title: Council Decision (EU) 2019/483 of 19 March 2019 on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee, concerning the amendment of Annex IX (Financial services) to the EEA Agreement (Capital Requirements Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR) and Directive 2013/36/EU (CRD IV)) (Text with EEA relevance.)

text:
                  25.3.2019

                  EN

                  Official Journal of the European Union

                  L 82/29

         COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2019/483
         of 19 March 2019
         on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee, concerning the amendment of Annex IX (Financial services) to the EEA Agreement (Capital Requirements Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR) and Directive 2013/36/EU (CRD IV))
         (Text with EEA relevance)
         THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
         Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
         Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 of 28 November 1994 concerning arrangements for implementing the Agreement on the European Economic Area (1), and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,
         Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
         Whereas:

                     (1)

                     The Agreement on the European Economic Area (2) (‘the EEA Agreement’) entered into force on 1 January 1994.

                     (2)

                     Pursuant to Article 98 of the EEA Agreement, the EEA Joint Committee may decide to amend, inter alia, Annex IX to that Agreement, which contains provisions on financial services.

                     (3)

                     Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) and Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) are to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.

                     (4)

                     Annex IX to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly.

                     (5)

                     The position of the Union within the EEA Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decision,

               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

            Article 1
            The position to be adopted, on behalf of the Union, within the EEA Joint Committee on the proposed amendment of Annex IX (Financial services) to the EEA Agreement, shall be based on the draft decision of the EEA Joint Committee attached to this Decision.

            Article 2
            This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

            Done at Brussels, 19 March 2019.

                  For the Council

                  The President

               G. CIAMBA

            (1)  OJ L 305, 30.11.1994, p. 6.

            (2)  OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3.

            (3)  Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 1).

            (4)  Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 338).

            DRAFT
            DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No …/2019
            of …
            amending Annex IX (Financial services) to the EEA Agreement
            THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,
            Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (‘the EEA Agreement’), and in particular Article 98 thereof,
            Whereas:

                        (1)

                        Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (1), as corrected by OJ L 208, 2.8.2013, p. 68, OJ L 321, 30.11.2013, p. 6 and OJ L 20, 25.1.2017, p. 2, is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.

                        (2)

                        Regulation (EU) 2017/2395 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 as regards transitional arrangements for mitigating the impact of the introduction of IFRS 9 on own funds and for the large exposures treatment of certain public sector exposures denominated in the domestic currency of any Member State (2), is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.

                        (3)

                        Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC (3), as corrected by OJ L 208, 2.8.2013, p. 73 and OJ L 20, 25.1.2017, p. 1, is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.

                        (4)

                        Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 and Directive 2013/36/EU refer to ‘EU parent institutions’, ‘EU parent financial holding companies’ and ‘EU parent mixed financial holding companies’, which in the context of the EEA Agreement are understood as referring to entities fulfilling the relevant definitions set out in the Regulation that are established in an EEA Contracting Party and which are not subsidiaries of any other institution set up in any other EEA Contracting Party.

                        (5)

                        Directive 2013/36/EU repeals Directives 2006/48/EC (4) and 2006/49/EC (5) of the European Parliament and of the Council, which are incorporated into the EEA Agreement and which are consequently to be repealed under the EEA Agreement.

                        (6)

                        The potential for unwarranted reductions in own funds requirements from the use of internal models has, inter alia, been limited by national legislation implementing Article 152 of Directive 2006/48/EC, which, by the end of 2017 was replaced by Article 500 of Regulation (EU) 575/2013. There are, however, still several other provisions in Regulation (EU) 575/2013 and Directive 2013/36/EU which allow competent authorities to address the same issue, including the possibility for measures to counterbalance unwarranted reductions in the riskweighted exposure amounts, see for instance Article 104 of Directive 2013/36/EU, and to impose prudent margins of conservatism in the calibration of internal models, see for instance Article 144 of Regulation (EU) 575/2013 and Article 101 of Directive 2013/36/EU.

                        (7)

                        Annex IX to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly,

                  HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

               Article 1
               Annex IX to the EEA Agreement shall be amended as follows:

                           1.

                           The text of point 14 (Directive 2006/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council) is replaced by the following:
                           ‘32013 L 0036: Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 338), as corrected by OJ L 208, 2.8.2013, p. 73 and OJ L 20, 25.1.2017, p. 1.
                           The provisions of the Directive shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be read with the following adaptations:

                                       (a)

                                       Notwithstanding the provisions of Protocol 1 to this Agreement, and unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement, the terms “Member State(s)” and “competent authorities” shall be understood to include, in addition to their meaning in the Directive, the EFTA States and their competent authorities, respectively.

                                       (b)

                                       References to “ESCB central banks” or to “central banks” shall be understood to include, in addition to their meaning in the Directive, the national central banks of the EFTA States.

                                       (c)

                                       References to other acts in the Directive shall apply to the extent and in the form that those acts are incorporated into this Agreement.

                                       (d)

                                       References to the powers of EBA under Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council in the Directive shall be understood as referring, in the cases provided for in and in accordance with point 31g of this Annex, to the powers of the EFTA Surveillance Authority as regards the EFTA States.

                                       (e)

                                       In Article 2(5), the following point shall be inserted:

                                                   “(11a)

                                                   In Iceland, the “Byggðastofnun”, the “Íbúðalánasjóður” and the “Lánasjóður sveitarfélaga ohf.”;”

                                       (f)

                                       In Article 6, the following subparagraph is added to point (a):
                                       “The competent authorities of the EFTA States cooperate with trust and full mutual respect, in particular when ensuring the flow of appropriate and reliable information between them and the parties to the ESFS and with the EFTA Surveillance Authority. Competent authorities of the EU Member States shall cooperate with the competent authorities of the EFTA States in the same manner.”

                                       (g)

                                       Article 47(3) shall not apply as regards the EFTA States. An EFTA State may, through agreements concluded with one or more third countries, agree to apply provisions which accord to branches of a credit institution having its head office in a third country identical treatment on the territory of that EFTA State.
                                       The Contracting Parties shall inform and consult each other prior to concluding agreements with third countries on the basis of Article 47(3) or the first paragraph of this point, as the case may be.
                                       Whenever the European Union negotiates with one or more third countries towards the conclusion of an agreement on the basis of Article 47(3), and such an agreement pertains to obtain national treatment or effective market access for branches of credit institutions having their head office in a Member State of the European Union in the third countries concerned, the European Union shall endeavour to obtain equal treatment for branches of credit institutions having their head office in an EFTA State.

                                       (h)

                                       Article 48 shall not apply. Where an EFTA State concludes an agreement with one or more third countries regarding the means of exercising supervision on a consolidated basis over institutions the parent undertakings of which have their head offices in a third country and institutions situated in third countries the parent undertakings of which, whether institutions, financial holding companies or mixed financial holding companies, have their head offices in that EFTA State, that agreement shall seek to ensure that EBA is able to obtain from the competent authority of that EFTA State the information received from national authorities of third countries in accordance with Article 35 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010.

                                       (i)

                                       In Article 53(2), the words “or, as the case may be, the EFTA Surveillance Authority” shall be inserted before the words “in accordance with this Directive”.

                                       (j)

                                       In Article 58(1)(d), the words “or, as the case may be, the EFTA Surveillance Authority” shall be inserted after the word “ESMA”.

                                       (k)

                                       In Article 89(5), the words “future Union legislative acts for disclosure obligations” shall be replaced by the words “future legislative acts applicable pursuant to the EEA Agreement provide for disclosure obligations that”.

                                       (l)

                                       In Article 114(1), as regards Liechtenstein, the words “an ESCB central bank” shall be replaced by the words “the competent authority”.

                                       (m)

                                       In the second subparagraph of Article 117(1), the words “or the EFTA Surveillance Authority, as the case may be,” shall be inserted after the word “EBA”.

                                       (n)

                                       In Article 133(14) and (15), the words “or, as regards the EFTA States, the Standing Committee of the EFTA States” shall be inserted after the words “the Commission”.

                                       (o)

                                       In Article 151(1), as regards the EFTA States, the words “a decision of the EEA Joint Committee containing” shall be inserted after the words “in accordance with”.’

                           2.

                           The following is inserted after point 14 (Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council):

                                       ‘14a.

                                          32013 R 0575: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 1), as corrected by OJ L 208, 2.8.2013, p. 68, OJ L 321, 30.11.2013, p. 6 and OJ L 20, 25.1.2017, p. 2, as amended by:

                                                   —

                                                      32017 R 2395: Regulation (EU) 2017/2395 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 (OJ L 345, 27.12.2017, p. 27).
                                                   The provisions of the Regulation shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be read with the following adaptations:

                                                               (a)

                                                               Notwithstanding the provisions of Protocol 1 to this Agreement, and unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement, the terms “Member State(s)” and “competent authorities” shall be understood to include, in addition to their meaning in the Regulation, the EFTA States and their competent authorities, respectively.

                                                               (b)

                                                               References to “ESCB central banks” or to “central banks” shall be understood to include, in addition to their meaning in the Regulation, the national central banks of the EFTA States

                                                               (c)

                                                               References to other acts in the Regulation shall apply to the extent and in the form that those acts are incorporated into this Agreement.

                                                               (d)

                                                               References to the powers of EBA under Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council in the Regulation shall be understood as referring, in the cases provided for in and in accordance with point 31g of this Annex, to the powers of the EFTA Surveillance Authority as regards the EFTA States.

                                                               (e)

                                                               In point (75) of Article 4(1), the words “Norway and” shall be inserted before the word “Sweden”.

                                                               (f)

                                                               In Article 31(1)(b), as regards the EFTA States, the words “the Commission” shall read “the EFTA Surveillance Authority”.

                                                               (g)

                                                               In paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 80, the words “or, in case an EFTA State is concerned, the EFTA Surveillance Authority” shall be inserted after the words “the Commission”.

                                                               (h)

                                                               In Articles 329(4), 344(2), 352(6), 358(4) and 416(5), as regards the EFTA States, the words “the decisions of the EEA Joint Committee containing” shall be inserted after the words “entry into force of”.

