22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/1

(1)

Council Regulation (EU) No 1262/2012 (2), lays down quotas for 2014.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2014.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing activities for that stock,

22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/3

(1)

Council Regulation (EU) No 43/2014 (2), lays down quotas for 2014.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2014.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing activities for that stock,

22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/5

(1)

According to point (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 139(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the sugar or isoglucose produced during a marketing year in excess of the quota referred to in Article 136 of that Regulation may be exported only within a quantitative limit to be fixed by the Commission.

(2)

Detailed implementing rules for out-of-quota exports, in particular concerning the issue of export licences, are laid down by Regulation (EC) No 951/2006.

(3)

For the 2014/2015 marketing year it was initially estimated that fixing the quantitative limit at 650 000 tonnes, in white sugar equivalent, for out-of-quota sugar exports would correspond to the market demand. Such a limit was set by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 776/2014 (3). However, according to most recent estimates, the production of out-of-quota sugar is expected to reach 6 200 000 tonnes. Additional market outlets for out-of-quota sugar should therefore be ensured.

(4)

Taking into account that the WTO ceiling for exports in the 2014/2015 marketing year has not been fully used, it is appropriate to increase the export quantitative limit of out-of-quota sugar by 700 000 tonnes, so as to provide additional business opportunities for the Union producers of sugar.

(5)

Regulation (EU) No 776/2014 should be amended accordingly.

(6)

To allow the lodging of applications for out-of-quota sugar export licences, the suspension of the lodging of applications provided for in Article 1(3) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1061/2014 (4) should be abolished. As Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1061/2014 has exhausted its effects, it is appropriate to repeal it.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,

22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/7

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition and for the grounds and procedures for granting such authorisation. Article 10 of that Regulation provides for the re-evaluation of additives authorised pursuant to Council Directive 70/524/EEC (2).

(2)

Inositol was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a nutritional additive for use in all animal species as part of the group ‘Vitamins, pro-vitamins and chemically well-defined substances having similar effect’. That substance was subsequently entered in the Community Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(3)

In accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 in conjunction with Article 7 thereof, an application was submitted for the re-evaluation of Inositol as feed additive for fish, crustaceans, cats and dogs. The applicant requested that additive to be classified in the additive category ‘nutritional additives’. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(4)

The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 9 April 2014 (3) that, under the proposed conditions of use in feed, Inositol does not have an adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment. The Authority also concluded that Inositol is regarded as an effective source of essential micronutrient for fish and crustaceans. The Authority does not consider that there is a need for specific requirements of post-market monitoring. It also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additives in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(5)

The assessment of Inositol shows that the conditions for authorisation, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of that substance should be authorised as specified in the Annex to this Regulation.

(6)

Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifications to the conditions of authorisation, it is appropriate to allow a transitional period for the disposal of existing stocks of the additives, pre-mixtures and compound feed containing them, as authorised by Directive 70/524/EEC.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/10

(1)

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Serbia, of the other part (2) (‘the SAA’) was approved by Council and Commission Decision 2013/490/EU, Euratom (3) and entered into force on 1 September 2013. Article 26(4) of the SAA provides for a duty-free access on imports into the Union for products originating in Serbia of headings 1701 and 1702 of the Combined Nomenclature, within the limit of an annual tariff quota of 180 000 tonnes.

(2)

The Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (4) (‘the Protocol’) was signed on 25 June 2014. Its signature on behalf of the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and the Member States has been authorised by Council Decisions 2014/517/EU (5) and 2014/518/Euratom (6).

(3)

Article 2 of the Protocol provides for an amendment to Article 26(4) of the SAA to increase the existing tariff quotas for sugar originating in Serbia within a limit of an annual tariff quota of 181 000 tonnes.

(4)

In accordance with Article 3 of Decision 2014/517/EU, the Protocol is to be applied on a provisional basis, in accordance with its Article 14, as from the first day of the second month following the date of its signature, pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion. Therefore, the increase of the existing tariff quotas for sugar originating in Serbia should take effect as from 1 August 2014.

(5)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 (7) provides for the opening and the administration of tariff quotas in the sugar sector, including those originating in Serbia. It is therefore necessary to amend that Regulation to take account of the Protocol.

(6)

In accordance with Article 11 of the Protocol, in the first year of provisional application of the Protocol the volumes of the new tariff quotas and the increases in the volumes of existing tariff quotas are to be calculated as a pro rata of the basic annual volumes specified in the Protocol, taking into account the part of the period elapsed before 1 August 2014. Therefore, for the year 2014 the increase of the volume of the existing quotas for sugar originating in Serbia should be available for the period from 1 August 2014 until 31 December 2014.

