do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Germany, State aid, control of State aid, slaughter premium

C 258/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

28.10.2003

Authorisation of State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 258/02)

Date of adoption of the decision: 1.10.2003

Member State:

Germany (Baden-Württemberg)

Aid No:

Title:

Objective:

Legal basis:

Budget:

N 256/03

Purchase of carcasses (including by-products) of a batch in which an
animal that tested positive for BSE was slaughtered

To compensate owners for the loss of animals of the same slaughter
batch, which must be destroyed if one or more carcass of the batch
tests positive for BSE

Verordnung zur fleischhygienerechtlichen Untersuchung von ge-
schlachteten Rindern auf BSE

EUR 1 million is planned for the year 2003, and EUR 0,4 million for
2004

Aid intensity or amount:

Maximum of 100 %

Duration:

Five years

Other information:

The German authorities have assured that the aid is not used to
finance the disposal of slaughterhouse waste

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

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3258/03 by María Ayuso González (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Garlic import scheme.
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, bulb vegetable, complaint to the Commission, fraud, import policy, surveillance concerning imports

C 78 E/244

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0246)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3258/03

by María Ayuso González (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 October 2003)

Subject: Garlic import scheme

In 2001 the European Union introduced a garlic import scheme with a view to placing permanent
restrictions on imports from third countries and preventing the irregularities which have been detected for
years in Chinese garlic sales. Within the World Trade Organisation it negotiated a 38 379-tonne ad
valorem duty-payable quota which was split between Argentina, China and other countries. The new
scheme permanently replaced the successive safeguard clauses which had been introduced in order to
prevent fraudulent exports of Chinese garlic. The initiative has produced satisfactory results, since a
significant reduction in the number of irregularities has been achieved.

Nonetheless, shortcomings still exist, as is apparent from the complaints submitted by Spanish garlic
growers to OLAF.

Would the Commission say whether it intends to introduce internal improvements in order to prevent the
problems which have given rise to the above complaints?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 2003)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s opinion on the importance of policing import
including those for garlic. It has received complaints from Spanish garlic growers and
arrangements,
passed them on to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to be examined and dealt with.

As she will doubtless agree, if these claims are correct false certificates of origin are being used, possibly
with the connivance of exporting countries’ authorities.

Fraud of this type does not call into question the present policing system and attempts to perpetrate it are
liable to be made regardless of the checks that the importing country can put in place.

To minimise the risk involved Commission officials regularly conduct retrospective examinations of
operation of the garlic scheme.

(2004/C 78 E/0247)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3260/03

by Michel Hansenne (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 November 2003)

Subject: Approving the setting up of a driving school

The royal decree adopted by Belgium on 23 March 1998 sets out the arrangements for approving the
opening of a driving school in Belgium. It would seem that, in practice, this decree prevents the setting up
of any new driving school.

By taking this step, is Belgium not in breach of EU law, particularly competition law? If so, what does
Belgium have to do to conform with EU rules?
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1893/2003 of 28 October 2003 fixing the production refund for olive oil used in the manufacture of certain preserved foods
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: olive oil, production refund

L 278/34

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

29.10.2003

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1893/2003

of 28 October 2003

fixing the production refund for olive oil used in the manufacture of certain preserved foods

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation No 136/66/EEC of 22
September 1966 on the establishment of a common organisa-
tion of the market in oils and fats (1), as last amended by Regu-
lation (EC) No 1513/2001 (2), and in particular Article 20a
thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Article 20a of Regulation No 136/66/EEC provides for
the granting of a production refund for olive oil used in
the preserving industry. Pursuant to paragraph 6 of that
Article, and without prejudice to paragraph 3 thereof,
the Commission shall fix this refund every two months.

By virtue of Article 20a(2) of the abovementioned Regu-
lation, the production refund must be fixed on the basis
of the gap between prices on the world market and on
the Community market, taking account of the import
falling within CN
to olive oil
charge

applicable

subheading 1509 90 00 and the factors used for fixing
the export refunds for those olive oils during the refer-
ence period.
It is appropriate to take as a reference
period the two-month period preceding the beginning of
the term of validity of the production refund.

(3)

The application of the above criteria results in the refund
being fixed as shown below,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For the months of November and December 2003, the amount
of the production refund referred to in Article 20a(2) of Regu-
lation No 136/66/EEC shall be EUR 44,00/100 kg.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 November 2003.

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

Done at Brussels, 28 October 2003.

For the Commission

J. M. SILVA RODRÍGUEZ

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ 172, 30.9.1966, p. 3025/66.
(2) OJ L 201, 26.7.2001, p. 4.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1892/2003 of 28 October 2003 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, grape, import price, pip fruit, stone fruit

L 278/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

29.10.2003

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1892/2003

of 28 October 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 29 October 2003.

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

Done at Brussels, 28 October 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.

29.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 278/33

to the Commission Regulation of 28 October 2003 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 50 10

0806 10 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

0808 20 50

Third country code (1)

Standard import value

(EUR/100 kg)

052
060
064
096
204
999

052
999

052
204
999

052
204
388
524
528
600
999

052
400
508
999

052
060
064
388
400
404
508
720
800
804
999

052
064
720
999

57,8
38,2
83,6
66,2
58,8
60,9

165,2
165,2

101,3
73,9
87,6

91,8
84,1
50,5
51,0
81,9
76,5
72,6

110,5
187,7
358,0
218,7

100,2
37,8
42,7
79,5
61,4
83,2
31,9
39,9
167,9
98,6
74,3

91,6
60,3
43,9
65,3

(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’.
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3191 — Philip Morris/Papastratos) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, merger control, tobacco industry

C 258/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

28.10.2003

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3191 — Philip Morris/Papastratos)

(2003/C 258/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 2 October 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(1)(b) 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 303M3191. 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.

