do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3103 — General Electric Consumer Finance/Abbey National) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, financial institution, merger control, processing industry, service, technology

C 60/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

9.3.2004

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3103 — General Electric Consumer Finance/Abbey National)

(2004/C 60/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 27 March 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 303M3103. 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.3377 — Vestar Capital/OGF)

(2004/C 60/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 20 February 2004, 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 304M3377. 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.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0677/04 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Bushmeat: timber concession wildlife management.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Africa, EU environmental policy, environmental protection, forestry holding, game meat

C 88 E/704

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0724)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0677/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Bushmeat: timber concession wildlife management

(9 March 2004)

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000, will the
Commission support measures to introduce timber concession wildlife management in Central and West
Africa by the industry and conservation NGOs? Does the Commission propose to take any specific steps to
promote sustainable wildlife management by logging companies?

(2004/C 88 E/0725)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0678/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Bushmeat (cid:1) Biodiversity Action Plan

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000 and the 2000
Biodiversity Action Plan, what investments have been made to support improved management of wildlife
to achieve Biodiversity Action Plan targets?

(2004/C 88 E/0726)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0681/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Bushmeat (cid:1) poverty assessments

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000, will the
Commission fund research into the importance of bushmeat/wildlife in poor people’s livelihoods,
particularly in West and Central Africa?

What action has been taken by the Commission to integrate criteria into its poverty assessments and
country strategy papers that take account of the importance that wildlife/bushmeat has in the livelihoods
of the poor in West and Central African countries? Will the Commission publish these criteria? And will
measures be taken to integrate these considerations into existing strategies and assessments?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0676/04, E-0677/04, E-0678/04 and E-0681/04
given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2004)

With respect to Country Strategy Papers, the Mid Term Review currently being conducted requires, for
African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, a Country Environmental Profile (CEP) as an annex to the
including those of
review documents. This CEP should identify important environmental
biodiversity and bushmeat and thus be a basis for further dialogue with the partner country in order to
address the problems. Specific criteria remain to be decided.

issues,

The Commission does not carry out its own poverty assessments, but uses those carried out by other
donors or national governments.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0678/04 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Bushmeat — Biodiversity Action Plan.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Africa, EU environmental policy, EU financing, action programme, environmental cooperation, environmental protection

C 88 E/704

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0724)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0677/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Bushmeat: timber concession wildlife management

(9 March 2004)

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000, will the
Commission support measures to introduce timber concession wildlife management in Central and West
Africa by the industry and conservation NGOs? Does the Commission propose to take any specific steps to
promote sustainable wildlife management by logging companies?

(2004/C 88 E/0725)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0678/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Bushmeat (cid:1) Biodiversity Action Plan

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000 and the 2000
Biodiversity Action Plan, what investments have been made to support improved management of wildlife
to achieve Biodiversity Action Plan targets?

(2004/C 88 E/0726)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0681/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Bushmeat (cid:1) poverty assessments

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000, will the
Commission fund research into the importance of bushmeat/wildlife in poor people’s livelihoods,
particularly in West and Central Africa?

What action has been taken by the Commission to integrate criteria into its poverty assessments and
country strategy papers that take account of the importance that wildlife/bushmeat has in the livelihoods
of the poor in West and Central African countries? Will the Commission publish these criteria? And will
measures be taken to integrate these considerations into existing strategies and assessments?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0676/04, E-0677/04, E-0678/04 and E-0681/04
given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2004)

With respect to Country Strategy Papers, the Mid Term Review currently being conducted requires, for
African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, a Country Environmental Profile (CEP) as an annex to the
including those of
review documents. This CEP should identify important environmental
biodiversity and bushmeat and thus be a basis for further dialogue with the partner country in order to
address the problems. Specific criteria remain to be decided.

issues,

The Commission does not carry out its own poverty assessments, but uses those carried out by other
donors or national governments.
Euro exchange rates
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, exchange rate

9.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 60/1

I

(Information)

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

8 March 2004

(2004/C 60/01)

