURADO as Vice-President of the European Central Bank for a term of office of eight years with effect from 1 June 2018.
(9)

Strengthening the architecture of the EMU requires the completion of the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union as a matter of priority, but also action on all the other elements in the statement of the Euro Summit of 14 December 2018. In December 2017 and May 2018 the Commission published a set of proposals setting further steps towards completing the EMU, including a European Investment Stabilisation Function and a Reform Support Programme (proposed under the Multiannual Financial Framework). The proposals build on the reflection paper on the deepening of the EMU of May 2017 and the Five Presidents' Report of June 2015. At the Euro Summit of 13-14 December 2018, decisions were taken on the Banking Union and the further development of the ESM, which leaders at the Euro Summit agreed will be the provider of the common backstop to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) at the latest by the end of the transition period. Work will proceed to prepare the necessary amendments to the ESM Treaty (including the common backstop to the SRF), based on the term sheet endorsed by leaders at the Euro Summit. The backstop will be introduced earlier, provided that sufficient progress has been made in risk reduction to be assessed in 2020. Work will continue in the first half of 2019, in particular through the setting-up of a high-level working group on the European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS) and further work on the set-up for liquidity provision in resolution. Work will also proceed on the design, implementation arrangements and timing of a budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness for the euro area and, on a voluntary basis, for the non-euro area Member States participating in the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II). The features of the instrument will be agreed in June 2019. The instrument will be adopted in accordance with the legislative procedure, as foreseen by the Treaties, on the basis of the relevant Commission proposal, to be amended if necessary. All these reforms could contribute to strengthening the international role of the euro, making it more commensurate to the global economic and financial relevance of the euro area. It is important that they are discussed in an open and transparent manner vis-à-vis non-euro-area Member States, fully respecting the Union's internal market.
(16)

Cultural heritage institutions have encountered different copyright-related obstacles when digitising and sharing cultural heritage, such as the costs associated with clearing rights, lack of sufficient copyright expertise among cultural heritage professionals, limitations to cross border cooperation between institutions. Specific measures have therefore been taken at the EU level to address such challenges. For instance, Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council (16) on copyright and related rights in the digital single market lays down various provisions modernising the copyright framework that governs how cultural heritage institutions operate in the digital environment. One of the most important changes introduced by the Directive is a clear framework for the digitisation and dissemination of out-of-commerce works that cultural heritage institutions have in their collections. Moreover, the Directive introduces harmonised and mandatory exceptions for making preservation copies by cultural heritage institutions and for text and data mining for scientific research. Finally, the Directive clarifies the status of works of visual art in the public domain with the objective to increase legal certainty. In particular, the new copyright rules will facilitate a core public interest mission of cultural heritage institutions by enhancing the preservation and availability of cultural heritage and by significantly facilitating the use of works that are no longer commercially available for the benefit of European culture and of all citizens. Member States must therefore ensure an effective implementation and application of EU copyright legislation so that cultural heritage institutions can fully benefit from the copyright framework, as updated in particular by Directive (EU) 2019/790.
(7)

In order to ensure that the common criteria, thresholds and framework of measures applied by Member States to facilitate safe travel within the area without controls at internal borders during the COVID-19 pandemic remain up-to-date and fully aligned with the common approach intended to facilitate the freedom of movement as laid down in Recommendation (EU) 2022/108, the reference in Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/1632 to Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 should be replaced by a reference to Recommendation (EU) 2022/108.’,
COMMISSION OPINION of 4 April 1973 to be addressed to the German Government concerning the draft Regulation amending the implementing Regulation of 22 August 1969 (73/134/EEC)

1. By letters of 8 January 1973 and 22 February 1973 the German Government sent to the Commission the draft text of a Regulation amending the implementing Regulation of 22 August 1969, together with an explanatory memorandum.

2. The German Draft Regulation utilizes the power conferred by Council Regulation (EEC) No 515/72 of 28 February 1972 to grant exemptions and provides in particular for: (1) an exemption in respect of breaks in driving;

(2) exemptions in respect of the transport of harvest produce;

(3) exemptions in respect of the transport of milk.

3. The Commission finds that the Draft Regulation is in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 515/72.

4. The Commission accordingly delivers a favourable Opinion concerning the Draft Regulation.

Done at Brussels, 4 April 1973.

For the Commission

The President

François-Xavier ORTOLI (1)OJ No L 67, 20.3.1972, p. 11.
COMMISSION OPINION of 11 June 1976 addressed to the Danish Government on the Government decree on the introduction of recording equipment in road transport (76/582/EEC)

By letter dated 6 February 1976, the Danish Permanent Representation to the European Communities informed the Commission's services of the issuing of Government decree No 629 of 17 December 1975 on the introduction of recording equipment in road transport.

The Commission is treating this notification as equivalent to a consultation in accordance with Article 21 (1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1463/70 of 20 July 1970 on the introduction of recording equipment in road transport, as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1787/73.

The Commission notes that: - the Danish Government's decree comes within Article 21 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1463/70,

- the decree provides for: - the application of Regulation (EEC) No 1463/70 as from 1 January 1976,

- the performing of checks on compliance,

- penalities in case of breach,

- the decree implementing this Regulation has been adopted without prior consultation of the Commission.

