3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/1

—

Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union,

—

The Council Resolution of 27 November 2009 on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018) which states that where appropriate, a children's policy dimension — having regard to their rights and protection taking into account that the life and future prospects of young people are significantly determined by opportunities, support and protection received during childhood — should be considered,

—

The Communication from the European Commission of 4 July 2006‘Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child’ (1).

—

Of the information provided by the Presidency on the European and International Policy Agendas on Children, Youth and Children’s Rights (2).

—

Of the measures taken in the youth field in order to promote the right of children and young people to participate in the decision making affecting their lives.

—

The crucial importance of work undertaken in the area of children, youth and children’s rights.

—

The European Commission’s intention to adopt a new Communication in this area setting off a strategy for the EU on the rights of the child.

—

Member States to cooperate and take an active role in this field and in future international meetings at both expert and ministerial level dealing with children’s rights.

3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/2

—

the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 on key competences for lifelong learning, helping integrate culture in all learning activities in schools, youth organisations and training institutions,

—

the Resolution of the Council of 16 November 2007 on a European Agenda for Culture (1) and its strategic objectives, as well as the conclusions of the Council on the Work Plan for Culture 2011-14 (2),

—

the Council Resolution of 27 November 2009 on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-18) which states that young people’s creativity and capacity for innovation should be supported through better quality access to and participation in culture and cultural expressions from an early age, thereby promoting personal development, enhanced learning capabilities, intercultural skills, understanding and respect for cultural diversity and the development of new and flexible skills for future job opportunities,

—

the Council conclusions of 27 November 2009 on promoting a creative generation: developing the creativity and innovative capacity of children and young people through cultural expression and access to culture, including six priorities.

—

further knowledge on youth and culture, such as the study commissioned by the European Commission about access of young people to culture (3).

—

that access of young people to culture comprises two main aspects: young people as users, buyers, consumers and audience; and young people actively involved as active participants and creators of arts and culture,

—

the importance of this for good cooperation between the field of youth and the field of culture,

—

the importance of the knowledge, promotion, visibility and use of new information and communication technologies, including digitalisation of cultural content, for the purpose of increasing the access of young people to culture,

—

that access of young people to culture is also about an experience of self-expression, personal development and confidence, innovation and creativity, enjoyment, and having an open mind to other cultures, including Europe's cultural heritage,

—

the importance of the lifelong development of cultural competences of young people and all relevant stakeholders because it interlocks with other key competences,

—

the relevance of culture as a means of promoting social inclusion, equality and the active participation of young people, as well as combating discrimination and poverty.

—

take into consideration all the recommendations of the above mentioned study,

—

facilitate access of all young people to culture, reducing related obstacles as contained in the study (e.g. financial, linguistic, time and geographical constraints), taking into account the role of cultural and art education and training for all young people from an early age, in a lifelong learning perspective and by using targeted programmes,

—

promote the development of long-term coordinated policies for access of young people to culture on all levels, with a clear youth perspective, for example by stimulating partnerships and contacts between the creative sector and stakeholders in the fields of youth, education and other relevant fields,

—

deepen the knowledge on the access of young people to culture (e.g. via the Eurobarometer in the EU Youth report) and to support research in the field of youth cultures, creativity and cultural citizenship. In this context, it is important to define the needs of young people regarding their access to culture and to identify the evolution of cultural practices of young people,

—

exchange and promote experiences, practices and information of all relevant stakeholders on all levels related to access of young people to culture, e.g. by stimulating learning mobility for all young people and youth workers and youth leaders, and through the use of ICT and the media,

—

support quality education, training and capacity-building of youth workers and youth leaders, artists and other cultural workers, teachers and all other relevant stakeholders involved in the access of young people to culture,

—

promote access of young people to culture as a means of promoting social inclusion, equality and the active participation of young people, as well as combating discrimination and poverty,

—

promote the six priorities set out in the Council conclusions of 27 November 2009 on promoting a creative generation,

—

make best use of existing relevant programmes, instruments and European networks (e.g. European Youth Card Association), including the European structural funds, in order to promote the above aims.

3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/4

(1)

Article 79 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 provides that the Council should appoint as members of the Management Board of the European Chemicals Agency one representative from each Member State.

(2)

By Decision of 7 June 2007 (2) the Council appointed 27 members of the Management Board of the European Chemicals Agency.

(3)

The Swedish Government has informed the Council of its intention to replace the Swedish representative on the Management Board and has submitted a nomination for a new representative, who should be appointed for a period which runs until 31 May 2013.

