C 148/14　［EN］

Official Journal of the European Union

　

Maximum aid intensity: Aid will not exceed a maximum of 75 % for SMEs and 55 % for large companies within this Article 87(3)(c) assisted area.

　

No one company will receive more than GBP 25 000 under this exemption

　

Date of implementation:1 August 2002

　

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 30 April 2007

　

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to provide general training for individuals working for SMEs in order to support the overarching aim of increasing diversification and competitiveness in this assisted area, which has been subject to intense economic decline, particularly in manufacturing. The training will enable the workforce to gain transferable skills which will both safeguard their jobs and make them more marketable in the workplace.

　

The general training will result in units towards NVQs or other accredited training (see attached supporting documentation)

　

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors

　

　

Richard Hillier

Government Office for the West Midlands

77 Paradise Circus

Queensway

Birmingham B1 2DT

　

　

Contact Officer:

　

Julie Boardman

Black Country Investment

Black Country House

Rounds Green Road

Oldbury

West Midlands B69 2DG

Tel. (44-121) 569 23 33

　

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(2003/C 148/10)

　

The Commission gives notice that it confirms, on the basis of investigations covering the period of 2002, that Community industry has suffered material injury and serious prejudice in the market segment of LNG carriers caused by unfair Korean practices.

　

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The following communication, dated 10 July 2003, from the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission to the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated at the request of that delegation.

　

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The European Communities asks that the request for the establishment of a Panel in the above dispute (WT/DS273/2) be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body, which is scheduled to take place on 21 July 2003 and that the DSB, at that meeting, establishes the Panel.

　

The European Communities further requests that the DSB at that meeting initiate the procedures provided for in Annex V of the SCM Agreement pursuant to paragraph 2 of that Annex. In accordance with these procedures, the DSB is required to designate a representative to serve the function of facilitating the information-gathering process needed by the parties and the panel. In order to facilitate the task of the DSB to designate its representative pursuant to paragraph 4 of Annex V of the SCM Agreement, the European Communities has proposed names and has consulted with Korea. However, in the absence of an agreement with Korea, the European Communities request that the DSB designate a representative to serve the function of facilitating the information-gathering process of Annex V.

　

Furthermore, the European Communities would like to indicate, in conformity with paragraphs 1 and 3 of Annex V, that the market considered relevant by the European Communities is the world market. In order to obtain sufficiently representative data to resolve this dispute while at the same time avoiding unnecessary burdens on other WTO Members, the European Communities intends to address questions under the Annex V procedure to the following third-country Members:

　

- Japan

- China

　

The European Communities would also like to inform the DSB that the organization responsible for administration of this provision within its territory is the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, 1049 Brussels, Belgium. The European Communities would ask that information pursuant to the Annex V procedures be provided in writing and, if possible, in electronic format to the Delegation of the European Commission in Geneva.

　

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The following communication, dated 25 July 2003, from the Permanent Mission of Japan to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated at the request of that delegation.

　

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With regard to the above-mentioned proceeding, I wish to refer to the communication from the European Communities (WT/DS273/3), circulated to Members on 11 July 2003, concerning the information-gathering process of Annex V of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. In that communication, the EC specified its intention to address questions to third-country Members, including Japan, in accordance with the said Annex.

　

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of Annex V, Japan hereby notifies the Dispute Settlement Body that "the organization responsible for administration of this provision within its territory" is the WTO Dispute Settlement Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan. Japan asks that any request for information be addressed in writing through the dispute settlement officer at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva.

　

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The following communication, dated 22 August 2003, from the Permanent Mission of China to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated at the request of that delegation.

　

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With regard to the above-mentioned proceeding, I wish to refer to the communication from the European Communities (WT/DS273/3), circulated to Members on 11 July 2003, concerning the information-gathering process of Annex V of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. In that communication, the EC specified its intention to address questions to third-country Members, including China, in accordance with the said Annex.

　

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of Annex V, China hereby notifies the Dispute Settlement Body that "the organization responsible for administration of this provision within its territory" is the Ministry of Commerce in China. China asks that any request for information be addressed in writing through the Permanent Mission of China to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

　

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1. At its meeting on 21 July 2003, the Dispute Settlement Body established a Panel pursuant to the request by the European Communities in document WT/DS273/2, in accordance with Article 6 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU).

　

2. At that meeting, the parties to the dispute also agreed that the Panel should have standard terms of reference. The terms of reference are, therefore, the following:

　

　

3. On 11 August 2003, the European Communities requested the Director-General to determine the composition of the Panel, pursuant to paragraph 7 of Article 8 of the DSU. This paragraph provides:

　

　

4. On 20 August 2003, the Director-General accordingly composed the Panel as follows:

　

　

5. China, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Chinese Taipei and the United States reserved their third-party rights.