(1)

Conditions regarding the participation of third States in European Union crisis management operations should be laid down in an agreement establishing a framework for such possible future participation, rather than being defined on a case-by-case basis for each operation concerned.

(2)

Following the adoption of a Decision by the Council on 13 November 2012 authorising the opening of negotiations, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy negotiated an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea establishing a framework for the participation of the Republic of Korea in European Union crisis management operations (‘the Agreement’).

(3)

The Agreement should be approved,

(1)

The Union may decide to take action in the field of crisis management, including peace-keeping operations or humanitarian operations.

(2)

The Union will decide whether third States will be invited to participate in an EU crisis management operation. The Republic of Korea may accept the invitation by the Union and offer its contribution. In such case, the Union will decide on the acceptance of that proposed contribution.

(3)

Conditions regarding the participation of the Republic of Korea in EU crisis management operations should be laid down in an agreement establishing a framework for such possible future participation, rather than defining these conditions on a case-by-case basis for each operation concerned.

(4)

Such an agreement should be without prejudice to the decision-making autonomy of the Union, and should not prejudge the case-by-case nature of the decision for the Republic of Korea to participate in an EU crisis management operation, in accordance with its legal system.

(5)

Such an agreement should only address future EU crisis management operations and should be without prejudice to any existing agreements regulating the participation of the Republic of Korea in an EU crisis management operation that has already been deployed.

(1)

Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 lays down a Union list of food additives approved for use in foods and their conditions of use.

(2)

That list may be amended in accordance with the common procedure referred to in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), either on the initiative of the Commission or following an application.

(3)

The Union list of food additives was established based on food additives permitted for use in foods in accordance with Directives of the European Parliament and of the Council 94/35/EC (3), 94/36/EC (4) and 95/2/EC (5) and after reviewing their compliance with Articles 6, 7 and 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. The Union list includes the food additives on the basis of the categories of food to which they may be added to.

(4)

In Part D of the Union list, category 8 covers meat and includes subcategories 8.1: Unprocessed meat and 8.2: Processed meat. Category 8.1 is further subdivided into categories 8.1.1: Unprocessed meat other than meat preparations as defined by Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6) and 8.1.2: Meat preparations as defined by Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

(5)

Point 1.15. of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 defines meat preparations as fresh meat, including meat that has been reduced to fragments, which has had foodstuffs, seasonings or additives added to it or which has undergone processes insufficient to modify the internal muscle fibre structure of the meat and thus to eliminate the characteristics of fresh meat. Meanwhile, it has been clarified that meat preparations can be either processed or unprocessed (7). However, after processing if the characteristics of fresh meat are completely eliminated, it should no longer be considered a meat preparation, but should fall within the definition of ‘meat products’ as set out in point 7.1. of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. In the interest of legal clarity it is appropriate to use for the purposes of category 8 the terms ‘fresh meat’, ‘meat preparations’ and ‘meat products’ as defined in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. Therefore, the subcategories under category 8 in Part D of the Union list, should be amended accordingly.

(6)

The use of food additives belonging to Group I as defined in Part C of the Union list is generally authorised in processed meat, whereas the authorisation of the use of food additives belonging to that group in unprocessed meat is restricted and only allowed on a case by case basis.

(7)

When the Union list as set out in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 was established, meat preparations as defined by Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 were considered as unprocessed meat in which only a restricted number of additives were authorised. However, different interpretation of the definition of meat preparations has led to the situation where the use of certain additives in particular categories of meat differ between the Member States.

(8)

The Commission has received requests to include some of those uses in the Union list of authorised food additives. These requests have been made available to all Member States.It is appropriate to include those uses in the Union list, where they comply with the general conditions of use of food additives laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and taking into account the need to maintain certain traditional products on the market in some Member States.

(9)

At the request of some Member States and/or the meat industry, certain uses of Curcumin (E 100), Carmines (E 120), Caramels (E 150a-d), Paprika extract (E 160c) and Beetroot red (E 162) that were traditionally used in certain Member States for the colouring of merguez type products and other traditional products: salsicha fresca, mici, butifarra fresca, longaniza fresca, chorizo fresco, bifteki, soutzoukaki, kebap, cevapcici and pljeskavice have been considered and it is appropriate to authorise these uses.

(10)

At the request of some Member States the use of Acetic acid and acetates (E 260 — 263), Lactic acid and lactates (E 270, E 325 — 327), Ascorbic acid and ascorbates (E 300 — 302), Citric acid and citrates (E 330 — 333), as acidity regulators, preservatives and/or anti-oxidants to prevent oxidation and/or rancidity and to increase microbiological stability have been considered and it is appropriate to authorise these uses in all meat preparations to which other ingredients than additives or salt have been added.

