ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 319/6

COUNCIL DECISION

of 13 November 2012

amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland

(2012/703/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Protocol (No 4) on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 27.1 thereof,

Having regard to the Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 14 September 2012 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland (ECB/2012/20) (1),

Whereas:

(1) The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Eurosystem are to be audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union.

(2) The mandate of the current external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland will expire after the audit for the financial year 2011. It is therefore necessary to appoint external auditors from the financial year 2012.

(3) The Central Bank of Ireland has selected RSM Farrell Grant Sparks as its external auditors for the financial years 2012 to 2016.

(4) The Governing Council of the ECB has recommended that RSM Farrell Grant Sparks be appointed as the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland for the financial years 2012 to 2016.

(5) It is appropriate to follow the recommendation of the Governing Council of the ECB and to amend Council Decision 1999/70/EC (2) accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Article 1(5) of Decision 1999/70/EC is replaced by the following:

‘5. RSM Farrell Grant Sparks is hereby approved as the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland.’.

Article 2

This Decision shall take effect on the day of its notification.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the European Central Bank.

Done at Brussels, 13 November 2012. For the Council The President V. SHIARLY

(1) OJ C 286, 22.9.2012, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 22, 29.1.1999, p. 69.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 299/46

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 25 October 2012

amending Decision 2008/855/EC as regards animal health control measures relating to classical swine fever in Hungary

(notified under document C(2012) 7433)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2012/666/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Decision 2008/855/EC of 3 November 2008 concerning animal health control measures relating to classical swine fever in certain Member States (3) lays down certain control measures in relation to classical swine fever in the Member States or regions thereof listed in the Annex thereto. That list includes the county of Nógrád in Hungary.

(2) Hungary has informed the Commission about recent developments with regard to classical swine fever in the territory of the county of Nógrád listed in the Annex to Decision 2008/855/EC.

(3) That information indicates that classical swine fever has been eradicated in the territory of the county of Nógrád. Accordingly, the measures provided for in Decision 2008/855/EC should no longer apply to that county and the reference to the county of Nógrád in the list set out in Part I of the Annex thereto should be deleted.

(4) Decision 2008/855/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Part I of the Annex to Decision 2008/855/EC, point 3 is replaced by the following:

‘3. Hungary The territory of the county of Pest located north and east of the Danube, south of the border with Slovakia, west of the border with the county of Nógrád and north of the motorway E71.’

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 October 2012. For the Commission Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ Vice-President

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13.

(2) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.

(3) OJ L 302, 13.11.2008, p. 19.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 378/4

COUNCIL DECISION

of 6 December 2012

adopting the Council's position on the draft budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013

2012/C 378/05

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 314(3) thereof, in conjunction with the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 106a thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 23 November 2012, the Commission submitted a proposal containing the new draft budget for the financial year 2013 (1).

(2) The Council examined the Commission proposal with a view to defining a position consistent, on the revenue side, with Council Decision 2007/436/EC, Euratom of 7 June 2007 on the system of the European Communities' own resources (2), and on the expenditure side, with Part I of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (3), which, in the absence of any multiannual financial framework established pursuant to Article 312 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, constitutes the currently applicable instrument of budgetary discipline.

(3) Given the need to adopt a Council’s position on the new draft budget as soon as possible with a view to a budget being definitively adopted before the beginning of the financial year 2013, thus ensuring the continuity of the Union's action, it is justified to shorten, in accordance with Article 3(3) of the Council's Rules of Procedure, the 8-week period for the information of national parliaments, as well as the 10-day period foreseen for placing the item on the Council's provisional agenda laid down in Article 4 of Protocol No 1,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The Council's position on the new draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013 was adopted by the Council on 6 December 2012.

The full text can be accessed for consultation or downloading on the Council's website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/

Done at Brussels, 6 December 2012. For the Council The President L. LOUCA

(1) COM(2012) 716 final.

(2) OJ L 163, 23.6.2007, p. 17.

(3) OJ L 347, 24.12.2009, p. 26.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 4/16

COUNCIL DECISION

of 14 December 2011

establishing the position to be taken by the European Union within the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation as regards a request for granting a waiver in order to give preferential treatment to services and service suppliers of least-developed countries

(2012/8/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular of Articles 91, 100 and the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation (WTO) sets out the procedures for the granting of waivers concerning the Multilateral Trade Agreements in Annex 1A or 1B or 1C to that Agreement and their annexes.

