Avis juridique important

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31994L0080

Council Directive 94/80/EC of 19 December 1994 laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections by citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals

Official Journal L 368 , 31/12/1994 P. 0038 - 0047 Finnish special edition: Chapter 1 Volume 4 P. 0080  Swedish special edition: Chapter 1 Volume 4 P. 0080

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 94/80/EC of 19 December 1994 laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections by citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationalsTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 8b (1) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3),Whereas the Treaty on European Union marks a new stage in the process of creating an ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe; whereas one of the Union's tasks is to organize, in a manner demonstrating consistency and solidarity, relations between the peoples of the Member States; whereas its fundamental objectives include a strengthening of the protection of the rights and interests of the nationals of its Member States through the introduction of a citizenship of the Union;Whereas to that end Title II of the Treaty on European Union introduces a citizenship of the Union for all nationals of the Member States and confers on such nationals on that basis a number of rights;Whereas the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections in the Member State of residence, embodied in Article 8b (1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, is an instance of the application of the principle of equality and non-discrimination between nationals and non-nationals and a corollary of the right to move and reside freely enshrined in Article 8a of that Treaty;Whereas application of Article 8b (1) does not presuppose complete harmonization of Member States' electoral systems; whereas the aim of that provision is essentially to abolish the nationality requirement to which most Member States currently make the exercise of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate subject; whereas, moreover, to take account of the principle of proportionality set out in the third paragraph of Article 3b of the Treaty, the content of Community legislation in this sphere must not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objective of Article 8b(1) of the Treaty;Whereas the purpose of Article 8b (1) is to ensure that all citizens of the Union, whether or not they are nationals of the Member State in which they reside, can exercise in that State their right to vote and to stand as candidates in municipal elections under the same conditions; whereas the conditions applying to non-nationals, including those relating to period and proof of residence, should therefore be identical to those, if any, applying to nationals of the Member State concerned; whereas non-nationals must not be required to fulfil any special conditions unless, exceptionally, different treatment of nationals and non-nationals is justified by circumstances specific to the latter distinguishing them from the former;Whereas Article 8b(1) of the Treaty recognizes the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections in the Member State of residence, without actually substituting it for the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in the Member State of which the Union citizen is a national; whereas the freedom of Union citizens to choose whether or not to take part in municipal elections in the Member State in which they reside must be respected; whereas it is appropriate that those citizens may express their wish to exercise their right to vote there; whereas provision may be made for those citizens to be registered automatically on the electoral roll in those Member States where voting is not compulsory;Whereas the way in which local government operates in the different Member States is a reflection of different political and legal traditions and is characterized by an abundance of structures; whereas the term 'municipal election` does not mean the same thing in every Member State; whereas the object of this Directive must therefore be clarified by defining the term; whereas municipal elections are elections by direct universal suffrage at the level of basic local government units and their subdivisions; whereas the term covers elections by direct universal suffrage both to representative councils of municipalities and of members of a municipal executive;Whereas disqualification may be ordered by an individual decision of the authorities either of the Member State of residence or of the home Member State; whereas, in view of the political significance of the holding of elected municipal office, Member States should be entitled to take the steps necessary to ensure that a person who has been deprived of his right to stand as a candidate in his home Member State is not enabled to recover that right merely by virtue of his residence in another Member State; whereas this problem, which is specific to non-national candidates, is important enough to justify a provision under which those Member States which consider it necessary are allowed to make such candidates subject not only to the rules on disqualification of the Member State of residence but also to those of the home Member State; whereas, in view of the principle of proportionality, it will be sufficient if the right to vote is made subject only to the rules on disqualification from voting of the Member State of residence;Whereas, since the duties of the leadership of basic local government units