ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 39/59

COUNCIL DECISION

of 28 January 2014

amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of the Latvijas Banka

(2014/68/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 to Article 27.1 thereof,

Having regard to Recommendation ECB/2013/42 of the European Central Bank of 15 November 2013 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Latvijas Banka (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) Pursuant to Article 1 of Council Decision 2013/387/EU (2), Latvia fulfils the necessary conditions for the adoption of the euro, and the derogation in favour of Latvia referred to in Article 4 of the 2003 Act of Accession (3) is abrogated with effect from 1 January 2014.

(3) The Governing Council of the ECB recommended that SIA Ernst & Young Baltic be appointed as the external auditors of the Latvijas Banka for the financial year 2014.

(4) It is appropriate to follow the recommendation of the Governing Council of the ECB and to amend Council Decision 1999/70/EC (4) accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following paragraph is added to Article 1 of Decision 1999/70/EC:

‘18. SIA Ernst & Young Baltic are hereby approved as the external auditors of the Latvijas Banka for the financial year 2014.’.

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, 28 January 2014. For the Council The President G. STOURNARAS

(1) OJ C 342, 22.11.2013, p. 1.

(2) Council Decision 2013/387/EU of 9 July 2013 on the adoption by Latvia of the euro on 1 January 2014 (OJ L 195, 18.7.2013, p. 24).

(3) OJ L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 33.

(4) Council Decision 1999/70/EC of 25 January 1999 concerning the external auditors of the national central banks (OJ L 22, 29.1.1999, p. 69).
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 44/52

COUNCIL DECISION

of 11 February 2014

amending Decision 2009/1014/EU appointing the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2010 to 25 January 2015

(2014/83/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 305 thereof,

Having regard to the request of the Spanish Government,

Whereas:

(1) On 22 December 2009, the Council adopted Decision 2009/1014/EU (1) appointing, in particular, the Spanish members of the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2010 to 25 January 2015.

(2) Mr Ramón Luis VALCÁRCEL SISO has been a member of the Committee of the Regions as from 26 January 2010 and was appointed as President of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia in accordance with the proposal of the Kingdom of Spain (2).

(3) By letter of 8 January 2014, the Spanish Permanent Representation informed the Council that Mr Ramón Luis VALCÁRCEL SISO is an elected member of the Regional Assembly of the Region of Murcia in addition to being President of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia and that the Spanish authorities requested that Decision 2009/1014/EU be amended accordingly.

(4) Mr Ramón Luis VALCÁRCEL SISO held both these mandates at the time of the adoption of Decision 2009/1014/EU.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Annex I of Decision 2009/1014/EU, the entry concerning D. Ramón Luis VALCÁRCEL SISO is hereby replaced as follows:

‘D. Ramón Luis VALCÁRCEL SISO Presidente de la Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia y Diputado de la Asamblea Regional de Murcia’.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 11 February 2014. For the Council The President E. VENIZELOS

(1) OJ L 348, 29.12.2009, p. 22.

(2) Letter of 3 December 2009.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 87/101

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 20 March 2014

amending Decision 2006/593/EC as regards additional allocations from the European Social Fund to certain Member States in the framework of the Regional competitiveness and employment objective

(notified under document C(2014) 1708)

(2014/159/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006 laying down general provisions for the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (1), and in particular Article 18(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Decision 2006/593/EC (2), as amended by Commission Decision 2010/476/EU (3), fixed an indicative allocation by Member State of the commitment appropriations for the Regional competitiveness and employment objective for the period 2007 to 2013.

(2) Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 was amended by Regulation (EU) No 1298/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) with a view to address the specific problems of unemployment, in particular youth unemployment, and poverty and social exclusion in those countries by adding a total envelope of EUR 125 513 290, in 2004 prices, under the European Social Fund.

(3) Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1083/2006 as amended modifies the resources available for the Regional competitiveness and employment objective in order to increase the European Social Fund allocations of France, Italy and Spain by EUR 111 553 522 in 2013.

