ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 380/5

COUNCIL DECISION

of 3 December 2012

appointing and replacing members of the Governing Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

2012/C 380/02

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 of 10 February 1975 establishing the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, and in particular Article 4 thereof (1),

Having regard to the nomination submitted to the Council by the Commission in the category of employers' representatives,

Whereas:

(1) By its Decision of 16 July 2012 (2), the Council appointed the members of the Governing Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the period from 18 September 2012 to 17 September 2015.

(2) A member's seat on the Governing Board of the Centre in the category of employers' representatives has become vacant as a result of the resignation of Ms Karin THAPPER,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The following person is hereby appointed as a member of the Governing Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the remainder of the term of office, which runs until 17 September 2015:

REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYERS ORGANISATIONS:

SWEDEN Mr Tobias ERIKSSON Association of Swedish Engineering Industries

Done at Brussels, 3 December 2012. For the Council The President N. SYLIKIOTIS

(1) OJ L 39, 13.2.1975, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 228, 31.7.2012, p. 3.
(b)

Paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: ‘3. Member States' authorities shall nominate their representative in the preparatory group referred to in Article 5(2). The other members shall be appointed by the Director General of the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry from organisations with competence in the areas referred to in Article 2 and Article 3 and who have responded to the call for applications. Those organisations shall nominate their representatives in the Forum and in the preparatory group referred to in Article 5(2). The Commission may refuse a representative nominated by an organisation if it considers, on the basis of justified grounds specified when the group was set up or in the rules of procedures of the group, that the nomination is not appropriate. In such cases, the organisation concerned shall be asked to appoint another representative.’
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 6/10

COMMISSION DECISION

of 6 January 2012

laying down the rules and procedures related to experts in national accounting assisting the Commission in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 on the application of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community

(notified under document C(2011) 9973)

(2012/20/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 of 25 May 2009 on the application of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community (1), and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 requires the Commission (Eurostat) to assess the quality of data to be used for the excessive deficit procedure (EDP), including in the form of methodological visits. For the purpose of carrying out such visits, the Commission (Eurostat) could be assisted by experts in national accounting.

(2) It is necessary to lay down the rules and procedures for selection of the experts, taking into account an appropriate distribution of experts across Member States and an appropriate rotation of experts between Member States, their working arrangements and the financial details,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The rules and procedures for selection of experts in national accounting to assist the Commission (Eurostat) in visits to the Member States under Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 479/2009, their working arrangements and the sharing of the costs of such visits between the Commission and the experts’ national authority responsible for excessive deficit procedure reporting are set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply to the assistance referred to in Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 479/2009, provided as from 1 January 2012.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 6 January 2012. For the Commission Algirdas ŠEMETA Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 145, 10.6.2009, p. 1.
COUNCIL DECISION

of 14 December 2011

on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Russian Federation relating to the introduction or increase of export duties on raw materials

(2012/108/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) In view of the economic importance for the Union of access to raw materials and the importance that the Russian Federation has for the Union as a supplier of raw materials, the Commission has negotiated with the Russian Federation commitments by the latter to reduce or eliminate its currently applied export duties.

(2) These commitments, which are to be included in the Protocol of Accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization (WTO), do not cover raw materials for which the Russian Federation does not currently apply export duties.

(3) In order to reduce the risk of new export duties being introduced by the Russian Federation in the future, and the resulting effect on the supply of raw materials, the Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, with the Russian Federation an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters relating to the introduction or increase of export duties on raw materials (‘the Agreement’).

(4) The Agreement should be signed.

(5) In view of the need to ensure that the commitments of the Russian Federation regarding new export duties on raw materials apply as from the date of accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO, the Agreement should be applied on a provisional basis from that date, pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The signing of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Russian Federation relating to the introduction or increase of export duties on raw materials, is hereby authorised on behalf of the Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement. The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

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 In accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, it shall be applied on a provisional basis as from the date of accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO, pending the completion of the procedures for the conclusion of the Agreement (1).

Article 4 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Geneva, 14 December 2011. For the Council The President M. NOGAJ

(1) The date from which the Agreement will be provisionally applied 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 52/1

COUNCIL DECISION

of 14 February 2012

on the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on certain aspects of air services

(2012/113/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 100(2), 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) By its Decision of 5 June 2003, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with third countries on the replacement of certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with an agreement at Union level.

(2) In accordance with Council Decision 2011/663/EU (1), the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on certain aspects of air services (2) (the ‘Agreement’) has been signed and provisionally applied, subject to its conclusion.

