do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Euro exchange rates
Date: 2004-01-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, exchange rate

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11/1

I

(Information)

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

14 January 2004

(2004/C 11/01)

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

1,2692

134,70

7,4481

LVL

MTL

PLN

Currency

Latvian lats

Maltese lira

Polish zloty

Exchange
rate

0,6725

0,4301

4,7478

0,69015

ROL

Romanian leu

41 264

9,1755

1,5601

88,49

8,567

1,9555

SIT

SKK

TRL

AUD

CAD

Slovenian tolar

Slovak koruna

Turkish lira

Australian dollar

Canadian dollar

0,58675

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

32,59

NZD

New Zealand dollar

15,6466

SGD

Singapore dollar

237,43

40,615

1 711 949

1,632

1,6159

9,8545

1,8611

2,1514

265,85

KRW

South Korean won

1 497,97

3,4532

ZAR

South African rand

9,0622

___________
(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 72/2004 of 15 January 2004 concerning tenders notified in response to the invitation to tender for the import of maize issued in Regulation (EC) No 2315/2003
Date: 2004-01-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, import, maize, tariff reduction

16.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 10/27

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 72/2004

of 15 January 2004

concerning tenders notified in response to the invitation to tender for the import of maize issued
in Regulation (EC) No 2315/2003

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 1666/
2000 (2), and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,

(3)

(4)

On the basis of the criteria laid down in Articles 6 and 7
of Regulation (EC) No 1839/95 a maximum reduction in
the duty should not be fixed.

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

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(1)

(2)

An invitation to tender for the maximum reduction in
the duty on maize imported into Portugal from third
countries was opened pursuant to Commission Regu-
lation (EC) No 2315/2003 (3).

Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1839/
95 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2235/
2000 (5), allows the Commission to decide,
in accord-
ance with the procedure laid down in Article 23 of
Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 and on the basis of the
tenders notified, to make no award.

Article 1

No action shall be taken on the tenders notified from 9 to 15
January 2004 in response to the invitation to tender for the
reduction in the duty on imported maize issued in Regulation
(EC) No 2315/2003.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 16 January 2004.

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

Done at Brussels, 15 January 2004.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 342, 30.12.2003, p. 34.
(4) OJ L 177, 28.7.1995, p. 4.
(5) OJ L 256, 10.10.2000, p. 13.
Proposal for a Council decision on the system of dock dues in the French overseas departments and extending Decision 89/688/EEC (COM(2003) 792 ‐ C5-0656/2003 ‐ 2003/0308(CNS))
Date: 2004-01-15
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: French overseas department and region, local tax, tax exemption, tax system

C 92 E/382

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

16.4.2004

Thursday 15 January 2004

P5_TA(2004)0024

TEXTS ADOPTED

Dock dues in the French overseas departments *

Proposal for a Council decision on the system of dock dues in the French overseas departments
and extending Decision 89/688/EEC (COM(2003) 792 — C5-0656/2003 — 2003/0308(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The proposal was approved.

P5_TA(2004)0025

VAT on certain highly labour-intensive services *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council directive amending Direc-
tive 77/388/EEC to extend the facility allowing Member States to apply reduced rates of VAT to
certain labour-intensive services (COM(2003) 825 — C5-0653/2003 — 2003/0317(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2003) 825) (1),

— having regard to Article 93 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament

(C5-0653/2003),

— having regard to its position of 4 December 2003 on the proposal for a Council directive amending

Directive 77/388/EEC as regards reduced rates of value added tax (2),

— having regard to Rules 67 and 158(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (A5-0001/2004),

1.

2.

Approves the Commission proposal;

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal sub-

3.
stantially;

4.