may involve taking part in the exercise of official authority and in the safeguarding of the general interest, Member States should be able to reserve these offices for their nationals; whereas Member States should also be able to take appropriate measures for that purpose; whereas such measures may not restrict more than is necessary for the achievement of that objective the possibility for other Member States' nationals to be elected;Whereas, it should likewise be possible for participation by elected municipal officers in the election of a parliamentary assembly to be reserved for own nationals;Whereas, where Member States' laws provide that the holding of elected municipal office is incompatible with holding other offices, Member States should be able to extend their scope to include equivalent offices held in other Member States;Whereas any derogation from the general rules of this Directive must be warranted, pursuant to Article 8b (1) of the Treaty, by problems specific to a Member State; whereas any derogation must, by its very nature, be subject to review;Whereas such specific problems may arise in a Member State in which the proportion of citizens of the Union of voting age, who reside in it but are not nationals of it, is very significantly above average; whereas derogations are warranted where such citizens form more than 20 % of the total electorate; whereas such derogations must be based on the criterion of period of residence;Whereas citizenship of the Union is intended to enable citizens of the Union to integrate better in their host country; whereas in this context it is in accordance with the intentions of the authors of the Treaty to avoid any polarization between lists of national and non-national candidates;Whereas this risk of polarization concerns in particular a Member State in which the proportion of non-national citizens of the Union of voting age exceeds 20 % of the total number of citizens of the Union of voting age who reside there; whereas it is important, therefore, that this Member State be able to lay down, in compliance with Article 8b of the Treaty, specific provisions concerning the composition of lists of candidates;Whereas account must be taken of the fact that in certain Member States residents who are nationals of other Member States have the right to vote in elections to the national parliament and whereas the formalities provided for in this Directive can consequently be eased;Whereas the Kingdom of Belgium is characterized by specific features and balances linked to the fact that Articles 1 to 4 of its Constitution provide for three official languages and a territorial division into regions and communities, as a result of which full application of this Directive in certain communes might have effects such as to necessitate providing for the possibility of a derogation from the provisions of this Directive in order to take account of those specific features and balances;Whereas the Commission will assess the application of the Directive in law and in fact, including any changes in the electorate which have taken place since its entry into force; whereas the Commission will submit a report in this connection to the European Parliament and to the Council,HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:CHAPTER I General provisions Article 1 1. This Directive lays down the detailed arrangements whereby citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals may exercise the right to vote and to stand as a candidate there in municipal elections.2. Nothing in this Directive shall affect each Member State's provisions concerning the right to vote or to stand as a candidate either of its nationals who reside outside its territory or of third country nationals who reside in that State.Article 2 1. For the purposes of this Directive:(a) 'basic local government unit` means the administrative entities listed in the Annex which, in accordance with the laws of each Member State, contain bodies elected by direct universal suffrage and are empowered to administer, at the basic level of political and administrative organization, certain local affairs on their own responsibility;(b) 'municipal elections` means elections by direct universal suffrage to appoint the members of the representative council and, where appropriate, under the laws of each Member State, the head and members of the executive of a basic local government unit:(c) 'Member State of residence` means the Member State in which a citizen of the Union resides but of which he is not a national;(d) 'home Member State` means the Member State of which a citizen of the Union is a national;(e) 'electoral roll` means the official register of all voters entitled to vote in a given basic local government unit or in one of its subdivisions, drawn up and kept up-to-date by the competent authority under the electoral law of the Member State of residence, or the population register if it indicates eligibility to vote;(f) 'reference date` means the day or days on which citizens of the Union must satisfy, under the law of the Member State of residence, the requirements for voting or for standing as a candidate in that State;(g) 'formal declaration` means a declaration by the person concerned, inaccuracy in which makes that person liable to penalties, in accordance with the national law applicable.2. A Member State shall notify the Commission if any local government unit referred to in the Annex is, by virtue of a change in its domestic law, replaced by another unit having the functions referred to in paragraph 1 (a) of this Article or if, by virtue of such a change, any such unit is abolished or further such units