Avis juridique important

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31997D0300

97/300/EC, ECSC, Euratom: Council Decision of 29 April 1997 on the conclusion by the European Community of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part

Official Journal L 129 , 21/05/1997 P. 0001 - 0002

COUNCIL DECISION of 29 April 1997 on the conclusion by the European Community of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part (97/300/ECSC, EC, Euratom) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 228 (2) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),Whereas, pending the entry into force of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, signed in Luxembourg on 22 April 1996, it is appropriate to approve, on behalf of the European Community, the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part,HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:Article 1 The Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, together with its Annexes, the Protocol and the declarations attached to the Final Act, are hereby approved on behalf of the European Community.The texts of the instruments referred to in the first subparagraph are attached to this Decision.Article 2 The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the European Community, give the notification provided for in Article 32 of the Interim Agreement (2).Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 1997.For the CouncilThe PresidentH. VAN MIERLO(1) OJ No C 115, 14. 4. 1997.(2) The date of the entry into force of the Interim Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities by the General Secretariat of the Council.


title: 2006/308/EC: Council Decision of  10 April 2006  appointing a German alternate member of the Committee of the Regions

text:
               28.4.2006

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 115/36

      COUNCIL DECISION

   of 10 April 2006
   appointing a German alternate member of the Committee of the Regions
   (2006/308/EC)
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 263 thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the German Government,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               On 24 January 2006 the Council adopted Decision 2006/116/EC appointing the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2006 to 25 January 2010 (1).

               (2)

               A seat as an alternate member of the Committee of the Regions has become vacant following the resignation of Mr Dieter DOMBROWSKI,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   Ms Barbara RICHSTEIN, member of the Parliament of Brandenburg (Mitglied des Landtags von Brandenburg), is hereby appointed an alternate member of the Committee of the Regions in place of Mr Dieter DOMBROWSKI for the remainder of his term of office, which runs until 25 January 2010.
   Article 2
   This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
   It shall take effect on the date of its adoption.

      Done at Luxembourg, 10 April 2006.

            For the Council

            The President

         U. PLASSNIK

      (1)  OJ L 56, 25.2.2006, p. 75.


title: Commission Decision of 6 July 2016 regarding the open source licensing of DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Integrated Fisheries Data Management software

text:
               12.7.2016

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               C 252/9

         COMMISSION DECISION
   of 6 July 2016
   regarding the open source licensing of DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Integrated Fisheries Data Management software
   (2016/C 252/03)
   THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
   Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
   Having regard to the Decision of the Commission of 19 September 2001 (PV1536) conferring to the Directors-General and Heads of Services the power to decide on the need to file an application for protection of intellectual property rights resulting from the activities or programmes for which they are responsible, the granting of licences related thereto, the acquisition, transfer or surrender or abandoning of rights, and to the Directors-General the power of administrative execution related thereto,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               The Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) has developed several information systems belonging to the Integrated Fisheries Data Management (IFDM) software suite for electronic exchanges of fishing activities data based on the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) FLUX standard.

               (2)

               The current IFDM suite (hereinafter referred to as the software) contains the following information systems: FLUX Transportation Layer for the exchange of electronic messages according to the UN/CEFACT standard, the Union Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) tool for the monitoring of vessel positions and for which DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has developed three modules (Spatial, reporting and USM) as well as the VMS ERS Viewer which extends Union VMS with functionality for the visualisation of electronic fishing logbooks in the UN/CEFACT format.

               (3)

               The open source licensing of the software could benefit the worldwide harmonisation of fisheries data exchanges and allow cost savings. Therefore, the distribution of the software tools should be made available to Member States, third countries, Regional Fisheries Monitoring Organisations as well as the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

               (4)

               DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, as DG responsible for the development and maintenance of the software and — at the same time — entrusted service for the administrative execution of decisions in the field of Intellectual Property, considers the open source licensing of the software appropriate and opportune.

               (5)

               In order to distribute and to promote the use of the software and to avoid its exclusive appropriation, the software will be released under an open source license,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   Non-exclusive open source licence terms may be applied for the distribution of the software with a view to enable its use, reproduction, development, and further distribution.
   Article 2
   This Decision will apply to any future releases or new versions of this software.

      Done at Brussels, 6 July 2016.

            For the Commission

         João AGUIAR MACHADO

            Director-General


Important legal notice

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32003D0616

2003/616/EC: Commission Decision of 11 August 2003 approving on behalf of the European Community amendments to the Annexes to the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products (Text with EEA relevance)

Official Journal L 214 , 26/08/2003 P. 0036 - 0037

Commission Decisionof 11 August 2003approving on behalf of the European Community amendments to the Annexes to the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products(Text with EEA relevance)(2003/616/EC)THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,Having regard to Council Decision 97/132/EC of 17 December 1996 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products(1), as amended by Decision 1999/837/EC(2), and in particular Article 3, third paragraph thereof,Whereas:(1) Council Decision 2002/957/EC of 28 November 2002 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the amendment to the Annexes to the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products(3), provided for the possibility of recognising the equivalence of the New Zealand certification systems for fresh meat and meat-based products and for other animal products.(2) The Joint Management Committee for the Agreement (the Committee), at its meeting on 27 and 28 February 2003, issued a recommendation concerning the determination of equivalence of certification systems for the following animal products: animal casings, hides and skins, pet food, bones and bone products, processed animal protein, blood and blood products, lard and rendered fats, raw materials for feedingstuffs, pharmaceutical or technical use and products obtained from poultrymeat. As a result of this recommendation it is appropriate to amend Annex V to the Agreement.(3) The Committee at that same meeting issued further recommendations concerning amendments of certain Annexes to the Agreement to take account of changes in the administrative structure of the responsible authorities and the contact point of New Zealand, and of changes relating to New Zealand legislation. The Committee also recommended amendment of Annex V with respect to BSE-related measures in accordance with the current legislation of both Parties.(4) Those amendments should be approved on behalf of the Community.(5) The measure provided for in this Decision is in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:Article 1Pursuant to the recommendations made by the Joint Management Committee established under Article 16 of the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products the amendments to Annexes II, V and X to the said Agreement are hereby approved on behalf of the European Community. The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters, including the amendments to the Annexes to the Agreement, is attached to this Decision.Article 2The Director-General for Health and Consumer Protection is hereby empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community.Article 3This Decision shall apply from the first day of the month following the month in which New Zealand notifies the Commission in writing that its internal procedures for the approval of the amendments referred to in Article 1 have been completed.Done at Brussels, 11 August 2003.For the CommissionDavid ByrneMember of the Commission(1) OJ L 57, 26.2.1997, p. 4.(2) OJ L 332, 23.12.1999, p. 1.(3) OJ L 333, 10.12.2002, p. 13.


title: Decision No E5 of 16 March 2017 concerning the practical arrangements for the transitional period for the data exchange via electronic means referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 (Text of relevance to the EEA and to the EC/Switzerland Agreement. )

text:
               19.7.2017

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               C 233/3

         DECISION No E5
   of 16 March 2017
   concerning the practical arrangements for the transitional period for the data exchange via electronic means referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 987/2009
   (Text of relevance to the EEA and to the EC/Switzerland Agreement)
   (2017/C 233/03)
   THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION FOR THE COORDINATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS,
   Having regard to Article 72 (a) of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems (1), under which the Administrative Commission is responsible for dealing with all administrative questions or questions of interpretation arising from the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems (2),
   Having regard to Article 72 (d) of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems, under which the Administrative Commission shall encourage as far as possible the use of new technologies,
   Having regard to Article 4 of the Regulation (EC) No 987/2009, under which the ‘The transmission of data between the institutions or the liaison bodies shall be carried out by electronic means …’ and ‘The Administrative Commission shall lay down the structure, content, format and detailed arrangements for exchange of documents and structured electronic documents’,
   Having regard to Article 95 of Regulation (EC) No 987/2009, concerning the transitional period, stating that ‘Each Member State may benefit from a transitional period for exchanging data by electronic means …’ and that ‘These transitional periods shall not exceed 24 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing Regulation.’,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               Article 95 of the Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 empowers the Administrative Commission to lay down the practical arrangements for any necessary transitional periods, with a view to ensuring the necessary data exchange for the application of the basic Regulation and the implementing Regulation.