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.
(2) P5_TA(2003)0547.
European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 77/388/EEC to extend the facility allowing Member States to apply reduced rates of VAT to certain labour-intensive services (COM(2003) 825 ‐ C5-0653/2003 ‐ 2003/0317(CNS))
Date: 2004-01-15
Institutions: Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Parliament
Subjects: VAT, VAT rate, labour force, provision of services, tax relief, wage cost

C 92 E/382

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

16.4.2004

Thursday 15 January 2004

P5_TA(2004)0024

TEXTS ADOPTED

Dock dues in the French overseas departments *

Proposal for a Council decision on the system of dock dues in the French overseas departments
and extending Decision 89/688/EEC (COM(2003) 792 — C5-0656/2003 — 2003/0308(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The proposal was approved.

P5_TA(2004)0025

VAT on certain highly labour-intensive services *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council directive amending Direc-
tive 77/388/EEC to extend the facility allowing Member States to apply reduced rates of VAT to
certain labour-intensive services (COM(2003) 825 — C5-0653/2003 — 2003/0317(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2003) 825) (1),

— having regard to Article 93 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament

(C5-0653/2003),

— having regard to its position of 4 December 2003 on the proposal for a Council directive amending

Directive 77/388/EEC as regards reduced rates of value added tax (2),

— having regard to Rules 67 and 158(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (A5-0001/2004),

1.

2.

Approves the Commission proposal;

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal sub-

3.
stantially;

4.

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.
(2) P5_TA(2003)0547.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 67/2004 of 15 January 2004 derogating from Regulation (EC) No 174/1999 as regards the term of validity of export licences in the milk and milk products sector
Date: 2004-01-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: export licence, milk, milk product

16.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 10/13

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 67/2004

of 15 January 2004

derogating from Regulation (EC) No 174/1999 as regards the term of validity of export licences in
the milk and milk products sector

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

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), and in particular Article 31(14) thereof,

(4)

(5)

A derogation from Regulation (EC) No 174/1999 should
therefore be made.

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

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Article 6 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 174/
1999 (2)
lays down the term of validity of export
licences.

The accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus,
Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and
Slovakia to the Community on 1 May 2004 will create a
new situation on the market in milk products, which
will require appropriate measures to be adopted for the
management of export refunds.

To enable the new management measures for export
refunds to take effect on the date of accession, the term
of validity of export licences for milk products for which
an application has been lodged up to 31 March 2004
should be limited to 30 April 2004.

Article 1

By way of derogation from Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No
174/1999, the term of validity of export licences with advance
fixing of the refund which are applied for up to 31 March
2004 in respect of the products referred to in points (a) to (d)
of that Article shall expire on 30 April 2004.

Article 2

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

It shall apply to export licences applied for as from the date of
its entry into force.

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

Done at Brussels, 15 January 2004.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 48. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 1787/2003 (OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 121).

(2) OJ L 20, 27.1.1999, p. 8. Regulation as last amended by Regulation

(EC) No 1948/2003 (OJ L 287, 5.11.2003, p. 13).
Commission Regulation (EC) No 66/2004 of 15 January 2004 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2004-01-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, pip fruit, stone fruit

16.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 10/11

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 66/2004

of 15 January 2004

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 particu-
lar 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 Regu-
lation (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex
hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 16 January 2004.

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

Done at Brussels, 15 January 2004.

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 10/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

16.1.2004

to the Commission Regulation of 15 January 2004 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
212
999

052
204
220
999

052
204
999

052
204
212
220
421
999

052
204
999

052
204
464
600
624
999

052
600
999

052
060
400
404
720
999

052
060
064
400
528
720
999

84,2
39,5
137,2
87,0

129,4
122,9
244,4
165,6

102,4
58,1
80,3

49,6
54,1
58,9
31,5
33,9
45,6

77,9
94,2
86,1

81,6
86,3
86,4
69,6
73,1
79,4

74,6
75,8
75,2

63,0
39,9
102,4
96,9
68,6
74,2

41,8
61,1
60,0
90,0
96,9
34,5
64,1

(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’.
Report by the Court of Auditors on the audit of the operational efficiency of the management of the European Central Bank for the financial year 2002 together with the replies of the European Central Bank
Date: 2004-01-15
Institutions: European Court of Auditors
Subjects: European Central Bank, European Court of Auditors, audit, financial year, management, report

