do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3021 — Apax/Duke/Focus Wickes/JV) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2002-12-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: decorative item, economic concentration, exchange of information, hand tool, holding company, investment company, merger control, polishing and scouring preparations

11.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 308/35

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3021 — Apax/Duke/Focus Wickes/JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2002/C 308/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 29 November 2002 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant
1.
to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as
last amended by Regulation (EC)
No 1310/97 (2), by which the Apax Europe V (Apax) and Duke Street Capital Holdings Limited (Duke)
acquire, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Regulation, joint control of the undertaking Focus
Wickes Limited (Focus Wickes) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a
joint venture. Focus Wickes is currently sole-controlled by Duke.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— Apax: investment partnerships with shareholdings in range of industries;

— Duke: holding company for a number of limited investment partnerships with diversified share-

holdings;

— Focus Wickes: sale of repair, maintenance and improvement products for the home.

3.
On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within
the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant
to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under
Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (3), it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under
the procedure set out in the notice.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit

4.
proposed operation.

their possible observations on the

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference
COMP/M.3021 — Apax/Duke/Focus Wickes/JV, to:

European Commission,
Directorate-General for Competition,
Directorate B — Merger Task Force,
J-70,
B-1049 Brussels.

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.
(3) OJ C 217, 29.7.2000, p. 32.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2196/2002 of 11 December 2002 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2002-12-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agri-monetary policy, citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, perennial vegetable, pip fruit

L 335/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12.12.2002

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2196/2002

of 11 December 2002

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and
vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

(2)

In compliance with the above criteria,
the standard
import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the
Annex to this Regulation,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 of
21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the application of the
import arrangements
last
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1947/2002 (2), and in parti-
cular Article 4(1) thereof,

fruit and vegetables (1), as

for

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Whereas:

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the
outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade nego-
tiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the
standard values for imports from third countries,
in
respect of the products and periods stipulated in the
Annex thereto.

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of Regula-
tion (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex
hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 12 December 2002.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 11 December 2002.

For the Commission

J. M. SILVA RODRÍGUEZ

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 337, 24.12.1994, p. 66.
(2) OJ L 299, 1.11.2002, p. 17.

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 335/3

to the Commission Regulation of 11 December 2002 establishing the standard import values for determining
the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0707 00 05

0709 90 70

0805 10 10, 0805 10 30, 0805 10 50

0805 20 10

0805 20 30, 0805 20 50, 0805 20 70,
0805 20 90

0805 50 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

0808 20 50

Third country code (1)

Standard import value

(EUR/100 kg)

052
204
999

052
204
220
999

052
204
999

052
204
220
624
999

052
204
999

052
999

052
600
999

060
400
404
720
999

052
400
720
999

86,4
75,3
80,8

108,4
111,0
155,5
125,0

103,5
113,4
108,5

37,4
54,3
46,6
65,9
51,0

81,1
77,4
79,3

61,9
61,9

50,6
76,3
63,5

27,0
84,4
101,4
132,3
86,3

144,8
117,9
46,3
103,0

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2020/2001 (OJ L 273, 16.10.2001, p. 6). Code ‘999’ stands for

‘of other origin’.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2198/2002 of 11 December 2002 on the issue of system B export licences in the fruit and vegetables sector
Date: 2002-12-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: export licence, pip fruit

L 335/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12.12.2002

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2198/2002

of 11 December 2002

on the issue of system B export licences in the fruit and vegetables sector

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1961/2001
of 8 October 2001 on detailed rules for implementing Council
Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 as regards export refunds on fruit
and vegetables (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
1176/2002 (2), and in particular Article 6(6) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1886/2002 (3) fixes the
indicative quantities for system B export licences other
than those sought in the context of food aid.

In the light of the information available to the Commis-
sion today, there is a risk that the indicative quantities
laid down for the current export period for apples will
shortly be exceeded. This overrun will prejudice the
proper working of the export refund scheme in the fruit
and vegetables sector.