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

1,2356

138,60

7,4519

0,6678

9,1652

1,5822

87,05

8,651

1,9463

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

0,58589

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

33,085

NZD

New Zealand dollar

15,6466

SGD

Singapore dollar

Exchange
rate

0,6646

0,4264

4,8076

39 850

238,07

40,565

1 632 846

1,6322

1,636

9,6269

1,8291

2,1133

254,05

KRW

South Korean won

1 449,91

3,4528

ZAR

South African rand

8,1608

___________
(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3398 — Hewlett-Packard/Triaton) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: computer systems, economic concentration, exchange of information, merger control

C 60/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

9.3.2004

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3398 — Hewlett-Packard/Triaton)

(2004/C 60/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 27 February 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), by which the US undertaking Hewlett-Packard (‘HP’) acquires within the meaning of Article
3(1)(b) of the Regulation control of the whole of the German undertaking Triaton GmbH and its
subsidiaries, belonging to the ThyssenKrupp Services AG group, by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— HP: global provider of computing hardware (including personal computers, handheld information
devices, workstations, servers and storage solutions), imaging solutions (including printers), software
and Information Technology (IT) services,

— Triaton: privder of IT services to companies within the ThyssenKrupp group and to a range of other

clients.

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.

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.3398 — Hewlett-Packard/Triaton, 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.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0694/04 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. Auditing the Commission's external activity.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Development Fund, audit, management audit

C 84 E/846

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Commission is approaching use of sex-based actuarial factors in second and third pillar pension
schemes on a step-by-step basis. The question of the use of sex-based actuarial factors in second pillar
pension schemes was considered by the Commission, Parliament and Council in 1986 in the context of
Directive 86/378/EEC, and again in 1996 in the context of Directive 96/97/EC. On each occasion,
the outcome has been that the use of such factors should continue to be permitted. At present, the
Commission is continuing with the discussions in the Council in relation to third pillar pensions covered
by its proposal based on Article 13 EC. Therefore, the Commission does not consider it would be
appropriate to propose a revised version of Directive 86/378/EEC addressing second pillar pensions at this
stage while those discussions in relation to third pillar pensions are continuing.

(1) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997.

(2004/C 84 E/0939)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0694/04

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Auditing the Commission’s external activity

Point 61 of EP report A5-0040/2004 calls on the Internal Audit Service (IAS) to make an assessment of
the legality and regularity of contracts made and subsidies granted by these [sic] services.

Can the Commission confirm whether funding carried out by the EDF is included in the contracts which
are going to be audited by the IAS under this point?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(15 April 2004)

The Internal Audit Service (IAS) is currently finalising its audit of the Europe Aid and Co-operation Office
(AIDCO) Directorate-General in line with the objectives of the Reform White Paper.

One of the objectives of the audit was the examination of the AIDCO financial circuits for commitments
and payments for European Development Funds (EDF) resources, made after the entry into force of the
new 9th EDF Financial Regulation and within the effective devolution framework. The non-devolved
delegations were not specifically addressed and the parameters were also set so as to avoid duplication
with the ongoing separate but parallel evaluation of the devolution process.

(2004/C 84 E/0940)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0697/04

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: State aid to credit unions

Can the Commission confirm what are the State aid regulations for small credit unions serving identified
local areas?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0669/04 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Professional qualifications.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, application of EU law, health care profession, recognition of diplomas, recognition of vocational training qualifications, town-planning profession

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/703

The Commission has contacted the Spanish authorities in order to obtain further information on the type
of service involved and the circumstances of the tender.

As the Honourable Member points out, and as is clear from the current EU regulatory framework,
compliance with EU public procurement rules is an essential requirement for any project financed with
Community funds.

(2004/C 88 E/0722)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0669/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Professional qualifications

What reply if any has the Commission received from the Irish Government in response to the reasoned
opinion sent to Ireland, as announced in IP/03/1406, regarding Ireland’s failure to implement by the
1 January 2003 deadline Directive 2001/19/EC (1)?

What action has the Commission taken or is it proposing to take in this matter?