(11)

At the request of some Member States, the use of Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di — tri- and polyphosphates (E 338 — 452) as humectant to prevent the loss of meat juices during further processing, in particular when the brine has been injected, has been considered and it is appropriate to authorise this use. However, in order to limit further exposure to added phosphates in food, the extension of the use of those phosphates should be limited to Kasseler, Bräte, Surfleisch, toorvorst, šašlõkk, ahjupraad and burger meat with a minimum vegetable and/or cereal content of 4 % mixed within the meat and Finnish grey salted Christmas ham.

(12)

At the request of some Member States and/or the meat industry, the use of Nitrites (E 249 — 250) as a preservative in certain traditional products: lomo de cerdo adobado, pincho moruno, careta de cerdo adobada, costilla de cerdo adobada, Kasseler, Bräte, Surfleisch, toorvorst, šašlõkk, ahjupraad, kiełbasa surowa biała, kiełbasa surowa metka and tatar wołowy (danie tatarskie) has been considered and it is appropriate to authorise this use.

(13)

At the request of some Member States and/or the meat industry, the use of Alginates (E 401 — 404), Carrageenan (E 407), Processed euchema seaweed (E 407a), Locust bean gum (E 410), Guar gum (E 412), Tragacanth (E 413), Xanthan gum (E 415), Acetylated distarch phosphate (E 1414) and Hydroxy propyl distarch phosphate (E 1442) as humectants or stabilisers to diminish leakage of water in the packaging and to prevent the loss of meat juices during further processing have been considered. Those uses should be authorised in meat preparations to which ingredients have been injected and in meat preparations composed of meat parts that have been handled differently: minced, sliced or processed and that are combined together, e.g. roulades containing minced meat. Food additives used in meat preparations to prevent the loss of meat juices during further processing do not mislead consumer.

(14)

At the request of some Member States and/or the meat industry, the use of Sodium carbonates (E 500) as humectant in poultry meat preparations, mici, bifteki, soutzoukaki, kebap, seftalia, cevapcici and pljeskavice in order to maintain consistency and juiciness during further preparation has been considered and it is appropriate to authorise this use. Furthermore, this use in poultry meat preparations allows to cook poultry meat longer and more effectively, maintaining its juiciness and avoiding the consumption of undercooked poultry.

(15)

At the request of a Member State and/or the meat industry, the use of Acetylated distarch phosphate (E 1414) and Hydroxy propyl distarch phosphate (E 1442) to diminish leakage of water in preparations in which ingredients have been injected, in meat preparations composed of meat parts that have been handled differently: minced, sliced or processed and that are combined together, e.g. roulades containing minced meat and in order to maintain juiciness during the preparation of gyros, souvlaki, bifteki, soutzoukaki, kebap and seftalia have been considered and it is appropriate to authorise these uses.

(16)

As regards the traditional products, the requested uses of the food additives should comply with the general conditions of use set out in article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and in particular should not mislead the consumers in the Member States or in the regions where these products are traditionally consumed.

(17)

In order to ensure uniform application of the use of additives covered by the present regulation, the traditional meat preparations are described in the guidance document describing the food categories in Part E of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives (8).

(18)

The principle of carry-over set out in Article 18(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 should be permitted in meat preparations as defined by Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

(19)

Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Commission has to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (the Authority) in order to update the Union list of food additives set out in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, except where the update in question is not liable to have an effect on human health. Acetic acid and acetates (E 260 — 263), Lactic acid and lactates (E 270, E 325- 327), Ascorbic acid and ascorbates (E 300 — 302), Citric acid and citrates (E 330 — 333), Alginates (E 401 — 404), Carrageenan (E 407), Processed euchema seaweed (E 407a), Locust bean gum (E 410), Guar gum (E 412), Tragacanth (E 413), Xanthan gum (E 415), Sodium carbonates (E 500), Acetylated distarch phosphate (E 1414) and Hydroxy propyl distarch phosphate (E 1442) belong to the group of additives for which no acceptable daily intake has been specified. That implies that they do not pose a risk to health at the levels necessary to achieve the desired technological effect. Therefore the extended use of those additives constitutes an update of the Union list which is not liable to have an effect on human health. The use of Curcumin (E 100), Carmines (E 120), Caramels (E 150a-d), Paprika extract (E 160c), Beetroot red (E 162), Nitrites (E 249 — 250), Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di — tri- and polyphosphates (E 338 — 452), will only be extended to certain products that have been traditionally used, hence the extended use of these additives constitutes an update of the Union list which is not liable to have an effect on human health. Therefore, it is not necessary to seek the opinion of the Authority.

