title: Council Decision 2005/387/JHA of 10 May 2005 on the information exchange, risk-assessment and control of new psychoactive substances

text:
               20.5.2005

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 127/32

      COUNCIL DECISION 2005/387/JHA
   of 10 May 2005
   on the information exchange, risk-assessment and control of new psychoactive substances
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 29, 31(1)(e) and 34 (2)(c) thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
   Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
   Whereas:

               (1)

               The particular dangers inherent in the development of psychoactive substances require rapid action by the Member States.

               (2)

               When new psychoactive substances are not brought within the scope of criminal law in all Member States, problems may arise in cooperation between the judicial authorities and law enforcement agencies of Member States owing to the fact that the offence or offences in question are not punishable under the laws of both the requesting and the requested State.

               (3)

               The European Union Action Plan on Drugs 2000-2004 provided for the Commission to organise an appropriate assessment of the Joint Action of 16 June 1997 concerning the information exchange, risk assessment and the control of new synthetic drugs (2) (herineafter ‘the Joint Action’) taking into account the external evaluation commissioned by the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (hereinafter ‘the EMCDDA’) of the early warning system. The assessment showed that the Joint Action had fulfilled its expectations. Nevertheless, the outcome of the assessment made it clear that the Joint Action was in need of reinforcement and reorientation. In particular, its main objective, the clarity of its procedures and definitions, the transparency of its operation, and the relevance of its scope had to be redefined. The Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the mid-term evaluation of the EU Action Plan on Drugs (2000-2004) indicated that changes to the legislation would be introduced in order to enhance action against synthetic drugs. The mechanism as established by the Joint Action should therefore be adapted.

               (4)

               New psychoactive substances can be harmful to health.

               (5)

               The new psychoactive substances covered by this Decision may include medicinal products as defined in Directive 2001/82/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community Code relating to veterinary medicinal products (3) and in Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community Code relating to medicinal products for human use (4).

               (6)

               The information exchange under the early warning system, established under the Joint Action, has proved to be a valuable asset to the Member States.

               (7)

               Nothing in this Decision should prevent Member States from exchanging information, within the European Information Network on Drugs and Drug Addiction (hereinafter ‘the Reitox network’), on emerging trends in new uses of existing psychoactive substances which may pose a potential risk to public health, as well as information on possible public health related measures, in accordance with the mandate and procedures of the EMCDDA.

               (8)

               No deterioration of either human or veterinary health care as a result of this Decision will be permitted. Substances of established and acknowledged medical value are therefore excluded from control measures based on this Decision. Suitable regulatory and public health related measures should be taken for substances of established and acknowledged medical value that are being misused.

               (9)

               In addition to what is provided for under the pharmacovigilance systems as defined in Directive 2001/82/EC and in Directive 2001/83/EC, the exchange of information on abused or misused psychoactive substances needs to be reinforced and appropriate cooperation with the European Medicines Agency (hereinafter ‘EMEA’) ensured. The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (hereinafter ‘CND’) Resolution 46/7 ‘Measures to promote the exchange of information on new patterns of drug use and on psychoactive substances consumed’, provides a useful framework for action by the Member States.

               (10)

               The introduction of deadlines into every phase of the procedure established by this Decision should guarantee that the instrument can react swiftly and enhances its ability to provide a quick-response mechanism.

               (11)

               The Scientific Committee of the EMCDDA has a central role in the assessment of the risks associated with a new psychoactive substance, it will for the purpose of this Decision be extended to include experts from the Commission, Europol and the EMEA, and experts from scientific fields not represented, or not sufficiently represented, in the Scientific Committee of the EMCDDA.

               (12)

               The extended Scientific Committee that assesses the risks associated with new psychoactive substances should remain a concise technical body of experts, capable of assessing effectively all risks associated with a new psychoactive substance. Therefore the extended Scientific Committee should be kept to a manageable size.

               (13)

               Since the objectives of the proposed action, namely to bring about an exchange of information, a risk-assessment by a scientific committee and an EU-level procedure for bringing notified substances under control, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the effects of the envisaged action, be better achieved at European Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go what is beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives

               (14)

               In conformity with Article 34(2)(c) of the Treaty, measures based upon this Decision can be taken by qualified majority as these measures are necessary to implement this Decision.

               (15)

               This Decision respects fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by Article 6 of the Treaty and reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   Subject matter
   This Decision establishes a mechanism for a rapid exchange of information on new psychoactive substances. It takes note of information on suspected adverse reactions to be reported under the pharmacovigilance system as established by Title IX of Directive 2001/83/EC.
   This Decision also provides for an assessment of the risks associated with these new psychoactive substances in order to permit the measures applicable in the Member States for control of narcotic and psychotropic substances to be applied also to new psychoactive substances.
   Article 2
   Scope
   This Decision applies to substances not currently listed in any of the schedules to:

               (a)

               the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, that may pose a comparable threat to public health as the substances listed in Schedule I or II or IV thereof, and

               (b)

               the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, that may pose a comparable threat to public health as the substances listed in Schedule I or II or III or IV thereof.

         This Decision relates to end-products, as distinct from precursors in respect of which Council Regulation (EEC) No 3677/90 of 13 December 1990 laying down measures to be taken to discourage the diversion of certain substances to the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (5), and Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 on drug precursors (6) provide for a Community regime.
   Article 3
   Definitions
   For the purpose of this Decision the following definitions shall apply:

               (a)

               ‘new psychoactive substance’ means a new narcotic drug or a new psychotropic drug in pure form or in a preparation;

               (b)

               ‘new narcotic drug’ means a substance in pure form or in a preparation, that has not been scheduled under the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and that may pose a threat to public health comparable to the substances listed in Schedule I, II or IV;

               (c)

               ‘new psychotropic drug’ means a substance in pure form or in a preparation that has not been scheduled under the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and that may pose a threat to public health comparable to the substances listed in Schedule I, II, III or IV;

               (d)

               ‘marketing authorisation’ means a permission to place a medicinal product on the market, granted by the competent authority of a Member State, as required by Title III of Directive 2001/83/EC (in the case of medicinal products for human use) or Title III of Directive 2001/82/EC (in the case of veterinary medicinal products) or a marketing authorisation granted by the European Commission under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 laying down Community procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines Agency (7);

               (e)

               ‘United Nations system’ means the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and/or the Economic and Social Committee acting in accordance with their respective responsibilities as described in Article 3 of the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or in Article 2 of the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances;

               (f)

               ‘preparation’ means a mixture containing a new psychoactive substance;

               (g)

               ‘Reporting Form’ means a structured form for notification of a new psychoactive substance and/or of a preparation containing a new psychoactive substance agreed between the EMCDDA/Europol and their respective networks in the Member States’ Reitox and the Europol National Units.