(1) OJ L 206, 31.7.2001, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2004)

In the meantime, Ireland has notified measures for all the professions covered by Directive 2001/19/EC of
the Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2001 amending Council Directives 89/48/EEC and 92/51/
EEC on the general system for the recognition of professional qualifications and Council Directives 77/
452/EEC, 77/453/EEC, 78/686/EEC, 78/687/EEC, 78/1026/EEC, 78/1027/EEC, 80/154/EEC, 80/155/EEC,
85/384/EEC, 85/432/EEC, 85/433/EEC and 93/16/EEC concerning the professions of nurse responsible for
general care, dental practitioner, veterinary surgeon, midwife, architect, pharmacist and doctor.

The competent Commission services will therefore soon propose the College to close the infringement
procedure for non communication of national implementation measures.

(2004/C 88 E/0723)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0676/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Bushmeat (cid:1) resource allocation

Following the European Parliament’s support for the De Rossa report on Petition 461/2000, what funding
has been released or is planned to be made available to improve wildlife management? And what resources
are planned to support the incorporation of wildlife/bushmeat criteria into poverty assessments?
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3394 — Johnson & Johnson/Johnson & Johnson MSD Europe) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, merger control, pharmaceutical product

9.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 60/3

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3394 — Johnson & Johnson/Johnson & Johnson MSD Europe)

(2004/C 60/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 27 February 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), by which Johnson & Johnson (‘J&J’, US) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of
the Regulation control of the whole of Johnson & Johnson MSD Europe Joint Venture (‘JV’) previously a
cooperative joint venture with Merck & Co., by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— J&J: active in production and selling of consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diag-

nostics,

— JV: active in production and selling of pharmaceutical products.

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.

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.3394 — Johnson & Johnson/Johnson & Johnson MSD Europe, 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.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 431/2004 of 9 March 2004 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, perennial vegetable, pip fruit, stone fruit

10.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 71/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 431/2004

of 9 March 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,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 of
21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the application of the
import arrangements for fruit and vegetables (1), and in particu-
lar Article 4(1) thereof,

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.

(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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

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 10 March 2004.

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

Done at Brussels, 9 March 2004.

For the Commission

J. M. SILVA RODRÍGUEZ

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 337, 24.12.1994, p. 66. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 1947/2002 (OJ L 299, 1.11.2002, p. 17).

L 71/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

10.3.2004

to the Commission Regulation of 9 March 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 10 00

0709 90 70

0805 10 10, 0805 10 30, 0805 10 50

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
068
204
999

220
999

052
204
628
999

052
204
212
220
400
624
999

052
999

060
388
400
404
508
512
524
528
720
999

060
388
400
512
528
720
999

84,6
65,7
120,5
90,3

147,8
106,2
44,3
99,4

80,1
80,1

106,8
60,1
136,0
101,0

47,2
48,4
59,1
45,2
44,1
75,1
53,2

46,0
46,0

43,3
107,3
108,6
91,1
85,5
95,7
70,1
91,2
81,7
86,1

66,7
72,9
84,3
58,2
76,7
70,3
71,5

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2081/2003 (OJ L 313, 28.11.2003, p. 11). Code ‘999’ stands for

‘of other origin’.
European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on waste (codified version) (COM(2003) 731 ‐ C5-0577/2003 ‐ 2003/0283(COD))
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: Committee on Legal Affairs, European Parliament
Subjects: codification of EU law, waste, waste management

C 102 E/106

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

28.4.2004

Tuesday 9 March 2004

TEXTS ADOPTED

P5_TA(2004)0123

Waste ***I

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council
directive on waste (codified version) (COM(2003) 731 — C5-0577/2003 — 2003/0283(COD))

(Codecision procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2003)

731) (1),

— having regard to Articles 251(2) and 175 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission sub-

mitted the proposal to Parliament (C5-0577/2003),

— having regard to Rules 67, 89 and 158(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of

the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market

(A5-0117/2004),

1.

Approves the Commission proposal;

Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend its proposal

2.
substantially or replace it with another text;

3.

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

(1) Not yet published in OJ.

P5_TA(2004)0124

Extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs ***I

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council
directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in
foodstuffs and food ingredients (codified version)
(COM(2003) 467 —
the production of
C5-0364/2003 — 2003/0181(COD))

(Codecision procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2003)

467) (1),

(1) Not yet published in OJ.