(20)

Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 should be amended accordingly.

(21)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

(1)

It is appropriate to provide for implementing technical standards to facilitate the convergence of supervisory practices with regard to the implementation of a uniform approach to assess institutions' material non-compliance with the requirements by reason of negligence or omission, and to the application of the additional risk weights. In order to facilitate the convergence of supervisory practices when applying additional risk weights, an appropriate formula should be defined. That formula should impose a proportionate additional risk weight of no less than 250 % which progressively increases with subsequent infringements of Articles 405, 406 or 409 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013. An appropriate factor should be introduced in the formula to allow for a lower additional risk weight to apply in the cases of exposures exempted pursuant to Article 405(3) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013.

(2)

This Regulation is based on the draft regulatory technical standards submitted by the European Banking Authority to the Commission.

(3)

The European Banking Authority has conducted open public consultations on the draft implementing technical standards on which this Regulation is based, analysed the potential related costs and benefits and requested the opinion of the Banking Stakeholder Group established in accordance with Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2),

12,5 is a factor representing the maximum value that the total risk weight can reach;

‘Original RW’ is the risk weight that would apply to the securitisation positions if no additional risk weight was imposed;

2,5 is the minimum factor applying to the original risk weight in order to calculate the additional risk weight;

‘InfringementDurationyears ’ is the duration of the infringement, expressed in years, rounded down to the nearest 12-month period. This variable is equal to ‘0’ for an infringement of less than 12 months, equal to ‘1’ for an infringement of more than 12 months but less than 24 months, equal to ‘2’ for an infringement of more than 24 months but less than 36 months, etc. The duration shall generally be measured from the start of the infringement for the securitisation, although competent authorities, taking account of the specificities of the securitisation, may impose other starting points. ‘Infringement’ shall mean the breach of one or more of the requirements set out in Article 405, 406 or 409 capable of triggering an additional risk weight. The infringement shall turn into a ‘subsequent infringement’ when time passes without rectifying the infringement, leading to a progressive increase of the additional risk weight.

‘Article405ExemptionPct ’ is a variable equal to 0,5 if Article 405(3) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 applies to the securitisation positions to which the additional risk weight is calculated, and equal to 0 if such exemption does not apply.

(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,

(1)

The Union acceded to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1980 as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘COTIF Convention’), by virtue of Council Decision 2013/103/EU (1).

(2)

All Member States, with the exception of Cyprus and Malta, applythe COTIF Convention.

(3)

Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of dangerous goods (2) lays down requirements for the transport of dangerous goods by road, by rail or by inland waterway within or between Member States, by referring to the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail, appearing as Appendix C to the COTIF Convention (RID Annex). In addition, Article 4 of this Directive provides that ‘The transport of dangerous goods between Member States and third countries shall be authorised in so far as it complies with the requirements of the ADR, RID or ADN, unless otherwise indicated in the Annexes.’ Thus, the Union has exercised its competence in this subject-matter.

(4)

The Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods set up in accordance with Article 13.1(d) of the COTIF Convention, at its 53rd session due to take place on 22 May 2014, is expected to decide upon certain amendments to the RID Annex. These amendments, which concern technical standards or uniform technical prescriptions, have the objective to ensure safe and efficient transport of dangerous goods whilst taking into account scientific and technical progress in the sector and the development of new substances and articles that pose danger during their transport.

(5)

The committee on the transport of dangerous goods established by Article 9 of Directive 2008/68/EC has carried out preliminary discussions on these amendments.

(6)

Most of the proposed amendments are justified and beneficial, and should therefore be supported by the Union. Two proposed amendments need to be further assessed in the light of technical and scientific progress. In particular, the European Railway Agency, in cooperation with the relevant bodies, should continue to work on the identification of a sustainable solution to detect derailments and mitigate their effects, including the future implementation of this solution. Therefore, should the latter amendments be approved at this point, the Union should formulate an objection following the procedure established in Article 35§4 of Title VII of the COTIF Convention,

(1)

Pursuant to Article 18.1 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the national central banks of Member States whose currency is the euro (hereinafter the ’NCBs’) may conduct credit operations with credit institutions and other market participants, with lending being based on adequate collateral. The standard conditions under which the ECB and the NCBs stand ready to enter into credit operations, including the criteria determining the eligibility of collateral for the purposes of Eurosystem credit operations, are laid down in Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14, as well as Decision ECB/2013/6 and Decision ECB/2013/35 (3).