(2) A waiver has been requested whereby WTO Members would be enabled to grant preferential treatment to services and service suppliers of least-developed countries without according the same treatment to like services and service suppliers of all other WTO Members by exceptionally derogating from the obligation under paragraph 1 of Article II of the General Agreement on Trade in Services.

(3) It is in the interest of the European Union to give its support to that request for a waiver and thus to conclude a part of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations on services which is of special interest to least-developed country Members,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position of the Union within the Ministerial Conference of the WTO shall be to support the request under paragraph 3 of Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation for a waiver enabling WTO Members to grant preferential treatment to services and service suppliers of least-developed countries.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 33/8

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 2 February 2012

on the recognition of the Polski Rejestr Statków S.A. (Polish Register of Shipping) as a classification society for inland waterway vessels

(notified under document C(2012) 431)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2012/66/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Directive 2006/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EEC (1), and in particular Article 10(1), and Part II of Annex VII, thereof,

After consulting the Committee referred to in Article 7 of Council Directive 91/672/EEC of 16 December 1991 on the reciprocal recognition of national boat masters’ certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway (2),

Whereas:

(1) By letter of 3 July 2008, Poland has submitted an application to the Commission for recognition of the Polski Rejestr Statków S.A. (hereinafter ‘PRS’) as a classification society within the meaning of the Directive. PRS has its headquarters in Poland.

(2) With the application Poland has submitted the information and documentation needed to verify that the criteria for recognition are met.

(3) A hearing was organised in the joint meeting of experts from the Member States of the European Union and the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (hereinafter ‘CCNR’) on technical requirements for inland waterway vessels in April 2009, where the Poland authority and PRS gave presentations.

(4) The secretariat of the CCNR has been consulted as referred to in Part II, paragraph 4, of Annex VII to Directive 2006/87/EC.

(5) The Commission has assessed the compliance of PRS with the criteria of Part I of Annex VII to Directive 2006/87/EC and has concluded that PRS meets them,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The classification society PRS shall be recognised pursuant to Article 10 of Directive 2006/87/EC.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member State(s) which have inland waterways as referred to in Article 1(1) of Directive 2006/87/EC and to the Polski Rejestr Statków (Polish Register of Shipping), al. gen. J. Hallera 126, 80-416 Gdańsk, POLAND.

Done at Brussels, 2 February 2012. For the Commission Siim KALLAS Vice-President

(1) OJ L 389, 30.12.2006, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991, p. 29.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 142/35

POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION ATALANTA/1/2012

of 25 May 2012

on the appointment of an EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta)

(2012/284/CFSP)

THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 38 thereof,

Having regard to Council Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP of 10 November 2008 on a European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (1) (Atalanta), and in particular Article 6 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee (PSC) to take decisions on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.

(2) On 2 December 2011, the PSC adopted Decision Atalanta/4/2011 (2) appointing Captain Jorge MANSO as EU Force Commander.

(3) The EU Operation Commander has recommended the appointment of Rear-Admiral Jean-Baptiste DUPUIS as the new EU Force Commander.

(4) The EU Military Committee supports that recommendation.

(5) In accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol (No 22) on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark does not participate in the elaboration and the implementation of decisions and actions of the Union which have defence implications,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Rear-Admiral Jean-Baptiste DUPUIS is hereby appointed EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption

It shall apply from 6 April 2012.

Done at Brussels, 25 May 2012. For the Political and Security Committee The Chairperson O. SKOOG

(1) OJ L 301, 12.11.2008, p. 33.

(2) OJ L 320, 3.12.2011, p. 32.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 152/50

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 11 June 2012

authorising laboratories in Croatia and in Mexico to carry out serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines

(notified under document C(2012) 3761)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2012/304/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Decision 2000/258/EC of 20 March 2000 designating a specific institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines (1), and in particular Article 3(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Decision 2000/258/EC designates the Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (ANSES) in Nancy, France (previously known as the Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments, AFSSA), as the specific institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines.