(4)

The Slovenian Government has informed the Council of its intention to replace the Slovenian representative on the Management Board and has submitted a nomination for a new representative, who should be appointed for a period which runs until 31 May 2013,

3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/5

—

the declaration attached to conclusions of the European Council of 7-9 December 2000, which states that sport is a human activity resting on fundamental social, educational and cultural values, and a factor making for integration, involvement in social life, tolerance, acceptance of differences and playing by the rules (1),

—

Decision No 291/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 February 2003 establishing the European Year of Education through Sport 2004 (2),

—

Decision No 1098/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 concerning the European Year against Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010) (3).

—

that, following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (4) on 1 December 2009, sport has become a competence of the European Union and that, consequently, the European dimension in sport is to be further developed, taking particular account of the social and educational function of sport,

—

the intention of the Commission to adopt the Communication on the Lisbon Treaty and sport by the end of 2010.

1.

Common priorities, such as increased employment, social inclusion, gender equality, equal access to facilities and services, intergenerational solidarity and intercultural dialogue, need stronger support across the European Union, including in the area of sport.

2.

Sport holds an important place in the lives of many EU citizens and plays a strong societal role with a powerful potential for social inclusion in and through sport, meaning that participation in sport or in physical activity in many different ways contributes to inclusion into society; whereby inclusion in sport involves a combination of ‘sport for all’, equal access to sport, equal opportunities in sport, and varied demand-oriented sporting opportunities and sport facilities, and whereby social inclusion through sport involves inclusive participation in society, community development and strengthened social cohesion.

3.

The sports movement can make an important contribution to issues of public interest such as social inclusion. In this context, professional athletes and amateur sport persons, as well as sport clubs, are role models for society, especially for young people, and other sport organisations and civil society organisations dealing with sport also contribute to social inclusion in and through sport.

4.

Access to and participation in diverse aspects of sport is important for personal development, an individual’s sense of identity and belonging, physical and mental wellbeing, empowerment, social competences and networks, intercultural communication and employability.

5.

The ‘European Conference on Local Sports Participation: social inclusion and combating poverty’, 13-14 October in Leuven, Belgium, which demonstrated that sport plays an important role in social inclusion of disadvantaged groups, especially on the local level.

4.1.

Support the ‘sport for all’ principle based on equal opportunities by:

4.2.

Make better use of the potential of sport as a contribution to community building, social cohesion and inclusive growth by:

4.3.

Support the transnational exchange of strategies and methodologies to make better use of the potential of sport for social inclusion on a national and European level by:

1.

promote sport cooperation on the principle of ‘sport for all’ based on equal access and equal opportunities, in particular for physically inactive people, following the priority of social inclusion in and through sport;

2.

encourage actions involving a strong link between sport and sectors engaged with the issue of social inclusion, and increase interest in sport among physically inactive people;

3.

encourage and promote participation in sport of people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, at the same time as ensuring their inclusion into society through sport by introducing them to new social networks and equipping them with new skills;

4.

promote intercultural dialogue by including persons from different cultural backgrounds in society through sport;

5.

promote actions related to social inclusion in and through sport of persons with disabilities, including improved infrastructure and better accessibility of sport facilities and venues, as well as research related to specialised sport devices, and give priority to sport;

6.

promote actions related to the mainstreaming of gender equality issues into sports-related activities, especially equal gender access to decision-making positions, and address sport in connection to gender roles as set out in the Strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015 (5),

7.

design channels of communication and cooperation with other relevant policy fields and departments both within and between the various EU institutions and within the Member States, paying special attention to the positive contribution of sport to social inclusion and include sport in relevant action plans such as action plans for social inclusion and action plans against poverty;

8.

encourage the recognition of informal learning through sport, as a complement to formal education through the acquisition of constructive skills and competences necessary for employability, in connection with sustainable and inclusive growth;

9.

raise awareness and highlight the importance of voluntary activities in sport both as a tool for social inclusion and as a means of acquiring skills so as to contribute to employability and cohesion, particularly in the context of the European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship (2011);

10.

promote and support mutual learning instruments, cross-disciplinary research aiming at an analytical evidence-based framework, and the exchange of knowledge and best practices, for instance through high-level seminars or meetings of expert groups on issues relating to sport and social inclusion, and ensure that the results of such activities are effectively disseminated and connected to practice;

11.

maximise the contribution of sport to achieve goals of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, particularly through its flagship initiatives including the European Platform against Poverty;

12.

encourage, in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, to set an example for social inclusion by linking sport to social inclusion projects, with special focus on local organisations which are in close contact with citizens;

13.

encourage, in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, to make efficient use of the funds available in the EU, including in connection to the possible future sport programmes, to support the process of social inclusion in and through sport;

1.

incorporate the issue of social inclusion in and through sport as a priority for sport cooperation, above all in the upcoming Communication of the European Commission on the Lisbon Treaty and sport;

2.

ensure that social inclusion in and through sport is considered in possible future proposals for EU sport programmes, as one of the priorities, and examine the possibilities of using the existing funds such as the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, and programmes such as the Youth in Action and Lifelong Learning programmes to support activities in the area of sport;

3.

evaluate the effectiveness of EU level activities supported by preparatory actions in the field of social inclusion.