(4) The indicative amounts of the commitment appropriations for the regions eligible to benefit from Structural Funds under the Regional competitiveness and employment objective should be revised for those Member States.

(5) Decision 2006/593/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Annex I to Decision 2006/593/EC is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 March 2014. For the Commission Johannes HAHN Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 25.

(2) Commission Decision 2006/593/EC of 4 August 2006 fixing an indicative allocation by Member State of the commitment appropriations for the Regional competitiveness and employment objective for the period 2007-2013 (OJ L 243, 6.9.2006, p. 32).

(3) Commission Decision 2010/476/EU of 30 August 2010 amending Decision 2006/593/EC fixing an indicative allocation by Member State of the commitment appropriations for the Regional competitiveness and employment objective for the period 2007-2013 as regards the Czech Republic and Slovakia (OJ L 232, 2.9.2010, p. 11).

(4) Regulation (EU) No 1298/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 as regards the financial allocation for certain Member States from the European Social Fund (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 256).
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 125/93

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 24 April 2014

on measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of harmful organisms as regards certain fruits and vegetables originating in India

(notified under document C(2014) 2601)

(2014/237/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (1), and in particular the third sentence of Article 16(3), thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Plant health checks carried out by Member States on consignments of certain plants and plant products of Indian origin revealed a high number of interceptions due to the presence of harmful organisms mainly Tephritidae (non-European), Thrips palmi Karny or Bemisia tabaci Genn. The number of consignments from India intercepted with harmful organisms in the Union has shown an upward trend since 2010. Most of the interceptions concern plants other than seeds and roots of Colocasia Schott and plants other than seeds of Mangifera L., Momordica L., Solanum melongena L. and Trichosanthes L. (hereinafter ‘the specified commodities’).

(2) Audits carried out by the Commission in India, in particular in 2010 and 2013, revealed shortcomings in the phytosanitary export certification system. Despite assurances and action taken by India, the number of interceptions increased further in 2013.

(3) In the light of the outcome of those audits and the number of interceptions, it has been concluded that the current phytosanitary safeguards of India are insufficient to ensure that consignments are free from harmful organisms or to address the risk of introduction of harmful organisms into the Union through the import of the specified commodities.

(4) Measures should be taken to address the risk posed by the import into the Union of the specified commodities originating in India. Consequently, the introduction into the Union of the specified commodities originating in India should be prohibited.

(5) The measures should remain in place until 31 December 2015 in order to address the ongoing risk of introduction, while allowing India to upgrade its certification system.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The introduction into the territory of the Union of plants other than seeds and roots of Colocasia Schott and plants other than seeds of Mangifera L., Momordica L., Solanum melongena L. and Trichosanthes L., originating in India shall be prohibited.

Article 2

This Decision shall expire on 31 December 2015.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 24 April 2014. For the Commission Tonio BORG Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 113/22

COUNCIL DECISION

of 9 April 2014

adopting the Council’s position on draft amending budget No 1 of the European Union for the financial year 2014

2014/C 113/03

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 314 thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 106a thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (1) and in particular Article 41 thereof,

Whereas:

— the Union’s budget for the financial year 2014 was definitively adopted on 20 November 2013 (2),

— on 11 February 2014, the Commission submitted a proposal containing draft amending budget No 1 to the general budget for the financial year 2014,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The Council’s position on draft amending budget No 1 of the European Union for the financial year 2014 was adopted on 9 April 2014.

Following the judgement of the European Court of Justice of 11 July 1985 in joined cases 87, 130/77, 22/83, 9 and 10/84 (3), the Council recalls that budgetary remarks are not binding and are without prejudice to existing provisions in legislative acts.

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

Done at Brussels, 9 April 2014. For the Council The President D. KOURKOULAS

(1) OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 51, 20.2.2014, p. 1.