(3)

To avoid this situation, applications for system B licences
for apples after 11 December 2002 should be rejected
until the end of the current export period,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Applications for system B export licences for apples submitted
pursuant to Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1886/2002, export
declarations for which are accepted after 11 December 2002
and before 15 January 2003, are hereby rejected.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 12 December 2002.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 11 December 2002.

For the Commission

J. M. SILVA RODRÍGUEZ

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 268, 9.10.2001, p. 8.
(2) OJ L 170, 29.6.2002, p. 69.
(3) OJ L 286, 24.10.2002, p. 3.
Euro exchange rates
Date: 2002-12-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, exchange rate

11.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 308/1

I

(Information)

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

10 December 2002

(2002/C 308/01)

1 euro =

USD

JPY

DKK

GBP

SEK

CHF

ISK

NOK

BGN

CYP

CZK

EEK

HUF

LTL

Currency

US dollar

Japanese yen

Danish krone

Pound sterling

Swedish krona

Swiss franc

Iceland króna

Norwegian krone

Bulgarian lev

Cyprus pound

Czech koruna

Estonian kroon

Hungarian forint

Lithuanian litas

Exchange
rate

1,0111

124,66

7,4273

0,6416

9,1095

1,4736

85,41

7,328

1,9518

LVL

MTL

PLN

ROL

SIT

SKK

TRL

AUD

CAD

Currency

Latvian lats

Maltese lira

Polish zloty

Romanian leu

Slovenian tolar

Slovak koruna

Turkish lira

Australian dollar

Canadian dollar

0,57307

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

31,134

NZD

New Zealand dollar

15,6466

SGD

Singapore dollar

Exchange
rate

0,6008

0,4157

3,9915

34052

229,885

41,728

1568000

1,7946

1,5768

7,8854

2,0008

1,784

236,51

KRW

South Korean won

1225,45

3,4521

ZAR

South African rand

9,0964

___________
(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3547/02 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Exclusion of interregional associations from EURES.
Date: 2002-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EURES, cross-border cooperation, labour market, provision of services, social partners

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/167

(2003/C 155 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3547/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 December 2002)

Subject: Exclusion of interregional associations from EURES

In its Communication of 13 February 2002 to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on its Action Plan for skills and mobility (1) the
Commission emphasises the European dimension to the labour market and the importance of professional
mobility and flexibility. On the other hand, it is reportedly now considering excluding the 40 Interregional
Trade Union Councils (ITUCs) from EURES, the European Employment Services network.

Are these reports true?

(1) COM(2002) 72 final.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2003)

No. The Commission believes that an active participation of the social partners is crucial for the success of
EURES (cid:1) the network of the Commission, the employment services of the Member States and any further
national partners which they may have. According to the new Commission Decision on EURES that the
Commission has adopted in December (1), the social partners will be represented at European level both in
the High Level Strategy Group and the Working Party. The main principles for the future organisation of
the EURES cross-border partnerships will be established in the EURES Charter. The Commission proposal
foresees that a crossborder partnership comprises the Public Employment Services together with trades
union and employer organisations of all the regions involved.

(1) C(2002)5236 final.

(2003/C 155 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3555/02

by Hans-Peter Martin (PSE) to the Council

(5 December 2002)

Subject: Right of regional and local authorities to bring proceedings

On 28 November 2002 the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted a report
by Mr Giorgio Napolitano which demanded that ‘the regional and local authorities which have legislative
powers’ should be given ‘the right to bring proceedings before the European Court of Justice in order to
protect their rights.’

Is the Council able to support this demand?

Reply

(3 March 2003)

As an amendment to the Treaties would be required, it is not for the Council to state a view on this
matter, which is under discussion in the Convention on the future of the European Union.

The Council is kept regularly informed of progress in the Convention’s discussions.

