ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
OPINION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 23 June 1999

at the request of the Commission of the European Communities on a draft Commission Regulation (EC) laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 as regards minimum standards for the treatment of insurance in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices and modifying Commission Regulation (EC) No 2214/96

(CON/99/06)

(1999/C 252/05)

1. On 30 March 1999 the European Central Bank (ECB) received a request from the European Commission for an ECB opinion on a draft Commission Regulation (EC) concerning minimum standards for the treatment of insurance in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) (hereinafter referred to as the "draft Regulation").

2. The ECB's competence to deliver an opinion is based on Article 105(4) of the Treaty establishing the European Community and Article 5(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 of 23 October 1995 concerning harmonised indices of consumer prices. In accordance with Article 17.5, first sentence, of the Rules of Procedure of the European Central Bank, this ECB opinion has been adopted by the Governing Council of the ECB.

3. The objective of the draft Regulation is to establish minimum standards for the treatment of insurance in the HICP. Insurance is partly included in the initial coverage of HICPs. According to Council Regulation (EC) No 1687/98 of 20 July 1998 amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 1749/96 concerning the coverage of goods and services of the harmonised index of consumer prices, the coverage of insurance will be extended in December 1999. Moreover, this Council Regulation requires that the methodological details and the timetable for the extension of coverage shall be specified in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2494/95. The draft Regulation lays down a methodology for the treatment of all insurance services covered by the HICP.

4. The draft Regulation stipulates two main principles. The index weight for insurance is limited to the implicit service charge which is paid by households for insurance policies as part of the total premium. The index price for insurance changes in line with the gross insurance premium for a specific policy paid by households. Moreover, the draft Regulation sets standards for the quality adjustment of insurance prices and the treatment of index-linked insurance policies. The ECB supports the rules proposed by the Commission, since they enhance the comparability of HICPs.

5. The draft Regulation does not contain an explicit reference date from which the proposed rules are to be applied. The ECB assumes that the rules will be applied as from December 1999 for all HICPs, corresponding to the date for the inclusion in HICPs of a broader range of insurance services.

6. This ECB opinion will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Frankfurt am Main on 23 June 1999.

The Vice-President of the

ECB

C. NOYER
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

(1999/C 222/13)

By decision of 27 July 1999, the Commission extended the term of office of Mr J. van Rens as Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the period from 1 October 1999 until 30 September 2004.

The Commission also noted the decision of the Management Board of CEDEFOP to extend the term of office of Mr S. Stavrou as Deputy Director for the same period.
Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of Council Directive 73/23/EEC

August 1999

(1999/C 268/01)

(Text with EEA relevance)

PUBLICATION OF TITLES AND REFERENCES OF HARMONISED STANDARDS UNDER THE DIRECTIVE

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Note 1:

Generally the date of cessation of presumption of conformity will be the date of withdrawal ("dow"), set by the European standards body, but attention of users of these standards is drawn to the fact that in certain exceptional cases this can be otherwise.

Note 2.1:

The new (or amended) standard has the same scope as the superseded standard. On the date stated, the superseded standard ceases to give presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the directive.

Note 2.2:

The new standard has a broader scope than the superseded standards. On the date stated the superseded standards cease to give presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the directive.

Note 2.3:

The new standard has a narrower scope than the superseded standard. On the date stated the (partially) superseded standard ceases to give presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the directive for those products that fall within the scope of the new standard. Presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the directive for products that still fall within the scope of the (partially) superseded standard, but that do not fall within the scope of the new standard, is unaffected.

Note 3:

In case of amendments, the referenced standard is EN CCCCC:YY, its previous amendments, if any, and the new, quoted amendment. The superseded standard (column 4) therefore consists of EN CCCCC:YY and its previous amendments, if any, but without the new quoted amendment. On the date stated, the superseded standard ceases to give presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the directive.

Example: For EN 60034-1:1995, the following applies:

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Note 4:

The EN 60061-1, -2, -3, and -4 series have a particular structure and therefore the date of cessation of presumption of conformity indicated only affects the types modified by the different amendments.

Note 5:

EN 60335-1:1994/A1:1996 supersedes standards EN 60335-2-19:1989 and EN 60335-2-20:1989. These two standards have 1.4.2004 as the date of cessation of presumption of conformity. The same applies to EN 60335-1:1994/A12:1996.