3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/9

1.

the ‘Europe 2020 Strategy’, which sets ambitious objectives for smart, inclusive and sustainable growth to be met over the coming decade, highlighting in particular the need for action to improve education levels, increase employment rates and promote social inclusion, and which identifies a specific EU headline target relating to education (1), as well as others relating to employment (2), social inclusion (3) and research and innovation (4);

2.

the Council conclusions on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (‘ET 2020’) (5), which remains the basis for such cooperation and which complements the ‘Europe 2020 Strategy’ in emphasising the crucial contribution that education and training have to make in meeting the many socio-economic, demographic, environmental and technological challenges facing Europe today, and which establish four strategic objectives (6) aimed at ensuring sustainable economic prosperity and employability, as well as the personal, social and professional fulfilment of all citizens;

3.

the Council Resolution of 27 November 2009 on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (7), which recognises that promoting the social inclusion and professional integration of young women and men is an essential component in reaching the objectives of Europe's strategy for growth and jobs, at the same time as fostering personal fulfilment, social cohesion and active citizenship. It is of vital importance to enable all young women and men to make the best of their potential. The Resolution therefore calls for specific initiatives in the youth field — i.e. policies and actions specifically targeted at young people in areas such as non-formal learning, participation, voluntary activities, youth work, mobility and information, social inclusion, culture and health. It also calls for mainstreaming initiatives — i.e. initiatives to enable a cross-sectoral approach between youth policies and other relevant policy areas.

4.

Within the ‘Europe 2020 Strategy’, Member States and the European Union should implement reforms aimed at smart and inclusive growth, i.e. growth driven by knowledge and innovation which enables maximum participation. These should aim at improving the quality of education and training, at strengthening research and at promoting innovation and knowledge transfer throughout the EU. They should encourage entrepreneurship and help to turn creative ideas into innovative products, services and processes that can create growth, quality and sustainable jobs, territorial, economic and social cohesion, and address more efficiently and more effectively European and global societal challenges

1.

While Europe’s prosperity depends to a large extent on its young people, too many of them still face considerable difficulties in realising their potential and making their contribution to society: too many leave school without qualifications or with insufficient skills, fail to secure employment and find themselves at risk of social exclusion, which in turn engenders high costs for the individual as well as for society as a whole. Remedying this situation requires a more integrated, cross-sectoral approach towards education and training, youth, employment and social policies which builds on current strengths and develops effective new measures.

2.

The implementation of national lifelong learning strategies and instruments, which are key to enabling not only young people, but also adults, to acquire, maintain and develop knowledge, skills and competences throughout their careers, remains a challenge for many Member States. In particular, more flexible learning pathways are required which will allow men and women at different stages in life to move between different education and training systems, as well as between formal and non-formal and informal learning environments, and which can attract non-traditional learners.

3.

In the coming years increasing numbers of jobs will require high-level qualifications (9), yet the EU currently has a lower percentage of people with a tertiary or equivalent level qualification (10), as well as a lower share of researchers, than its competitors. In addition, Europe's innovation capacity will require knowledge partnerships and stronger links between the worlds of education and training, research and business in order to enhance the knowledge triangle. This will also provide a means of ensuring that those in low-skilled employment are better able to adapt to the changing demands of the labour market.

4.

In addition to meeting personal and socio-economic objectives, learning mobility can provide a useful way of strengthening employability and of acquiring or enhancing professional, pedagogical, linguistic, interpersonal and intercultural competences. It can also contribute to improving the quality of, and cooperation between, educational institutions. Although EU programmes and policy instruments have made a significant contribution in this area, there remains considerable untapped potential for learning mobility, which all too often remains the exception. Learning mobility opportunities within a formal educational context should be actively encouraged for groups such as young adult learners, teachers, trainers and educational staff. Young adults should also be able to benefit from such opportunities within non-formal or informal learning environments. In addition, new innovative forms of such mobility, including virtual mobility, need to be explored, while access to it should be broadened, paying particular attention to disadvantaged groups and gender.

1.