In accordance with Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union,
it will be for the Intergovernmental
Conference convened in 2004 to take the final decisions, taking as a starting point for its discussions the
final document produced by the Convention at the end of its proceedings.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3541/02 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Ombudsman for developing countries' trade.
Date: 2002-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Ombudsman, database, developing countries, export, trade restriction, trading operation

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/59

(2004/C 11 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3541/02

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 2002)

Subject: Ombudsman for developing countries’ trade

Will the Commission outline its opinion on the proposal that an EU Ombudsman on developing countries’
exports should be established, in order to help remove ‘accidental’ barriers to trade? Can the Commission
explain how such a proposal would be funded?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2003)

The Commission is proposing to create a Help Desk with the purpose of supplying the information
necessary to commercial operators in developing countries to export to the Union.

The Help Desk will take the form of a database containing tariff levels, relevant documentation and
legislation and will also be in a position to supply advice on problem solving. It is hoped that this new
service will be available to the developing world late 2003.

(2004/C 11 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3733/02

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 December 2002)

Subject: GM crops site inspections

Would the Commission state how many site inspections by GM crops Inspectorates have been made in
each Member State where GM crop trials are allowed?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Experimental releases of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including GM crops, are now regulated
under Part B of Directive 2001/18/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001, on the
deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (1), which was applicable on
17 October 2002. To date, no experimental releases have been conducted under this Directive.

Directive 2001/18/EC replaced Council Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990 (2), which similarly
provided for regulation of experimental releases of GMOs,
including GM crops, under its Part B.
releases were conducted under Directive 90/220/EEC from its
Approximately 1700 experimental
application in October 1991 until it was replaced on 17 October 2002. Summary details of these releases
are available via the web site of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the Commission. The JRC report (made
by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies in Seville (IPTS)) on ‘Review of GMOs under research
and development and in the pipeline in Europe’ gives an overview of the experiments in the Community
(November 2002).

Under Directive 90/220/EEC, the examination of applications and granting of consent for experimental
releases were carried out by the authorities of the Member State in which the release is to take place. This
procedure will continue under Directive 2001/18/EC.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2199/2002 of 11 December 2002 determining the world market price for unginned cotton
Date: 2002-12-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: cotton, world market price

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 335/7

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2199/2002

of 11 December 2002

determining the world market price for unginned cotton

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Protocol 4 on cotton, annexed to the Act of
Accession of Greece, as last amended by Council Regulation
(EC) No 1050/2001 (1),

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1051/2001 of 22
May 2001 on production aid for cotton (2), and in particular
Article 4 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

In accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No
1051/2001, a world market price for unginned cotton is
to be determined periodically from the price for ginned
cotton recorded on the world market and by reference
to the historical relationship between the price recorded
for ginned cotton and that calculated for unginned
cotton. That historical relationship has been established
in Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1591/
2001 of 2 August 2001 (3), as amended by Regulation
(EC) No 1486/2002 (4). Where the world market price
cannot be determined in this way, it is to be based on
the most recent price determined.

(2)

In accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No
1051/2001, the world market price for unginned cotton
is to be determined in respect of a product of specific
characteristics and by reference to the most favourable

offers and quotations on the world market among those
considered representative of the real market trend. To
that end, an average is to be calculated of offers and
European
recorded on one or more
quotations
exchanges for a product delivered cif to a port in the
Community and coming from the various supplier coun-
tries considered the most representative in terms of
there is provision for
international
adjusting the criteria for determining the world market
price for ginned cotton to reflect differences justified by
the quality of the product delivered and the offers and
quotations concerned. Those adjustments are specified in
Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1591/2001.

trade. However,

(3)

The application of the above criteria gives the world
market price for unginned cotton determined herein-
after,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The world price for unginned cotton as referred to in Article 4
of Regulation (EC) No 1051/2001 is hereby determined as
equalling EUR 27,833/100 kg.

This Regulation shall enter into force on 12 December 2002.

Article 2

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 11 December 2002.

For the Commission

J. M. SILVA RODRÍGUEZ

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 148, 1.6.2001, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 148, 1.6.2001, p. 3.
(3) OJ L 210, 3.8.2001, p. 10.
(4) OJ L 223, 20.8.2002, p. 3.