do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions given at its 346th meeting on 28 October 2002 concerning a preliminary draft decision on Case COMP/37.784 — Fine Art Auction Houses
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions
Subjects: advisory committee (EU), auction sale, fine, opinion, unlawful agreement, work of art

C 187/18

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.7.2005

Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions given
at its 346th meeting on 28 October 2002 concerning a preliminary draft decision on Case
COMP/37.784 — Fine Art Auction Houses

(2005/C 187/14)

1. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the basic amounts of the fines as regards:

(a) the gravity of the infringement,

(b) the duration of the infringement.

2. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the final amounts of the fines.

The Advisory Committee asks the Commission to take into account all the other points raised during
the discussion.
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3804 — Continental/Xtra Print) Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: disclosure of information, economic concentration, merger control, motor vehicle industry, pneumatic tyre, printing, restrictive-practice authorisation, rubber industry

C 187/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.7.2005

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3804 — Continental/Xtra Print)

(2005/C 187/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 4 July 2005, 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 (EC)
No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is
cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

— from the Europa competition web site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This
web site provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case
number, date and sectoral indexes,

— in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32005M3804. EUR-Lex is the on-

line access to European law. (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex)
Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: State aid, United Kingdom, aid to undertakings, control of State aid, small and medium-sized enterprises

30.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 187/7

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission
Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC
Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises

(2005/C 187/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

XS 116/03

United Kingdom

North East of England

White Rose Enterprises

Industrial Development Act 1982 Sections 7 & 11
Section 2 Local Government Act 2000

Aid No

Member State

Region

Title of aid scheme or name of
company receiving individual aid

Legal basis

Annual
overall
granted to the company

expenditure
amount of

planned
individual

Aid scheme

or
aid

Annual overall amount

Loans guaranteed

Individual aid

Overall aid amount

GBP 515 808

Loans guaranteed

Maximum aid intensity

In conformity with Article 4(2)-(6) and Article 5
of the Regulation

Yes

Date of implementation

5.11.2003

Duration of the scheme or individual
aid award

Until 31.12.2005

Objective of aid

Economic sectors

Aid to SMEs

All sectors eligible for aid to SMEs

Yes

Yes

Limited to specific sectors

— Coalmining

— All manufacturing

or

Steel

Shipbuilding

Synthetic fibres

Motor vehicles

Other manufacturing

— All services

or

Transport services

Financial services

Other services

Name and address of
authority

the granting

Name:
Government Office for the North East
European Programmes Secretariat

Address:
Wellbar House
Gallowgate
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4TD

C 187/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.7.2005

Large individual aid grants

In conformity with Article 6 of the Regulation

The measure excludes awards of aid or requires
prior notification to the Commission of awards
of aid,

(a) if the total eligible costs are at least EUR

25 million and

— the gross aid intensity is at least 50 %,
— in areas which qualify for regional aid,
the net aid intensity is at least 50 %; or

(b) if the total gross aid amount is at least EUR

15 million.
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3841 — Valoriza Gestion/Aguas de las Palmas) Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: disclosure of information, economic concentration, merger control, restrictive-practice authorisation, service industry, waste management, water supply

30.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 187/5

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3841 — Valoriza Gestion/Aguas de las Palmas)

(2005/C 187/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 22 July 2005, 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
(EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in Spanish and will be made public after it
is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

— from the Europa competition web site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This
web site provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case
number, date and sectoral indexes,

— in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32005M3841. EUR-Lex is the on-

line access to European law. (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex)

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3578 — BP/Nova Chemicals/JV)

(2005/C 187/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 1 July 2005, 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 (EC)
No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is
cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

— from the Europa competition web site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This
web site provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case
number, date and sectoral indexes,

— in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32005M3578. EUR-Lex is the on-

line access to European law. (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex)
Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.3578 — BP/Nova Chemicals/JV) Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: chemical industry, disclosure of information, economic concentration, merger control, oil industry, restrictive-practice authorisation

30.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 187/5

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3841 — Valoriza Gestion/Aguas de las Palmas)

(2005/C 187/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 22 July 2005, 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
(EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in Spanish and will be made public after it
is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

— from the Europa competition web site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This
web site provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case
number, date and sectoral indexes,