It should be recalled that pursuant to Article 21 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1463/70, the Member States shall, in good time and after consulting the Commission, adopt such laws, regulations or administrative provisions as may be necessary for the implementation of this Regulation.

The Commission should therefore have been consulted before the measures were adopted. However, as the Government decree implements the provisions as required, the Commission hereby delivers a favourable opinion.

Done at Brussels, 11 June 1976.

For the Commission

Carlo SCARASCIA MUGNOZZA

Vice-President
COMMISSION OPINION of 1 April 1977 addressed to the United Kingdom Government on the draft Roads and Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order (77/277/EEC)

In accordance with Article 1 of the Council Decision of 21 March 1962 instituting a procedure for prior examination and consultation in respect of certain laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning transport proposed in Member States (1), as amended by the Decision of 22 November 1973 (2), the United Kingdom Government has sent the Commission, under cover of a letter dated 28 January 1977 from the Office of its Permanent Representative to the European Communities, the text of the draft Roads and Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order.

The letter from the United Kingdom Permanent Representative's Office reached the Commission on 8 February 1977 and, in accordance with Article 1 of the Council Decision referred to above, was also sent to the other Member States.

Under Article 2 (1) of the Council Decision of 21 March 1962, as amended by the Decision of 22 November 1973, the Commission hereby delivers the following opinion: 1. The Commission notes that this draft, which closely follows the provisions of the Road Traffic/Foreign Vehicles Act 1972, contains various provisions for the more effective enforcement of certain road traffic legislation on goods vehicles visiting Northern Ireland.

2. As regards the statement made by the Office of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative at the end of its letter, to the effect that further information on the training of drivers of heavy goods vehicles from 18 to 21 years would be supplied for the purposes of the formal consultations with the Commission required under Article 18 of Regulation (EEC) No 543/69 (3), the Commission would remind the United Kingdom Government that the level of this training must be at least equivalent to that laid down in the Council Directive of 16 December 1976 on the minimum level of training for some road transport drivers (4) and that consultations with the Commission must be based on Article 3 of the said Directive.

3. The Commission notes that Schedule 1A, which describes the functions of the examiners, expressly states that the latter must "examine records kept by licencees ...". For the avoidance of misunderstandings, the Commission stresses that the tachograph records which replace the individual control book (Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 543/69) must also be considered as records within the meaning of the Order and must therefore be inspected.

4. The Commission does not consider it necessary to institute consultations with the other Member States under Article 2 (3) of the Council Decision of 21 March 1962.

5. The Commission is informing the other Member States of this opinion.

Done at Brussels, 1 April 1977.

For the Commission

Richard BURKE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No 23, 3.4.1962, p. 720/62. (2) OJ No L 347, 17.12.1973, p. 48. (3) OJ No L 77, 29.3.1969, p. 49. (4) OJ No L 357, 29.12.1976, p. 36.
COMMISSION OPINION of 14 December 1977 addressed to the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium on a draft royal order implementing Council Directive 76/135/EEC of 20 January 1976 on reciprocal recognition of navigability licences for inland waterway vessels (78/64/EEC)

1. On 14 July 1977 the office of the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of Belgium sent the Commission the text of a draft royal order on navigability licences for inland waterway vessels implementing Council Directive 76/135/EEC of 20 January 1976 on reciprocal recognition of navigability licences for inland waterway vessels (1).

2. The Commission notes that the measures contained in the draft royal order comply with the provisions of Directive 76/135/EEC.

3. The Commission accordingly delivers a favourable opinion.

Done at Brussels, 14 December 1977.

For the Commission

Richard BURKE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 21, 29.1.1976, p. 10.
****

( 1 ) OJ NO L 77 , 29 . 3 . 1969 , P . 49 ( CONSOLIDATED VERSION IN OJ NO C 73 , 17 . 3 . 1979 , P . 1 ).

( 2 ) OJ NO L 334 , 24 . 12 . 1977 , P . 11 .

( 3 ) OJ NO L 280 , 21 . 12 . 1971 , P . 19 .

COMMISSION OPINION

OF 21 JANUARY 1980

ADDRESSED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG ON A DRAFT REGULATION LAYING DOWN THE PENALTIES APPLYING TO BREACHES OF THE COMMUNITY PROVISIONS ON THE HARMONIZATION OF CERTAIN SOCIAL MEASURES RELATING TO ROAD TRANSPORT

( 80/168/EEC )

1 . IN A LETTER FROM ITS PERMANENT REPRESENTATION TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES DATED 15 OCTOBER 1979 , THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG SUBMITTED FOR PERUSAL BY THE COMMISSION A DRAFT GRAND DUCAL REGULATION LAYING DOWN THE PENALTIES FOR BREACHES OF THE PROVISIONS OF COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 543/69 OF 25 MARCH 1969 ON THE HARMONIZATION OF CERTAIN SOCIAL LEGISLATION RELATING TO ROAD TRANSPORT ( 1 ), AS LAST AMENDED BY REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 2829/77 ( 2 ).