                                                               (i)

                                                               In Article 395:

                                                                           (i)

                                                                           in paragraphs 7 and 8, as regards the EFTA States, the words “the Council,” shall not apply;

                                                                           (ii)

                                                                           as regards the EFTA States, the first subparagraph of paragraph 8 shall read as follows:
                                                                           “The power to adopt a decision to accept or reject the proposed national measure referred to in paragraph 7 is conferred on the Standing Committee of the EFTA States.”

                                                                           (iii)

                                                                           the first sentence of the second subparagraph of paragraph 8 shall be replaced by the following:
                                                                           “Within one month of receiving the notification referred to in paragraph 7, EBA shall provide its opinion on the points mentioned in that paragraph to the Council, the Commission and the Member State concerned or, where its opinion concerns national measures proposed by an EFTA State, to the Standing Committee of the EFTA States and the EFTA State concerned.”

                                                               (j)

                                                               In Article 458:

                                                                           (i)

                                                                           as regards the EFTA States, the first subparagraph of paragraph 2 shall read as follows:
                                                                           “Where the authority determined in accordance with paragraph 1 identifies changes in the intensity of macroprudential or systemic risk in the financial system with the potential to have serious negative consequences to the financial system and the real economy in a specific EFTA State and which that authority considers would better be addressed by means of stricter national measures, it shall notify the Standing Committee of the EFTA States, the EFTA Surveillance Authority, the ESRB and EBA of that fact and submit relevant quantitative or qualitative evidence of all of the following:”

                                                                           (ii)

                                                                           as regards the EFTA States, the first subparagraph of paragraph 4 shall read as follows:
                                                                           “The power to adopt an implementing act to reject the draft national measures referred to in point (d) of paragraph 2 is conferred on the Standing Committee of the EFTA States, acting on a proposal from the EFTA Surveillance Authority.”;

                                                                           (iii)

                                                                           in the second subparagraph of paragraph 4, the following shall be added:
                                                                           “Where their opinions concern draft national measures of an EFTA State, the ESRB and EBA shall provide their opinions to the Standing Committee of the EFTA States, the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the EFTA State concerned.”;

                                                                           (iv)

                                                                           as regards the EFTA States, the third to eighth subparagraphs of paragraph 4 shall read as follows:
                                                                           “Taking utmost account of the opinions referred to in the second subparagraph and if there is robust, strong and detailed evidence that the measure will have a negative impact on the internal market that outweighs the financial stability benefits resulting in a reduction of the macroprudential or systemic risk identified, the EFTA Surveillance Authority may, within one month, propose to the Standing Committee of the EFTA States to reject the draft national measures.
                                                                           In the absence of an EFTA Surveillance Authority proposal within that period of one month, the EFTA State concerned may immediately adopt the draft national measures for a period of up to two years or until the macroprudential or systemic risk ceases to exist if that occurs sooner.
                                                                           The Standing Committee of the EFTA States shall decide on the proposal by the EFTA Surveillance Authority within one month after receipt of the proposal and state its reasons for rejecting or not rejecting the draft national measures.
                                                                           The Standing Committee of the EFTA States shall only reject the draft national measures if it considers that one or more of the following conditions are not complied with:

                                                                                (a)

                                                                                the changes in the intensity of macroprudential or systemic risk are of such nature as to pose risk to financial stability at national level;

                                                                                (b)

                                                                                Articles 124 and 164 of this Regulation and Articles 101, 103, 104, 105, 133, and 136 of Directive 2013/36/EU cannot adequately address the macroprudential or systemic risk identified, taking into account the relative effectiveness of those measures;

                                                                                (c)

                                                                                the draft national measures are more suitable to address the identified macroprudential or systemic risk and do not entail disproportionate adverse effects on the whole or parts of the financial system in other Contracting Parties or in the EEA as a whole, thus forming or creating an obstacle to the functioning of the internal market;

                                                                                (d)

                                                                                the issue concerns only one EFTA State; and

                                                                                (e)

                                                                                the risks have not already been addressed by other measures in this Regulation or in Directive 2013/36/EU.

                                                                                The assessment of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States shall take into account the opinion of the ESRB and EBA and shall be based on the evidence presented in accordance with paragraph 2 by the authority determined in accordance with paragraph 1.
                                                                           In the absence of a decision of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States to reject the draft national measures within one month after receipt of the proposal by the EFTA Surveillance Authority, the EFTA State may adopt the measures and apply them for a period of up to two years or until the macroprudential or systemic risk ceases to exist if that occurs sooner.”

                                                                           (v)

                                                                           as regards the EFTA States, paragraph 6 shall read as follows:
                                                                           “Where an EFTA State recognises the measures set in accordance with this Article, it shall notify the Standing Committee of the EFTA States, the EFTA Surveillance Authority, EBA, the ESRB and the Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement authorised to apply the measures.”

                                                               (k)

                                                               In Article 467(2), as regards the EFTA States, the words “the Commission has adopted a regulation” shall read “the entry into force of a decision of the EEA Joint Committee containing a regulation adopted”.

                                                               (l)

                                                               In Article 497, as regards the EFTA States:

                                                                           (i)

                                                                           in paragraphs 1 and 2, the words “the decisions of the EEA Joint Committee containing” shall be inserted after the words “entry into force of the latest of”;

                                                                           (ii)

                                                                           in paragraph 1, the words “have been adopted” shall read “apply in the EEA”.’