               (2)

               It is necessary to clarify the basic principles to be applied by institutions during the transitional period.

               (3)

               After the date of entry into force of the new Regulations a significant number of claims were in progress where entitlement arose under Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (3) and that in relation to these claims the exchange of information will generally be based on the procedures contained in Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 (4), including the use of E-forms.

               (4)

               Article 94(1) of the Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 implies that a ‘double award’ is made in the circumstances of the previous recital, with the beneficiary receiving the higher award.

               (5)

               However, in practice, in the large majority of cases, if not all, an award based on the former Regulations will not be improved by the application of the new Regulations. It is considered accordingly that it is unrealistic to expect institutions in these circumstances to undertake duplicate procedures under Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009.

               (6)

               Paragraph 5 of Decision No H1 clarifies the status of certificates (E-forms) and the European Health Insurance Card (including the Provisional Replacements Certificates) issued before the date of entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009.

               (7)

               Within the transitional period Member States are free to decide when they are ready to join the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) as a whole or by Business Use Cases (BUCs), while at the same time endeavouring to follow the planned implementation of EESSI within Member States and the sequence of BUCs to commence electronic exchange as recommended by the Administrative Commission.
               Acting in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 71(2) of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

               1.

               During the transitional period, the guiding principle shall be good cooperation between institutions, pragmatism and flexibility. Above all, the need to guarantee a seamless transition for citizens exercising their rights under the new Regulations is paramount.

               2.

               As from the date of entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and the Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 paper versions of the Structured Electronic Documents (SEDs) will replace the E-forms based on Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72.

               3.

               Notwithstanding paragraph 2, Member States that have national electronic applications which produce E-forms or that have electronic exchanges in place (for example the Build projects), which cannot reasonably be changed in this time-frame, may continue to use them during the transitional period, as long as the rights of citizens under the new Regulations are fully guaranteed.

               4.

               In all cases, during the transitional period, an institution shall accept relevant information on any document issued by another institution, even if it is based on an outdated format, content or structure. In case of doubts concerning the rights of the citizen concerned, the institution shall contact the issuing institution in the spirit of good cooperation.

               5.

               As stated under paragraph 5 of Decision No H1, E-forms, documents and European Health Insurance Cards (including the Provisional Replacements Certificates) issued before the date of entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 shall continue to be valid and be taken into account by the authorities of other Member States even after that date, until their own date of validity has expired or until they are withdrawn or replaced by the documents issued or communicated under Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009.

               6.

               Each Member State may follow a flexible phased approach in implementing the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI), as it becomes EESSI-enabled via its Access Point(s).

               7.

               A collaborative agreement within the Administrative Commission will define the planned sequence of BUCs in EESSI for Member States to follow, without prejudice to paragraph 6. This sequence will be based on a gradual build-up of BUCs and will include bundling of BUCs where this is appropriate.

               8.

               For each BUC where electronic exchanges have commenced, each Member State shall endeavour to join as soon as possible once their technical integration allows this.

               9.

               Member States will manage both paper and electronic exchanges across the same BUC until all Member States are EESSI enabled for that particular BUC.

               10.

               Being ‘EESSI-enabled’ for a particular BUC means that the Member State concerned can both send and receive all messages in that BUC to and from other Member States.

               11.

               The information on which BUC in which Member State is EESSI-enabled shall be contained in a list accessible to national institutions and also reflected in the EESSI Institution Repository. Member States shall inform the Administrative Commission in writing within a reasonable time before becoming EESSI enabled for a specific BUC.

               12.

               During the transitional period the exchange of information between two Member States for a BUC shall be either under EESSI or outside EESSI for all exchanges covered by that BUC, without prejudice to any bilateral arrangements that may, for instance, concern joint testing or training or analogous reasons; and shall be carried out only under EESSI from the moment they both declared being EESSI enabled for that BUC.

               13.

               In case of a multilateral BUC, meaning a BUC where more than two Member States participate in the exchange, the exchanges under EESSI shall only start once it is established that only Member States which declared to be EESSI-enabled for that particular BUC are participating in that exchange. The principles outlined under paragraph 12 also apply in cases where more than two Member States participate in a BUC.

               14.

               This decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from the twentieth day following that of its publication.

               15.

               This Decision replaces Decision No E1 of 12 June 2009.

            The Chair of the Administrative Commission

         Malcolm SCICLUNA

      (1)  OJ L 166, 30.4.2004, p. 1.

      (2)  OJ L 284, 30.10.2009, p. 1.

      (3)  Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving within the Community (OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2).

      (4)  Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 of the Council of 21 March 1972 fixing the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving within the Community (OJ L 74, 27.3.1972, p. 1).


Avis juridique important

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32002D0054

2002/54/EC: Council Decision of 21 January 2002 concerning the provisional application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa on trade in spirits

Official Journal L 028 , 30/01/2002 P. 0131 - 0131

Council Decisionof 21 January 2002concerning the provisional application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa on trade in spirits(2002/54/EC)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 133, in conjunction with Article 300(2), first paragraph, first sentence, thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Whereas:(1) It is necessary for the Community and South Africa to provide for the provisional application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa on trade in spirits as from 28 January 2002 (the "Agreement"), pending the completion of the procedures required by South Africa to bring the Agreement into force.(2) In order to facilitate the implementation of certain provisions of the Agreement, the Commission should be allowed to make the necessary technical adjustments in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks(1).(3) The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters to that effect should therefore be approved,HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:Article 1The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters which provides for the provisional application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa on trade in spirits as from 28 January 2002 is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters and the text of the Agreement on trade in spirits are attached to this Decision.Article 2The President of the Council is authorised to designate the person(s) authorised to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters and thus express the Community's agreement to be bound by it.Article 3For the purposes of applying Articles 5(8) and 16(2) of the Agreement on trade in spirits, the Commission is hereby authorised, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89, to conclude the instruments required to amend the Agreement.Article 4The Commission shall represent the Community in the Joint Committee set up under Article 17 of the Agreement on trade in spirits.Article 5This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.Done at Brussels, 21 January 2002.For the CouncilThe PresidentM. Arias Cañete(1) OJ L 160, 12.6.1989, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3378/94 (OJ L 366, 31.12.1994, p. 1).