(7)

Considering that in accordance with Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 tariff quotas are administered per marketing year in that sector, account has to be taken of the pro rata increase in volumes of the tariff quotas opened for the 2013/2014 marketing year and of the volumes to be granted for the 2014/2015 marketing year, in accordance with the Protocol. The pro rata increase in the annual volume for the months of August and September 2014 corresponds to 167 tonnes of sugar. As it will not be possible to use that quantity before the end of the 2013/2014 marketing year, it should be made available in the 2014/2015 marketing year.

(8)

Pursuant to the second paragraph of its Article 135, the SAA does not apply to Kosovo (8). Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000 (9) has been repealed by Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 (10). As Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 no longer provides for concessions on imports into the Union for products of headings 1701 and 1702 of the Combined Nomenclature originating in Kosovo, the references to Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000 and to Kosovo in Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 should therefore be deleted.

(9)

Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(10)

Since the 2014/2015 marketing year starts from 1 October 2014, the amendments to Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 should apply as soon as possible and this Regulation should therefore enter into force immediately.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,

(1)

In Article 1, point (b) is deleted;

(2)

In Article 1, point (g) is replaced by the following:

;

(3)

In point (b) of Article 2, the term ‘Kosovo’ and the related footnote are deleted;

(4)

In Annex I, Part II is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.

22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/13

(1)

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 lays down, pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the standard values for imports from third countries, in respect of the products and periods stipulated in Annex XVI, Part A thereto.

(2)

The standard import value is calculated each working day, in accordance with Article 136(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011, taking into account variable daily data. Therefore this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/15

(1)

Section I.1 of Annex I, Section II.1 of Annex II and Section III.1 of Annex III to Directive 2008/68/EC refer to provisions set out in international agreements on the inland transport of dangerous goods by road, rail and inland waterways as defined in Article 2 of that Directive.

(2)

The provisions of these international agreements are updated every two years. Consequently, the last amended versions of these agreements shall apply as from 1 January 2015, with a transitional period up to 30 June 2015.

(3)

Section I.1 of Annex I, Section II.1 of Annex II and Section III.1 of Annex III to Directive 2008/68/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the transport of dangerous goods,

(1)

in Annex I, Section I.1 is replaced by the following:

‘I.1.   ADR

Annexes A and B to the ADR, as applicable with effect from 1 January 2015, it being understood that “contracting party” is replaced by “Member State” as appropriate.’

(2)

in Annex II, Section II.1 is replaced by the following:

‘II.1.   RID

Annex to the RID, appearing in Appendix C to the COTIF, as applicable with effect from 1 January 2015, it being understood that “RID Contracting State” is replaced by “Member State” as appropriate.’

(3)

in Annex III, Section III.1 is replaced by the following:

‘III.1.   ADN

Annexed Regulations to the ADN, as applicable with effect from 1 January 2015, as well as Articles 3(f), 3(h), 8(1), 8(3) of the ADN, it being understood that “contracting party” is replaced by “Member State” as appropriate.’

22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/17

(1)

Action by the European Union in the sector of maritime transport should aim to improve maritime safety.

(2)

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting at its 93rd session approved amendments to the 2011 Enhanced Survey Programme (ESP) Code. Those amendments are expected to be adopted at the 94th session of the MSC, to be held in November 2014.

(3)

The amendments to the 2011 ESP Code bring it in line with the practices of classification societies and also allow, under certain conditions, hydrostatic testing of cargo tanks by the ship's crew, under the direction of the master, in lieu of carrying out such testing in the presence of a surveyor.

(4)

Articles 5 and 6 of Regulation (EU) No 530/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) provide for the mandatory application of the IMO's Condition Assessment Scheme (CAS). The CAS is complemented by the 2011 ESP Code, adopted by the IMO Assembly by Resolution A.1049(27). Annex B, part B, of the 2011 ESP Code concerns inspections during surveys of oil tankers other than double-hull oil tankers and specifies how to undertake the intensified assessment. As a consequence, any changes to the 2011 ESP Code, as far as single-hull oil tankers above 15 years of age are concerned, will automatically be applicable through Regulation (EU) No 530/2012.

(5)

The Union is neither a member of the IMO nor a contracting party to the conventions and codes concerned. It is therefore necessary for the Council to authorise the Member States to express the position of the Union and express their consent to be bound by the amendments to the 2011 ESP Code,

22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/19

(1)

On 10 November 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP (1), which was last amended by Council Decision 2012/174/CFSP (2).

(2)

On 22 July 2013, the Council agreed that the EU remains fully committed to fighting piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia. It welcomed the good results that its naval operation Atalanta has achieved so far. The Council underlined that, despite the great progress witnessed against piracy at sea, the threat remains and progress could be reversed.

(3)

On 18 November 2013, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2125 (2013) renewing the framework for international actions in the fight against piracy and its root causes.