This list replaces all the previous lists published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Commission communication publishing the list of free zones in existence and in operation in the Community(Text with EEA relevance)



Official Journal C 345 , 02/12/1999 P. 0003 - 0005



Commission communication publishing the list of free zones in existence and in operation in the Community (1999/C 345/03) (Text with EEA relevance) Pursuant to Article 840 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code, the free zones in existence and in operation in the Community, as notified by the Member States to the Commission are listed below. >TABLE>
Commission Communication in the framework of the implementation Directive 97/23/EC of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 29 May 1997 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States concerning pressure equipment (1)
(1999/C 227/06)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(Publication of titles and references of European harmonised standards under the Directive)
ESO (1) Reference Title of the harmonised standards Year of ratification
CEN EN 10222-1 Steel forgings for pressure purposes  Part 1: General
requirements for open die forgings1998
CEN EN 10222-3 Steel forgings for pressure purposes  Part 3: Nickel steels
with specified low temperature properties1998
CEN EN 10222-4 Steel forgings for pressure purposes  Part 4: Weldable fine
grain steels with high proof strength1998
CEN EN 10268 Cold-rolled flat products made of high yield strength micro-
alloyed steels for cold forming  General delivery conditions1998
CEN EN ISO 898-5 Mechanical properties of fasteners made of carbon steel and
alloy steel  Part 5: set screws and similar threaded fastenersnot under tensile and stresses (ISO 898-5:1998)1998
CEN EN ISO 14555 Welding  Arc stud welding of metallic materials (ISO
14555:1998)1998
CEN EN 12482-1 Aluminium and aluminium alloys  Reroll stock for general
applications  Part 1: Specifications for hot rolled rerollstock1998
CEN EN 12517 Non destructive examination of welds  Radiographic
examination of welded joints  Acceptance levels1998
CEN EN 1708-1 Welding  Basic weld joint details in steel  Part 1: Press-
urised components1999
CEN EN 12300 Cryogenic vessels  Cleanliness for cryogenic service 1998
(1) ESO: (European standardisation organisation):
 CEN: rue de Stassart/Stassartstraat 36, B-1050 Brussels; tel. (32-2) 550 08 11, fax (32-2) 550 08 19; Cenelec: rue de Stassart/Stassartstraat 35, B-1050 Brussels; tel. (32-2) 519 68 71, fax (32-2) 519 69 19; ETSI: BP 152, F-06561 Valbonne Cedex, tel. (33-4) 92 94 42 12, fax (33-4) 93 65 47 16.
NOTE:
 any information concerning the availability of the standards can be obtained either from the European
standardisation organisations or from the national standardisation bodies of which the list is annexed toDirective 98/34/EC (
2), as amended by Directive 98/48/EC (3);
 publication of the references in the Official Journal of the European Communities does not imply that the
standards are available in all the Community languages;
 the Commission ensures the updating of this list.
(1) OJ L 265, 27.9.1997 , p. 110.
(2) OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 37.
(3) OJ L 217 , 5.8.1998, p. 18.EN C227/14 Official Jour naloftheEuropean Communities 10.8.1999
COMMISSION OPINION

of 12 March 1999

concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the decommissioning and dismantling of the Greifswald Nuclear Power Plant located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty

(Only the German text is authentic)

(1999/C 97/07)

On 15 September 1998, the European Commission received from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, general data relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste resulting from the decommissioning and dismantling of the Greifswald Nuclear Power Plant (KGR) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

On the basis of these data and clarifications subsequently provided by the German Government, and following consultation with the group of experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion.

(a) The distance between the plant and the closest State border (with the Republic of Poland) is 45 km, the nearest territories of Member States being at about 120 km (Denmark) and 135 km (Sweden).

(b) Under normal operating conditions, the discharges of liquid and gaseous effluentes will not cause an exposure of the population in other Member States significant from the health point of view.

(c) Radioactive waste arising from the dismantling operations will be stored or disposed of in licensed sites in Germany (the ZLN interim storage facility on the same site and the deep geological repository in Morsleben); non-radioactive solid waste or residual materials and materials which are released from regulatory control subject to compliance with clearance levels will be released for disposal as conventional waste or for reuse or recycling, in all cases complying with the criteria laid down in the Basic Safety Standards (Directive 96/29/Euratom); other materials will be stored for radioactive decay or used or recycled in nuclear installations in Germany.

(d) In the event of unplanned discharges of radioactive waste which may follow an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the general data, the doses likely to be received by the population in other Member States would not be significant from the health point of view.

(e) The general data do not contain information with regard to a programme for radioactivity monitoring in the marine environment but it is understood that such monitoring is carried out in the Baltic Sea; the Commission recommends that this be part of the statutory federal requirements and that the results of such monitoring be made available to the Commission, to neighbouring Member States and to Poland.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the decommissioning and dismantling of the Greifswald Nuclear Power Plant, both in normal operation and in the event of an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the general data, is not liable to result in the radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State.
Assumption of duties by a new Judge of the Court of Justice

(2000/C 20/01)

Following his appointment as Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Communities by decision of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Communities of 24 November 1999(1), Mr Antonio Mario La Pergola took up his duties on 15 December 1999.

(1) OJ L 307 of 2.12.1999, p. 57.
Corrigendum to the notice to Community importers of certain products originating in the People's Republic of China subject to quantitative quotas

(Official Journal of the European Communities C 123 of 3 May 2000)

(2000/C 130/14)

On page 38, point 7:

for: "2 June 2000",

read: "26 May 2000".
Declarations on Council Decision 2000/278/EC on the approval, on behalf of the European Community, of the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty

(2000/C 103/01)

1. Declaration by the Council and the Member States concerning Article 2

The Council and the Member States will periodically ascertain the stage reached in the procedures for ratifying the WCT and the WPPT in the Member States with a view to ensuring that the instruments of conclusion or ratification of the Community and of its Member States are deposited simultaneously. If there is a serious delay, the Council and the Member States will consider what action is to be taken.

2. Declaration by the Council, the Commission and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council concerning Article 3

When the Assemblies discuss matters affecting the Contracting Parties' rights and obligations concerning a field where competence is shared between the Member States and the European Community, the Council, the Commission and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council reiterate their mutual obligation to cooperate closely in accordance with the EC Treaty and the case-law of the Court of Justice.

In order to fulfil this obligation, the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council will endeavour to reach a common position, acting by common agreement.

In the absence of a common position, opinions expressed by the Member States will not jeopardise the attainment of the objectives of the EC Treaty.
Commission communication concerning Standard Gross Margins (SGMs) for the various agricultural enterprises and coefficients established pursuant to Commission Decision 85/377/EEC of 7 June 1985 establishing a Community typology for agricultural holdings

(2000/C 179/01)

In accordance with Commission Decision 85/377/EEC(1), as last amended by Commission Decision 1999/725/EC(2) and in particular Articles 3 and 5 thereof and Annex I thereto, the Member States have supplied the Commission with the SGMs and the coefficients for the reference period 1994 (calendar years 1993, 1994 and 1995 or agricultural production years 1993/1994, 1994/1995 and 1995/1996).

The Commission publishes below the SGMs already supplied by Member States and the corresponding coefficients with a view to their use in connection with the Community typology for agricultural holdings.

(1) OJ L 220, 17.8.1985, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 291, 13.11.1999, p. 28.

ANNEX

I

1994 Standard Gross Margins

The Standard Gross Margins (SGMs) shown below are the average values considered as representative for a three-year period centred around 1994. They are expressed in ecu:

- in the case of crop enterprises:

- per hectare, except for mushroom cultivation,

-

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- in the case of livestock enterprises:

- per head, except for poultry and bees,

- per 100 head for poultry,

- per hive for bees.

The list of headings corresponds to the list of characteristics for the 1997 Farm Structure Survey, with the addition of headings 139 and 348 of the FADN farm return. Belgium and Netherlands use more detailed SGMs for the classification of farms, but their SGMs are not yet published.

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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DANMARK

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SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

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DEUTSCHLAND

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

ESPAÑA

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

FRANCE

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

ELLAS

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

IRELAND

>TABLE>

ITALIA

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

>TABLE>

LUXEMBOURG

>TABLE>

NEDERLAND

>TABLE>

ÖSTERREICH

>TABLE>

PORTUGAL

>TABLE>

SUOMI

>TABLE>

SVERIGE

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>

UNITED KINGDOM

>TABLE>

SGMs to be used for holdings with a forage deficit

>TABLE>
Administrative Commission on social security for migrant workers

(2000/C 207/03)

The annual average costs do not take into account the reduction of 20 % provided for in Articles 94(2) and 95(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 574/72.

The net monthly average costs have been reduced by 20 %.