         Article 4
   Exchange of information
   1.   Each Member State shall ensure that its Europol National Unit and its representative in the Reitox network provide information on the manufacture, traffic and use, including supplementary information on possible medical use, of new psychoactive substances and of preparations containing new psychoactive substances, to Europol and the EMCDDA, taking into account the respective mandates of these two bodies.
   Europol and the EMCDDA shall collect the information received from Member States through a Reporting Form and communicate this information immediately to each other and to the Europol National Units and the representatives of the Reitox network of the Member States, the Commission, and to the EMEA.
   2.   Should Europol and the EMCDDA consider that the information provided by a Member State on a new psychoactive substance does not merit the communication of information as described in paragraph 1, they shall inform the notifying Member State immediately thereof. Europol and the EMCDDA shall justify their decision to the Council within six weeks.
   Article 5
   Joint Report
   1.   Where Europol and the EMCDDA, or the Council, acting by a majority of its members, consider that the information provided by the Member State on a new psychoactive substance merits the collection of further information, this information shall be collated and presented by Europol and the EMCDDA in the form of a Joint Report (hereinafter the ‘Joint Report’). The Joint Report shall be submitted to the Council, the EMEA and the Commission.
   2.   The Joint Report shall contain:

               (a)

               a chemical and physical description, including the name under which the new psychoactive substance is known, including, if available, the scientific name (International Non-proprietary Name);

               (b)

               information on the frequency, circumstances and/or quantities in which a new psychoactive substance is encountered, and information on the means and methods of manufacture of the new psychoactive substance;

               (c)

               information on the involvement of organised crime in the manufacture or trafficking of the new psychoactive substance;

               (d)

               a first indication of the risks associated with the new psychoactive substance, including the health and social risks, and the characteristics of users;

               (e)

               information on whether or not the new substance is currently under assessment, or has been under assessment, by the UN system;

               (f)

               the date of notification on the Reporting Form of the new psychoactive substance to the EMCDDA or to Europol;

               (g)

               information on whether or not the new psychoactive substance is already subject to control measures at national level in a Member State;

               (h)

               as far as possible, information will be made available on:

                           (i)

                           the chemical precursors that are known to have been used for the manufacture of the substance,

                           (ii)

                           the mode and scope of the established or expected use of the new substance,

                           (iii)

                           any other use of the new psychoactive substance and the extent of such use, the risks associated with this use of the new psychoactive substance, including the health and social risks.

         3.   The EMEA shall submit to Europol and the EMCDDA the following information on whether in the European Union or in any Member State:

               (a)

               the new psychoactive substance has obtained a marketing authorisation;

               (b)

               the new psychoactive substance is the subject of an application for a marketing authorisation;

               (c)

               a marketing authorisation that had been granted in respect of the new psychoactive substance has been suspended.

         Where this information relates to marketing authorisations granted by Member States, these Member States shall provide the EMEA with this information if so requested by it.
   4.   Member States shall provide the details referred to under paragraph 2 within six weeks from the date of notification on the Reporting Form as set out in Article 4(1).
   5.   The Joint Report shall be submitted no more than four weeks after the date of receipt of the information from Member States and the EMEA. The Report shall be submitted by Europol or the EMCDDA, as appropriate, in accordance with Article 5(1) and (2).
   Article 6
   Risk assessment
   1.   The Council, taking into account the advice of Europol and the EMCDDA, and acting by a majority of its members, may request that the risks, including the health and social risks, caused by the use of, the manufacture of, and traffic in, a new psychoactive substance, the involvement of organised crime and possible consequences of control measures, be assessed in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraphs 2 to 4, provided that at least a quarter of its members or the Commission have informed the Council in writing that they are in favour of such an assessment. The Member States or the Commission shall inform the Council thereof as soon as possible, but in any case within four weeks of receipt of the Joint Report. The General Secretariat of the Council shall notify this information to the EMCDDA without delay.
   2.   In order to carry out the assessment, the EMCDDA shall convene a special meeting under the auspices of its Scientific Committee. In addition, for the purpose of this meeting the Scientific Committee may be extended by a further five experts at most, to be designated by the Director of the EMCDDA, acting on the advice of the Chairperson of the Scientific Committee, chosen from a panel of experts proposed by Member States and approved every three years by the Management Board of the EMCDDA. Such experts will be from scientific fields that are not represented, or not sufficiently represented, in the Scientific Committee, but whose contribution is necessary for the balanced and adequate assessment of the possible risks, including health and social risks. Furthermore, the Commission, Europol and the EMEA shall each be invited to send a maximum of two experts.
   3.   The risk assessment shall be carried out on the basis of information to be provided to the scientific Committee by the Member States, the EMCDDA, Europol, the EMEA, taking into account all factors which, according to the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, would warrant the placing of a substance under international control.
   4.   On completion of the risk assessment, a report (hereinafter the ‘Risk Assessment Report’) shall be drawn up by the Scientific Committee. The Risk Assessment Report shall consist of an analysis of the scientific and law enforcement information available, and shall reflect all opinions held by the members of the Committee. The Risk Assessment Report shall be submitted to the Commission and Council by the chairperson of the Committee, on its behalf, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of the notification by the General Secretariat of the Council to the EMCDDA referred to in paragraph 1.
   The Risk Assessment Report shall include:

               (a)

               the physical and chemical description of the new psychoactive substance and its mechanisms of action, including its medical value;

               (b)

               the health risks associated with the new psychoactive substance;

               (c)

               the social risks associated with the new psychoactive substance;

               (d)

               information on the level of involvement of organised crime and information on seizures and/or detections by the authorities, and the manufacture of the new psychoactive substance;

               (e)

               information on any assessment of the new psychoactive substance in the United Nations system;

               (f)

               where appropriate, a description of the control measures that are applicable to the new psychoactive substance in the Member States;

               (g)

               options for control and the possible consequences of the control measures, and

               (h)

               the chemical precursors that are used for the manufacture of the substance.