                           3.

                           In point 31bc (Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council):

                                       (a)

                                       the following indent is added:

                                                   ‘—

                                                      32013 R 0575: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 1), as corrected by OJ L 208, 2.8.2013, p. 68, OJ L 321, 30.11.2013, p. 6 and OJ L 20, 25.1.2017, p. 2.’

                                       (b)

                                       in adaptation (zh), the following is added:

                                                   ‘(v)

                                                   in paragraph 5a, as regards the EFTA States, the words “the decisions of the EEA Joint Committee containing” shall be inserted after the words “entry into force of the latest of”.’

                           4.

                           The following indent is added in point 31ea (Directive 2002/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council):

                                       ‘—

                                          32013 L 0036: Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 338), as corrected by OJ L 208, 2.8.2013, p. 73 and OJ L 20, 25.1.2017, p. 1.’

                           5.

                           The text of point 31 (Directive 2006/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council) is deleted.

               Article 2
               The texts of Regulations (EU) No 575/2013, as corrected by OJ L 208, 2.8.2013, p. 68, OJ L 321, 30.11.2013, p. 6 and OJ L 20, 25.1.2017, p. 2, and (EU) 2017/2395 and Directive 2013/36/EU, as corrected by OJ L 208, 2.8.2013, p. 73 and OJ L 20, 25.1.2017, p. 1, 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 […], provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement have been made (*1).

               Article 4
               This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European Union.

               Done at Brussels,

                     For the EEA Joint Committee

                     The President

                     The Secretaries to the EEA Joint Committee

               (1)  OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 1.

               (2)  OJ L 345, 27.12.2017, p. 27.

               (3)  OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 338.

               (4)  OJ L 177, 30.6.2006, p. 1.

               (5)  OJ L 177, 30.6.2006, p. 201.

               (*1)  [No constitutional requirements indicated.] [Constitutional requirements indicated.]

            Joint Declaration by the Contracting Parties to Decision No …/2019 incorporating Directive 2013/36/EU into the EEA Agreement
            The Contracting Parties share the understanding that the incorporation into the EEA Agreement of Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC is without prejudice to national rules of general application concerning the screening for security or public order of foreign direct investment.


title: Council Decision (EU) 2019/510 of 25 March 2019 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the framework of the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the North-East Atlantic fisheries as regards the application for accession to that Convention submitted by the United Kingdom

text:
                  27.3.2019

                  EN

                  Official Journal of the European Union

                  L 85/22

         COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2019/510
         of 25 March 2019
         on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the framework of the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the North-East Atlantic fisheries as regards the application for accession to that Convention submitted by the United Kingdom
         THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
         Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
         Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
         Whereas:

                     (1)

                     The Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the North-East Atlantic fisheries (1) (‘the NEAFC Convention’) was approved by Council Decision 81/608/EEC (2) and entered into force on 17 March 1982.

                     (2)

                     On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom submitted the notification of its intention to withdraw from the Union pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). The Treaties will cease to apply to the United Kingdom from the date of entry into force of a withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after that notification, namely from 30 March 2019, unless the European Council, in agreement with the United Kingdom, unanimously decides to extend that period.

                     (3)

                     Until its withdrawal from the Union, the United Kingdom remains a Member State enjoying all the rights and is bound by all obligations stemming from the Treaties, including compliance with the principle of sincere cooperation.

                     (4)

                     In the guidelines following the United Kingdom's notification under Article 50 TEU of 29 April 2017, the European Council recognised the need, in the international context, to take into account the specificities of the United Kingdom as a withdrawing Member State, provided it respects its obligations and remains loyal to the Union's interests while still a Member State.

                     (5)

                     The Withdrawal Agreement contains arrangements for the application of provisions of Union law to and in the United Kingdom beyond the date the Treaties cease to apply to the United Kingdom (‘transition period’). If that Agreement enters into force, Union law, including international agreements to which the Union is a party, will continue to apply to and in the United Kingdom during the transition period in accordance with that Agreement and will cease to apply at the end of that period.

                     (6)

                     The NEAFC Convention currently applies to the United Kingdom as a result of the Union being a Contracting Party to that Convention, while Article 20(4) of the NEAFC Convention excludes the accession of Member States of the Union.

                     (7)

                     Pursuant to Article 20(4) of the NEAFC Convention, any State may accede to the NEAFC Convention provided that an application for accession of that State meets with the approval of three-fourths of all Contracting Parties to the NEAFC Convention within 90 days from the date of notification by the Depositary of the receipt of the application.

                     (8)

                     On 8 January 2019, the United Kingdom submitted an application to accede to the NEAFC Convention as a Contracting Party in view of a possible absence of a withdrawal agreement by the date the Treaties cease to apply to it.

                     (9)

                     Pursuant to Articles 56, 63 and 116 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (3), the United Kingdom has legitimate fishing interests within the Convention Area of the NEAFC Convention (high seas) and as a coastal State, insofar as the waters under the exclusive economic zone of the United Kingdom fall within the Convention Area of the NEAFC Convention.