AVERAGE COSTS OF BENEFITS IN KIND - 1997(1)

I. Application of Article 94 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to the benefits in kind provided in 1997 to members of the family as referred to in Article 19(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

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II. Application of Article 95 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 1997 under Article 28 and 28(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

>TABLE>

AVERAGE COSTS OF BENEFITS IN KIND - 1998(2)

I. Application of Article 94 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 1998 to members of the family as referred to in Article 19(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

>TABLE>

II. Application of Article 95 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 1998 under Article 28 and 28(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

>TABLE>

(1) Average costs: Spain (OJ C 228, 11.8.1999).

Average costs: Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom (OJ C 27, 29.1.200).

(2) Average costs: Spain and Luxembourg (OJ C 27, 29.1.2000).
Notice on town-twinning grants

(2000/C 238/07)

The town-twinning programme has become one of the foremost schemes for bringing people in Europe closer together, helping to establish close ties between thousands of municipalities. It has given enormous numbers of people the opportunity to gain valuable first-hand experience of the European Union. Meetings to discuss commom problems in an effort find practical solutions and put them into practice are now commonplace.

Indeed, the programme has been so successful that the degree of interest it attracts at local level far exceeds the Community's capacity to provide financial support. In order to handle grant applications with the budget available, the European Commission is having to set a closing date of 15 September for the submission of applications for the year's budget. In any case, applications submitted after 15 September could not be considered, since applications have to be sent in at least three months before the twinning arrangement comes into effect.

The Commission is anxious to improve the quality of the service provided and would like to make the system more efficient and transparent. In future there will be a fixed timetable for the selection of grant applications, which will make the scheduling of work much easier. From 2001 the Commission will issue a call for proposals focusing on priority topics, with clearly defined selection criteria in line with the existing rules for the award of grants. The first call for proposals will be published simultaneously in the Official Journal and on the Europa Internet before the end of the year 2000.
Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2000/C 258/02)

Date of adoption of the decision: 4.8.2000

Member State: Austria (Niederösterreich)

Aid No: N 574/99

Title: Promotion of milk quality

Legal basis: Richtlinie für die Förderung von Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung und Sicherung der Qualität und hygienischen Wertigkeit von Milch und Milchprodukten

Budget: EUR 4 million per year (nationally financed)

Aid intensity or amount: Maximally 100 %

Duration: Unlimited

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/sg/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 12.7.2000

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 164/2000

Title: Equity participation by the public holding company Itainvest in Floramiata SpA

Objective: To implement a development plan and prepare for the firm's flotation on the stock market

Legal basis: Decreto legge n. 149/93 recante interventi urgenti in favore dell'economia italiana, divenuto legge n. 237/93

Budget: ITL 7 billion (approximately EUR 3,5 million)

Aid intensity or amount: The measure does not constitute an aid scheme

Duration: 2000 to 2005 or 2007

Other information: Decision taken on the basis of the information provided by the Italian authorities and the undertaking to submit a new notification should Itainvest's participation extend beyond five years

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/sg/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 12.7.2000

Member State: Denmark

Aid No: N 245/2000

Title: Agrimonetary aids - aid with an operative event on 1 and 2 January 2000

Objective: To compensate producers for loss of income as a result of the revaluation of the Danish Krone in 1999

Legal basis: Ministerial decision, Council Regulation (EC) No 2799/98 and Commission Regulations (EC) Nos 2808/98, 341/2000 and 801/2000

Budget: 2000: EUR 36409

2001: EUR 24273

2002: EUR 12136

Aid intensity or amount: Livestock premiums

DKK 0,8/suckler cow (EUR 0,108)

DKK 0,48/bull (EUR 0,065)

DKK 0,4/steer (EUR 0,054)

DKK 0,16/animal extensification level 1 (EUR 0,022)

DKK 0,32/animal extensification level 2 (EUR 0,043)

DKK 0,12/ewe (EUR 0,016)

Duration: One-off

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/sg/sgb/state_aids
Communication of the Commission pursuant to Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 32/2000, concerning the automatic increase of the Community tariff quota for newsprint from Canada

(2000/C 286/06)

Article 2, paragraph 2, of Council Regulation (EC) No 32/2000(1) opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas bound in GATT and certain other Community tariff quotas, provides for the publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities, C series, of the increase of the Community tariff quota for newsprint from Canada.

The tariff quota of 600000 t has been exhausted and has consequently been increased by the foreseen 30000 t for 2000.

(1) OJ L 5, 8.1.2000, p. 1.