— in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32005M3841. EUR-Lex is the on-

line access to European law. (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex)

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.3578 — BP/Nova Chemicals/JV)

(2005/C 187/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

On 1 July 2005, 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 (EC)
No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is
cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

— from the Europa competition web site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/cases/). This
web site provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case
number, date and sectoral indexes,

— in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32005M3578. EUR-Lex is the on-

line access to European law. (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex)
Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions given at its 345th meeting on 18 October 2002 concerning a preliminary draft decision in Case COMP/37.784 — Fine Art Auction Houses
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions
Subjects: advisory committee (EU), auction sale, opinion, unlawful agreement, work of art

30.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 187/17

Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions given
at its 345th meeting on 18 October 2002 concerning a preliminary draft decision in Case
COMP/37.784 — Fine Art Auction Houses

(2005/C 187/13)

1. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the addressees of the Draft Decision have
participated in a continuing agreement or/and a concerted practice concerning the sale by auction of
fine art sector contrary to Article 81(1) EC Treaty and 53(1) of the EEA Agreement.

2. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the relevant product market is the sale

through auction of ‘fine art objects’ just as it has been defined in the Draft Decision.

3. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the geographical market is at least EEA

wide.

4. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the continuing agreement had an appred-
able effect upon trade between EU Member States and between contracting parties of the EEA Agree-
ment.

5. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the gravity of the infringement.

6. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the duration of the infringement.

7. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that there are neither attenuating nor aggra-

vating circumstances.

8. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that Sotheby's has not shown inability to pay in

a specific social context.

9. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the application of the Commission's

Leniency Notice.

10. The Advisory Committee asks the Commission to take into account all the other points raised during

the discussion.

11. The Advisory Committee recommends the publication of its opinion in the Official Journal of the Euro-

pean Communities.
Euro exchange rates
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, exchange rate

30.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 187/1

I

(Information)

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

29 July 2005

(2005/C 187/01)

1 euro =

Currency

Exchange rate

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

JPY

DKK

GBP

SEK

CHF

ISK

NOK

BGN

CYP

CZK

EEK

HUF

LTL

LVL

MTL

PLN

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

Latvian lats

Maltese lira

Polish zloty

RON

Romanian leu

1,2093

135,91

7,4591

0,6893

9,4048

1,5607

78,32

7,887

1,9557

0,5738

30,15

15,6466

244,99

3,4528

0,696

0,4293

4,0715

3,5164

SIT

SKK

TRY

Slovenian tolar

Slovak koruna

Turkish lira

AUD Australian dollar

CAD

HKD

Canadian dollar

Hong Kong dollar

NZD New Zealand dollar

SGD

Singapore dollar

239,51

38,935

1,6102

1,5904

1,4856

9,3991

1,7697

2,01

KRW South Korean won

1 241,89

ZAR

CNY

HRK

IDR

South African rand

Chinese yuan renminbi

Croatian kuna

8,0204

9,8021

7,303

Indonesian rupiah

11 857,19

MYR Malaysian ringgit

PHP

RUB

THB

Philippine peso

Russian rouble

Thai baht

4,5352

67,848

34,656

50,385

(1) Source:

reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M. 3886 — Aster 2/Flint Ink) Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, merger control, packaging, printing

C 187/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.7.2005

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M. 3886 — Aster 2/Flint Ink)

(2005/C 187/04)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 20 July 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Aster 2 S.A. (‘Aster’,
Luxembourg), belonging to the CVC group, acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council
Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Flint Ink Corporation (‘Flint’ , USA) by way of purchase
of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— Aster: via its subsidiaries in the Xsys group, it is active in printing inks, printing plates and pigments;

— Flint: production and marketing of printing inks and accessories for the publication and packaging

industries.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the

3.
scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed

4.
operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post,
under reference number COMP/M.3886 — Aster 2/Flint Ink, to the following address:

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

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.
Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: State aid, aid for restructuring, aid to undertakings, control of State aid, research and development

30.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 187/15

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

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2005/C 187/11)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Date of decision: 27 April 2005

Date of adoption: 1 June 2005

Member State: Greece

Aid No: N 67/2005

Title: Amendment of the R&D aid scheme N 329/2002
Legal basis: Π. ∆. 274/2000
Objective(s): Aid for R&D

Budget: EUR 25 000 000,00

Duration: From to 31.12.2006

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confiden-
tial information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption of the decision: 7 June 2005

Member State: Italy

Aid No: N 91/05

Title: Rescue Aid in favour of Computer Manufacturing
Services S.p.A.