                     (10)

                     In order to prevent unsustainable fisheries, it is in the interest of the Union that the United Kingdom cooperates in the management of the stocks of common interest in full compliance with the provisions of the UNCLOS and the United Nations Agreement on the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks of 4 August 1995 (UNFSA) (4) or any other international agreement or norm of international law.

                     (11)

                     As provided in Article 63(2) of the UNCLOS and in Article 8 of the UNFSA, where the same stock or stocks of associated species occur both within the exclusive economic zone and in an area beyond and adjacent to that zone, the coastal State and the States fishing for such stocks in the adjacent area are to cooperate to agree upon the measures necessary for the conservation of those stocks in the adjacent area. Such cooperation may be established in the framework of regional fisheries management organisations or, where such regional organisations have no competence for the stock in question, by means of ad hoc arrangements among the countries having an interest in the fishery.

                     (12)

                     The accession of the United Kingdom to the NEAFC Convention will allow the United Kingdom to cooperate on the necessary fishery management measures with due regard to the rights, interests and duties of other countries and the Union, with a view to ensuring that fishing activities are carried out in a way that results in the sustainable exploitation of the stock or stocks concerned.

                     (13)

                     It is therefore in the interest of the Union to approve the application for accession to the NEAFC Convention submitted by the United Kingdom if the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union takes place without a withdrawal agreement by the expiry of the notification period referred to in Article 20(4) of the NEAFC Convention,

               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

            Article 1

               1.   The position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the framework of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries shall be to approve the application for accession of the United Kingdom to the NEAFC Convention.

               2.   The Commission shall be authorised to notify the Depositary of the NEAFC Convention of the Union's position only if the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union takes place without a withdrawal agreement by the expiry of the notification period referred to in Article 20(4) of the NEAFC Convention.

            Article 2
            This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

            Done at Brussels, 25 March 2019.

                  For the Council

                  The President

               G. CIAMBA

            (1)  OJ L 227, 12.8.1981, p. 22.

            (2)  Council Decision 81/608/EEC of 13 July 1981 concerning the conclusion of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries (OJ L 227, 12.8.1981, p. 21).

            (3)  OJ L 179, 23.6.1998, p. 3.

            (4)  OJ L 189, 3.7.1998, p. 14.


title: Commission Decision of 18 March 2019 on the participation of the National Regulatory Authority of Kosovo in the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications

text:
                  27.3.2019

                  EN

                  Official Journal of the European Union

                  C 115/26

         COMMISSION DECISION
         of 18 March 2019
         on the participation of the National Regulatory Authority of Kosovo (*1) in the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications
         (2019/C 115/09)
         THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
         Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
         Whereas:

                     (1)

                     Article 17(1) of the Treaty on European Union lists the powers of the Commission and provides that the Commission is to promote the general interest of the Union and take appropriate initiatives to that end, exercise coordinating, executive and management functions, as laid down in the Treaties, and ensure the Union's external representation, with the exception of the common foreign and security policy and other cases provided for in the Treaties.

                     (2)

                     Pursuant to Article 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), the Board of Regulators, the working groups and the Management Board are to be open to the participation of regulatory authorities of third countries with primary responsibility in the field of electronic communications, where those third countries have entered into agreements with the Union to that effect. It also provides that under the relevant provisions of those agreements working arrangements are to be developed specifying, in particular, the nature, extent and manner in which the regulatory authorities of the third countries concerned will participate without the right to vote in the work of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (‘BEREC’) and of the BEREC Office, including provisions relating to participation in the initiatives carried out by BEREC, financial contributions and staff to the BEREC Office.

                     (3)

                     Pursuant to Article 111 of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Kosovo (*1), of the other part (2), cooperation on electronic communications is to primarily focus on priority areas related to the EU acquis in this field. The Parties are to strengthen in particular, cooperation in the area of electronic communications networks and electronic communications services, paying particular attention to ensuring and strengthening the independence of the relevant regulatory authorities. The Union and Kosovo have therefore entered into an agreement within the meaning of Article 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971.

                     (4)

                     The participation of the regulatory authority of Kosovo in BEREC and the BEREC Office is fully consistent with the Western Balkans strategy (3), which calls for actions to develop the digital society, including the deployment of broadband and the lowering of roaming costs, and to align those countries' laws with the Union legislation. As indicated in the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans (4), a closer relationship between the Union and Western Balkans National Regulatory Authorities (‘NRAs’) should help bring regulatory practice in the region closer to the practice in the Union.

                     (5)

                     Given the interest of the Union in strengthening cooperation with Kosovo and fostering the adoption by Kosovo of the Union regulatory regime for electronic communications, it is appropriate to establish the working arrangements for the participation of the regulatory authority of Kosovo in the Board of Regulators and working groups of BEREC and the Management Board of the BEREC Office,

               HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

            Article 1
            The national regulatory authority of Kosovo with primary responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operation of the markets for electronic communications networks and services may participate in the Board of Regulators and Working Groups of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (‘BEREC’) and the Management Board of the BEREC Office.
            The Terms of Reference for the participation of the national regulatory authority of Kosovo are set out in the Annex.

            Article 2
            This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

            Done at Brussels, 18 March 2019.