are created.Within three months of receipt of such a notification, together with a Member State's assurance that no person's rights under this Directive will be prejudiced, the Commission shall adapt the Annex by making appropriate substitutions, deletions or additions. The Annex so revised shall be published in the Official Journal.Article 3 Any person who, on the reference date:(a) is a citizen of the Union within the meaning of the second subparagraph of Article 8 (1) of the Treaty; and(b) is not a national of the Member State of residence, but in any event satisfies the same conditions in respect of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate as that State imposes by law on its own nationals,shall have the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections in the Member State of residence in accordance with this Directive.Article 4 1. If, in order to vote or to stand as candidates, nationals of the Member State of residence must have spent a certain minimum period as a resident in the territory of that State, voters and persons entitled to stand as candidates within the scope of Article 3 shall be deemed to have fulfilled that condition where they have resided for an equivalent period in other Member States.2. If, under the laws of the Member State of residence, its own nationals may vote or stand as candidates only in the basic local government unit in which they have their principal residence, voters and persons entitled to stand as candidates within the scope of Article 3 shall also be subject to this condition.3. Paragraph 1 shall not affect the provisions of each Member State under which the exercise by any person of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in a given basic local government unit is subject to his having spent a minimum period as a resident in that unit.Nor shall paragraph 1 affect any national provision already in force on the date of adoption of this Directive, whereby the exercise by any person of such right to vote and to stand as a candidate is subject to his having spent a minimum period in the constituent part of the Member State of which the basic local government unit forms a part.Article 5 1. Member States of residence may provide that any citizen of the Union who, through an individual decision under civil law or a criminal law decision, has been deprived of his right to stand as a candidate under the law of his home Member State, shall be precluded from exercising that right in municipal elections.2. An application from any citizen of the Union to stand as a candidate in municipal elections in the Member State of residence may be declared inadmissible where that citizen is unable to produce the declaration referred to in Article 9 (2) (a) or the attestation referred to in Article 9 (2) (b).3. Member States may provide that only their own nationals may hold the office of elected head, deputy or member of the governing college of the executive of a basic local government unit if elected to hold office for the duration of his mandate.The Member States may also lay down that the temporary or interim performance of the functions of a head, deputy or member of the governing college of the executive of a basic local government unit may be restricted to own nationals.Having regard to the Treaty and to general legal principles, Member States may take appropriate, necessary and proportional measures to ensure that the offices referred to in the first subparagraph can only be held and the interim functions referred to in the second subparagraph can be performed only by their own nationals.4. Member States may also stipulate that citizens of the Union elected as members of a representative council shall take part in neither the designation of delegates who can vote in a parliamentary assembly nor the election of the members of that assembly.Article 6 1. Persons entitled to stand as candidates within the scope of Article 3 shall be subject to the same conditions concerning incompatibility as apply, under the laws of the Member State of residence, to nationals of that State.2. Member States may provide that the holding of elected municipal office in the Member State of residence is also incompatible with the holding of offices in other Member States which are equivalent to those which give rise to incompatibility in the Member State of residence.CHAPTER II Exercise of the right to vote and the right to stand as a candidate Article 7 1. A voter within the scope of Article 3 shall exercise his right to vote in municipal elections in the Member State of residence if he has expressed the wish to do so.2. If voting is compulsory in the Member State of residence, voters within the scope of Article 3 who have been entered on the electoral roll there shall also be obliged to vote.3. Member States where voting is not compulsory may provide for the automatic registration of voters within the scope of Article 3 on the electoral roll.Article 8 1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to enable a voter within the scope of Article 3 to be entered on the electoral roll sufficiently in advance of polling day.2. In order to have his name entered on the electoral roll, a voter within the scope of Article 3 shall produce the same documents as a voter who is a national.The Member State of residence may also require a voter within the scope of Article 3 to produce a valid identity document, along with a formal declaration stating his nationality, and his address in the Member State of residence.3. Voters within the scope of Article 3 who have been entered on an electoral roll in the Member State of residence shall remain thereon, under the same conditions as voters who are nationals, until such time as they are removed automatically because they no longer satisfy the requirements for exercising the right to vote.Voters who have been entered on the electoral roll at their request can also be removed from it if they so request.If such voters move to another basic local government unit in the same Member State, they shall be entered on the electoral roll of that unit under the same conditions as voters who are nationals.Article 9 1. When he submits his application to stand as a candidate, a person entitled to stand as a candidate within the scope of Article 3 shall produce the same supporting documents as a candidate who is a national. The Member State of residence may require him to produce a formal declaration stating his nationality and his address in the Member State of residence.2. The Member State of residence may also require a person entitled to stand as a candidate within the scope of Article 3 to:(a) state in the formal declaration which he produces in accordance with paragraph 1 when submitting his application to stand as a candidate that he has not been deprived of the right to stand as a candidate in his home Member State;(b) in case of doubt regarding the content of the declaration pursuant to (a), or where required under the legal provisions of a Member State, to produce before or after the election an attestation from the competent administrative authorities in his home Member State certifying that he has not been deprived of the right to stand as a candidate in that State or that no such disqualification is known to those authorities;(c) produce a valid identity document;(d) state in the formal declaration he produces in accordance with paragraph 1 that he holds no office which is incompatible within the meaning of Article 6 (2);(e) indicate his last address in his home Member State, in so far as he has had one.Article 10 1. The Member State of residence shall inform the person concerned in good time of the action taken on his application for entry on the electoral roll or of the decision concerning the admissibility of his application to stand as a candidate.2. Should a person not be entered on the electoral roll or have his application form entry refused or have his application to stand as a candidate rejected, the person concerned shall be entitled to legal remedies on similar terms as the laws of the Member State of residence prescribe for voters and persons entitled to stand as candidates who are its nationals.Article 11 The Member State of residence shall inform voters and persons entitled to stand as candidates within the scope of Article 3 in good time and in an appropriate manner of the conditions and detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in elections in that State.CHAPTER III Derogations and transitional provisions Article 12 1. Where, on 1 January 1996, in a given Member State, the proportion of citizens of the Union of voting age who reside in it but are not nationals of it exceeds 20 % of the total number of citizens of the Union residing there who are of voting age, that Member State may, by way of derogation from this Directive:(a) restrict the right to vote to voters within the scope of Article 3 who have resided in that Member State for a minimum period, which may not be longer than the term for which the representative council of the municipality is elected;(b) restrict the right to stand as a candidate to persons entitled to stand as candidates within the scope of Article 3 who have resided in that Member State for a minimum period, which may not be longer than twice the term for which the representative council of the municipality is elected; and(c) take appropriate measures with regard to the composition of lists of candidates to encourage in particular the integration of citizens of the Union, who are nationals of another Member State.2. The Kingdom of Belgium may, by way of derogation from the provisions of this Directive, apply the provisions of paragraph 1 (a) to a limited number of local government units, the list of which it shall communicate at least one year before the local government unit elections for which it intends to invoke the derogation.3. Where, on 1 January 1996, the laws of a Member State prescribe that the nationals of another Member State who reside there have the right to vote for the national parliament of that State and, for that purpose, may be entered on the electoral roll of that State under exactly the same conditions as national voters, the first Member State may, by way of derogation from this Directive, refrain from applying Articles 6 to 11 in respect of such persons.4. By 31 December 1998 and every six years thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report in which it shall check whether the grant to the Member States concerned of a derogation pursuant to Article 8b (1) of the Treaty is still warranted and shall propose that any necessary adjustments be made. Member States which invoke derogations under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall furnish the Commission with all the necessary background information.CHAPTER IV Final provisions Article 13 The Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Directive, including any changes in the electorate which have taken place since its entry into force, within a year of the holding in all the Member States of the municipal elections organized on the basis of the above provisions, and shall, where appropriate, propose appropriate adjustments.Article 14 Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 1 January 1996. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.When Member States adopt these provisions, these shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for such reference shall be adopted by Member States.Article 15 This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.Article 16 This Directive is addressed to the Member States.Done at Brussels, 19 December 1994.For the CouncilThe PresidentK. KINKEL(1) OJ No C 323, 21. 11. 1994.(2) Opinion delivered on 14 September 1994 (not yet published in the Official Journal).(3) Opinion delivered on 28 September 1994 (not yet published in the Official Journal).ANNEX 'Basic local government unit` within the meaning of Article 2 (1) (a) of this Directive means any of the following:in Denmark:amtskommune, Koøbenhavns kommune, Frederiksberg kommune, primærkommune,in Belgium:commune/gemeente/Gemeinde,in Germany:kreisfreie Stadt bzw. Stadtkreis; Kreis;Gemeinde, Bezirk in der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg und im Land Berlin;Stadtgemeinde Bremen in der Freien Hansestadt Bremen,Stadt-, Gemeinde-, oder Ortsbezirke bzw. Ortschaften,in Greece:êïéíüôçò;äÞìïò;in Spain:municipio,entidad de ámbito territorial inferior al municipal,in France:commune,arrondissement dans les villes déterminées par la législation interne, section de communein Ireland:country, county boroughborough, urban district, town,in Italy:comune,circoscrizione,in Luxembourg:commune,in the Netherlands:gemeente,deelgemeentein Portugal:município,freguesia,in the United Kingdom:counties in England; counties, county boroughs and communities in Wales: regions and Islands in Scotland; districts in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland; London boroughs; parishes in England; the City of London in relation to ward elections for common councilmen.Statement in the minutes by the German delegation re Article 2 (1) (b) The Federal Republic of Germany assumes that the definition in Article 2 (1) (b) regarding the election of the head and members of the executive of a basic local government unit may also be extended to include removal from office by electoral process ('Abwahl`).The Federal Republic of Germany would point out that under German constitutional law the rules governing municipal elections apply mutatis mutandis to local assemblies where these take the place of an elected representative council.Statement in the minutes by the Council and the Commission re Article 3 Article 3 does not rule out the possibility for a Member State of ensuring in a non-discriminatory manner that a voter within the scope of Article 3 is not deprived of the right to vote in a Member State other than the Member State of residence if that same condition applies to its own nationals.Statement in the minutes by the Luxembourg delegation on the Council and Commission statement re Article 3 The Luxembourg authorities interpret the word 'ensuring` as tantamount to a statement on his honour made by a voter within the scope of Article 3 when he is entered on the electoral roll.Statement in the minutes by the Council and the Commission re the third subparagraph of Article 5 (3) The measures referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 5 (3) may not restrict more than is necessary for the achievement of the objectives set out in the first and second subparagraphs of Article 5 (3) the possibility for other Member States' nationals to be elected.Statement in the minutes by the French delegation re Article 5 (4) The possibility of excluding citizens of the Union who are nationals of other Member States from the election of or election to the college which elects the French Senate, pursuant to Article 5 (4), in no way jeopardizes the right to vote or stand in municipal elections arising out of Article 8b (1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community.Statement in the minutes by the Council on the statement by the Belgian delegation re Article 12 (2) The Council takes note of the following statement by the Belgian delegation:Statement in the minutes by the Belgian delegation re Article 12 (2) Belgium states that if it were to make use of the derogation provided for in Article 12 (2) that derogation would be applied to only some of the local government units in which the number of voters within the scope of Article 3 exceeded 20 % of all voters where the Belgian Federal Government regarded the specific situation as justifying an exceptional derogation of that kind.Statement in the minutes by the Council on the Commission statement re Article 13 The Council notes the following statement by the Commission:Statement in the minutes by the Commission re Article 13 The Commission states that it will pay particular attention to the changes in the electorate following the entry into force of Directive which could create specific problems for certain Member States.Statement in the minutes by the Greek delegation re Article 13 In view of its geographical position, Greece attaches particular importance to the report that the Commission will be drawing up pursuant to Article 13.It expects that the Commission, bearing in mind changes in the electorate in the Member States, will assess the specific problems they may well face following the entry into force of the Directive.Statement in the minutes by the Spanish delegation re Gibraltar The Kingdom of Spain states that if, under the terms of Council Directive 94/80/EC of 19 December 1994 laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections by citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals, the United Kingdom decides to extend its application to Gibraltar, such application will be deemed to be without prejudice to Spain's position with respect to Gibraltar.