Objective: Rescue aid

Legal basis: Legge 3 aprile 1979 n.95 — Conversione in legge,
con modificazioni, del decreto-legge 30 gennaio 1979 n. 26 recante
‘provvedimenti urgenti per l'amministrazione straordinaria delle grandi
imprese in crisi’ (art. 2 bis). Decreto Legislativo 8 luglio 1999, n.
270 — ‘Nuova disciplina dell'amministrazione straordinaria delle
grandi impresi in stato di insolvenza, a norma dell'articolo 1 della
legge 30 luglio 1998, n. 274’ pubblicato nella Gazzetta Ufficiale n.
185 del 9 agosto 1999 (Artt. 55, 58 e 109)

Aid amount: EUR 2 500 000

Duration: 6 months

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confiden-
tial information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Member States: Lithuania

Aid No: N 584/2004

Title: Aid to AB Vingriai, debt waiver

Objective: Restructuring

Legal basis: Lietuvos Respublikos Valstybes Skolos
Valstybes Žinios, 1996, Nr. 86-2045, 2004, Nr. 4-31.

Įstatymas,

Lietuvos Respublikos Valstybinio Socialinio Draudimo Įstatymas,
Valstybes Žinios, 1991, Nr. 17-447

Aid intensity or amount: LTL 7 000 000 (EUR 2 000 000)

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confiden-
tial information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/

Date of adoption: 7 June 2005

Member States: United Kingdom

Aid No: NN 42/05

Title: Aid to MG Rover, loan

Objective: Rescue

Legal basis: Industrial Development Act 1982 Section 7

Aid intensity or amount: GBP 6 500 000

Duration: 7 days

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confiden-
tial information has been removed, can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids/
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3906 — 3i Group/PIHL) — Candidate case for simplified procedure Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, investment company, management, merger control, parking area, road traffic, service

30.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 187/3

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3906 — 3i Group/PIHL)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 187/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 25 July 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which 3i Group pcl and funds managed by 3i
Investments plc (together ‘3i’, UK) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation
control of the whole of the undertaking Parking International Holdings Limited (‘PIHL’, UK), by way of
purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— for 3i:international private equity firm,

— for PIHL: parking and traffic management services.

3.
On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the
scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 (EC) No 139/2004 (2) 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 their possible observations on the proposed

4.
operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post,
under reference number COMP/M.3906 — 3i Group/PIHL, to the following address:

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

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.
Notice concerning the entry into force of the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Romania, accession to the European Union, association agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement

30.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 200/91

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

Notice concerning the entry into force of the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement
establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the
one part, and Romania, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic,
the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania,
the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia
and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

The Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement with Romania, to take account of the accession of ten
new Member States to the European Union, which the Council and the Commission decided to conclude on
25 April 2005 (1), enters into force on 1 August 2005, the last notifications of the completion of
procedures under Article 10 of that Protocol having been received on 14 July 2005.

(1) OJ L 155, 17.6.2005, p. 26.
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.3899 — Danaher/Leica MS) — Candidate case for simplified procedure Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2005-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, exchange of information, measuring equipment, mechanical equipment, medical device, merger control, precision engineering, technology

C 187/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.7.2005

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.3899 — Danaher/Leica MS)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(2005/C 187/02)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 22 July 2005, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Danaher Corporation
(Danaher, USA) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the
whole of the undertaking Leica Microsystems AG (Leica MS, Germany) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— for Danaher: Professional Instrumentation (Environmental, Electronic Test, Medical Technology), Indus-
trial Technologies (Motion, Product Identification), and Tools & Components (Mechanics Hand Tools);

— for Leica MS: High-Precision Optical Instruments and Analysis of Micro-Structures.

3.
On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the
scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. 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 (EC) No 139/2004 (2) 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 their possible observations on the proposed

4.
operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post,
under reference number COMP/M.3899 — Danaher/Leica MS, to the following address:

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

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.