(3) The Agreement should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on certain aspects of air services (3) (the ‘Agreement’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided in Article 8(1) of the Agreement.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 14 February 2012. For the Council The President M. LIDEGAARD

(1) OJ L 264, 8.10.2011, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 264, 8.10.2011, p. 2.

(3) The Agreement has been published in OJ L 264, 8.10.2011, p. 2, together with the decision on signing.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 164/2

COUNCIL DECISION

of 7 June 2012

on the position to be taken by the European Union in the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Protocol 31 (on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms) and Protocol 37 (containing the list provided for in Article 101) to the EEA Agreement

(2012/319/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 172, 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) Protocol 31 to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (2) (‘the EEA Agreement’), contains provisions and arrangements concerning cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms,

(2) It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to include Regulation (EU) No 912/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 setting up the European GNSS Agency (3).

(3) Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place. As regards the participation of Norway, account should also be taken in this regard of the Cooperation Agreement on Satellite Navigation between the European Union and its Member States and the Kingdom of Norway (4), and in particular its Article 6 on security. Due to economic constraints, the participation of Iceland in the GNSS programmes should be suspended temporarily.

(4) For the EEA Agreement to function well, Protocol 37 to the EEA Agreement should be extended to include the Security Accreditation Board for European GNSS systems and the Administrative Board set up by Regulation (EU) No 912/2010, and Protocol 31 should be amended in order to specify the procedures for participation,

(5) 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 amendments to Protocol 31 and Protocol 37 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 Luxembourg, 7 June 2012. For the Council The President M. BØDSKOV

(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. 11.

(4) OJ L 283, 29.10.2010, p. 12.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 192/15

COUNCIL DECISION

of 16 July 2012

establishing the position to be taken by the European Union within the General Council of the World Trade Organisation on the Philippines’ request for a WTO waiver to extend the special treatment for rice

(2012/410/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular 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) The Philippines was provided with special treatment for rice for a period of 10 years upon the entry into force of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation (WTO Agreement) and in particular the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).

(2) In accordance with the AoA the Philippines was subsequently granted an extension of the special treatment for rice from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2012 by modifying its Schedule LXXV.

(3) Continuation of special treatment for rice after 30 June 2012 was contingent on the outcome of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations, providing an alternative special mechanism. However, the DDA negotiations have not yet been concluded.

(4) The Philippines notified the Committee on Agriculture of the WTO on 22 November 2011 of its intention to enter into negotiations with WTO Members that have substantial interest in the products concerned for the continuation of its special treatment for rice.

(5) Article IX paragraphs 3 and 4 of the WTO Agreement sets out the procedures for the granting of waivers concerning Multilateral Trade Agreements.

(6) On that basis on 20 March 2012, the Philippines requested a WTO waiver from its obligations under Article 4.2 and Section B of Annex 5 of the AoA in order to receive special treatment for rice from 1 July 2012 until 30 June 2017.

(7) The Union is a net importer of rice. The granting of this waiver would thus be of minimal economic and trade importance to the Union.

(8) It is appropriate, therefore, to establish the position to be taken by the Union within the WTO General Council in relation to this waiver request,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken by the European Union within the General Council of the World Trade Organisation is to support the Philippines’ waiver request to extend its special treatment for rice from 1 July 2012 until 30 June 2017 in accordance with the terms of the waiver request.

This position shall be expressed by the Commission.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
COUNCIL DECISION 2012/344/CFSP

of 23 March 2012

on the signing and conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Albania establishing a framework for the participation of the Republic of Albania in European Union crisis management operations

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Article 37 thereof, and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Article 218(5) and (6) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR),

Whereas:

(1) Conditions regarding the participation of third States in European Union crisis management operations should be laid down in an agreement establishing a framework for such possible future participation, rather than defining those conditions on a case-by-case basis for each operation concerned.

(2) Following the adoption of a Decision by the Council on 26 April 2010 authorising the opening of negotiations, the HR negotiated an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Albania establishing a framework for the participation of the Republic of Albania in European Union crisis management operations (‘the Agreement’).

(3) The Agreement should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Albania establishing a framework for the participation of the Republic of Albania in the European Union crisis management operations (‘the Agreement’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Union.

Article 3 The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in Article 16(1) of the Agreement.