         Article 7
   Circumstances where no risk assessment is carried out
   1.   No risk assessment shall be carried out in the absence of a Europol/EMCDDA Joint Report. Nor shall a risk assessment be carried out where the new psychoactive substance concerned is at an advanced stage of assessment within the United Nations system, namely once the WHO expert committee on drug dependence has published its critical review together with a written recommendation, except where there is significant new information that is relevant in the framework of this Decision.
   2.   Where the new psychoactive substance has been assessed within the United Nations system, but it has been decided not to schedule the new psychoactive substance under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, a risk assessment shall be carried out only if there is significant new information that is relevant in the framework of this Decision.
   3.   No risk assessment shall be carried out on a new psychoactive substance if:

               (a)

               the new psychoactive substance is used to manufacture a medicinal product which has been granted a marketing authorisation; or,

               (b)

               the new psychoactive substance is used to manufacture a medicinal product for which an application has been made for a marketing authorisation or,

               (c)

               the new psychoactive substance is used to manufacture a medicinal product for which a marketing authorisation has been suspended by a competent authority.
               Where the new psychoactive substance falls into one of the categories listed under the first subparagraph, the Commission, on the basis of data collected by EMCDDA and Europol, shall assess with the EMEA the need for further action, in close cooperation with the EMCDDA and in accordance with the mandate and procedures of the EMEA.
               The Commission shall report to the Council on the outcome.

         Article 8
   Procedure for bringing specific new psychoactive substances under control
   1.   Within six weeks from the date on which it received the Risk Assessment Report, the Commission shall present to the Council an initiative to have the new psychoactive substance subjected to control measures. If the Commission deems it is not necessary to present an initiative on submitting the new psychoactive substance to control measures, within six weeks from the date on which it received the Risk Assessment Report, the Commission shall present a report to the Council explaining its views.
   2.   Should the Commission deem it not necessary to present an initiative on submitting the new psychoactive substance to control measures, such an initiative may be presented to the Council by one or more Member States, preferably not later than six weeks from the date on which the Commission presented its report to the Council.
   3.   The Council shall decide, by qualified majority and acting on an initiative presented pursuant to paragraph 1 or 2, on the basis of Article 34(2) (c) of the Treaty, whether to submit the new psychoactive substance to control measures.
   Article 9
   Control measures taken by Member States
   1.   If the Council decides to submit a new psychoactive substance to control measures, Member States shall endeavour to take, as soon as possible, but no later than one year from the date of that decision, the necessary measures in accordance with their national law to submit:

               (a)

               the new psychotropic drug to control measures and criminal penalties as provided under their legislation by virtue of their obligations under the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances;

               (b)

               the new narcotic drug to control measures and criminal penalties as provided under their legislation by virtue of their obligations under the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

         2.   Member States shall report the measures taken to both the Council and the Commission as soon as possible after the relevant decision has been taken. Thereafter this information shall be communicated to the EMCDDA, Europol, the EMEA, and the European Parliament.
   3.   Nothing in this Decision shall prevent a Member State from maintaining or introducing on its territory any national control measure it deems appropriate once a new psychoactive substance has been identified by a Member State.
   Article 10
   Annual report
   The EMCDDA and Europol shall report annually to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the implementation of this Decision. The report will take into account all aspects required for an assessment of the efficacy and achievements of the system created by this Decision. The Report shall, in particular, include experience relating to coordination between the system set out in this Decision and the pharmacovigilance system.
   Article 11
   Pharmacovigilance system
   Member States and the EMEA shall ensure an appropriate exchange of information between the mechanism set up by means of this Decision and the pharmacovigilance systems as defined and established under Title VII of Directive 2001/82/EC and Title IX of Directive 2001/83/EC.
   Article 12
   Repeal
   The Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs of 16 June 1997 is hereby repealed. Decisions taken by the Council based on Article 5 of that Joint Action shall continue to be legally valid.
   Article 13
   Publication and taking effect
   This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

      Done at Brussels, 10 May 2005.

            For the Council

            The President

         J. KRECKÉ

      (1)  Opinion delivered on 13 January 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

      (2)  OJ L 167, 25.6.1997, p. 1.

      (3)  OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 2004/28/EC (OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 58).

      (4)  OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67. Directive as last amended by Directive 2004/27/EC (OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 34).

      (5)  OJ L 357, 20.12.1990, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1232/2002 (OJ L 180, 10.7.2002, p. 5).

      (6)  OJ L 47, 18.2.2004, p. 1.

      (7)  OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 1.


title: 2004/489/EC, EuratomDecision of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union of 1 May 2004 appointing judges at the Court of Justice of the European Communities

text:
               1.5.2004

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 169/22

      DECISION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

   of 1 May 2004
   appointing judges at the Court of Justice of the European Communities
   (2004/489/CE, Euratom)
   THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 223 thereof,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 139 thereof,
   Having regard to the Act concerning the conditions of 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 and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded (2003 Act of Accession), and in particular Article 46(1) and (2)(a) thereof,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               Article 46(1) and (2)(a) of the 2003 Act of Accession provides for the appointment of ten judges at the Court of Justice. The term of office of five of those judges is to expire on 6 October 2006. These judges are to be chosen by lot. The term of office of the other judges is to expire on 6 October 2009.

               (2)

               10 additional judges at the Court of Justice of the European Communities should therefore be appointed, in accordance with the above Article and after having drawn lots as provided therein,

         HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   The following are hereby appointed judges at the Court of Justice of the European Communities for the period from 1 May 2004 to 6 October 2006:

               Mr Jiří MALENOVSKÝ

               Mr George ARESTIS

               Mr Egils LEVITS

               Mr Pranas KŪRIS

               Mr Anthony BORG-BARTHET

         Article 2
   The following are hereby appointed judges at the Court of Justice of the European Communities for the period from 1 May 2004 to 6 October 2009:

               Mr Uno LÕHMUS

               Mr Endre JUHÁSZ

               Mr Jerzy MAKARCZYK

               Mr Marko ILEŠIČ

               Mr Ján KLUČKA

         Article 3
   This Decision shall take effect on 1 May 2004.
   Article 4
   This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

      Done at Brussels, 1 May 2004.