2 . THE AIM OF THIS DRAFT GRAND DUCAL REGULATION IS TO EXTEND THE PENALTIES PROVIDED FOR IN THE GRAND DUCAL REGULATION OF 23 DECEMBER 1972 ON WHICH THE COMMISSION HAD DELIVERED A FAVOURABLE OPINION ON 3 DECEMBER 1971 ( 3 ) TO THE NEW SITUATION RESULTING FROM THE AMENDMENTS MADE TO REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 543/69 BY REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 2829/77 .

3 . THE COMMISSION NOTES THAT ARTICLE 1 OF THE DRAFT GRAND DUCAL REGULATION COVERS PENALTIES FOR BREACHES OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW VERSION OF REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 543/69 . THIS BEING SO , THE COMMISSION HAS NO OBJECTION TO RAISE AS REGARDS THE MEASURES IN QUESTION , AND THEREFORE DELIVERS A FAVOURABLE OPINION .

DONE AT BRUSSELS , 21 JANUARY 1980 .

FOR THE COMMISSION

RICHARD BURKE

MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION
****

( 1 ) OJ NO L 33 , 8 . 2 . 1979 , P . 33 .

COMMISSION OPINION

OF 25 MAY 1981

ADDRESSED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 79/116/EEC CONCERNING MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN TANKERS ENTERING OR LEAVING COMMUNITY PORTS

( 81/414/EEC )

1 . IN A LETTER DATED 27 NOVEMBER 1979 , THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY SENT THE COMMISSION THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH ARTICLE 3 OF DIRECTIVE 79/116/EEC ( 1 ):

- A COLLECTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE ' SEESCHIFFAHRTSSTRASSEN-ORDNUNG ' , PUBLISHED IN THE BUNDESGESETZBLATT OF 22 JUNE 1977 ,

- A ' BEKANNTMACHUNG DER WASSER- UND SCHIFFAHRTSDIREKTION NORDWEST ZUR SEESCHIFFAHRTSSTRASSEN-ORDNUNG ' , PUBLISHED IN THE BUNDESANZEIGER OF 5 APRIL 1978 ,

- A ' BEKANNTMACHUNG DER WASSER- UND SCHIFFAHRTSDIREKTION NORD ZUR SEESCHIFFAHRTSSTRASSEN-ORDNUNG ' , PUBLISHED IN THE BUNDESANZEIGER OF 5 AUGUST 1978 ,

- A SECOND ' VERORDNUNG ZUR AENDERUNG DER ALLGEMEINEN LOTSORDNUNG ' , PUBLISHED IN THE BUNDESGESETZBLATT OF 30 DECEMBER 1978 ,

- A ' VERORDNUNG ZUR AENDERUNG DER LOTSORDNUNGEN EMS UND WESER/JADE ' , PUBLISHED IN THE BUNDESANZEIGER OF 16 AUGUST 1977 .

2 . HAVING EXAMINED THESE DOCUMENTS THE COMMISSION CAN CONFIRM THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY IS ENTIRELY IN LINE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE DIRECTIVE IN QUESTION .

DONE AT BRUSSELS , 25 MAY 1981 .

FOR THE COMMISSION

GEORGES CONTOGEORGIS

MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION
*****

COMMISSION OPINION

of 17 July 1985

to the Federal Republic of Germany concerning a draft Regulation (Binnenschiffs-Untersuchungsordnung) implementing Council Directive 82/714/EEC laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels

(85/395/EEC)

In a letter dated 20 December 1984, the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the European Communities sent the Commission, for consultation, the text of a draft Regulation 'Binnenschiffs-Untersuchungsordnung' implementing Council Directive 82/714/EEC of 4 October 1982 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels (1).

In a letter dated 28 March 1985 the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the European Communities sent some modifications on the abovementioned draft Regulation.

Both communications have been made pursuant to Article 22 of the abovementioned Directive which states that, Member States shall, after consulting the Commission, adopt the provisions necessary to comply with this Directive.

The Commission hereby delivers the following opinion on the abovementioned draft Regulation:

1. The Commission finds that the draft Regulation 'Binnenschiffs-Untersuchungsordnung' (BinSchUO), together with the existing Rheinschiffs-Untersuchungsordnung (RheinSchUO) to which it refers, implements the provisions of Council Directive 82/714/EEC in the national legislation.

2. Concerning the recognition of other Community inland waterway certificates for zones 1 and 2, the Commission is of the opinion that paragraph 7 of Article 7 of the 'Binnenschiffs-Untersuchungsordnung' should be preceded by a paragraph as follows:

'For the navigation on the waterways of zones 1 and 2 the Minister of Transport of the Federal Republic of Germany recognizes the Community certificate or supplementary Community certificate issued by another Member State for inland waterway vessels if they meet the requirements on construction, installations and equipment of this Regulation.'

Done at Brussels, 17 July 1985.

For the Commission

Stanley CLINTON DAVIS

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 301, 28. 10. 1982, p. 1.