When working towards the aims of the ‘Youth on the Move’ initiative, the European Commission and the Member States should cooperate within the overall context of the ‘Europe 2020 Strategy’, whilst ensuring consistency with existing arrangements, in particular those made under the ‘ET 2020’ strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training, the European employment strategy and the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field. The implementation of actions, monitoring and reporting procedures should all be carried out within these frameworks and in accordance with their respective overall principles and objectives. Actions need to be closely coordinated, with the involvement and cooperation of the relevant stakeholders at every level, including through the structured dialogue.

2.

The Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines (11) provide a framework for coordinated policy actions, the majority of which fall within the responsibility of Member States. Through appropriate monitoring, peer learning and the preparation of input to the European Council, the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council should play a key role in implementing the Youth on the Move initiative and the broader ‘Europe 2020 Strategy’, including the specific task of achieving the EU headline target in the field of education and training.

3.

Additional efforts are needed to help young people to meet the many socio-economic challenges they face. However, at a time of budgetary constraint, such efforts should focus on optimising and rationalising policy objectives and investments, by linking these more closely to the aims of Europe 2020 and the priorities of the ‘ET 2020’ strategic framework.

4.

While their scope extends beyond that of the Youth on the Move initiative, existing EU programmes such as the Lifelong Learning, Erasmus Mundus and Youth in Action programmes clearly have an important contribution to make towards achieving the aims of this initiative, as well as those of the ‘Europe 2020 Strategy’ in general. Both the broad scope of the programmes and their contribution to the initiative should be acknowledged when designing the next generation of programmes.

5.

Greater mobility should be actively encouraged, including mobility with third countries and candidate countries, using the appropriate programmes and mechanisms. Learning mobility should also have a qualitative dimension, and be based on well-developed cooperation between education and training institutions. With a view to raising the quality and diversity of mobility, the potential offered by other existing forms of cooperation should be explored. However, mobility should not be regarded as an aim in itself, but rather as a means to enhance the acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences and to meet personal and social challenges.

With specific regard to the field of education and training:

With specific regard to the field of youth:

With specific regard to the field of employment:

1.

ensure close collaboration between all related policy areas, in particular education, youth, social affairs, employment, research and innovation, with a view to exploring the possibility of common objectives;

2.

ensure that the EYCS Council and other relevant Council formations play their full part in the ‘Europe 2020 Strategy’, notably by providing regular input to the European Council on progress towards the EU headline targets;

3.

rationalise and ensure full and efficient use of EU programmes and budgets, including — where appropriate — by linking these to national and regional resources and by considering use of the European structural and cohesion funds and the European Investment Bank;

4.

seek to maximise the potential of other and possible new sources of funding for the promotion of learning and employment mobility;

5.

consider the implications of these conclusions for the next generation of EU programmes and the next EU Financial Framework.

3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/12

3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/13

(1)

The Europe 2020 strategy, as set out in the communication from the Commission entitled ‘Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’, sets out a vision of Europe’s social market economy for the 21st century enjoying the full economic and social benefits of a digital society.

(2)

One of the flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy, set out in the communication from the Commission entitled ‘A Digital Agenda for Europe’ (1), gives a prominent role to achieving a single digital market by removing the regulatory and technical barriers which prevent citizens from reaping its full benefits.

(3)

Due to the close link between invoicing and payment processes, the creation of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) offers a launch pad for interoperable European e-invoicing schemes. Those schemes can benefit to enterprises and financial service providers through improved efficiency and automation of supply chains.

(4)

Council Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax (2) requires Member States, as of 1 January 2013, to adhere to the principle of equal treatment between paper and e-invoices.

(5)

The communication (3) from the Commission entitled ‘Reaping the benefits of electronic invoicing for Europe’ proposes the establishment of a European multi-stakeholder forum to assist the Commission in coordinating actions at Member States level and identifying measures at Union level to facilitate the mass adoption of e-invoicing.

(6)

It is therefore necessary to set up a group of experts in the field of e-invoicing and to define its tasks and its structure.

(7)

The group’s main task will be to monitor the uptake of e-invoicing and to help to develop the e-invoicing market across the Member States. It should liaise with national multi-stakeholder fora and pay particular attention to cross border aspects of e-invoicing and the uptake of e-invoicing by small and medium-sized enterprises.

(8)

The European multi-stakeholder e-invoicing forum should be composed of members from national fora and representatives of European associations from the users’ community, the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party.

(9)

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the Forum should be provided for, without prejudice to the Commission’s rules on security as set out in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom (4).

(10)

Personal data should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (5).