            The President

         A. ANDERSON


title: Decision of the President of the Court of Justice recording that the European Union Civil Service Tribunal has been constituted in accordance with law

text:
               12.12.2005

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 325/1

      DECISION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE RECORDING THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION CIVIL SERVICE TRIBUNAL HAS BEEN CONSTITUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW

   THE PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE,
   Having regard to Article 225a of the Treaty establishing the European Community,
   Having regard to Article 140b of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,
   Having regard to Council Decision 2004/752/EC, Euratom of 2 November 2004 establishing the European Union Civil Service Tribunal (1), and in particular Article 4 thereof,
   Whereas

               (1)

               The Judges of the Civil Service Tribunal appointed by Council Decision 2005/577/EC, Euratom of 22 July 2005 appointing Judges of the European Union Civil Service Tribunal (2) have taken oath before the Court of Justice.

               (2)

               In accordance with Article 3 of Decision 2005/577/EC, Euratom, for the purposes of appointing the first President of the Civil Service Tribunal, the procedure laid down in Article 4(1) of Annex I to the Statute of the Court of Justice is to apply.

               (3)

               Following that procedure the Judges of the Civil Service Tribunal have appointed the President of that Tribunal.

               (4)

               The Civil Service Tribunal has appointed its Registrar who has taken the oath provided for.

               (5)

               The Civil Service Tribunal is accordingly in a position to carry out the judicial duties entrusted to it,

         DECLARES
   That the Civil Service Tribunal is duly constituted;
   And that Article 1 of Annex I to the Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice shall enter into force on the day of the publication of this decision in the Official Journal of the European Union.

      Done at Luxembourg, 2 December 2005.

            The President of the Court

      (1)  OJ L 333, 9.11.2004, p. 7.

      (2)  OJ L 197, 28.7.2005, p. 28.


title: Decision No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033 and repealing Decision No 1622/2006/EC

text:
               3.5.2014

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 132/1

         DECISION No 445/2014/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
   of 16 April 2014
   establishing a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033 and repealing Decision No 1622/2006/EC
   THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first indent of Article 167(5) thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
   After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
   Having regard to the opinions of the Committee of the Regions (1),
   Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2),
   Whereas:

               (1)

               The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) aims at an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe and confers on the Union the task, inter alia, of contributing to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore. In this respect, the Union, where necessary, supports and supplements Member States' action to improve the knowledge and dissemination of the culture and history of the European peoples.

               (2)

               The Commission Communication of 10 May 2007 on a European agenda for culture in a globalizing world, endorsed by the Council in its resolution of 16 November 2007 (3) and by the European Parliament in its resolution of 10 April 2008 (4), sets the objectives for future activities of the Union in the field of culture. Those activities should promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, culture as a catalyst for creativity within the framework for growth and jobs and culture as a vital element in the Union's international relations.

               (3)

               The Unesco Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which entered into force on 18 March 2007 and to which the Union is a party, aims at protecting and promoting cultural diversity, fostering interculturality and raising awareness of the value of cultural diversity at local, national and international levels.

               (4)

               Decision No 1622/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) established an action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019.

               (5)

               The evaluations of the European Capitals of Culture, as well as the public consultation on the future of that action after 2019, have revealed that it has progressively become one of the most ambitious cultural initiatives in Europe as well as one of the most appreciated by European citizens. A new action should, therefore, be established to cover the years 2020-33.

               (6)

               In addition to the original objectives of the European Capitals of Culture, which were to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures and the features those cultures share as well as to promote greater mutual understanding between European citizens, cities holding the title of European Capital of Culture (‘the title’) have also progressively added a new dimension by using the leverage effect of the title to stimulate their more general development in accordance with their respective strategies and priorities.

               (7)

               The objectives of the action established by this Decision should be fully in line with the objectives of the Creative Europe Programme established by Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6), which aims to safeguard, develop and promote European cultural and linguistic diversity, to promote Europe's cultural heritage and to strengthen the competitiveness of the European cultural and creative sectors, in particular that of the audiovisual sector, with a view to supporting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The achievement of those objectives should also help to strengthen the feeling of belonging to a common cultural area and to stimulate intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding.

               (8)

               To achieve such objectives, it is important for the cities holding the title to seek to develop links between, on the one hand, their cultural and creative sectors, and, on the other hand, sectors such as education, research, environment, urban development or cultural tourism. In particular, past evidence has shown the potential of the European Capitals of Culture as a catalyst for local development and cultural tourism as highlighted in the Commission Communication of 30 June 2010 entitled ‘Europe, the world's No 1 tourist destination — a new political framework for tourism in Europe’, welcomed by the Council in its conclusions of 12 October 2010 and endorsed by the European Parliament in its resolution of 27 September 2011 (7).

               (9)

               It is also important for cities holding the title to seek to promote social inclusion and equal opportunities and to do their utmost to ensure the broadest possible involvement of all the components of civil society in the preparation and implementation of the cultural programme, with special attention being paid to young people and marginalised and disadvantaged groups.

               (10)

               The evaluations and the public consultation have also convincingly shown that the European Capitals of Culture have many potential benefits when they are carefully planned. They remain first and foremost a cultural initiative, but can also bring significant social and economic benefits, particularly when they are embedded in a long-term culture-led development strategy for the city concerned.

               (11)

               The European Capitals of Culture action has also been highly challenging. Staging a year-long programme of cultural activities is demanding and some cities holding the title have been more successful than others in capitalising on the potential. Therefore, that action should be reinforced in order to help all cities to make the most of the title.

               (12)

               The title should continue to be reserved to cities, irrespective of their size, but in order to reach a wider public and amplify the impact, it should also be possible, as before, for the cities concerned to involve their surrounding area.

               (13)

               The award of the title should continue to be based on a specifically created cultural programme, which should have a strong European dimension. That cultural programme should be part of a long-term strategy having a sustainable impact on local economic, cultural and social development.

               (14)

               The two-stage selection process based on a chronological list of Member States and carried out by a panel of independent experts has proven to be fair and transparent. It has enabled cities to improve their applications between the pre-selection and the selection phase on the basis of expert advice received from that panel, and has ensured an equitable distribution of the title across all Member States. Furthermore, to safeguard the continuity of the European Capitals of Culture action and avoid the loss of experience and know-how which would result from all experts being replaced simultaneously, the replacement of experts should be staggered.