Avis juridique important

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31980D0375

80/375/EEC: Council Decision of 26 March 1980 replacing a member of the Committee of the European Social Fund

Official Journal L 093 , 10/04/1980 P. 0021

****( 1 ) OJ NO L 249 , 10 . 11 . 1971 , P . 54 .  ( 2 ) OJ NO 56 , 31 . 8 . 1960 , P . 1201/60 .  ( 3 ) OJ NO L 91 , 12 . 4 . 1968 , P . 25 .       COUNCIL DECISION   OF 26 MARCH 1980   REPLACING A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND  ( 80/375/EEC )   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,   HAVING REGARD TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ,   HAVING REGARD TO REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 2396/71 ( 1 ) ON THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND ,   HAVING REGARD TO THE RULES OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND ( 2 ), AS AMENDED BY THE COUNCIL DECISION OF 9 APRIL 1968 ( 3 ), AND IN PARTICULAR ARTICLE 7 THEREOF ,   HAVING REGARD TO THE COUNCIL DECISION OF 17 APRIL 1978 APPOINTING THE MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 16 APRIL 1980 ,   WHEREAS ONE SEAT AS MEMBER OF THE AFORESAID COMMITTEE IN THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES CATEGORY HAS FALLEN VACANT FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF MR CHAVRANSKI , NOTIFIED TO THE COUNCIL ON 11 MARCH 1980 ;   HAVING REGARD TO THE NOMINATION SUBMITTED ON 11 MARCH 1980 ,   HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :   SOLE ARTICLE   MR JEAN-PAUL MINGASSON IS HEREBY APPOINTED AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND IN PLACE OF MR CHAVRANSKI FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS TERM OF OFFICE , WHICH RUNS UNTIL 16 APRIL 1980 .   DONE AT BRUSSELS , 26 MARCH 1980 .   FOR THE COUNCIL   THE PRESIDENT   G . MARCORA


Avis juridique important

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31999D0347

1999/347/CFSP: Council Decision of 17 May 1999 repealing Common Position 98/614/CFSP concerning Nigeria

Official Journal L 133 , 28/05/1999 P. 0005 - 0005

COUNCIL DECISIONof 17 May 1999repealing Common Position 98/614/CFSP concerning Nigeria(1999/347/CFSP)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and, in particular, Article 15 thereof,(1) Whereas on 30 October 1998 the Council adopted Common Position 98/614/CFSP(1) concerning Nigeria;(2) Whereas, on 29 May 1999, a civilian democratically elected President will take office in Nigeria and a civilian government will be formed;(3) Whereas the conditions set out by the Council on 30 October 1998 for the lifting of the remaining sanctions on Nigeria will thus have been fulfilled,HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:Article 1Common Position 98/614/CFSP is hereby repealed as from 1 June 1999.Article 2This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.Done at Brussels, 17 May 1999.For the CouncilThe PresidentJ. FISCHER(1) OJ L 293, 31.10.1998, p. 77.


title: Decision (EU) 2016/1497 of the European Parliament of 28 April 2016 on the closure of the accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2014

text:
               14.9.2016

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 246/192

         DECISION (EU) 2016/1497 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
   of 28 April 2016
   on the closure of the accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2014
   THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,

               —

               having regard to the final annual accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2014,

               —

               having regard to the Court of Auditors’ report on the annual accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2014, together with the Centre’s reply (1),

               —

               having regard to the statement of assurance (2) as to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions provided by the Court of Auditors for the financial year 2014, pursuant to Article 287 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

               —

               having regard to the Council’s recommendation of 12 February 2016 on discharge to be given to the Centre in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2014 (05584/2016 – C8-0062/2016),

               —

               having regard to Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

               —

               having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (3), and in particular Article 208 thereof,

               —

               having regard to Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 of the Council of 10 February 1975 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (4), and in particular Article 12a thereof,

               —

               having regard to Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2343/2002 of 19 November 2002 on the framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (5),

               —

               having regard to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 of 30 September 2013 on the framework financial regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 208 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6), and in particular Article 108 thereof,

               —

               having regard to Rule 94 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,

               —

               having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A8-0082/2016),

               1.

               Notes that the final annual accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training are as annexed to the Court of Auditors’ report;

               2.

               Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2014;

               3.

               Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors, and to arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series).

            The President

         Martin SCHULZ

            The Secretary-General

         Klaus WELLE

      (1)  OJ C 409, 9.12.2015, p. 39.

      (2)  See footnote 1.

      (3)  OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.

      (4)  OJ L 39, 13.2.1975, p. 1.

      (5)  OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 72.

      (6)  OJ L 328, 7.12.2013, p. 42.


title: Decision of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States No 2/2016/SC of 2 June 2016 amending Decision of the Standing Committee No 4/2004/SC establishing a Financial Mechanism Committee [2017/313]

text:
               23.2.2017

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 45/14

         DECISION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE EFTA STATES No 2/2016/SC
   of 2 June 2016
   amending Decision of the Standing Committee No 4/2004/SC establishing a Financial Mechanism Committee [2017/313]
   THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE EFTA STATES,
   Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as the EEA Agreement,
   Having regard to the Agreement between the European Union, Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021,
   Having regard to Protocol 38c on the EEA Financial Mechanism (2014-2021), inserted into the EEA Agreement by the aforementioned Agreement between the European Union, Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021,
   Having regard to the Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period 2014-2021,
   Having regard to the Decision of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States No 4/2004/SC of 3 June 2004 establishing a Financial Mechanism Committee,
   Having regard to the Decision of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States No 2/2015/SC of 24 September 2015 establishing an EEA Financial Mechanism Interim Committee for the period 2014-2021,
   HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   In Article 1 of the Decision of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States No 4/2004/SC of 3 June 2004 the second sentence of paragraph 1 shall be replaced by the following wording: The Committee shall manage the EEA Financial Mechanism 2004-2009, the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.
   Article 2
   This Decision shall take effect on the day of entering into force or on the day of provisional application of the legal act establishing the EEA Financial Mechanism for the period 2014-2021.
   Article 3
   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, 2 June 2016.

            For the Standing Committee

         Kurt JÄGER

            Chair

         Kristinn F. ÁRNASON

            Secretary-General


title: Formation of political groups (amendment of Rule 29) European Parliament decision of 9 July 2008 on amendment of Rule 29 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure — Formation of political groups (2006/2201(REG))

text:
               3.12.2009

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               CE 294/91

         Wednesday 9 July 2008Formation of political groups (amendment of Rule 29)
   P6_TA(2008)0351
   European Parliament decision of 9 July 2008 on amendment of Rule 29 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure — Formation of political groups (2006/2201(REG))
   2009/C 294 E/23

      The European Parliament,
   having regard to the proposal for amendment of its Rules of Procedure (B6-0420/2006),
   having regard to Rules 201 and 202 of its Rules of Procedure,
   having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A6-0206/2008),

               1.

               Decides to amend its Rules of Procedure as shown below;

               2.

               Decides that the amendment will enter into force on the first day of the first part-session following the European elections in the year 2009;

               3.

               Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and the Commission, for information.

               PRESENT TEXT

               AMENDMENTS

                  Amendment 3

                  Parliament's Rules of Procedure

                  Rule 29 — paragraph 2

                           2.