                  For the Commission

               Mariya GABRIEL

                  Member of the Commission

            (*1)  This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

            (1)  Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the Agency for Support for BEREC (BEREC Office), amending Regulation (EU) 2015/2120 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1211/2009 (OJ L 321, 17.12.2018, p. 1).

            (2)  Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo (*1), of the other part (OJ L 71, 16.3.2016, p. 3).

            (3)  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans (COM(2018) 65 final, 6.2.2018).

            (4)  SWD(2018) 360 final, Commission Staff Working Document, Measures in support of a Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans.

            ANNEX
            TERMS OF REFERENCE
            1.   Participation in the BEREC Board of Regulators

                        1.

                        The national regulatory authority (‘NRA’) of Kosovo (*1) may participate in the work of the BEREC Board of Regulators (BoR).

                        2.

                        The NRA of Kosovo shall appoint a representative to participate in the deliberations of the BoR from among the head of the NRA, a member of its collegiate body or the replacement of either of them.

                        3.

                        The NRA of Kosovo shall also appoint an alternate, who shall replace the representative in their absence. The alternate shall be appointed from among the head of the NRA, a member of its collegiate body, the replacement of either of them, or the staff of the NRA.

                        4.

                        The representative of the NRA of Kosovo and the alternate shall be appointed in light of their knowledge in the field of electronic communications, taking into account relevant managerial, administrative and budgetary skills. In order to ensure a maximum benefit from their participation the NRA shall make efforts to limit the turnover of its representatives and, where possible, also of its alternates.

                        5.

                        The participant of the NRA of Kosovo shall have the right to express an opinion in all discussions, whether they are held in a meeting of the BEREC BoR or by any other means. Such opinion shall be duly recorded in the minutes, according to the rules and working practices of the BoR.

                        6.

                        The name of the representative of the NRA of Kosovo and of the alternate shall be included in the list of members of the BoR published in accordance with Article 7(5) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).

                        7.

                        When participating in the works of the BoR, the representative of the NRA of Kosovo and the alternate shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government, institution, person or body.

                  2.   Participation in the Working Groups

                        1.

                        The NRA of Kosovo may nominate experts to participate in the Working Groups of BEREC.

                        2.

                        Such experts may participate in all activities of the Working Groups, according to the rules and working practices of BEREC. They may express an opinion in all exchanges, whether they are held in a meeting of the Working Groups or by any other means.

                  3.   Participation in the Management Board of the BEREC Office

                        1.

                        The NRA of Kosovo may participate in the work of the Management Board of the BEREC Office (MB).

                        2.

                        The NRA of Kosovo shall appoint the person appointed as representative in the BoR to participate in the works of the MB or a person other than the representative in the BoR from among the head of the NRA, a member of its collegiate body or the replacement of either of them.

                        3.

                        The NRA of Kosovo shall also appoint as alternate the person appointed as alternate of the representative in the BoR or another person, from among the head of NRA, a member of its collegiate body, the replacement of either of them, or the staff of NRA, who shall replace the representative in their absence.

                        4.

                        The participant of the NRA of Kosovo shall have the right to express an opinion in all discussions, whether they are held in a meeting of the BEREC MB or by any other means. Such opinion shall be duly recorded in the minutes, according to the rules and working practices of the MB.

                        5.

                        The name of the representative of the NRA of Kosovo and of the alternate shall be included in the list of members of the MB published in accordance with Article 15(4) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971.

                        6.

                        When participating in the works of the MB, the representative of the NRA of Kosovo and the alternate shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government, institution, person or body.

                  4.   Declarations of Interest

                        1.

                        The representatives of the NRA of Kosovo to the BoR and the MB and their alternates shall each make a written declaration indicating their commitments and the absence or presence of any direct or indirect interests that might be considered to prejudice their independence.
                        These declarations shall be made at the time of taking up responsibilities and shall be published. They shall be accurate and complete, and shall be updated where there is a risk of there being any direct or indirect interest that might be considered to prejudice the independence of the person making the declaration.

                  5.   Staffing

            The BEREC Office may make use of staff from Kosovo, including seconded national experts and other staff not employed by the BEREC Office, pursuant to a decision to be issued by the MB.
            6.   Financial contribution of the NRA of Kosovo to the BEREC Office

                        1.

                        The financial contribution to the budget of BEREC Office to be paid by the NRA of Kosovo in order to participate in BEREC, represents the full cost of its participation in accordance with points 1, 2 and 3 of this Annex. The amounts will be determined in accordance with point 6.2 below.

                        2.

                        The financial contribution to be paid by the NRA of Kosovo, according to point 6.1, shall cover the following costs:

                                    —

                                    Costs for reimbursement of travel expenses of the NRA representatives for BEREC meetings, according to the reimbursement rules of BEREC.

                                    —

                                    Administrative costs relating to the above reimbursements for travel expenses, amounting to a maximum of 3 % of the amounts paid as reimbursements for travel expenses.

                                    —

                                    Administrative costs relating to the overall participation of the NRA in the works of BEREC.

                              The amount of the financial contribution shall be determined by BEREC, taking into account, inter alia, the anticipated missions for the upcoming year and the actual missions and reimbursements for the past year(s).