(2)

Pursuant to Section 1.6 of Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14, the Governing Council may, at any time, change the instruments, conditions, criteria and procedures for the execution of Eurosystem monetary policy operations.

(3)

On 17 July 2013, the Governing Council decided to further strengthen its risk control framework by adjusting the eligibility criteria and haircuts applied to collateral accepted in Eurosystem monetary policy operations and adopting certain additional measures to improve the overall consistency of the framework and its practical implementation. These measures were laid down in Decision ECB/2013/35.

(4)

In relation to the rating requirements for asset-backed securities, it is necessary to introduce further refinements to Decision ECB/2013/35, which should therefore be amended accordingly,

1.

paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

(*1)  A “single A” rating is a rating of at least “A3” from Moody's, “A-” from Fitch or Standard & Poor's, or “AL” from DBRS.’;"

2.

paragraph 3 is deleted.

(1)

Achieving a single monetary policy entails defining the instruments and procedures to be used by the Eurosystem, consisting of the national central banks of Member States whose currency is the euro (hereinafter the ‘NCBs’) and the European Central Bank (ECB), in order to implement such a policy in a uniform manner.

(2)

The ECB has the authority to establish the necessary guidelines to implement the Eurosystem's monetary policy and the NCBs have an obligation to act in accordance with such guidelines.

(3)

Pursuant to Article 18.1 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, the ECB and the NCBs may conduct credit operations with credit institutions and other market participants, with lending being based on adequate collateral. The conditions under which the ECB and the NCBs stand ready to enter into credit operations, including the criteria determining the eligibility of collateral for the purposes of such operations, are laid down in Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14 (1), as well as Decision ECB/2013/6 (2) and Decision ECB/2013/35 (3).

(4)

Guideline ECB/2011/14 should be amended to reflect changes to the Eurosystem's collateral framework relating to: (a) the extension of loan-level reporting requirements to asset-backed securities backed by credit card receivables. This is intended to preserve their eligibility as collateral for Eurosystem credit operations in the light of the homogeneity requirement for the cash-flow generating assets backing the asset-backed securities laid down in the penultimate paragraph of Section 6.2.1.1 of Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14; and (b) the revision of the mapping of certain credit ratings in the context of the Eurosystem harmonised rating scale.

(5)

Guideline ECB/2011/14 should also be amended to reflect changes due to the introduction of major improvements to the Eurosystem's correspondent central banking model (CCBM). First, it has been decided that the repatriation requirement, which required Eurosystem counterparties prior to mobilising assets as collateral for Eurosystem credit operations to transfer these assets to the respective issuer's securities settlement system (SSS), should be removed from 26 May 2014. As such, a new mobilisation channel combining the CCBM with links between SSSs would be created, whereby any SSS/eligible link may be used by any Eurosystem counterparty to mobilise eligible assets as Eurosystem collateral. Second, triparty collateral management services, as offered by triparty agents in the market, should be supported on a cross-border basis via the CCBM from 29 September 2014,

(1)

Pursuant to Article 18.1 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the national central banks of Member States whose currency is the euro (hereinafter the ‘NCBs’) may conduct credit operations with credit institutions and other market participants, with lending being based on adequate collateral. The standard conditions under which the ECB and the NCBs stand ready to enter into credit operations, including the criteria determining the eligibility of collateral for the purposes of Eurosystem credit operations, are laid down in Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14, as well as Decision ECB/2013/6 and Decision ECB/2013/35.

(2)

Pursuant to Section 1.6 of Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14, the Governing Council may, at any time, change the instruments, conditions, criteria and procedures for the execution of Eurosystem monetary policy operations.

(3)

Guideline ECB/2013/4 (4), Decision ECB/2013/22 (5) and Decision ECB/2013/36 (6) together with other legal acts lay down the additional measures relating to Eurosystem refinancing operations and eligibility of collateral to be applied temporarily until the Governing Council considers that they are no longer necessary to ensure an appropriate monetary policy transmission mechanism.

(4)

Guideline ECB/2013/4 should be amended to reflect changes to the Eurosystem's collateral framework, relating to: (a) the extension of loan-level reporting requirements to asset-backed securities backed by credit card receivables in Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14; (b) the revision of the mapping of certain credit ratings in the context of the Eurosystem harmonised rating scale; and (c) clarification of the rating rules relating to asset-backed securities,

1.

Article 1(3) is replaced by the following:

2.

Article 3(1) is replaced by the following:

(*1)  A “triple B” rating is a rating of at least “Baa3” from Moody's, “BBB-” from Fitch or Standard & Poor's, or a rating of “BBBL” from DBRS.’ "