                           A political group shall comprise Members elected in at least
                                 one-fifth
                               of the Member States. The minimum number of Members required to form a political group shall be
                                 20
                              .

                           2.

                           A political group shall comprise Members elected in at least
                                 one-quarter
                               of the Member States. The minimum number of Members required to form a political group shall be
                                 25
                              .

                  Amendment 1

                  Parliament's Rules of Procedure

                  Rule 29 — paragraph 2a (new)

                                 2a.

                              Where a group falls below the required threshold, the President, with the agreement of the Conference of Presidents, may allow it to continue to exist until Parliament's next constitutive sitting, provided the following conditions are met:

                                       —

                                             the members continue to represent at least one-fifth of the Member States;

                                       —

                                             the group has been in existence for a period longer than one year.

                                 The President shall not apply this derogation where there is sufficient evidence to suspect that it is being abused.


title: Decision (EU, Euratom) 2016/1464 of the European Parliament of 28 April 2016 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (formerly the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation) for the financial year 2014

text:
               14.9.2016

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 246/122

         DECISION (EU, EURATOM) 2016/1464 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
   of 28 April 2016
   on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (formerly the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation) for the financial year 2014
   THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,

               —

               having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014 (1),

               —

               having regard to the consolidated annual accounts of the European Union for the financial year 2014 (COM(2015) 377 – C8-0199/2015) (2),

               —

               having regard to the final annual accounts of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (formerly the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation) for the financial year 2014 (3),

               —

               having regard to the Commission’s report on the follow-up to the discharge for the 2013 financial year (COM(2015) 505), and to the accompanying Commission staff working documents (SWD(2015) 194, SWD(2015) 195),

               —

               having regard to the Commission’s annual report to the discharge authority on internal audits carried out in 2014 (COM(2015) 441), and to the accompanying Commission staff working document (SWD(2015) 170),

               —

               having regard to the Court of Auditors’ report on the annual accounts of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (formerly the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation) for the financial year 2014, together with the Agency’s reply (4),

               —

               having regard to the statement of assurance (5) as to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions provided by the Court of Auditors for the financial year 2014, pursuant to Article 287 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

               —

               having regard to the Council’s recommendation of 12 February 2016 on discharge to be given to the executive agencies in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2014 (05585/2016 – C8-0040/2016),

               —

               having regard to Articles 317, 318 and 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

               —

               having regard to Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,

               —

               having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (6) and in particular Articles 62, 164, 165 and 166 thereof,

               —

               having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 of 19 December 2002 laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes (7), and in particular Article 14(3) thereof,

               —

               having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004 of 21 September 2004 on a standard financial regulation for the executive agencies pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes (8), and in particular the first and second paragraphs of Article 66 thereof,

               —

               having regard to Commission Implementing Decision 2013/771/EU of 17 December 2013 establishing the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and repealing Decisions 2004/20/EC and 2007/372/EC (9),

               —

               having regard to Rule 93 of and Annex V to its Rules of Procedure,

               —

               having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinions of the other committees concerned (A8-0140/2016),

               A.

               whereas, under Article 17(1) of the Treaty on European Union, the Commission is to execute the budget and manage programmes and, pursuant to Article 317 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, is to implement the budget in cooperation with the Member States, on its own responsibility, having regard to the principles of sound financial management;

               1.

               Grants the Director of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (formerly the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation) discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2014;

               2.

               Sets out its observations in the resolution forming an integral part of the decisions on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, Section III – Commission and executive agencies, and in its resolution of 28 April 2016 on the Court of Auditors' special reports in the context of the Commission discharge for the financial year 2014 (10);

               3.

               Instructs its President to forward this decision, the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, Section III – Commission and the resolution forming an integral part of those decisions, to the Director of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (formerly the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation), the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors, and to arrange for their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series).

            The President

         Martin SCHULZ

            The Secretary-General

         Klaus WELLE

      (1)  OJ L 51, 20.2.2014.

      (2)  OJ C 377, 13.11.2015, p. 1.

      (3)  OJ C 367, 5.11.2015, p. 9.

      (4)  OJ C 409, 9.12.2015, p. 90.

      (5)  OJ C 377, 13.11.2015, p. 146.

      (6)  OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.

      (7)  OJ L 11, 16.1.2003, p. 1.

      (8)  OJ L 297, 22.9.2004, p. 6.

      (9)  OJ L 341, 18.12.2013, p. 73.

      (10)  Texts adopted of that date, P8_TA(2016)0148 (see page 91 of this Official Journal).


title: 2012/519/EU: Council Decision of 24 September 2012 appointing two Polish alternate members of the Committee of the Regions

text:
               26.9.2012

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 258/31

         COUNCIL DECISION
   of 24 September 2012
   appointing two Polish alternate members of the Committee of the Regions
   (2012/519/EU)
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 305 thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal of the Polish Government,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               On 22 December 2009 and on 18 January 2010, the Council adopted Decisions 2009/1014/EU (1) and 2010/29/EU (2) appointing the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2010 to 25 January 2015.

               (2)

               Two alternate members’ seats have become vacant following the end of the terms of office of Mr Jacek CZERNIAK and Mr Marcin JABŁOŃSKI,

         HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
   Article 1
   The following are hereby appointed as alternate members to the Committee of the Regions for the remainder of the current term of office, which runs until 25 January 2015:

               —

               Mr Piotr CAŁBECKI, Marszałek Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego,

               —

               Mr Jarosław DWORZAŃSKI, Marszałek Województwa Podlaskiego.

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

      Done at Brussels, 24 September 2012.

            For the Council

            The President

         A. D. MAVROYIANNIS

      (1)  OJ L 348, 29.12.2009, p. 22.

      (2)  OJ L 12, 19.1.2010, p. 11.


title: Council Decision of 25 September 2014 appointing and replacing members of the Governing Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

text:
               10.10.2014

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               C 358/1

         COUNCIL DECISION
   of 25 September 2014
   appointing and replacing members of the Governing Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
   2014/C 358/01
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 of 10 February 1975 establishing the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, and in particular Article 4 thereof (1),
   Having regard to the nomination submitted by the Commission in the category of Employers' representatives,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               By its Decision of 16 July 2012 (2), the Council appointed the members of the Governing Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the period from 18 September 2012 to 17 September 2015.

               (2)

               A member's seat on the Governing Board of the Centre in the category of representatives of Employers' organisations has become vacant for Lithuania as a result of the resignation of Ms Dovilė BAŠKYTĖ.

               (3)

               The member of the Governing Board of the aforementioned Centre should be appointed for the remainder of the current term of office, which expires on 17 September 2015,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Sole Article
   The following person is hereby appointed as a member of the Governing Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the remainder of the term of office, which runs until 17 September 2015:
   REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYERS' ORGANISATIONS:

               LITHUANIA

               Mr Aidas VAIČIULIS

      Done at Brussels, 25 September 2014.

            For the Council

            The President

         F. GUIDI

      (1)  OJ L 39, 13.2.1975, p. 1.

