do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1453/2003 of 14 August 2003 fixing the maximum reduction in the duty on sorghum imported in connection with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 699/2003
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, import, sorghum, tariff reduction

L 206/22

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

15.8.2003

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1453/2003

of 14 August 2003

fixing the maximum reduction in the duty on sorghum imported in connection with the invitation
to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 699/2003

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30
June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in
cereals (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1104/
2003 (2), and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,

(3)

(4)

The application of the abovementioned criteria to the
current market situation for the cereal in question results
in the maximum reduction in the import duty being
fixed at the amount specified in Article 1.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
the Management
accordance with the opinion of
Committee for Cereals,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

An invitation to tender for the maximum reduction in
the duty on sorghum imported into Spain was opened
pursuant
to Commission Regulation (EC) No 699/
2003 (3).

Pursuant to Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EC) No
1839/95 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
2235/2000 (5), the Commission, acting under the proce-
dure laid down in Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No
1766/92, may decide to fix a maximum reduction in the
import duty.
In fixing this maximum the criteria
provided for in Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EC) No
1839/95 must be taken into account. Whereas a
contract is awarded to any tenderer whose tender is
equal to or less than the maximum reduction in the
duty.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For tenders notified from 8 to 14 August 2003, pursuant to
the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 699/
2003,
the maximum reduction in the duty on sorghum
imported shall be 18,75 EUR/t and be valid for a total
maximum quantity of 7 000 t.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 15 August 2003.

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

Done at Brussels, 14 August 2003.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 158, 27.6.2003, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 29.
(4) OJ L 177, 28.7.1995, p. 4.
(5) OJ L 256, 10.10.2000, p. 13.
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3256 — Liberty Insurance/Metlife Iberia) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, financial institution, insurance, merger control

C 192/36

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

14.8.2003

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3256 — Liberty Insurance/Metlife Iberia)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2003/C 192/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 1 August 2003 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
1.
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (2),
by which the Spain-based undertaking Liberty Insurance Group, Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros, SA
(‘Liberty Insurance’), belonging to the US group Liberty Mutual (‘Liberty Mutual’), acquires within the
meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the Spanish undertaking
Metlife Iberia, SA (‘Metlife’), currently controlled by the US corporation Metlife International Holdings, Inc.
(‘Metlife International’), by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— Liberty Insurance: financial and insurance activities,

— Metlife: insurance activities.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within
3.
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 Council
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 to the Commission.

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.3256 — Liberty Insurance/Metlife Iberia, to:

European Commission,
Directorate-General for Competition,
Merger Registry,
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.
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3091 — Konica/Minolta) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Japan, economic concentration, merger control, office equipment, photographic industry, restrictive-practice authorisation

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192/37

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3091 — Konica/Minolta)

(2003/C 192/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 11 July 2003 the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it
compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC)
No 4064/89. The full text of the decision is only available in English and will be made public after it is
cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

— as a paper version through the sales offices of the Office for Official Publications of the European

Communities (see list on the last page),

— in electronic form in the ‘CEN’ version of the CELEX database, under document No 303M3091. CELEX

is the computerised documentation system of European Community law.

For more information concerning subscriptions please contact:

EUR-OP,
Information, Marketing and Public Relations,
2, rue Mercier,
L-2985 Luxembourg.
Tel. (352) 29 29 427 18, fax (352) 29 29 427 09.
Euro exchange rates
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, exchange rate

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192/1

I

(Information)

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

13 August 2003

(2003/C 192/01)

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

1,1277

134,25

7,4325

0,7032

9,2467

1,5462

90,31

8,281

1,9461

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

0,58716

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

32,096

NZD

New Zealand dollar

15,6466

SGD

Singapore dollar

Exchange
rate

0,6455

0,4274

4,3778

37 325

235,005

41,83

1 583 000

1,7217

1,5615

8,7951

1,9253

1,9776

258,68

KRW

South Korean won

1 330,4

3,4533

ZAR

South African rand

8,3931

___________
(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1447/2003 of 14 August 2003 suspending the buying-in of skimmed-milk powder at the intervention price
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, intervention price, purchase, skimmed milk powder

15.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 206/7

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1447/2003

of 14 August 2003

suspending the buying-in of skimmed-milk powder at the intervention price

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(3)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17
May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk
and milk products (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
806/2003 (2), and in particular Article 10 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 provides
that
the Commission may suspend the buying-in of
skimmed-milk powder as soon as the quantities offered
for intervention in the period from 1 March to 31
August each year exceed 109 000 tonnes and that in
that case buying-in by the intervention agencies may be
carried out under an open standing invitation to tender
on the basis of specifications to be determined.

Since the condition for suspending buying-in is met, it
should be suspended and the Member States authorised
to buy in under a standing invitation to tender for the
remaining intervention period so as to continue to
support the skimmed-milk powder market by fixing a
maximum buying-in price on the basis of the applicable
intervention price and taking account of tenders received
for each invitation to tender.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 214/2001 of 12
January 2001 laying down detailed rules for the applica-
tion of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as
in skimmed-milk
regards intervention on the market
powder (3), as last amended by Commission Regulation
(EC) No 2239/2002 (4), lays down provisions to apply
where the Commission decides that buying-in is to take
place under a standing invitation to tender.

(4)

The Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products
has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by
its chairman,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The buying-in of skimmed-milk powder at the intervention
price provided for in Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/
1999 is suspended throughout the Community.

Until 31 August 2003,
intervention agencies may buy in
skimmed-milk powder meeting the requirements of Article 7(1)
of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 under a standing invitation
to tender in accordance with Articles 13 to 20 of Regulation
(EC) No 214/2001.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publica-
tion in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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

Done at Brussels, 14 August 2003.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 48.
(2) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 37, 7.2.2001, p. 100.
(4) OJ L 341, 17.12.2002, p. 12.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2595/03 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Conditions on the London Underground.
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law, United Kingdom, air quality, dust, public health, safety standard, underground railway, underground transport

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/115

Reply

(5 December 2003)

As the meeting referred to by the Honourable Member was not held within the legal framework of the
European Union, it is not for the Council to comment on the status of any decisions taken at that meeting.
Likewise, the Council does not have a timetable for talks on developing a ‘core set of military capabilities’.

However, the proposals made at that meeting were presented to the Council
participants.

in May 2003 by the

The issue of military capabilities is regularly on the Council agenda.

(2004/C 70 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2595/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 August 2003)

Subject: Conditions on the London Underground

Concern has been expressed as to whether dust particles pose a serious health risk to passengers using the
London Underground. A meeting of the Greater London Authority’s Transport Committee on Monday,
14 July 2003 called upon London Underground to conduct scientific studies to investigate this issue.

In the light of these concerns, will the European Commission indicate whether European laws exist to
regulate safe levels of dust particles in underground transport systems?

Is the European Commission aware of this problem on the London Underground, and has it conducted
any studies to identify safe levels of dust particles?

Is the European Commission aware of any health risks to the elderly, children and those with circulatory
and respiratory diseases resulting from exposure to high levels of dust on underground transport systems?

(2004/C 70 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2596/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 August 2003)

Subject: Conditions on the London Underground

Recent
reports in the London media have highlighted record high temperatures on the London
Underground of up to 97 °F (36 °C) on the Northern, Central, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines. Such
conditions prevent passengers from travelling comfortably and may jeopardise passenger safety.

In the light of these concerns, will the European Commission state whether such conditions contravene
any European law on passenger health and safety or any environmental rules?

Will the European Commission confirm whether such conditions would contravene European law if live
animals were being transported in this way?
Final report of the Hearing Officer in case COMP/M.3083 — GE/Instrumentarium (drawn up in accordance with Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings (OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21)) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: audit, competition law, economic concentration, medical device, report

16.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92/29

Final report of the Hearing Officer in case COMP/M.3083 — GE/Instrumentarium

(drawn up in accordance with Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May
2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings (OJ L 162,
19.6.2001, p. 21))

(2004/C 92/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The draft decision gives rise to the following observations:

— The proposed concentration was notified on 28 February 2003.