(4)

The EU military operation referred to in Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP (Atalanta) should be extended until 12 December 2016.

(5)

On 22 July 2013, the Council further agreed that the EU will take forward its integrated approach to improving security and the rule of law in Somalia, on the basis of Somali ownership and responsibility, close coordination with other actors and coherence and synergies between EU instruments, in particular between its Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations.

(6)

That integrated approach, based on the New Deal Compact for Somalia, should contribute to enhancing maritime capacities in Somalia and the region, tackling the root causes of piracy and reducing the impunity of pirates' networks in other criminal activities at sea, thereby addressing the conditions conducive to the fulfilment of Atalanta's objectives.

(7)

In this context, a contribution by Atalanta with secondary tasks, within existing means and capabilities and upon request, to the EU's integrated approach to Somalia and the relevant activities of the international community would help to address the root causes of piracy and its networks. Those secondary tasks would be conducted to support Atalanta's exit strategy.

(8)

Atalanta's cooperation with law enforcement authorities should be facilitated in order to contribute to anti-piracy law enforcement while improving the efficiency of its intelligence-led counter-piracy operations.

(9)

Nothing in this Decision or in Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP prevents the personnel of states participating in Atalanta from complying with their obligations under applicable national laws.

(10)

It is necessary to lay down the financial reference amount intended to cover the common costs of Atalanta for the period from 13 December 2014 to 12 December 2016.

(11)

Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

Article 1(3) is replaced by the following:

‘3.   In addition, Atalanta may contribute, as a non–executive secondary task, within existing means and capabilities and upon request, to the EU's integrated approach to Somalia and the relevant activities of the international community, thereby helping to address the root causes of piracy and its networks.’

(2)

In Article 2, points (g) to (i) are replaced by the following:

.

(3)

In Article 14, the following paragraph is added:

‘4.   The financial reference amount for the common costs of the EU military operation for the period from 13 December 2014 until 12 December 2016 shall be EUR 14 775 000. The percentage of the reference amount referred to in Article 25(1) of Decision 2011/871/CFSP shall be 0 %.’

(4)

Article 16 (3) is replaced by the following:

‘3.   The EU military operation shall terminate on 12 December 2016.’

22.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 335/22

(1)

In accordance with Article 18.1 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank (hereinafter the ‘Statute of the ESCB’), the European Central Bank (ECB), together with national central banks of Member States whose currency is the euro (hereinafter the ‘NCBs’) may operate in the financial markets by, among other things, buying and selling marketable instruments outright.

(2)

On 4 September 2014 the Governing Council decided that a new covered bond purchase programme (hereinafter the ‘CBPP3’) should be initiated. Alongside the ABS purchase programme (ABSPP) and the Targeted Longer-Term Refinancing Operations (TLTROs) (1), the CBPP3 will further enhance the transmission of monetary policy, facilitate credit provision to the euro area economy, generate positive spill-overs to other markets and, as a result, ease the ECB's monetary policy stance, and contribute to a return of inflation rates to levels closer to 2 %.

(3)

As part of the single monetary policy, the outright purchases of eligible covered bonds by Eurosystem central banks under the CBPP3 should be implemented in a uniform and decentralized manner, in accordance with this Decision,

1.

A minimum first-best credit assessment of credit quality step 3 (CQS3, currently equivalent to an External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI) rating of ‘BBB-’ or equivalent), awarded by at least one of the ECAIs accepted within the Eurosystem Credit Assessment Framework (ECAF) shall apply.

2.

A 70 % issue share limit per international securities identification number to the joint holdings under the first (3) and second (4) covered bond purchase programmes (the CBPP1 and CBPP2, respectively) and the CBPP3 and to the other holdings of Eurosystem central banks shall apply.

3.

Covered bonds shall be denominated in euro, held and settled in the euro area.

4.

Covered bonds issued by entities suspended from Eurosystem credit operations shall be excluded from purchases under the CBPP3 for the duration of their suspension.

5.

For covered bonds which currently do not achieve the CQS3 rating in Cyprus and Greece, a minimum asset rating at the level of the maximum achievable covered bond rating defined by the respective ECAI for the jurisdiction shall be required for as long as the Eurosystem's minimum credit quality threshold is not applied in the collateral eligibility requirements for marketable debt instruments issued or guaranteed by the Greek or Cypriot governments (pursuant to Article 8(2) of Guideline ECB/2014/31 (5)), and a 30 % issue share limit per international securities identification number, which would apply to the joint holdings of the CBPP1, CBPP2, CBPP3 and the other holdings of Eurosystem central banks, provided that they satisfy the following additional requirements in order to achieve risk equivalence:

6.

Covered bonds retained by their issuer shall be eligible for purchases under the CBPP3, provided that they fulfil the eligibility criteria as specified above.