                        3.

                        The contribution of the NRA will be implemented in accordance with the financial rules of the BEREC Office, adopted pursuant to Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971.

                        4.

                        Travel costs and subsistence costs incurred by representatives and experts of the NRA of Kosovo for the purposes of taking part in the work of BEREC and the BEREC Office, including related meetings, shall be reimbursed by the BEREC Office according to the rules stipulated in the BEREC Office Management Committee Decision concerning the reimbursement of travel, subsistence and other expenses incurred in the course of journeys made by persons not employed by the BEREC Office (2).

                        5.

                        After the entry into force of this Decision and at the beginning of each following year, the BEREC Office shall send to the NRA a call for funds corresponding to its contribution to the Agency under this Decision.

                        6.

                        This contribution shall be expressed in EUR and paid into a EUR bank account of the BEREC Office.

                        7.

                        The NRA of Kosovo shall pay its contribution according to the call for funds for its own part within 30 days after the call for funds is sent by the BEREC Office.

                        8.

                        Any delay in the payment of the contribution shall give rise to the payment of interest by the NRA on the outstanding amount as from the due date. The interest rate corresponds to the rate applied by the European Central Bank on the due date for its operations in EUR, increased by 1,5 percentage points.

                  7.   Detailed working arrangements

                        1.

                        The BoR and the MB shall specify the detailed working arrangements for the participation of the NRA of Kosovo, where needed, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 and the present Terms of Reference.

                        2.

                        The NRA of Kosovo may participate in the work of BEREC, including the BoR and the Working Groups, and in the MB from the day of entry into force of this Decision, irrespectively of the finalisation of the detailed working arrangements of point 7.1 above.

               (*1)  This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

               (1)  Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the Agency for Support for BEREC (BEREC Office), amending Regulation (EU) 2015/2120 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1211/2009 (OJ L 321, 17.12.2018, p. 1).

               (2)  BEREC Office MC Decision concerning the reimbursement of travel, subsistence and other expenses incurred in the course of journeys made by persons not employed by the BEREC Office and repealing the previous Management Committee Decision No MC/2013/05 of 6 June 2013 (MC/2015/13).


title: Commission Decision of 26/04/2019 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No COMP/M.9272 - 3i Group pic / TIIC 2 (SCA) SICAR / Meridiam Infrastructure Finance S.a.r.l. / DirectRoute (Limerick) Holdings Limited) according to Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (Only the English text is authentic)

text:
                                EUROPEAN COMMISSION
                                                                Brussels, 26.04.2019
                                                                C(2019) 3310 final
                                                                          PUBLIC VERSION
                                                                To the notifying parties:
Subject:        Case M.9272 – 3i Group/TIIC Management/Meridiam Infrastructure
                Finance/DirectRoute (Limerick)
                Commission decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC)
                                1                                                                             2
                No 139/2004 and Article 57 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area
Dear Sir or Madam,
1.      On 29 March 2019, the European Commission received notification of a proposed
        concentration pursuant to Article of the Merger Regulation by which 3i Group plc (“3i”,
        United Kingdom), TIIC Management S.à.r.l. (“TIIC Management”, Luxembourg) and
        Meridiam Infrastructure Finance S.à.r.l. (“Meridiam”, Luxembourg) acquire within the
        meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of
        DirectRoute (Limerick) Holdings Limited (“Limerick HoldCo”, Ireland), which in turn has
        sole control over DirectRoute (Limerick) Limited (“LimerickCo”, Ireland), by way of
        purchase of shares.3
2.      The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
          –        for 3i: international investment company with two complementary businesses,
                   Private Equity and Infrastructure, specialising in core investment markets in
                   northern Europe and North America,
          –        for TIIC Management: a pan-European infrastructure firm investing into mid-
                   market infrastructure projects across Europe in both the transportation and social
                   sectors,
1       OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the 'Merger Regulation'). With effect from 1 December 2009, the Treaty on the
        Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU') has introduced certain changes, such as the replacement of
        'Community' by 'Union' and 'common market' by 'internal market'. The terminology of the TFEU will be used
        throughout this decision.
2       OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3 (the 'EEA Agreement').
3       Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C 126, 5.4.2019, p. 7
Commission européenne, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Bruxelles, BELGIQUE
Europese Commissie, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Brussel, BELGIË
Tel: +32 229-91111. Fax: +32 229-64301. E-mail: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu.
 ---pagebreak---      –       for Meridiam: international investment company which develops, finances and
             manages infrastructure projects,
     –       for Limerick HoldCo: parent company of LimerickCo, which is active in the
             operation and maintenance of the M7 Limerick Southern Ring Road in Ireland for
             35 years pursuant to a concession contract awarded in August 2006.
3. After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that the
   notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger Regulation and of paragraph 5(b) of
   the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations
   under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.4
4. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the European Commission
   has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the
   internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of
   Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and Article 57 of the EEA Agreement.
                                                    For the Commission
                                                    (Signed)
                                                    Johannes LAITENBERGER
                                                    Director-General
4  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.
                                                  2


title: Commission Decision of 26/04/2019 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No COMP/M.9310 - IFM Investors Pty Ltd / Polski Fundusz Rozwoju S.A. / PSA Baltics / DCT Gdansk SA) according to Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (Only the English text is authentic)