(11)

It is appropriate to fix a period for the application of this Decision. The Commission will in due time consider the advisability of an extension,

(a)

to assist the Commission in the monitoring of the development of the e-invoicing market and the e-invoicing adoption level in industry and services sectors across the Member States;

(b)

to bring about an exchange of experience and good practice that facilitates the emergence of interoperable e-invoicing solutions;

(c)

to point out problems encountered in particular as regards cross-border transactions and propose appropriate solutions;

(d)

to support and monitor work leading to the adoption of a e-invoice standard data model.

(a)

other legislative initiatives that should be taken at Union level to address remaining barriers for the uptake of e-invoicing;

(b)

business processes in the financial supply chain that could facilitate the roll-out of e-invoicing, in particular in the field of payments and the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA);

(c)

national and European actions supporting the adoption of e-invoicing, in particular by small and medium-sized enterprises.

(a)

two members per national multi-stakeholder forum;

(b)

six members of European associations representing consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporates;

(c)

one representative from each of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party (6).

1.

the members referred to in Article 4(a) shall be appointed on the basis of the proposals by the Member States. These members are appointed as representing the national multi-stakeholder forum;

2.

the members referred to in Article 4(b) shall be appointed to represent the organisations mentioned in Article 4(b): the Commission Services will ensure balanced representation amongst these stakeholder groups;

3.

the representatives referred to in Article 4(c) shall be appointed on the basis of the respective proposals of CEN, the ECB and the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party.

3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/16

European Court of Auditors

Communication and Reports Unit

12, rue Alcide De Gasperi

1615 Luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG

Tel. +352 4398-1

E-mail: euraud@eca.europa.eu

3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/17

1.

Haapovaara (*)

2.

Imatra

3.

Inari (*)

4.

Karikangas (*)

5.

Karttimo (*)

6.

Kivipuro (*)

7.

Kokkojärvi (*)

8.

Kurvinen (*)

9.

Kuusamo

10.

Leminaho (*)

11.

Niirala

12.

Nuijamaa

13.

Onkamo (*)

14.

Parikkala (*)

15.

Puitsi (*)

16.

Raja-Jooseppi

17.

Rajakangas (*)

18.

Ruhovaara (*)

19.

Salla

20.

Uukuniemi (*)

21.

Vaalimaa

22.

Vainikkala (rail)

23.

Valkeavaara (*)

24.

Vartius

25.

Virtaniemi (*)

1.

Enontekiö

2.

Helsinki — Hernesaari (exclusively for helicopter traffic)

3.

Helsinki — Malmi

4.

Helsinki — Vantaa

5.

Ivalo

6.

Joensuu

7.

Jyväskylä

8.

Kajaani

9.

Kemi — Tornio

10.

Kittilä

11.

Kruunupyy

12.

Kuopio

13.

Kuusamo

14.

Lappeenranta

15.

Maarianhamina

16.

Mikkeli

17.

Oulu

18.

Pori

19.

Rovaniemi

20.

Savonlinna

21.

Seinäjoki

22.

Tampere — Pirkkala

23.

Turku

24.

Vaasa

25.

Varkaus

1.

Eckerö

2.

Färjsundet

3.

Förby

4.

Hamina

5.

Hanko (also for pleasure craft)

6.

Haukipudas

7.

Helsinki

8.

Inkoo

9.

Kalajoki

10.

Kaskinen

11.

Kemi

12.

Kemiö

13.

Kirkkonummi

14.

Kokkola

15.

Kotka

16.

Kristiinankaupunki

17.

Lappeenranta

18.

Loviisa

19.

Långnäs

20.

Maarianhamina (also for pleasure craft)

21.

Merikarvia

22.

Naantali

23.

Nuijamaa (also for pleasure craft)

24.

Olkiluoto

25.

Oulu

26.

Parainen

27.

Pernaja

28.

Pietarsaari

29.

Pohja

30.

Pori

31.

Porvoo

32.

Raahe

33.

Rauma

34.

Salo

35.

Sipoo

36.

Taalintehdas

37.

Tammisaari

38.

Tornio

39.

Turku

40.

Uusikaupunki

41.

Vaasa

1.

Haapasaari

2.

Hanko

3.

Maarianhamina

4.

Nuijamaan satama

5.

Santio

6.

Suomenlinna

1.

Hanko

2.

Kotka

3.

Maarianhamina

4.

Porkkala

5.

Suomenlinna

3.12.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 326/21

1.

On 29 November 2010, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking GDF Suez SA (‘GDF Suez’, France) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control over International Power plc (‘International Power’, England and Wales) by way of acquisition of 70 % of the shares in International Power.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5978 — GDF Suez/International Power, to the following address: