Article 1 
With effect from 1 January 2004, the weightings applicable to the remuneration of officials of the European Communities serving in third countries payable in the currency of the country of employment shall be as shown in the Annex. The exchange rates for the calculation of such remuneration shall be those used for implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the month preceding the date referred to in the first paragraph.
Article 2 
1. The institutions shall make back-payments in the event of an increase in remuneration as a result of the weightings shown in the Annex. 2. The institutions shall make retrospective downward adjustments to remuneration in the event of a reduction as a result of the weightings shown in the Annex for the period between 1 January 2004 and the date of entry into force of this Regulation. Retrospective adjustments involving the recovery of sums overpaid shall be restricted to a period of no more than six months preceding the date of entry into force of this Regulation. Recovery shall be spread over no more than 12 months from that date.
Article 3 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .