do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Commission communication pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 — Modification by the United Kingdom of public service obligations in respect of scheduled air services between the Orkney Mainland (Kirkwall) and the islands of Westray, Sanday, Stronsay and Eday (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: United Kingdom, air freight rate, air transport, airline, public service, transport capacity

5.12.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 295/13

Commission communication pursuant to Article 4(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92

Modification by the United Kingdom of public service obligations in respect of scheduled air
services between the Orkney Mainland (Kirkwall) and the islands of Westray, Sanday, Stronsay
and Eday

(2003/C 295/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
The United Kingdom has decided to modify the public service obligations in respect of the scheduled
air services between the Orkney Mainland (Kirkwall) and the islands of Westray, Sanday, Stronsay and Eday
as set out in the notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities C 363 of 19 December
2001, 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.

The modified public service obligations are as follows:

— Minimum frequencies:

To Westray — 2 return trips per day Monday to Saturday all year round.

To Sanday — 2 return trips per day Monday to Saturday all year round.

To Stronsay — 2 return trips per day Monday to Saturday all year round.

To Eday — 2 return trips on Wednesday all year round.

— Capacity:

The capacity of the aircraft used should be not less than eight passenger seats on each route.

— Fares:

The price of a single adult fare must not exceed GBP 31 on each route.

The maximum fare on each route may be increased once every year with the prior written consent of
Orkney Islands Council in line with the United Kingdom's Retail Price Index (all items) or any successor
index to this.

No other changes may be made to the fare levels without the prior written consent of Orkney Islands
Council.

The new maximum fare on each route must be notified to the Civil Aviation Authority and to the
European Commission which may then publish them in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Euro exchange rates
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, exchange rate

5.12.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 295/11

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

4 December 2003

(2003/C 295/06)

Currency

US dollar

Japanese yen

Danish krone

Pound sterling

Swedish krona

Swiss franc

Iceland króna

Exchange
rate

1,2074

130,67

7,4415

LVL

MTL

PLN

Currency

Latvian lats

Maltese lira

Polish zloty

Exchange
rate

0,6571

0,4296

4,6484

0,70045

ROL

Romanian leu

40 338

8,963

1,5579

89,47

SIT

SKK

TRL

Slovenian tolar

Slovak koruna

Turkish lira

236,5

41,014

1 756 611

Norwegian krone

8,0905

AUD

Australian dollar

Bulgarian lev

Cyprus pound

Czech koruna

Estonian kroon

Hungarian forint

Lithuanian litas

1,952

0,5836

32,293

CAD

HKD

NZD

Canadian dollar

Hong Kong dollar

New Zealand dollar

15,6466

SGD

Singapore dollar

270,30

3,453

KRW

ZAR

South Korean won

1 437,71

South African rand

7,466

1,6421

1,5785

9,3772

1,8684

2,0728

1 euro =

USD

JPY

DKK

GBP

SEK

CHF

ISK

NOK

BGN

CYP

CZK

EEK

HUF

LTL

___________
(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3593/03 by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission. Cost of passports across the European Union Member States.
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, United Kingdom, passport

C 78 E/832

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

re-use of packaging. While this study will not concern the comparison between various take-back systems
for one-way packaging directly, it may address effects by such systems of encouraging re-usable packaging.

(1) OJ L 365, 31.12.1994.

(2004/C 78 E/0885)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3593/03

by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Cost of passports across the European Union Member States

(5 December 2003)

The cost of an adult passport in the United Kingdom has increased greatly since 1997, and today costs
over GBP 40 to purchase.

Can the Commission detail the cost of an adult passport in the 14 other Member States, given that a
passport serves as both a national and an EU document?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2004)

Fixing the cost of passports is a competence which belongs to Member States.

The cost of obtaining a passport within each Member State may vary according to several factors, notably
the duration of its validity.

A comparative analysis shows that the cost of the British passport is very close to the average of the other
Member States, which is around EUR 50.

The Commission will provide the Honourable Member and the Parliament’s Secretariat with a table
detailing the cost of passports in all Member States.

(2004/C 78 E/0886)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3600/03

by Roberto Bigliardo (UEN) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Overflying Brussels (cid:1) extension of Zaventem airport

The new Belgian Minister of Transport Bert Anciaux is about to launch a plan to move a number of flight
paths from the area near ‘Zaventem National’ airport to the city of Brussels, following a decision taken in
June 2003 by an administrative court (Cour d’Arbitrage) calling for flights to be spread over several routes,
in response to complaints from 47 people living in the vicinity of the airport.

According to articles published in the Belgian press this decision was taken in the name of a principle of
‘solidarity’ according to which the noise pollution should be spread among all the inhabitants of Brussels.

Can the Commission say whether the initiatives taken by the Minister and the decision of the ‘Cour

1.
d’Arbitrage’ are in line with the Community directives on the subject?