               (15)

               National expertise should continue to be ensured by enabling Member States to appoint up to two experts to a panel carrying out the selection and monitoring procedures.

               (16)

               The selection criteria should be made more explicit in order to provide candidate cities with better guidance regarding the objectives and requirements with which they need to comply in order to be awarded the title. Those criteria should also be easier to measure in order to help the panel in the selection and monitoring of cities. In this regard, there should be a particular focus on candidate cities' plans for legacy activities embedded in a long-term cultural policy strategy capable of generating a sustainable cultural, economic and social impact.

               (17)

               Candidate cities should explore the possibility, where appropriate, of seeking financial support from Union programmes and funds.

               (18)

               The preparation phase between the designation of a city and the year of the title is of crucial importance for the success of the European Capitals of Culture action. There is broad consensus among stakeholders that the accompanying measures introduced by Decision No 1622/2006/EC have been very useful for the cities concerned. Those measures should be further developed, in particular through more frequent monitoring meetings and visits to the cities by panel experts, and through an even stronger exchange of experience between past, present and future cities holding the title, as well as candidate cities. Designated cities could also develop further links with other cities holding the title.

               (19)

               The Melina Mercouri prize established by Decision No 1622/2006/EC has acquired a strong symbolic value which goes far beyond the actual amount awarded by the Commission. However, in order to ensure that the designated cities fulfil their commitments, the conditions for payment of the prize money should be made more stringent and explicit.

               (20)

               It is important that the cities concerned make clear in all their communication material that the action established by this Decision is a Union action.

               (21)

               The Commission's evaluations of the past European Capitals of Culture, which are based on data collected at a local level, have not been able to provide primary data on the impact of the title. Therefore, the cities themselves should be the key players in the evaluation process.

               (22)

               Past experience has shown that the participation of candidate countries can help to bring them closer to the Union by highlighting the common aspects of European cultures. The action established by this Decision should therefore be open to the participation of candidate countries and potential candidates after 2019.

               (23)

               However, during the period covered by this Decision, namely from 2020 to 2033, for reasons of equity with cities in the Member States, cities in candidate countries and potential candidates should only be allowed to participate in one competition for the title. Furthermore, likewise for reasons of equity with Member States, each candidate country or potential candidate should only be allowed to host the title once during that period.

               (24)

               Decision No 1622/2006/EC should be repealed. However, its provisions should continue to apply in relation to all cities which have already been, or are in the process of being, designated for the years up to 2019.

               (25)

               Since the objectives of this Decision, namely to safeguard and promote the diversity of cultures in Europe, to highlight the common features they share and to foster the contribution of culture to the long-term development of cities, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States given the need, in particular, for common, clear and transparent criteria and procedures for selection and monitoring, as well as for a strong coordination between the Member States, but can rather, by reason of the scale and the expected effects of the action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives,

         HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
   Article 1
   Establishment of the action
   A Union action entitled ‘European Capitals of Culture’ is hereby established for the years 2020 to 2033 (‘the action’).
   Article 2
   Objectives
   1.   The general objectives of the action are:

               (a)

               to safeguard and promote the diversity of cultures in Europe and to highlight the common features they share as well as to increase citizens' sense of belonging to a common cultural area;

               (b)

               to foster the contribution of culture to the long-term development of cities in accordance with their respective strategies and priorities.

         2.   The specific objectives of the action are:

               (a)

               to enhance the range, diversity and European dimension of the cultural offering in cities, including through transnational cooperation;

               (b)

               to widen access to and participation in culture;

               (c)

               to strengthen the capacity of the cultural sector and its links with other sectors;

               (d)

               to raise the international profile of cities through culture.

         Article 3
   Access to the action
   1.   The competition for the title shall be open to cities, which may involve their surrounding areas.
   2.   The number of cities holding the title in a given year (‘the year of the title’) shall not exceed three.
   The title shall be awarded each year to a maximum of one city in each of the two Member States appearing in the calendar set out in the Annex (‘the calendar’) and, in the relevant years, to one city from a candidate country or a potential candidate, or to one city from a country that accedes to the Union in the circumstances set out in paragraph 5.
   3.   Cities in Member States shall be entitled to hold the title for one year in accordance with the order of the Member States appearing in the calendar.
   4.   Cities in candidate countries and potential candidates which participate in the Creative Europe Programme or in the subsequent Union programmes supporting culture at the date of publication of the call for submission of applications referred to in Article 10(2) may apply for the title for one year in the framework of an open competition organised every third year in accordance with the calendar.
   Cities in candidate countries and potential candidates shall only be allowed to participate in one competition during the period from 2020 to 2033.
   Each candidate country or potential candidate shall only be allowed to host the title once during the period from 2020 to 2033.
   5.   Where a country accedes to the Union after 4 May 2014 but before 1 January 2027, it shall be entitled to host the title seven years after its accession in accordance with the rules and procedures applicable to Member States. The calendar shall be updated accordingly. Where a country accedes to the Union on or after 1 January 2027, it shall not be entitled to participate in the action as a Member State.
   However, in years where there are already three cities holding the title in accordance with the calendar, cities in countries referred to in the first subparagraph shall only be entitled to hold the title in the next available year in the calendar, in the order of accession of those countries.
   If a city from a country referred to in the first subparagraph has previously participated in a competition for candidate countries and potential candidates, it may not participate in any subsequent competition for Member States. Where, during the period from 2020 to 2033, a city from such a country has been designated to hold the title in accordance with paragraph 4, that country shall not be entitled, after its accession, to organise a competition as a Member State during that period.
   If more than one country accedes to the Union on the same date and if there is no agreement on the order of participation in the action between those countries, the Council shall organise a draw.
   Article 4
   Application
   1.   A common application form based on the criteria laid down in Article 5 shall be prepared by the Commission and used by all candidate cities.
   Where a candidate city involves its surrounding area, the application shall be made under the name of that city.
   2.   Every application shall be based on a cultural programme with a strong European dimension.
   The cultural programme shall cover the year of the title and shall be created specifically for the title, in accordance with the criteria laid down in Article 5.
   Article 5
   Criteria
   The criteria for the assessment of applications (‘the criteria’) shall be divided into the categories ‘contribution to the long-term strategy’, ‘European dimension’, ‘cultural and artistic content’, ‘capacity to deliver’, ‘outreach’ and ‘management’ as follows:

               (1)

               as regards the ‘contribution to the long-term strategy’ category, the following factors shall be taken into account:

                           (a)

                           that a cultural strategy for the candidate city, which covers the action and includes plans for sustaining the cultural activities beyond the year of the title, is in place at the time of its application;

                           (b)

                           the plans to strengthen the capacity of the cultural and creative sectors, including developing long-term links between the cultural, economic and social sectors in the candidate city;

                           (c)

                           the envisaged long-term cultural, social and economic impact, including urban development, that the title would have on the candidate city;

                           (d)

                           the plans for monitoring and evaluating the impact of the title on the candidate city and for disseminating the results of the evaluation;

               (2)

               as regards the ‘European dimension’ category, the following factors shall be assessed:

                           (a)

                           the scope and quality of activities promoting the cultural diversity of Europe, intercultural dialogue and greater mutual understanding between European citizens;

                           (b)

                           the scope and quality of activities highlighting the common aspects of European cultures, heritage and history, as well as European integration and current European themes;

                           (c)

                           the scope and quality of activities featuring European artists, cooperation with operators or cities in different countries, including, where appropriate, cities holding the title, and transnational partnerships;

                           (d)

                           the strategy to attract the interest of a broad European and international public;

               (3)

               as regards the ‘cultural and artistic content’ category, the following factors shall be assessed:

                           (a)

                           a clear and coherent artistic vision and strategy for the cultural programme;

                           (b)

                           the involvement of local artists and cultural organisations in the conception and implementation of the cultural programme;

                           (c)

                           the range and diversity of the activities proposed and their overall artistic quality;

                           (d)

                           the capacity to combine local cultural heritage and traditional art forms with new, innovative and experimental cultural expressions;

               (4)

               as regards the ‘capacity to deliver’ category, the candidate cities shall demonstrate that:

                           (a)

                           the application has broad and strong political support and a sustainable commitment from the local, regional and national authorities;

                           (b)

                           the candidate city has or will have an adequate and viable infrastructure to hold the title;

               (5)

               as regards the ‘outreach’ category, the following factors shall be assessed:

                           (a)

                           the involvement of the local population and civil society in the preparation of the application and the implementation of the action;

                           (b)

                           the creation of new and sustainable opportunities for a wide range of citizens to attend or participate in cultural activities, in particular young people, volunteers and the marginalised and disadvantaged, including minorities, with special attention being given to persons with disabilities and the elderly as regards the accessibility of those activities;

                           (c)

                           the overall strategy for audience development, and in particular the link with education and the participation of schools;

               (6)

               as regards the ‘management’ category, the following factors shall be assessed:

                           (a)

                           the feasibility of the fund-raising strategy and proposed budget, which includes, where appropriate, plans to seek financial support from Union programmes and funds, and covers the preparation phase, the year of the title, the evaluation and provisions for the legacy activities, and contingency planning;

                           (b)

                           the envisaged governance and delivery structure for the implementation of the action which provides, inter alia, for appropriate cooperation between the local authorities and the delivery structure, including the artistic team;

                           (c)

                           the procedures for the appointment of the general and artistic directors and their fields of action;

                           (d)

                           that the marketing and communication strategy is comprehensive and highlights that the action is a Union action;

                           (e)

                           that the delivery structure has staff with appropriate skills and experience to plan, manage and deliver the cultural programme for the year of the title.

         Article 6
   Expert panel
   1.   A panel of independent experts (‘the panel’) shall be established to carry out the selection and monitoring procedures.
   2.   The panel shall consist of 10 experts appointed by Union institutions and bodies (‘the European experts’) in accordance with paragraph 3.
   3.   After organising an open call for expressions of interest, the Commission shall propose a pool of potential European experts.
   The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission shall select three experts each from that pool and appoint them in accordance with their respective procedures.
   The Committee of the Regions shall select one expert from the pool and appoint that expert in accordance with its procedures.
   When selecting European experts, each of those Union institutions and bodies shall seek to ensure complementarity of the competences, a balanced geographical distribution and gender balance in the overall composition of the panel.
   4.   In addition to the European experts, for the selection and monitoring of a city from a Member State, the Member State concerned shall be entitled to appoint up to two experts to the panel in accordance with its own procedures and in consultation with the Commission.
   5.   All experts shall:

               (a)

               be citizens of the Union;

               (b)

               be independent;

               (c)

               have substantial experience and expertise in:

                           (i)

                           the cultural sector;

                           (ii)

                           the cultural development of cities; or

                           (iii)

                           the organisation of a European Capital of Culture event or an international cultural event of similar scope and scale;

               (d)

               be in a position to devote an appropriate number of working days per year to the panel.