Article 4 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 204/131

EUROPEAN COUNCIL DECISION

of 11 July 2012

amending the status of Mayotte with regard to the European Union

(2012/419/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 355(6) thereof,

Having regard to the initiative of the French Republic,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Article 355(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) allows the European Council, on the initiative of the Member State concerned and acting unanimously after consulting the Commission, to adopt a decision amending the status, with regard to the Union, of a Danish, French or Netherlands country or territory referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 355.

(2) In a letter from the French President dated 26 October 2011, the French Republic (hereinafter ‘France’) asked the European Council to take such a decision to enable Mayotte, which currently has the status of an overseas country or territory within the meaning of Article 355(2) TFEU and is listed as such in Annex II to the Treaty, to acquire the status of an outermost region within the meaning of Article 349 TFEU.

(3) France’s request reflects the choice by the inhabitants of Mayotte to draw progressively closer to mainland France, confirmed by the referendum of 29 March 2009 in which 95,2 % of the votes cast were in favour of a proposal to make Mayotte a department. Accordingly, on 31 March 2011, Mayotte became the 101st French department and the fifth French overseas department.

(4) The structural social and economic situation and the geographical situation of Mayotte present all the characteristics, referred to in Article 349 TFEU, of an outermost region within the meaning of that provision. References to Mayotte should therefore be inserted into Article 349, making the whole of that Article applicable to Mayotte, and into Article 355(1) TFEU.

(5) The amendment of the status with regard to the European Union of Mayotte, in response to a democratically expressed request, should represent a step consistent with Mayotte’s acquisition of a status close to that of the mainland,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

With effect from 1 January 2014, Mayotte shall cease to be an overseas country or territory, to which the provisions of Part Four of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) apply, and shall become an outermost region of the Union within the meaning of Article 349 TFEU.

Article 2

The TFEU shall be amended as follows:

(1) in the first paragraph of Article 349, the word ‘Mayotte’ shall be inserted after the word ‘Martinique’;

(2) in Article 355(1), the word ‘Mayotte’ shall be inserted after the word ‘Martinique’;

(3) in Annex II, the sixth indent shall be deleted.

Article 3

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

It shall apply from 1 January 2014.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 294/7

COUNCIL DECISION

of 22 October 2012

establishing the position to be taken by the European Union within the General Council of the World Trade Organisation on the accession of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the WTO

(2012/656/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91, Articles 100(2) and 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 16 July 1997 the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) applied for accession to the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation (WTO), pursuant to Article XII of that Agreement.

(2) A Working Party on the accession of Lao PDR was established on 19 February 1998 in order to reach agreement on terms of accession acceptable to Lao PDR and all WTO Members.

(3) The Commission, on behalf of the Union, has negotiated a comprehensive series of market opening commitments on the part of Lao PDR which satisfy the Union’s requests and are in line with the development level of Lao PDR.

(4) These commitments are now embodied in the Protocol of Accession of Lao PDR to the WTO.

(5) Accession to the WTO is expected to make a positive and lasting contribution to the process of economic reform and sustainable development in Lao PDR.

(6) The Protocol of Accession should therefore be approved.

(7) Article XII of the Agreement establishing the WTO provides that the terms of accession are to be agreed between the acceding Member and the WTO, and that the WTO Ministerial Conference approves the terms of accession on the WTO side. Article IV.2 of the Agreement establishing the WTO provides that in the intervals between meetings of the Ministerial Conference, its functions shall be conducted by the General Council.

(8) Accordingly, it is necessary to establish the position to be taken by the Union within the General Council of the WTO on the accession of Lao PDR to the WTO,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken by the European Union within the General Council of the World Trade Organisation on the accession of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the WTO is to approve the accession.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
EN Official Journal of the European Union L 328/18

COUNCIL DECISION

of 20 November 2012

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the International Jute Study Group regarding the negotiation of new Terms of Reference beyond 2014

(2012/730/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(3) and (4), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) By Council Decision 2002/312/EC (1), the Agreement establishing the Terms of Reference of the International Jute Study Group, 2001 (‘the Agreement’) was approved on behalf of the European Community.

(2) The current Terms of Reference expire on 30 April 2014 and the question of opening negotiations for the renewal of these Terms of Reference will be discussed in the 15th session of the International Jute Study Group Council meeting in December 2012.

(3) Renewal of the Agreement is not in the interest of the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on behalf of the European Union, represented by the Commission, within the International Jute Study Group shall be to vote against the opening of negotiations for the renewal of the Terms of Reference beyond 2014.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 20 November 2012. For the Council The President A. D. MAVROYIANNIS

(1) OJ L 112, 27.4.2002, p. 34.