Is it normal that the new flight plan for Brussels airport should be implemented without assessing the

2.
impact of the noise it would generate?

Can the Commission say whether

3.
environmental standards?

the extension of Zaventem airport meets all

the current
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 178/2003 of 5 December 2003 amending Annex XIII (Transport) to the EEA Agreement
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: EEA Joint Committee
Subjects: European Economic Area, agreement (EU), maritime safety, pollution from ships, prevention of pollution

25.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 88/57

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

No 178/2003

of 5 December 2003

amending Annex XIII (Transport) to the EEA Agreement

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as amended by the Protocol adjusting
the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, and in
particular Article 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Annex XIII to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 159/2003
of 7 November 2003 (1).

Directive 2002/84/EC of
the Council of 5 November 2002
amending the Directives on maritime safety and the prevention of pollution from ships (2) is to be
incorporated into the Agreement,

the European Parliament and of

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Annex XIII is amended as follows:

Article 1

1. The following is added in points 55a (Directive 2002/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the
(Directive
Council), 56ca (Council Directive 1999/35/EC), 56e (Council Directive 98/41/EC), 56i
2000/59/EC of
(Directive 2001/25/EC of the
European Parliament and of the Council) and 56k (Directive 2001/96/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council):

the European Parliament and of the Council), 56j

‘, as amended by:

— 32002 L 0084: Directive 2002/84/EC of

the European Parliament and of

the Council of

5 November 2002 (OJ L 324, 29.11.2002, p. 53).’

2. The following indent is added in points 55b (Council Directive 94/57/EC), 56b (Council Directive
95/21/EC), 56d (Council Directive 96/98/EC), 56f (Council Directive 98/18/EC) and 56g (Council
Directive 97/70/EC):

‘— 32002 L 0084: Directive 2002/84/EC of

the European Parliament and of

the Council of

5 November 2002 (OJ L 324, 29.11.2002, p. 53).’

The texts of Directive 2002/84/EC in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in the EEA
Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on 6 December 2003, provided that all the notifications pursuant to
Article 103(1) of the Agreement have been made to the EEA Joint Committee (*).

Article 3

(1) OJ L 41, 12.2.2004, p. 57.
(2) OJ L 324, 29.11.2002, p. 53.
(*) No constitutional requirements indicated.

L 88/58

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.3.2004

This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal
of the European Union.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 5 December 2003.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

HSH PRINZ NIKOLAUS von LIECHTENSTEIN
2003/844/EC: Commission Decision of 5 December 2003 amending Decision 2002/613/EC as regards the approved porcine semen collection centres of Canada (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 4525)
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Canada, animal breeding, health certificate, health control, import, swine

L 321/60

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

6.12.2003

COMMISSION DECISION

of 5 December 2003

amending Decision 2002/613/EC as regards the approved porcine semen collection centres of
Canada

(notified under document number C(2003) 4525)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/844/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/429/EEC of 26 June
1990 laying down the animal health requirements applicable to
intra-Community trade in and imports of semen of domestic
animals of the porcine species (1), as last amended by Regu-
lation (EC) No 806/2003 (2), and in particular Article 8(1)
thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Commission Decision 2002/613/EC of 19 July 2002
laying down the importation conditions of semen of
domestic animals of the porcine species (3), as amended
by Decision 2003/15/EC (4), establishes a list of third
countries, including Canada, from which Member States
are to authorise the importation of semen of domestic
animals of the porcine species.

information of a semen collection
Canada has sent
centre officially approved by the veterinary authorities of
that country for the export of porcine semen to the
Community. Canada has requested that that centre be
added to the list of semen collection centres approved
under Decision 2002/613/EC.

Guarantees regarding compliance with the requirements
of Directive 90/429/EEC have been received from
Canada.

Decision 2002/613/EC should therefore be amended
accordingly.

(5)

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Annex V to Decision 2002/613/EC, in the part for Canada,
the following row is added:

‘CA

8-AI-05

Alberta Swine Genetics Corp.
Box 3310
Leduc
Alberta T9E 6M3’

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 9 December 2003.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 5 December 2003.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 62.
(2) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 196, 25.7.2002, p. 45.
(4) OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 90.
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3307 — Cap Gemini/Transiciel) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, information technology, merger control, provision of services

C 295/16

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

5.12.2003

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3295 — Atos Origin/Sema Group)

(2003/C 295/12)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 10 November 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 303M3295. 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.3307 — Cap Gemini/Transiciel)

(2003/C 295/13)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 24 November 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 303M3307. 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.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2137/2003 of 5 December 2003 concerning tenders submitted in response to the invitation to tender for the export of husked long grain B rice to the island of Réunion referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1878/2003
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Réunion, award of contract, export subsidy, rice

6.12.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 321/5

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2137/2003

of 5 December 2003

concerning tenders submitted in response to the invitation to tender for the export of husked long
grain B rice to the island of Réunion referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1878/2003

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3072/95 of 22
December 1995 on the common organisation of the market in
rice (1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No
411/2002 (2), and in particular Article 10(1) thereof,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2692/89 of
6 September 1989 laying down detailed rules for exports of
rice to Réunion (3), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1453/
1999 (4), and in particular Article 9(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1878/2003 (5) opens an
invitation to tender for the subsidy on rice exported to
Réunion.

Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 2692/89 allows the
Commission to decide, in accordance with the procedure
laid down in Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 3072/95
and on the basis of the tenders submitted, to make no
award.

(3)

(4)

On the basis of the criteria laid down in Articles 2 and 3
of Regulation (EEC) No 2692/89, a maximum subsidy
should not be fixed.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

No action shall be taken on the tenders submitted from 1 to 4
December 2003 in response to the invitation to tender referred
to in Regulation (EC) No 1878/2003 for the subsidy on exports
to Réunion of husked long grain B rice falling within CN code
1006 20 98.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 6 December 2003.

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

Done at Brussels, 5 December 2003.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 329, 30.12.1995, p. 18.
(2) OJ L 62, 5.3.2002, p. 27.
(3) OJ L 261, 7.9.1989, p. 8.
(4) OJ L 167, 2.7.1999, p. 19.
(5) OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 23.
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 169/2003 of 5 December 2003 amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: EEA Joint Committee
Subjects: European Economic Area, agreement (EU), fodder plant, marketing, oleaginous plant, seed

25.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 88/39

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

No 169/2003

of 5 December 2003

amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as amended by the Protocol adjusting
the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, and in
particular Article 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Annex I to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 104/2003 of
26 September 2003 (1).

Commission Decision 2003/307/EC of 2 May 2003 providing for the temporary marketing of
satisfying the
certain seed of
requirements of Council Directives 66/401/EEC and 2002/57/EC respectively (2)
to be
incorporated into the Agreement,

the species Lupinus angustifolius and Linum usitatissimum not

is

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following point is inserted after point 24 (Commission Decision 2003/244/EC) in Part 2 of Chapter
III of Annex I to the Agreement:

‘25. 32003 D 0307: Commission Decision 2003/307/EC of 2 May 2003 providing for the temporary
marketing of certain seed of the species Lupinus angustifolius and Linum usitatissimum not satisfying
the requirements of Council Directives 66/401/EEC and 2002/57/EC respectively (OJ L 113,
7.5.2003, p. 5).’

Article 2

The texts of Decision 2003/307/EC in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in the EEA
Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on 6 December 2003, provided that all the notifications pursuant to
Article 103(1) of the Agreement have been made to the EEA Joint Committee (*).

(1) OJ L 331, 18.12.2003, p. 12.
(2) OJ L 113, 7.5.2003, p. 5.
(*) No constitutional requirements indicated.

L 88/40

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.3.2004

This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal
of the European Union.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 5 December 2003.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

HSH PRINZ NIKOLAUS von LIECHTENSTEIN
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 181/2003 of 5 December 2003 amending Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: EEA Joint Committee
Subjects: European Economic Area, action programme, agreement (EU), anti-discriminatory measure

25.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 88/63

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

No 181/2003

of 5 December 2003

amending Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four
freedoms

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as amended by the Protocol adjusting
the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, and in
particular Articles 86 and 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Protocol 31 to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 111/2003
of 12 July 2003 (1).

It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include
Council Decision 2000/750/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a Community action programme
to combat discrimination (2001 to 2006) (2).

Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended
cooperation to take place from 1 January 2004,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Article 5 of Protocol 31 to the Agreement is amended as follows:

1. The text of paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

‘The EFTA States shall participate in the Community programmes and actions referred to in the first
two indents of paragraph 8 as from 1 January 1996, in the programme referred to in the third indent
as from 1 January 2000, in the programme referred to in the fourth indent from 1 January 2001, in
the programmes referred to in the fifth and sixth indents as from 1 January 2002 and in the
programme referred to in the seventh indent as from 1 January 2004.’

2. The following indent is added in paragraph 8:

‘— 32000 D 0750: Council Decision 2000/750/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a
Community action programme to combat discrimination (2001 to 2006) (OJ L 303, 2.12.2000,
p. 23).’

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following the last notification to the EEA Joint Committee
pursuant to Article 103(1) of the Agreement (*).

Article 2

It shall apply from 1 January 2004.

(1) OJ L 298, 31.10.2003, p. 37.
(2) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 23.
(*) Constitutional requirements indicated.

L 88/64

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.3.2004

This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal
of the European Union.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 5 December 2003.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

HSH PRINZ NIKOLAUS von LIECHTENSTEIN