(3) ECJ [1985], pp. 11-2524, in particular paragraph 56.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 138/104

COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 6 May 2014

amending Decision 2009/935/JHA as regards the list of third States and organisations with which Europol shall conclude agreements

(2014/269/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Council Decision 2009/371/JHA of 6 April 2009 establishing the European Police Office (Europol) (1), and in particular point (a) of Article 26(1) thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision 2009/934/JHA of 30 November 2009 adopting the implementing rules governing Europol's relations with partners, including the exchange of personal data and classified information (2), and in particular Articles 5 and 6 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 30 November 2009, the Council adopted Decision 2009/935/JHA (3).

(2) Since the determination of the list of the third States and organisations with which Europol shall conclude agreements referred to in point (a) of Article 26(1) of Decision 2009/371/JHA (the ‘list’) is linked to the external relations of the Union and its Member States, that point confers on the Council implementing powers to determine the list. Pursuant to Decisions 2009/371/JHA and 2009/935/JHA, the list is set out in the Annex to Decision 2009/935/JHA.

(3) It is for Europol's Management Board to review the list when necessary and to decide whether to propose to the Council amendments thereto.

(4) In its meeting of 3-4 October 2012, Europol's Management Board decided to recommend to the Council that it add certain third States to the list, outlining the operational need to conclude cooperation agreements with those third States.

(5) It is most important that Europol initiate the procedure for the conclusion of a cooperation agreement giving priority to Georgia, given the commitments in the framework of the Eastern Partnership established in 2009, the initialling in November 2013 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia, and the EU-Georgia Association agenda, as well as the EU-Georgia Visa Liberalisation Action Plan.

(6) Decision 2009/935/JHA should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7) On 19 December 2012, the Council decided to consult the European Parliament and, following that consultation, the European Parliament issued an opinion (4),

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In point 1 of the Annex to Decision 2009/935/JHA, the following entries are inserted:

— Brazil

— Georgia

— Mexico

— United Arab Emirates.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 6 May 2014. For the Council The President G. STOURNARAS

(1) OJ L 121, 15.5.2009, p. 37.

(2) OJ L 325, 11.12.2009, p. 6.

(3) Council Decision 2009/935/JHA of 30 November 2009 determining the list of third States and organisations with which Europol shall conclude agreements (OJ L 325, 11.12.2009, p. 12).

(4) Opinion of 20 November 2013 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(5)

According to the second condition, CRAs in the third country must be subject to legally binding rules which are equivalent to those set out in Articles 6 to 12 and Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009, with the exception of Articles 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c and 11a, point (ba) of point 3 and points 3a and 3b of Section B of Annex I to that Regulation. When assessing the fulfilment of this condition due regard should be paid to Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 462/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) in respect of the date of application of certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009. The Argentinian legal and supervisory framework requires CRAs to be governed by a board of directors, responsible for ensuring sound and prudent management of the CRA, that rating activities are independent and that conflicts of interest are adequately identified, managed, disclosed and eliminated. CRAs must adopt adequate and efficient organisational and administrative arrangements for this purpose and also submit and maintain information on actual and potential conflicts of interest related to the members of the rating committee, members of the board, managers and employees through the Financial Information Highway (‘Autopista de la informacion financiera’). CRAs must establish and maintain a permanent and efficient compliance function which operates independently and reports directly to the board. With regard to organisational processes and procedures, the Argentinian legal and supervisory framework contains detailed rules on outsourcing, record keeping and confidentiality. CRAs are required to perform a review of their rating methodologies, models and key rating assumptions at least once a year and also monitor and revise their ratings at least four times a year. The Argentinian framework contains a wide range of disclosure requirements with regard to credit ratings and rating activities, such as the mandatory use of rating categories, the requirement for credit ratings to be published immediately after the deliberation of the rating committee and for all ratings and their rating reports to be submitted for publication through the Financial Information Highway on CNV's webpage. Therefore, the Argentinian legal and supervisory framework should achieve the same outcomes as Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 in respect of the management of conflicts of interest, the organisational processes and procedures that a CRA needs to have in place, the quality of ratings and of rating methodologies, the disclosure of credit ratings and the general and periodic disclosure of credit rating activities. It thus provides for equivalent protection in terms of integrity, transparency, good governance of CRAs and reliability of the credit rating activities.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 175/31