      (2)  OJ C 228, 31.7.2012, p. 3.


title: Council Decision of 12 February 2007 establishing for the period 2007 to 2013, as part of General Programme on Security and Safeguarding Liberties, the Specific Programme Prevention of and Fight against Crime

text:
               24.2.2007

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 58/7

      COUNCIL DECISION

   of 12 February 2007
   establishing for the period 2007 to 2013, as part of General Programme on Security and Safeguarding Liberties, the Specific Programme ‘Prevention of and Fight against Crime’
   (2007/125/JHA)
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 30, 31 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 Union's objective of providing citizens with a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice shall be achieved, as provided for in the fourth indent of Article 2, and in Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union, by preventing and combating crime, organised or otherwise.

               (2)

               To protect the freedom and security of our citizens and society from criminal activities, the Union should take the necessary measures to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute all forms of crime efficiently and effectively, most particularly in cases with a trans-border element.

               (3)

               Building on the conclusions of the Tampere European Council of October 1999, the European Council has reaffirmed the priority of developing the area of freedom, security and justice — and particularly of protecting citizens from various criminal activities through the prevention of and fight against crime — by The Hague Programme of November 2004 (2), the declarations on terrorism of September 2001 and March 2004 and the European Drugs strategy in December 2004.

               (4)

               To provide expertise in developing various aspects of crime prevention at European Union level and support crime prevention activities at local and national level, the European Crime Prevention Network was established by the Council Decision 2001/427/JHA (3) of 28 May 2001.

               (5)

               The framework programme established by Council Decision 2002/630/JHA of 22 July 2002 establishing a framework programme on police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters (AGIS) (4) has contributed considerably to strengthening cooperation between police and other law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in the Member States and to improving mutual understanding and mutual trust between their police, judicial, legal and administrative systems.

               (6)

               It is necessary and appropriate to extend the possibilities for the funding of measures aiming at the prevention of and the fight against crime, and to review the modalities in the interest of efficacy, cost-efficiency and transparency.

               (7)

               The framework programme aims at facilitating effective support and protection to interests of witnesses of crime. The programme also underlines the importance of the protection of victims of crimes. To point out the priority of the support of victims the Specific Programme ‘Criminal Justice’ emphasis the social and legal assistance to victims.

               (8)

               Commission actions and transnational projects remain important to achieve closer and better cooperation and coordination among Member States. In addition, it is useful and appropriate to support projects within Member States to the extent that they can provide useful experience and know-how for further actions at Union level.

               (9)

               As crime crosses borders, it is appropriate to allow third countries and international organisations to participate in transnational projects.

               (10)

               Complementarity needs to be ensured regarding other Union and Community programmes, such as the Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities, the European Union Solidarity Fund, the Civil Protection Financial Instrument and the Structural Funds.

               (11)

               Since the objectives of this Decision, particularly the prevention of and the fight against organised and transborder crime, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or impact of the programme, be better achieved at the level of European Union, the Council may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, made applicable to the Union by Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives.

               (12)

               In accordance with Article 41(3) of the Treaty on European Union, the operating expenditure should be financed by the general budget of the European Union under Title VI.

               (13)

               The expenditure of the programme should be compatible with the ceiling under Heading 3 of the financial framework. It is necessary to foresee flexibility in the definition of the programme to allow for eventual adjustments in any envisaged actions, in order to respond to the evolution of needs in the course of the period 2007-2013. The decision should, therefore, be limited to the generic definition of envisaged actions and their respective administrative and financial arrangements.

               (14)

               The measures required to implement this Decision should be adopted according to the procedures laid down in it, with the assistance of a committee.

               (15)

               Appropriate measures should also be taken to prevent irregularities and fraud and the necessary steps should be taken to recover funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used in accordance with Council Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the Communities' financial interests (5), (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission (6) and Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) (7).

               (16)

               Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (8) and Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) 2342/2002 (9) of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation 1605/2002, which safeguard the Community's financial interests, applies taking into account the principles of simplicity and consistency in the choice of budgetary instruments, a limitation on the number of cases where the Commission retains direct responsibility for their implementation and management, and the required proportionality between the amount of resources and the administrative burden related to their use.

               (17)

               It is appropriate to replace Decision 2002/630/JHA from 1 January 2007 by this Decision and by Decision establishing the Specific Programme ‘Criminal Justice’.

               (18)

               In order to ensure the effective and timely implementation of the programme, this Decision should apply from 1 January 2007,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   Subject matter
   1.   This Decision establishes the Specific Programme ‘Prevention of and Fight against Crime’, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programme’, as part of the General Programme on Security and safeguarding liberties in order to contribute to the strengthening of the area of Freedom, Security and Justice.
   2.   The Programme shall cover the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.
   Article 2
   General objectives
   1.   The Programme shall contribute to a high level of security for citizens by preventing and combating crime, organised or otherwise, in particular terrorism, trafficking in persons and offences against children, illicit drug trafficking and illicit arms trafficking, corruption and fraud.
   2.   Without prejudice to the objectives and powers of the European Community, the general objectives of the Programme contribute to the development of the policies of the Union and of the Community.
   Article 3
   Themes and specific objectives
   1.   The Programme shall consist of four themes:

               (a)

               crime prevention and criminology;

               (b)

               law enforcement;

               (c)

               protection and support to witnesses;

               (d)

               protection of victims.

         2.   Within the general objectives, the Programme shall contribute to the following specific objectives:

               (a)

               to stimulate, promote and develop horizontal methods and tools necessary for strategically preventing and fighting crime and guaranteeing security and public order such as the work carried out in the European Union Crime Prevention Network, public-private partnerships, best practices in crime prevention, comparable statistics, applied criminology and an enhanced approach towards young offenders;

               (b)

               to promote and develop coordination, cooperation and mutual understanding among law enforcement agencies, other national authorities and related Union bodies in respect of the priorities identified by the Council in particular as set out by the Europol's Organised Crime Threat Assessment;

               (c)

               to promote and develop best practices for the protection and support witnesses; and

               (d)

               to promote and develop best practices for the protection of crime victims.

         3.   The Programme does not deal with judicial cooperation. However, it may cover actions which aim at encouraging cooperation between judicial authorities and law enforcement authorities.
   Article 4
   Eligible actions
   1.   With a view to pursuing the general and specific objectives set out in Articles 2 and 3, the Programme shall provide under the conditions set out in the annual work programme financial support for the following types of actions:

               (a)

               projects initiated and managed by the Commission with a European dimension;

               (b)

               transnational projects, which shall involve partners in at least two Member States, or at least one Member State and one other country which may either be an acceding or a candidate country;

               (c)

               national projects within Member States, which:

                           (i)

                           prepare transnational projects and/or Union actions (starter measures);

                           (ii)

                           complement transnational projects and/or Union (complementary measures);

                           (iii)

                           contribute to developing innovative methods and/or technologies with a potential for transferability to actions at Union level, or develop such methods or technologies with a view to transferring them to other Member States and/or other country which may either be an acceding or a candidate country;

               (d)

               operating grants for non-governmental organisations pursuing on a non-profit basis objectives of the Programme on a European dimension.

         2.   In particular, financial support may be provided for:

               (a)

               actions improving operational cooperation and coordination (strengthening networking, mutual confidence and understanding, exchange and dissemination of information, experience and best practices);

               (b)

               analytical, monitoring and evaluation activities;

               (c)

               development and transfer of technology and methodology;

               (d)

               training, exchange of staff and experts; and

               (e)

               awareness and dissemination activities.