text:
                                EUROPEAN COMMISSION
                                                                Brussels, 26.4.2019
                                                                C(2019) 3313 final
                                                                          PUBLIC VERSION
                                                                To the notifying parties:
Subject:        Case M.9310 – PFR/IFM/PSA/DCT
                Commission decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC)
                                1                                                                             2
                No 139/2004 and Article 57 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area
Dear Sir or Madam,
1.      On 1 April 2019, the European Commission received notification of a proposed
        concentration pursuant to Article 4 of the Merger Regulation by which Polski Fundusz
        Rozwoju S.A. (“PFR”, Poland), IFM Investors Pty Ltd (“IFM Investors”, Australia) and
        PSA Baltics NV (“PSA Baltics”, Belgium), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of PSA
        International Pte Ltd (“PSA”, Singapore) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of
        the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of Gdansk Port Holdings S.à.r.l. (“GPHS,
        Luxembourg) by way of purchase of shares.3
2.      The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
          —        for PFR: parent company of a group of financial and advisory institutions
                   supporting companies, local governments and individuals investing in the
                   sustainable social and economic development of Poland;
          —        for IFM Investors: a global investment manager of infrastructure, listed equities,
                   private capital and debt investments;
          —        for PSA Baltics: a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of PSA, a global operator of
                   shipping terminals, mainly active in the provision of stevedoring services at ports
                   with a particular focus on providing terminal services for container liner ships;
1       OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the 'Merger Regulation'). With effect from 1 December 2009, the Treaty on the
        Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU') has introduced certain changes, such as the replacement of
        'Community' by 'Union' and 'common market' by 'internal market'. The terminology of the TFEU will be used
        throughout this decision.
2       OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3 (the 'EEA Agreement').
3       Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C 126, 5.04.2019, p. 9.
Commission européenne, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Bruxelles, BELGIQUE
Europese Commissie, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Brussel, BELGIË
Tel: +32 229-91111. Fax: +32 229-64301. E-mail: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu.
 ---pagebreak---      —       for GPHS: holding company of DCT Gdańsk S.A. (Poland), which operates two
             deep-sea container quays located in the Port of Gdansk, Poland.
3. After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that the
   notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger Regulation and of paragraph 5(c) of
   the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations
   under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.4
4. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the European Commission
   has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the
   internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of
   Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and Article 57 of the EEA Agreement.
                                                    For the Commission
                                                    (Signed)
                                                    Johannes LAITENBERGER
                                                    Director-General
4  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.
                                                  2


title: Commission Decision of 25/04/2019 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No COMP/M.9288 - CA Consumer Finance S.A. / Banco BPM S.p.A.) according to Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (Only the English text is authentic)

text:
                                EUROPEAN COMMISSION
                                                                Brussels, 25.4.2019
                                                                C(2019) 3282 final
                                                                                PUBLIC VERSION
                                                                To the notifying parties
Subject:        Case M.9288 – CACF / BBPM / AGOS DUCATO / PROFAMILY
                Commission decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC)
                                1                                                                             2
                No 139/2004 and Article 57 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area
Dear Sir or Madam,
1.      On 29 March 2019, the European Commission received notification of a proposed
        concentration pursuant to Article 4 of the Merger Regulation by which the undertakings
        CA Consumer Finance S.A. (‘CACF’, France), solely controlled by Crédit Agricole S.A.
        (France) and Banco BPM S.p.A (‘BBPM’, Italy), acquire within the meaning of Article
        3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control over the whole of ProFamily S.p.A.
        (‘ProFamily’, Italy), a wholly owned subsidiary of BBPM, through Agos Ducato S.p.A.
        (‘Agos Ducato’, Italy), jointly controlled by CACF and BBPM, by way of purchase of
        shares.3
2.      The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
        −     CACF is active in the consumer finance sector in France and several other European
              countries, as well as in China and Morocco,
        −     BBPM is a banking group mainly active in Italy,
        −     Agos Ducato operates in the consumer credit sector in Italy,
        −     ProFamily offers consumer credit products in Italy. The business of ProFamily that is
              not distributed through the banking network of BBPM is not part of the proposed
              concentration.
1       OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the 'Merger Regulation'). With effect from 1 December 2009, the Treaty on the
        Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU') has introduced certain changes, such as the replacement of
        'Community' by 'Union' and 'common market' by 'internal market'. The terminology of the TFEU will be used
        throughout this decision.
2       OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p. 3 (the 'EEA Agreement').
3       Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C 125, 04.04.2019, p. 6.
Commission européenne, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Bruxelles, BELGIQUE
Europese Commissie, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Brussel, BELGIË
Tel: +32 229-91111. Fax: +32 229-64301. E-mail: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu.
 ---pagebreak--- 3. After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that the
   notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger Regulation and of paragraph 6 of
   the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations
   under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.4
4. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the European Commission
   has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the
   internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is adopted in application of
   Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and Article 57 of the EEA Agreement.
                                                   For the Commission
                                                   (Signed)
                                                   Johannes LAITENBERGER
                                                   Director-General
4  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.
                                                 2