         6.   The panel shall designate its chairperson.
   7.   The European experts shall be appointed for a period of three years.
   Notwithstanding the first subparagraph, as regards the first establishment of the panel, the European Parliament shall appoint its experts for three years, the Commission for two years and the Council and the Committee of the Regions for one year.
   8.   All experts shall declare any actual or potential conflict of interest in respect of a specific candidate city. In the event of such a declaration, or if such a conflict of interest comes to light, the expert concerned shall resign and the relevant Union institution or body or Member State shall replace that expert for the remainder of the mandate, in accordance with the relevant procedure.
   Article 7
   Submission of applications in the Member States
   1.   Each Member State shall be responsible for the organisation of the competition between its cities in accordance with the calendar.
   2.   The Member States concerned shall publish a call for submission of applications at least six years before the year of the title.
   By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, the Member States entitled to designate a city to hold the title in 2020 shall publish such a call as soon as possible after 4 May 2014.
   Each call for submission of applications shall contain the application form referred to in Article 4(1).
   The deadline for submitting applications by candidate cities under each call for submission of applications shall be scheduled at the earliest 10 months after its publication.
   3.   The Member States concerned shall notify the applications to the Commission.
   Article 8
   Pre-selection in the Member States
   1.   Each Member State concerned shall convene the panel for a pre-selection meeting with the candidate cities no later than five years before the year of the title.
   By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, the Member States entitled to designate the cities to hold the title for the year 2020 may extend that deadline for a maximum of one year.
   2.   The panel, after assessing the applications in accordance with the criteria, shall agree on a shortlist of candidate cities and shall issue a pre-selection report on all the applications, providing, inter alia, recommendations to the short-listed candidate cities.
   3.   The panel shall submit the pre-selection report to the Member States concerned and to the Commission.
   4.   Each Member State concerned shall formally approve the shortlist based on the report of the panel.
   Article 9
   Selection in the Member States
   1.   The shortlisted candidate cities shall complete and revise their applications with a view to complying with the criteria as well as taking into account the recommendations contained in the pre-selection report, and shall submit them to the Member State concerned, which shall then transmit them to the Commission.
   2.   Each Member State concerned shall convene the panel for a selection meeting with the shortlisted candidate cities no later than nine months after the pre-selection meeting.
   Where necessary, the Member State concerned, in consultation with the Commission, may extend that nine-month deadline for a reasonable period.
   3.   The panel shall assess the completed and revised applications.
   4.   The panel shall issue a selection report on the applications of the shortlisted candidate cities with a recommendation for the designation of a maximum of one city in the Member State concerned.
   The selection report shall also contain recommendations to the city concerned regarding the progress to be made by the year of the title.
   The panel shall submit the selection report to the Member State concerned and to the Commission.
   5.   Notwithstanding paragraph 4, if none of the candidate cities fulfils all the criteria, the panel may recommend that the title not be awarded for the year in question.
   Article 10
   Pre-selection and selection in candidate countries and potential candidates
   1.   The Commission shall be responsible for the organisation of the competition between cities in candidate countries and potential candidates.
   2.   The Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union a call for submission of applications at least six years before the year of the title.
   Each call for submission of applications shall contain the application form referred to in Article 4(1).
   The deadline for submitting applications under each call for submission of applications shall be scheduled at the earliest 10 months after its publication.
   3.   The pre-selection of the cities shall be carried out by the panel at least five years before the year of the title, on the basis of their respective applications. No meeting with the candidate cities shall be organised.
   The panel, after assessing the applications in accordance with the criteria, shall agree on a shortlist of candidate cities and shall issue a pre-selection report on all the applications, providing, inter alia, recommendations to the shortlisted candidate cities.
   The panel shall submit the pre-selection report to the Commission.
   4.   The shortlisted candidate cities shall complete and revise their applications with a view to complying with the criteria as well as taking into account the recommendations contained in the pre-selection report, and submit them to the Commission.
   The Commission shall convene the panel for a selection meeting with the shortlisted candidate cities no later than nine months after the pre-selection meeting.
   Where necessary, the Commission may extend that nine-month deadline for a reasonable period.
   5.   The panel shall assess the completed and revised applications.
   6.   The panel shall issue a selection report on the applications of the shortlisted candidate cities together with a recommendation for the designation of a maximum of one city in one candidate country or potential candidate.
   The selection report shall also contain recommendations to the city concerned regarding the progress to be made by the year of the title.
   The panel shall submit the selection report to the Commission.
   7.   Notwithstanding paragraph 6, if none of the candidate cities fulfils all the criteria, the panel may recommend that the title not be awarded for the year in question.
   Article 11
   Designation
   1.   Each Member State concerned shall designate one city to hold the title, on the basis of the recommendations contained in the selection report of the panel, and shall notify, no later than four years before the year of the title, the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions of that designation.
   By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, the Member States entitled to designate the cities to hold the title for the year 2020 may extend that deadline for a maximum of one year.
   2.   In the case of candidate countries and potential candidates, the Commission shall designate one city to hold the title in the relevant years, on the basis of the recommendations contained in the selection report of the panel, and shall notify, no later than four years before the year of the title, the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions of that designation.
   3.   The designations referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be accompanied by a justification based on the reports of the panel.
   4.   Where a city involves its surrounding area, the designation shall apply to the city.
   5.   Within two months of notification of designations, the Commission shall publish the list of the cities designated as European Capitals of Culture in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Union.
   Article 12
   Cooperation between designated cities
   Cities designated for the same year shall seek to develop links between their cultural programmes and such cooperation may be considered in the framework of the monitoring procedure laid down in Article 13.
   Article 13
   Monitoring
   1.   The panel shall monitor the preparation of the designated cities for the year of the title and provide them with support and guidance from the time of their designation to the beginning of the year of the title.
   2.   To that end, the Commission shall convene three monitoring meetings which shall be attended by the panel and the designated cities, as follows:

               (a)

               three years before the year of the title;

               (b)

               18 months before the year of the title;

               (c)

               two months before the year of the title.

         The Member State or candidate country or potential candidate concerned may nominate an observer to attend those meetings.
   The designated cities shall submit progress reports to the Commission six weeks before each monitoring meeting.
   During the monitoring meetings, the panel shall take stock of the preparations and give advice with a view to helping the designated cities to develop a high-quality cultural programme and an effective strategy. The panel shall pay special attention to the recommendations laid down in the selection report and in any preceding monitoring reports referred to in paragraph 3.
   3.   After each monitoring meeting, the panel shall issue a monitoring report on the state of preparations and any steps to be taken.
   The panel shall transmit its monitoring reports to the Commission, as well as to the designated cities and to the Member State or candidate country or potential candidate concerned.
   4.   In addition to the monitoring meetings, the Commission may organise visits by the panel to the designated cities whenever necessary.
   Article 14
   Prize
   1.   The Commission may award a pecuniary prize in honour of Melina Mercouri (‘the prize’) to a designated city, subject to the funding made available under the relevant multiannual financial framework.
   The legal and financial aspects of the prize shall be dealt with in the framework of the respective Union programmes supporting culture.
   2.   The prize money shall be paid by the end of March of the year of the title, provided that the designated city concerned continues to honour the commitments it made at the application stage, complies with the criteria and takes into account the recommendations contained in the selection and monitoring reports.
   The commitments made at the application stage shall be deemed to have been honoured by the designated city where no substantial change has been made to the programme and the strategy between the application stage and the year of the title, in particular where:

               (a)

               the budget has been maintained at a level capable of delivering a high-quality cultural programme in line with the application and the criteria;

               (b)

               the independence of the artistic team has been appropriately respected;

               (c)

               the European dimension has remained sufficiently strong in the final version of the cultural programme;

               (d)

               the marketing and communication strategy and the communication material used by the designated city clearly reflects the fact that the action is a Union action;

               (e)

               the plans for the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the title on the designated city are in place.