COUNCIL DECISION

of 12 June 2014

appointing a member of the Scientific and Technical Committee

(2014/354/Euratom)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 134 thereof;

Having regard to the opinion of the European Commission;

Whereas:

(1) By Decision 2013/412/Euratom (1), the Council appointed the members of the Scientific and Technical Committee (the ‘Committee’) for the period 25 July 2013 to 24 July 2018,

(2) Following the resignation of Mr Edouard SINNER, a seat on the Committee has become vacant. A new member should therefore be appointed for the remainder of Mr Edouard SINNER's term of office,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Mr Roland ZEYEN is hereby appointed a member of the Scientific and Technical Committee until 24 July 2018.

Article 2

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

Done at Luxembourg, 12 June 2014. For the Council The President Y. MANIATIS

(1) Council Decision 2013/412/Euratom of 22 July 2013 renewing the membership of the Scientific and Technical Committee and repealing the Decision of 13 November 2012 appointing the members of the Scientific and Technical Committee (OJ L 205, 1.8.2013, p. 11).
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 183/56

COUNCIL DECISION 2014/381/CFSP

of 23 June 2014

amending Decision 2010/573/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 27 September 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/573/CFSP (1).

(2) On 27 September 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/477/CFSP (2), which extended, on the basis of a review of Decision 2010/573/CFSP, the restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova until 30 September 2014.

(3) The restrictive measures should be extended until 31 October 2014.

(4) Decision 2010/573/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Article 4(2) of Decision 2010/573/CFSP is hereby replaced by the following:

‘2. This Decision shall apply until 31 October 2014. It shall be kept under constant review. It may be renewed or amended, as appropriate, if the Council deems that its objectives have not been met.’.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Luxembourg, 23 June 2014. For the Council The President C. ASHTON

(1) Council Decision 2010/573/CFSP of 27 September 2010 concerning restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova (OJ L 253, 28.9.2010, p. 54).

(2) Council Decision 2013/477/CFSP of 27 September 2013 amending Decision 2010/573/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova (OJ L 257, 28.9.2013, p. 18).
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 178/27

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 16 June 2014

amending Implementing Decision 2011/778/EU authorising certain Member States to provide for temporary derogations from certain provisions of Council Directive 2000/29/EC in respect of seed potatoes originating in certain provinces of Canada

(notified under document C(2014) 3878)

(Only the Greek, Italian, Maltese, Portuguese and Spanish texts are authentic)

(2014/368/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (1), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Implementing Decision 2011/778/EU (2) provides for a derogation for the importation of seed potatoes originating in certain provinces of Canada into Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Malta and Portugal subject to certain conditions.

(2) The derogation granted by Implementing Decision 2011/778/EU was limited in time. Portugal has asked for an extension of that derogation. The situation justifying that derogation remains unchanged and the derogation should therefore continue to apply. It is reasonably expected that imported potatoes will continue to comply with Union legislation. Furthermore, appropriate mechanisms are established in this Decision to ensure the monitoring of the conditions of application of the derogations. Therefore it is appropriate to extend the authorisations for derogations granted in this Decision for a longer period than the ones granted by previous Decisions and namely until 31 March 2024.

(3) Implementing Decision 2011/778/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Implementing Decision 2011/778/EU is amended as follows:

(1) in Article 1(2), point (c) is replaced by the following: ‘(c) for the potato-marketing seasons from 1 December to 31 March of each year until 31 March 2024.’;

(2) Article 15 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 15 The authorisation to provide for derogations referred to in Article 1 shall be revoked prior to 31 March 2024 if: (a) the provisions laid down in Articles 2 to 13: (i) are shown to be insufficient to prevent the introduction into the Union of the harmful organisms referred to in Article 2; or (ii) have not been complied with; (b) there are elements which would militate against the proper functioning of the “pest free area” concept in Canada.’

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Malta and the Portuguese Republic.

Done at Brussels, 16 June 2014. For the Commission Tonio BORG Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 317, 30.11.2011, p. 37.