20.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 45/27

Report by the Court of Auditors on the audit of the operational efficiency of the management of
the European Central Bank for the financial year 2002 together with the replies of the European
Central Bank

(2004/C 45/02)

1.
The Court’s audit was based on Article 27.2 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of
Central Banks and of the European Central Bank (ECB) annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity. By virtue of this Article, the Court is mandated to examine ‘the operational efficiency of the manage-
ment of the ECB’.

A rotational audit approach has been adopted for the audit of the ECB whereby different management

2.
fields are selected for examination each year.

The audit for 2002 dealt with the budgetary information systems in place and the contracting and

3.
management of external services.

In general, the audit found that the procedures in place were sufficient. However, some improvements

4.
could be made.

5.
With regard to budgetary procedures in place and related information systems, the Court encourages
the ECB to continue its efforts in consolidating the procedures for budget management and monitoring into a
single updated document and to continue developing a fully integrated informatics system for budgeting and
accounting.

6.
For the management of external services, the Court identified some areas for improvement. These areas
are related to the availability, in a homogenous format, of information at central level concerning contracts
concluded at a decentralised level including the reporting of exceptions to the procurement rules. Improve-
ments are also possible regarding documentation justifying recourse to external contractors and regarding the
procedures for performance reviews of these contracts.

This report was adopted by the Court of Auditors in Luxembourg at its meeting of 14 and 15 January 2004.

For the Court of Auditors

Juan Manuel FABRA VALLÉS

President

C 45/28

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.2.2004

REPLY OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

The European Central Bank (ECB) welcomes the report of the European Court of Auditors for the financial
year 2002 and expresses its appreciation of the Court’s opinion that in general the procedures in place were
sufficient. The ECB takes note of the helpful suggestions for improvement contained in the report and has
already initiated action to address these suggestions in its budgetary and procurement procedures.
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3287 — AGCO/Valtra) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-01-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agricultural machinery, economic concentration, exchange of information, merger control

C 11/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

15.1.2004

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3287 — AGCO/Valtra)

(2004/C 11/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 12 December 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 303M3287. 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.

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3362 — RBS/BSCH/Britax)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2004/C 11/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 5 January 2004 the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (2),
whereby the undertakings Royal Bank Investments Ltd (‘RBI’), controlled by the Royal Bank of Scotland
Group plc (‘RBS’) and Capital Riesgo Global SCR, SA (‘CRG’) controlled by Banco Santander Central
Hispano SA (‘BSCH’ acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Regulation joint control of the
undertaking Britax International plc (‘Britax’), currently solely controlled by RBI, by way of purchase of
shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— RBI: private equity investment,

— RBS: banking, insurance and related financial services,

— CRG: private equity investment,

— BSCH: banking and related financial services,

— Britax: aircraft interior systems, childcare safety systems, specialised vehicle systems (such as light bars

for emergency vehicles, video surveillance and speed measurement systems and others).

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.

(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.
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3339 — Telenor/Sonofon) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-01-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, merger control, mobile phone, telecommunications

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11/13

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.3362 — RBS/BSCH/Britax, to:

European Commission,
Directorate-General for Competition,
Merger Registry,
J-70,
B-1049 Brussels.

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3339 — Telenor/Sonofon)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2004/C 11/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 5 January 2004 the Commission received a 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 Norwegian undertaking Telenor ASA (‘Telenor’), controlled by the Norwegian State, acquires
within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Regulation control of the whole of the Danish undertaking
Sonofon (‘Sonofon’) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— Telenor: telecommunication services and related activities,

— Sonofon: mobile telephony and telecommunication services in Denmark.

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.3339 — Telenor/Sonofon, 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.