— On 3 April 2003, in a decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(c) of the Merger Regulation, the Commission
found that the notified concentration raised serious doubts. In line with the transparency policy which
the Commission is currently pursuing, the parties received non-confidential versions of key documents
provided by thrid parties.

Although the degree of precision of the documents did not fully satisfy GE, i nevertheless was able to
submit comments rapidly, before a decision was taken on the sending of a statement of objections. In
this context, thanks to a confidentiality agreement, the notifying party's economists also had access to
data and economic analyses provided by an interested third party.

— On 4 Juli 2003, the Commission sent a statement of objections to GE. In the light of the preliminary
results of the investigation, a number of elements on which the Commission had initially expressed
serious doubts wre not included in the statement of objections.

During the ensuing access-to-the-file exercise, a solution to the question of the confidentiality of certain
documents was found through the arrangements put in place by the Commission with the agreement
of all the parties concerned. The arrangements enabled the notifying party's economists to check the
economic analyses carried out by the Commission on the basis of the data communicated by third
parties, subject to a confidentiality agreement.

— The parties then proposed corrective measures to the Commission; these were the subject of a market

survey, whose objectivity was not called into question.

The parties did not consider it necessary to reply to the statement of objections and consequently did
not request a formal hearing either.

The right of the parties to be heard has been respected fully throughout the investigation.

Done at Brussels, 14 August 2003.

(signed pp Karen Williams)

Serge DURANDE
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1446/2003 of 14 August 2003 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, grape, import price, pip fruit, stone fruit

15.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 206/5

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1446/2003

of 14 August 2003

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 15 August 2003.

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

Done at Brussels, 14 August 2003.

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.

L 206/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

15.8.2003

to the Commission Regulation of 14 August 2003 establishing the standard import values for determining the
entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0709 90 70

0805 50 10

0806 10 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

0808 20 50

0809 30 10, 0809 30 90

0809 40 05

Third country code (1)

Standard import value

(EUR/100 kg)

060
999

052
999

382
388
524
528
999

052
064
400
600
999

039
388
400
508
512
528
720
800
804
999

052
388
512
800
999

052
068
094
999

064
066
093
094
624
999

66,2
66,2

83,4
83,4

50,7
52,5
49,5
59,3
53,0

114,5
140,1
193,4
129,5
144,4

64,2
71,6
89,6
84,8
91,8
65,1
54,2
191,4
90,7
89,3

96,4
69,1
53,6
123,4
85,6

128,0
54,1
70,9
84,3

65,8
58,4
63,0
61,2
145,2
78,7

(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 1451/2003 of 14 August 2003 fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar to certain third countries for the second partial invitation to tender issued within the framework of the standing invitation to tender provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1290/2003
Date: 2003-08-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, export refund, third country, white sugar

L 206/16

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

15.8.2003

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1451/2003

of 14 August 2003

fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar to certain third countries for the second partial
invitation to tender issued within the framework of the standing invitation to tender provided for
in Regulation (EC) No 1290/2003

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 of 19
June 2001 on the common organisation of the markets in the
sugar sector (1), as amended by Commission Regulation (EC)
No 680/2002 (2), and in particular Article 27(5) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1290/2003 of 18 July
2003 on a standing invitation to tender to determine
levies and/or refunds on exports of white sugar (3), for
the 2003/2004 marketing year, requires partial
invita-
tions to tender to be issued for the export of this sugar
to certain third countries.

Pursuant to Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1290/
2003 a maximum export refund shall be fixed, as the
case may be, account being taken in particular of the
state and foreseeable development of the Community
and world markets in sugar, for the partial invitation to
tender in question.

(3)

(4)

Following an examination of the tenders submitted in
response to the second partial invitation to tender, the
provisions set out in Article 1 should be adopted.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Sugar,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For the second partial
invitation to tender for white sugar
to Regulation (EC) No 1290/2003 the
issued pursuant
maximum amount of the export refund to certain third coun-
tries is fixed at 50,320 EUR/100 kg.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 15 August 2003.

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

Done at Brussels, 14 August 2003.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 178, 30.6.2001, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 104, 20.4.2002, p. 26.
(3) OJ L 181, 19.7.2003, p. 7.