(2) That Decision also provides that the ANSES is to document the appraisal of laboratories in third countries that have applied to carry out serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines.

(3) The competent authority of Croatia has submitted an application for approval of the laboratory for rabies and general virology of the Veterinary Institute in that third country to perform such serological tests. That application is supported by a favourable report by the ANSES dated 20 September 2011 of the appraisal of that laboratory.

(4) The competent authority of Mexico has submitted an application for approval of the laboratory in the Centro Nacional de Servicios de Diagnóstico en Salud Animal in that third country to perform such serological tests. That application is supported by a favourable report by the ANSES dated 20 September 2011 of the appraisal of that laboratory.

(5) Those laboratories should therefore be authorised to carry out serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines in dogs, cats and ferrets.

(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In accordance with Article 3(2) of Decision 2000/258/EC, the following laboratories are authorised to perform the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines in dogs, cats and ferrets:

(a) Croatian Veterinary Institute Laboratory for rabies and general virology Savska cesta 143 Zagreb 10000 Croatia;

(b) Centro Nacional de Servicios de Diagnóstico en Salud Animal Km 37.5 Carretera Federal México — Pachuca 55740 Tecámac México.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 1 July 2012.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 11 June 2012. For the Commission John DALLI Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 79, 30.3.2000, p. 40.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 188/6

COUNCIL DECISION

of 10 July 2012

on the position to be taken by the European Union in the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms

(2012/401/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 189, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 of 28 November 1994 concerning arrangements for implementing the Agreement on the European Economic Area (1), and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Agreement on the European Economic Area (2) (‘the EEA Agreement’) entered into force on 1 January 1994.

(2) Pursuant to Article 98 of the EEA Agreement, the EEA Joint Committee may decide to amend, among others, Protocol 31 thereto.

(3) Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement contains provisions and arrangements concerning cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.

(4) It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to include Regulation (EU) No 911/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the European Earth monitoring programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011 to 2013) (3).

(5) Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6) The position of the Union in the EEA Joint Committee should be based on the attached draft Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken by the European Union in the EEA Joint Committee on the proposed amendment to Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement shall be based on the draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee attached to this Decision.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 10 July 2012. For the Council The President V. SHIARLY

(1) OJ L 305, 30.11.1994, p. 6.

(2) OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3.

(3) OJ L 276, 20.10.2010, p. 1.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 200/1

COUNCIL DECISION

of 24 July 2012

on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

(2012/434/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91 and Article 100(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Council Decision 2012/107/EU (1), the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (‘the Agreement’), was signed on 16 December 2011, subject to its conclusion.

(2) The Agreement should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is hereby approved on behalf of the Union (2).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall designate the person(s) empowered to proceed, on behalf of the Union, to make the notification provided for in the Agreement in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Agreement (3).

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 24 July 2012. For the Council The President A. D. MAVROYIANNIS

(1) OJ L 57, 29.2.2012, p. 43.

(2) The Agreement has been published in OJ L 57, 29.2.2012, p. 44, together with the decision on signing.

(3) The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 256/3

COUNCIL DECISION

of 23 July 2012

on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Food Assistance Convention

(2012/511/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 214(4), in conjunction with Article 218(5), thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Union is a party to the Food Aid Convention 1999 (1) (‘FAC 1999’), which should no longer be in force as from 1 July 2012.

(2) On 17 November 2010, the Council authorised the Commission to conduct negotiations with a view to agreeing upon a Food Assistance Convention (‘the Convention’) which was to incorporates and reflects a modernised approach to food assistance, and which was to replace the FAC 1999.

(3) The negotiations were successfully concluded on 25 April 2012.

(4) It is in the interest of the Union to sign the Convention as the latter would help to achieve the humanitarian aid objectives referred to in Article 214(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

(5) The Convention is open for signature until 31 December 2012.

(6) The Convention should be signed on behalf of the European Union, subject to its conclusion,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing of the Food Assistance Convention (‘the Convention’) is hereby authorised on behalf of the Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Convention (2).

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Union.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 23 July 2012. For the Council The President C. ASHTON

(1) OJ L 222, 24.8.1999, p. 40.

(2) The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.