         Article 15
   Practical arrangements
   The Commission shall in particular:

               (a)

               ensure the overall coherence of the action;

               (b)

               ensure coordination between the Member States and the panel;

               (c)

               in the light of the objectives referred to in Article 2 and of the criteria, establish guidelines to assist with the selection and monitoring procedures in close cooperation with the panel;

               (d)

               provide technical support to the panel;

               (e)

               publish, on its website, all reports of the panel;

               (f)

               make public all relevant information and contribute to the visibility of the action at the European and international levels;

               (g)

               foster the exchange of experience and of good practices between past, present and future cities holding the title, as well as candidate cities, and promote wider dissemination of the cities' evaluation reports and lessons learned.

         Article 16
   Evaluation
   1.   Each city concerned shall be responsible for the evaluation of the results of its year as a European Capital of Culture.
   The Commission shall establish common guidelines and indicators for the cities concerned based on the objectives referred to in Article 2 and on the criteria in order to ensure a coherent approach to the evaluation procedure.
   The cities concerned shall draw up their evaluation reports and transmit them to the Commission by 31 December of the year following the year of the title.
   The Commission shall publish the evaluation reports on its website.
   2.   In addition to the cities' evaluations, the Commission shall ensure that external and independent evaluations of the results of the action are produced on a regular basis.
   The external and independent evaluations shall focus on placing all past European Capitals of Culture in a European context, allowing comparisons to be drawn and useful lessons to be learned for future European Capitals of Culture, as well as for all European cities. Those evaluations shall include an assessment of the action as a whole, including the efficiency of the processes involved in running it, its impact and ways in which it could be improved.
   The Commission shall present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions the following reports based on those evaluations, accompanied, if appropriate, by relevant proposals:

               (a)

               an initial interim report by 31 December 2024;

               (b)

               a second interim report by 31 December 2029;

               (c)

               an ex post report by 31 December 2034.

         Article 17
   Repeal and transitional provision
   Decision No 1622/2006/EC is hereby repealed. It shall however continue to apply in the case of cities which have been designated or are in the process of being designated as European Capitals of Culture for the years from 2013 to 2019.
   Article 18
   Entry into force
   This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

      Done at Strasbourg, 16 April 2014.

            For the European Parliament

            The President

         M. SCHULZ

            For the Council

            The President

         D. KOURKOULAS

      (1)  OJ C 113, 18.4.2012, p. 17 and OJ C 17, 19.1.2013, p. 97.

      (2)  Position of the European Parliament of 12 December 2013 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and position of the Council at first reading of 24 March 2014 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Position of the European Parliament of 15 April 2014 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

      (3)  OJ C 287, 29.11.2007, p. 1.

      (4)  OJ C 247 E, 15.10.2009, p. 32.

      (5)  Decision No 1622/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019 (OJ L 304, 3.11.2006, p. 1).

      (6)  Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing the Creative Europe Programme (2014 to 2020) and repealing Decisions No 1718/2006/EC, No 1855/2006/EC and No 1041/2009/EC (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 221).

      (7)  OJ C 56 E, 26.2.2013, p. 41.

      ANNEX
      CALENDAR

                  2020

                  Croatia

                  Ireland

                  2021

                  Romania

                  Greece

                  Candidate country or potential candidate

                  2022

                  Lithuania

                  Luxembourg

                  2023

                  Hungary

                  United Kingdom

                  2024

                  Estonia

                  Austria

                  Candidate country or potential candidate

                  2025

                  Slovenia

                  Germany

                  2026

                  Slovakia

                  Finland

                  2027

                  Latvia

                  Portugal

                  Candidate country or potential candidate

                  2028

                  Czech Republic

                  France

                  2029

                  Poland

                  Sweden

                  2030

                  Cyprus

                  Belgium

                  Candidate country or potential candidate

                  2031

                  Malta

                  Spain

                  2032

                  Bulgaria

                  Denmark

                  2033

                  Netherlands

                  Italy

                  Candidate country or potential candidate


title: Decision (EU) 2017/742 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF/2017/000 TA 2017 — Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission)

text:
               28.4.2017

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 111/8

         DECISION (EU) 2017/742 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
   of 5 April 2017
   on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF/2017/000 TA 2017 — Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission)
   THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
   Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (1), and in particular Article 11(2) thereof,
   Having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (2), and in particular point 13 thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activities have ceased as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, as a result of a continuation of the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis, and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

               (2)

               The EGF is not to exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (4).

               (3)

               Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 provides that a maximum of 0,5 % of the annual maximum amount of the EGF may be used each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.

               (4)

               The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised in order to provide the sum of EUR 310 000 for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission,

         HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
   Article 1
   For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 310 000 in commitment and payment appropriations.
   Article 2
   This Decision shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

      Done at Strasbourg, 5 April 2017.

            For the European Parliament

            The President

         A. TAJANI

            For the Council

            The President

         I. BORG

      (1)  OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 855.

      (2)  OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.

      (3)  Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 on establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (OJ L 167, 29.6.2009, p. 26).

      (4)  Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884).


Avis juridique important

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31987D0149

87/149/EEC: Council Decision of 3 November 1986 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the United States of America on the Mediterranean preferences, citrus and pasta

Official Journal L 062 , 05/03/1987 P. 0022 - 0022 Finnish special edition: Chapter 11 Volume 11 P. 0395  Swedish special edition: Chapter 11 Volume 11 P. 0395

*****COUNCIL  DECISION  of 3 November 1986  concerning the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the United States of America on the Mediterranean preferences, citrus and pasta (*)  (87/149/EEC)  THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,  Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,  Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission,  Whereas a solution should be found to the trade dispute between the Community and the United States over citrus and pasta,  HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:  Article 1  The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the United States of America on the Mediterranean preferences, citrus and pasta is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.  The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.  Article 2  The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the person empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Community.  Done at Brussels, 3 November 1986.  For the Council  The President  A. CLARK  (*) As corrected on 24 February 1987.