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3150 — SNCF/Trenitalia/AFA)

(2003/C 258/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 4 August 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(1)(b) of Council Regulation
(EEC) No 4064/89. The full text of the decision is only available in French 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 ‘CFR’ version of the CELEX database, under document No 303M3150. 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: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, exchange rate

28.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 258/1

I

(Information)

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

27 October 2003

(2003/C 258/01)

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

1,1748

127,37

7,4313

0,6935

9,0705

1,5476

89,6

8,25

1,9488

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

0,58425

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

32,101

NZD

New Zealand dollar

15,6466

SGD

Singapore dollar

Exchange
rate

0,6495

0,4278

4,671

38 845

235,6

41,45

1 765 700

1,6694

1,5371

9,1104

1,9272

2,0457

258

KRW

South Korean won

1 389,61

3,4524

ZAR

South African rand

8,1453

___________
(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
Imposition by France of public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services within France (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: France, air transport, airline, inland transport, organisation of transport, provision of services, public service, transport capacity

28.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 258/3

Imposition by France of public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services within
France

(2003/C 258/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1. France has decided to impose a public service obligation on scheduled air services between Angoulême
and Lyon-Saint-Exupéry pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July
1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes.

2. From 1 April 2004,

the public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services between

Angoulême and Lyon-Saint-Exupéry are as follows:

Minimum frequency

The minimum level of service provided must be:

— two return trips per day, morning and evening, from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays,

220 days a year,

— one return trip per day on Saturdays and Sundays for 44 weeks a year.

The services must be operated non-stop between Angoulême and Lyon-Saint-Exupéry.

Type of aircraft used and capacity provided

The service must be operated with a pressurised turboprop or jet aircraft having a seating capacity of at
least 30.

Timetables

The timetables must allow passengers travelling on business to make a round trip in a day spanning at
least eight hours to Angoulême and Lyon.

Commercial policy

Seats on these flights must be marketed by at least one computerised booking system.

Continuity of service

Except in cases of force majeure, the number of flights cancelled for reasons directly attributable to the
carrier must not exceed 3 % of the number of flights scheduled in any IATA scheduling season. In
addition, the carrier must give six months' notice before discontinuing the services.

Community carriers are hereby informed that the operation of air services without regard to the above-
mentioned public service obligation may result in administrative and/or criminal penalties.
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3150 — SNCF/Trenitalia/AFA) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, merger control, provision of services, rail transport

C 258/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

28.10.2003

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3191 — Philip Morris/Papastratos)

(2003/C 258/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 2 October 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(1)(b) 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 303M3191. 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.

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3150 — SNCF/Trenitalia/AFA)

(2003/C 258/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 4 August 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(1)(b) of Council Regulation
(EEC) No 4064/89. The full text of the decision is only available in French 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 ‘CFR’ version of the CELEX database, under document No 303M3150. 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.
2003/772/EC: Commission Decision of 28 October 2003 amending Decision 2003/526/EC concerning protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 3943)
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, animal plague, health certificate, swine, veterinary inspection

30.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 280/21

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 28 October 2003

amending Decision 2003/526/EC concerning protection measures relating to classical swine fever
in Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg

(notified under document number C(2003) 3943)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/772/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June
1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable
in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products
with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), as last
amended by Directive 2002/33/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council (2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

In response to classical swine fever in certain parts of
Belgium, Germany,
the
Commission has adopted several Decisions, in particular
Decision 2003/526/EC (3).

and Luxembourg,

France

In the light of the current epidemiological situation it is
appropriate to prolong the measures adopted by Deci-
sion 2003/526/EC until 30 April 2004.

Decision 2003/526/EC should therefore be amended
accordingly.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor-
dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Article 11 of Decision 2003/526/EC the words ‘30 October
2003’ are replaced by the words ‘30 April 2004’.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 28 October 2003.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14.
(3) OJ L 183, 22.7.2003, p. 46.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3247/03 by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission. Annual report on Turkey.
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community acquis, Türkiye, accession criteria, environmental impact, impact study, oil pipeline, protection of minorities

C 88 E/456

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

In view of the extreme affront which this decision represents to the memory of the 20 victims and to
members of their families, will the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Will the European Union take a stand on the seriousness of these events?

2. What power does the European Union have to investigate these facts and to show the US army in an

effective manner that it is appalled at this decision?

3. Can the European Union in any way help to ensure that those responsible for this tragedy do not go

unpunished?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2003)

This matter raised by the Honourable Member is for the relevant judicial authorities in the United States
and Italy. The Commission has no grounds on which to express an opinion.

(2004/C 88 E/0467)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3247/03

by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 October 2003)

Subject: Annual report on Turkey

Will the Commission address the following urgent questions in its annual report on Turkey’s progress
towards meeting EU accession criteria due on 5 November:

Do the Host Government Agreements for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline breach the terms of
1.
Turkey’s Accession Partnership by moving away from the ‘acquis communautaire’ and the prospect of
implementing the Copenhagen criteria?

Does this project potentially infringe the human rights and minority rights of the people living along

2.
the pipeline route in Turkey, such as through the expropriation of land without proper compensation?

3. What is the potential environmental impact of the project, and has a proper environmental impact
assessment been carried out?

(2004/C 88 E/0468)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3249/03

by Richard Howitt (PSE), Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE)
and Renate Sommer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 November 2003)

Subject: Annual report on Turkey

Will the Commission address the following urgent questions in its annual report on Turkey’s progress
towards meeting EU accession criteria due on 5 November:

1. Do the Host Government Agreements for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline breach the terms of
Turkey’s Accession Partnership by moving away from the ‘acquis communautaire’ and the prospect of
implementing the Copenhagen criteria?