         Article 5
   Access to the Programme
   1.   The Programme is destined for law enforcement agencies, other public and/or private bodies, actors and institutions, including local, regional and national authorities, social partners, universities, statistical offices, non-governmental organisations, public-private partnerships and relevant international bodies.
   2.   Access to the Programme shall be opened to bodies and organisations with legal personality established in the Member States. Bodies and organisations which are profit oriented shall have access to grants only in conjunction with non profit oriented or state organisations.
   3.   As regards transnational projects, third countries and international organisations may participate as partners but are not permitted to submit projects.
   Article 6
   Types of intervention
   1.   Union financial support may take the following legal forms:

               (a)

               grants;

               (b)

               public procurement contracts.

         2.   Union grants shall be awarded further to calls for proposals, save in duly substantiated exceptional cases of urgency or where the characteristics of the beneficiary leave no other choice for a given action, and shall be provided through operating grants and grants for actions.
   The annual work programme shall specify the minimum rate of the annual expenditure to be awarded to grants. This minimum rate shall be at least 65 %.
   The maximum rate of co-financing of the costs of the projects shall be specified in the annual work programme.
   3.   Provision is made for expenditure for accompanying measures, through public procurement contracts, in which case Union funds shall cover the purchase of services and goods. This shall cover, inter alia, expenditure on information and communication, preparation, implementation, monitoring, checking and evaluation of projects, policies, programmes and legislation.
   Article 7
   Implementing measures
   1.   The Commission shall implement the Union financial support in accordance with the Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Financial Regulation’.
   2.   To implement the Programme, the Commission shall, within the limits of the general objectives defined in Article 2, adopt an annual work programme by the end of September specifying its specific objectives, thematic priorities, a description of accompanying measures envisaged in Article 6(3) and if necessary a list of other actions.
   The annual work programme for 2007 shall be adopted three months after taking of effect of this Decision.
   3.   The annual work programme shall be adopted in accordance with the management procedure laid down in Article 10.
   4.   The evaluation and award procedures relating to grants for actions shall take into account, inter alia, the following criteria:

               (a)

               conformity with the annual work programme, the general objectives as specified in Article 2 and measures taken in the different domains as specified in Articles 3 and 4;

               (b)

               quality of the proposed action regarding its conception, organisation, presentation and expected results and dissemination thereof;

               (c)

               amount requested for Union financial support and its appropriateness as to expected results;

               (d)

               impact of the expected results on the general objectives defined in Article 2 and on measures taken in the different domains as specified in Articles 3 and 4.

         5.   The applications for operating grants, referred to in Article 4(1)(d), shall be assessed, inter alia, in the light of:

               (a)

               consistency with the Programme objectives;

               (b)

               quality of the planned activities;

               (c)

               likely multiplier effect on the public of these activities;

               (d)

               geographic impact of the activities carried out;

               (e)

               cost/benefit ratio of the activity proposed.

         6.   Decisions related to actions submitted under Article 4(1)(a) shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the management procedure laid down in Article 10. Decisions related to actions submitted under Article 4(1)(b) to (d) shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the advisory procedure laid down in Article 9.
   Decisions on applications for grants involving profit-oriented bodies or organisations shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the management procedure laid down in Article 10.
   Article 8
   Committee
   1.   The Commission shall be assisted by a committee, composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission (hereinafter referred to as the the Committee).
   2.   The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.
   3.   The Commission may invite representatives from the applicant countries to information meetings after the Committee's meetings.
   Article 9
   Advisory procedure
   1.   Where reference is made to this Article, the representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time limit which the chair may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.
   2.   The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; each Member State may request that its position be recorded in the minutes.
   3.   The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which the opinion has been taken into account.
   Article 10
   Management procedure
   1.   Where reference is made to this Article, the representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time-limit which the chair may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. In the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission, the opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 205(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chair shall not vote.
   2.   The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately. However, if the measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event, the Commission may defer application of the measures which it has decided on for a period of three months from the date of such communication.
   3.   The Council, acting by qualified majority, may take a different decision within the period provided for by paragraph 2.
   Article 11
   Complementarity
   1.   Synergies, consistency and complementarity shall be sought with other Union and Community instruments, inter alia, with the specific programmes ‘Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism and other Security related risks’ and ‘Criminal Justice’, the Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities, the European Union Solidarity Fund and the Civil Protection Financial Instrument.
   2.   The Programme may share resources with other Union and Community instruments, in particular the ‘Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism and other Security related risks’ programme, in order to implement actions meeting the objectives of both the Programme and the other Union/Community instrument(s).
   3.   Operations financed under this Decision shall not receive financial support for the same purpose from other Union/Community financial instruments. It shall be ensured that the beneficiaries of the Programme shall provide the Commission with information about funding received from the general budget of the European Union and from other sources, as well as information about ongoing applications for funding.
   Article 12
   Budgetary resources
   The budgetary resources allocated to the actions provided for in the Programme shall be entered in the annual appropriations of the general budget of the European Union. The available annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework.
   Article 13
   Monitoring
   1.   The Commission shall ensure that for any action financed by the Programme, the beneficiary submits technical and financial reports on the progress of work and that a final report is submitted within three months of the completion of the action. The Commission shall determine the form and structure of the reports.
   2.   The Commission shall ensure that the contracts and agreements resulting from the implementation of the Programme provide in particular for supervision and financial control by the Commission (or any representative authorized by it), if necessary by means of on-the-spot checks, including sample checks, and audits by the Court of Auditors.
   3.   The Commission shall ensure that for a period of five years following the last payment in respect of any action, the beneficiary of financial support keeps available for the Commission all the supporting documents regarding expenditure on the action.
   4.   On the basis of the results of the reports and on-the-spot checks referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Commission shall ensure that, if necessary, the scale or the conditions of allocation of the financial support originally approved and also the timetable for payments is adjusted.
   5.   The Commission shall ensure that every other step necessary to verify that the actions financed are carried out properly and in compliance with the provisions of this Decision and the Financial Regulation be taken.
   Article 14
   Protection of Community financial interests
   1.   The Commission shall ensure that, when actions financed under this Decision are implemented, the financial interests of the Community are protected by the application of measures to prevent fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and by the recovery of the amounts unduly paid and, if irregularities are detected, by effective, proportional and dissuasive penalties, in accordance with Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95, (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 and (EC) No 1073/1999.
   2.   For the Union actions financed under this Decision, Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 and Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 shall apply to any infringement of a provision of Community law, including infringements of a contractual obligation stipulated on the basis of the Programme, resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator, which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the European Union or budgets managed by it, by an unjustified item of expenditure.
   3.   The Commission shall ensure that the amount of financial assistance granted for an action is reduced, suspended or recovered, if it finds irregularities, including non-compliance with the provisions of this Decision or the individual decision or the contract or agreement granting the financial support in question, or if it transpires that, without Commission approval having been sought, the action has been subjected to a change which conflicts with the nature or implementing conditions of the project.
   4.   If the time limits have not been observed or if only part of the allocated financial support is justified by the progress made with implementing an action, the Commission shall ensure that the beneficiary is requested to submit observations within a specified period. If the beneficiary does not give a satisfactory answer, the Commission shall ensure that the remaining financial support might be cancelled and repayment of sums already paid demanded.
   5.   The Commission shall ensure that any undue payment is repaid to the Commission. Interest shall be added to any sums not repaid in good time under the conditions laid down by the Financial Regulation.
   Article 15
   Evaluation
   1.   The Programme shall be monitored regularly in order to follow the implementation of activities carried out there under.
   2.   The Commission shall ensure regular, independent and external evaluation of the Programme.
   3.   The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council:

               (a)

               an annual presentation on the implementation of the Programme;

               (b)

               an interim evaluation report on the results obtained and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of the Programme no later than 31 March 2010;

               (c)

               a communication on the continuation of the Programme no later than 31 December 2010;

               (d)

               an ex-post evaluation report no later than 31 March 2015.

         Article 16
   Publication of projects
   Each year the Commission shall publish the list of actions financed under the Programme with a short description of each project.
   Article 17
   Transitional provisions
   1.   This Decision shall, from 1 January 2007, replace the corresponding provisions of the Decision 2002/630/JHA.
   2.   Actions started before 31 December 2006 pursuant to Decision 2002/630/JHA shall continue to be governed, until their completion, by that Decision.
   Article 18
   Taking of effect and application
   This Decision shall take effect on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

   It shall apply from 1 January 2007.

      Done at Brussels, 12 February 2007.

            For the Council

            The President

         F.-W. STEINMEIER

      (1)  Opinion delivered on 14 December 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

      (2)  OJ C 53, 3.3.2005, p. 1.

      (3)  OJ L 153, 8.6.2001, p. 1.

      (4)  OJ L 203, 1.8.2002, p. 5.

      (5)  OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1.

      (6)  OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.

      (7)  OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 1.

      (8)  OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1995/2006 (OJ L 390, 30.12.2006, p. 1).

      (9)  OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1248/2006 (OJ L 227, 19.8.2006, p. 3).


Avis juridique important

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31980D1011

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ON SOCIAL SECURITY FOR MIGRANT WORKERS 80/1011/EEC: DECISION NO 112 OF 28 FEBRUARY 1980 ON THE MODEL FORMS NECESSARY FOR THE APPLICATION OF COUNCIL REGULATIONS ( EEC ) NO 1408/71 AND ( EEC ) NO 574/72 ( E 001; E 101-127; E 201-215; E 301-303; E 401-411 )

Official Journal L 313 , 22/11/1980 P. 0001 - 0004

++++DECISION N112  OF 28 FEBRUARY 1980  ON THE MODEL FORMS NECESSARY FOR THE APPLICATION OF COUNCIL REGULATIONS ( EEC ) N 1408/71 AND ( EEC ) N 574/72 ( E 001 ; E 101 _ 127 ; E 201 _ 215 ; E 301 _ 303 ; E 401 _ 411 )   ( 80/1011/EEC )  THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ON SOCIAL SECURITY FOR MIGRANT WORKERS ,  HAVING REGARD TO ARTICLE 81 ( A ) OF COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 1408/71 OF 14 JUNE 1971 ON THE APPLICATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES TO EMPLOYED PERSONS AND THEIR FAMILIES MOVING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY , UNDER WHICH IT IS THE DUTY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION TO DEAL WITH ALL ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONS ARISING FROM REGULATION ( EEC ) N 1408/71 AND SUBSEQUENT REGULATIONS ,  HAVING REGARD TO ARTICLE 2 ( 1 ) OF COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) N 574/72 OF 21 MARCH 1972 FIXING THE PROCEDURE FOR IMPLEMENTING REGULATION ( EEC ) N 1408/71 , UNDER WHICH IT IS THE DUTY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION TO DRAW UP MODELS OF CERTIFICATES , CERTIFIED STATEMENTS , DECLARATIONS , APPLICATIONS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE REGULATIONS ,  HAVING REGARD TO DECISIONS N 72 , N 88 , N 107 AND N 108 LAYING DOWN AND AMENDING THE MODEL FORMS NECESSARY FOR THE APPLICATION OF COUCNIL REGULATIONS ( EEC ) N 1408 / 71 AND ( EEC ) N 574 / 72 ,  WHEREAS VARIOUS AMENDMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED AND OTHERS ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SIMPLIFY THE LAYOUT AND UTILIZATION OF THE FORMS , STANDARDIZE COMMON ELEMENTS AND ECONOMIZE ON THE COMPILATION OF THE FORMS AND ON INVENTORY CONTROL ;  WHEREAS IT IS DESIRABLE TO CREATE THREE NEW FORMS AND TO REPUBLISH THE MODEL FORMS ,  HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :  1 . THE MODEL FORMS PRINTED IN DECISIONS N 88 , N 107 AND N 108 SHALL BE REPLACED BY THE MODELS APPENDED HERETO .  2 . EACH FORM WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE COMMUNITY AND LAID OUT IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS ARE PERFECTLY SUPERPOSABLE , THEREBY MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR EACH PERSON OR BODY TO WHICH A FORM IS ADDRESSED ( PERSONS ENTITLED TO CLAIM , INSTITUTION , EMPLOYER , ETC . ) TO RECEIVE THE FORM PRINTED IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE .  3 . THE DETERMINATION OF THE LANGUAGE IN WHICH FORMS SHOULD BE ISSUED SHALL BE SETTLED BY A RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION .  4 . THIS DECISION SHALL APPLY FROM THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH FOLLOWING ITS PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES , ALTHOUGH THE MODEL FORMS PRINTED IN DECISIONS NO 88 , NO 107 AND NO 108 MAY BE USED UNTIL STOCKS ARE EXHAUSTED .  THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION  S . BOVA  LIST OF FORMS  E 001 _ REQUEST FOR INFORMATION , COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION , REQUEST FOR FORMS , REMINDER , ON A WORKER , A FRONTIER WORKER , A PENSIONER , AN UNEMPLOYED PERSON , A DEPENDANT  E 101 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING THE APPLICABLE LEGISLATION  E 102 _ EXTENSION OF TERM OF POSTING  E 103 _ EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF OPTION  E 104 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING THE AGGREGATION OF PERIODS OF INSURANCE , EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENCE  E 105 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING THE MEMBERS OF THE WORKERS'S FAMILY TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THE CALCULATION OF CASH BENEFITS IN THE CASE OF INCAPACITY FOR WORK  E 106 _ CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT TO SICKNESS AND MATERNITY INSURANCE BENEFITS IN KIND FOR PERSONS RESIDING IN A COUNTRY OTHER THAN THE COMPETENT COUNTRY  E 107 _ APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS IN KIND  E 108 _ NOTIFICATION OF SUSPENSION OR WITHDRAWAL OF THE RIGHT TO SICKNESS AND MATERNITY INSURANCE BENEFITS IN KIND  E 109 _ CERTIFICATE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF MEMBERS OF THE WORKER'S FAMILY AND THE UPDATING OF LISTS  E 110 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING WORKERS IN INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT  E 111 _ CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS IN KIND DURING A STAY IN A MEMBER STATE  E 112 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING THE RETENTION OF THE RIGHT TO SICKNESS OR MATERNITY BENEFITS CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED  E 113 _ HOSPITALIZATION : NOTIFICATION OF ENTERING AND LEAVING HOSPITAL  E 114 _ GRANT OF PROSTHESES , MAJOR APPLIANCES , ETC .  E 115 _ CLAIM FOR CASH BENEFITS FOR INCAPACITY FOR WORK  E 116 _ MEDICAL REPORT RELATING TO INCAPACITY FOR WORK ( SICKNESS , MATERNITY , ACCIDENT AT WORK , OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE )  E 117 _ GRANTING OF CASH BENEFITS IN THE CASE OF INCAPACITY FOR WORK  E 118 _ NOTIFICATION OF NON-RECOGNITION OR OF END OF INCAPACITY FOR WORK  E 119 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING THE ENTITLEMENT OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS AND THE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY TO SICKNESS AND MATERNITY INSURANCE BENEFITS  E 120 _ CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS IN KIND FOR PENSION CLAIMANTS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY  E 121 _ CERTIFICATE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF PENSIONERS AND THE UPDATING OF LISTS  E 122 _ CERTIFICATE FOR THE GRANTING OF BENEFITS IN KIND TO MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY OF PENSIONERS  E 123 _ CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS IN KIND UNDER INSURANCE AGAINST ACCIDENTS AT WORK AND OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES  E 124 _ CLAIM FOR DEATH GRANT  E 125 _ INDIVIDUAL RECORD OF ACTUAL EXPENDITURE  E 126 _ RATES FOR REFUND OF BENEFITS IN KIND  E 127 _ INDIVIDUAL RECORD OF MONTHLY LUMP-SUM PAYMENTS  E 201 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING THE AGGREGATION OF PERIODS OF INSURANCE OR PERIODS OF RESIDENCE  E 202 _ INVESTIGATION OF A CLAIM FOR AN OLD-AGE PENSION  E 203 _ INVESTIGATION OF A CLAIM FOR A SURVIVOR'S PENSION  E 204 _ INVESTIGATION OF A CLAIM FOR AN INVALIDITY PENSION  E 205 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING INSURANCE HISTORY IN BELGIUM   _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING PERIODS OF INSURANCE AND PERIODS OF RESIDENCE IN DENMARK   _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING INSURANCE HISTORY IN GERMANY   _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING INSURANCE HISTORY IN FRANCE   _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING INSURANCE HISTORY IN IRELAND   _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING INSURANCE HISTORY IN ITALY   _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING INSURANCE HISTORY IN LUXEMBOURG   _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING INSURANCE HISTORY IN THE NETHERLANDS   _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING INSURANCE HISTORY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM .  E 206 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT IN MINES AND SIMILAR UNDERTAKINGS  E 207 _ INFORMATION CONCERNING THE WORKER'S INSURANCE HISTORY  E 208 _ DETERMINATION OF RIGHTS TO PENSION  E 209 _ DETERMINATION OF PENSION AMOUNTS FOR  E 210 _ NOTIFICATION OF DECISION CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR PENSION  E 211 _ SUMMARY OF DECISIONS  E 212 _ APPEALS AND PERIODS ALLOWED FOR APPEALS  E 213 _ DETAILED MEDICAL REPORT  E 214 _ MEDICAL REPORT CONCERNING ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS  E 215 _ ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT ON THE POSITION OF A PENSIONER  E 301 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING THE PERIODS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR THE GRANTING OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS  E 302 _ CERTIFICATE RELATING TO MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY OF AN UNEMPLOYED PERSON WHO MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR THE CALCULATION OF BENEFITS  E 303 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING RETENTION OF THE RIGHT TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS  E 401 _ CERTIFICATE CONCERNING THE COMPOSITION OF A FAMILY FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANTING OF FAMILY BENEFITS  E 402 _ CERTIFICATE OF CONTINUATION OF STUDIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANTING OF FAMILY BENEFITS  E 403 _ CERTIFICATE OF APPRENTICESHIP FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANTING OF FAMILY BENEFITS  E 404 _ MEDICAL CERTIFICATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANTING OF FAMILY BENEFITS  E 405 _ PAYMENT OF FAMILY BENEFITS OR FAMILY ALLOWANCES IN THE CASE OF SUCCESSIVE EMPLOYMENT IN SEVERAL MEMBER STATES , BETWEEN THE DATES ON WHICH PAYMENT IS DUE ACCORDING TO THE LEGISLATION OF THESE STATES  E 406 _ CLAIM FOR FAMILY ALLOWANCES TO BE SUBMITTED BY A WORKER WHO IS SUBJECT TO FRENCH LEGISLATION AND WHOSE FAMILY RESIDES IN A MEMBER STATE OTHER THAN FRANCE  E 407 _ CERTIFICATE OF PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT IN FRANCE , OR PERIODS OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN FRANCE FOR WHICH BENEFITS WERE PAID , FOR THE PURPOSE OF GRANTING FAMILY ALLOWANCES TO MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY OF A WORKER OR UNEMPLOYED PERSON WHO RESIDE IN A MEMBER STATE OTHER THAN FRANCE  E 408 _ REQUEST FOR INFORMATION  E 409 _ VERIFICATION OF THE DECLARATION OF LACK OF ENTITLEMENT TO FAMILY ALLOWANCES BY VIRTUE OF AN OCCUPATION PURSUED IN THE COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE OF THE FAMILY  E 410 _ NOTIFICATION OF CANCELLATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO FAMILY ALLOWANCES  E 411 _ REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ENTITLEMENT TO FAMILY BENEFITS ( FAMILY ALLOWANCES ) IN THE MEMBER STATE OF RESIDENCE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY


title: Council Decision (EU) 2016/1741 of 20 September 2016 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short--stay visa waiver

text:
               30.9.2016

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 264/21

         COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2016/1741
   of 20 September 2016
   on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short--stay visa waiver
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular point (a) of Article 77(2), in conjunction with point (a)(v) of the second subparagraph of Article 218(6), thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
   Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),
   Whereas:

               (1)

               The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the European Union an agreement with the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver (the ‘Agreement’).

               (2)

               In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2015/2377 (2), the Agreement has been signed and is applied on a provisional basis as from 8 December 2015.

               (3)

               The Agreement sets up a Joint Committee of experts for the management of the Agreement. The Union is to be represented within that Joint Committee by the Commission, which should be assisted by the representatives of the Member States.

               (4)

               This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2000/365/EC (3); the United Kingdom is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

               (5)

               This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC (4); Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

               (6)

               The Agreement should be approved,

         HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
   Article 1
   The Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.
   Article 2
   The President of the Council shall give, on behalf of the Union, the notification provided for in Article 8(1) of the Agreement (5).
   Article 3
   The Commission, assisted by the representatives of the Member States, shall represent the Union within the Joint Committee of experts set up pursuant to Article 6 of the Agreement.
   Article 4
   This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

      Done at Brussels, 20 September 2016.

            For the Council

            The President

         I. KORČOK

      (1)  Consent given on 8 June 2016 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

      (2)  Council Decision (EU) 2015/2377 of 26 October 2015 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Palau on the short-stay visa waiver (OJ L 332, 18.12.2015, p. 11).

      (3)  Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43).

      (4)  Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20).

      (5)  The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.