Avis juridique important

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31978L0055

Council Directive 78/55/EEC of 19 December 1977 amending Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 68/193/EEC, 69/208/EEC, 70/458/EEC and 70/457/EEC on the marketing of beet seed, fodder plant seed, cereal seed, material for the vegetative propagation of the vine, seed of oil and fibre plants, vegetable seed and on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species

Official Journal L 016 , 20/01/1978 P. 0023 - 0029 Greek special edition: Chapter 03 Volume 19 P. 0253  Spanish special edition: Chapter 03 Volume 13 P. 0185  Portuguese special edition Chapter 03 Volume 13 P. 0185  Finnish special edition: Chapter 3 Volume 9 P. 0158  Swedish special edition: Chapter 3 Volume 9 P. 0158

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE  of 19 December 1977  amending Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 68/193/EEC, 69/208/EEC, 70/458/EEC and 70/457/EEC on the marketing of beet seed, fodder plant seed, cereal seed, material for the vegetative propagation of the vine, seed of oil and fibre plants, vegetable seed and on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species  (78/55/EEC)  THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,  Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43 and 100 thereof,  Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,  Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),  Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),  Whereas, for the reasons given below, certain Directives on the marketing of seeds and propagating material should be amended;  Whereas the present provisions of those Directives relating to the marking of seeds and propagating material do not take into account technical progress in respect of methods of labelling ; whereas they should therefore be amended;  Whereas in the case of certain Directives an accelerated procedure should be provided for amending the list of species with regard to descriptions and hybrids resulting from the crossing of species;  Whereas, in principle, seed which is intended for certification as "certified seed" must have been produced from basic seed ; whereas, however, by way of derogation, the said Directives permit, in the case of seed of certain species, certification as "certified seed" where the seed has been poduced from pre-basic seed which has been subject to official examination ; whereas this latter facility is not sufficient for some species, particularly as regards the species for which certification as "certified seed of the second generation" is permitted ; whereas, therefore, this facility should be extended provided that sufficient guarantees are laid down;  Whereas experience with regard to supplies of fibre flax seed shows that it is necessary to retain the category of "certified seeds of the third generation" for a further four years ; whereas this extension should also allow Member States to take all necessary steps to ensure in the near future adequate supplies of fibre flax seed of the categories "certified seed of the first generation" and "certified seed of the second generation";  Whereas Council Directive 70/457/EEC of 29 September 1970 on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species (3), as last amended by Directive 73/438/EEC (4), and Council Directive 70/458/EEC of 29 September 1970 on the marketing of vegetable seed (5), as last amended by Directive 76/307/EEC (6), provide that from 1 July 1977 the equivalence of the official examination of varieties and the checks on practices for the maintenance of varieties carried out in third countries can no longer be established nationally by Member States ; whereas Directive 70/458/EEC provides that from 1 July 1977 the equivalence of seeds harvested in third countries can no longer be established nationally by Member States;  Whereas, however, it is likely that examinations concerning the granting of these equivalences on a Community basis will not be completed within the abovementioned periods in all those cases where national equivalences have been granted ; whereas it should therefore be possible to decide by an accelerated procedure on a possible extension of these periods in certain cases in order to avoid disturbing traditional trade patterns,  HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:    Article 1 Council Directive 66/400/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of beet seed (7), as last amended by Directive 76/331/EEC (8), shall be amended as follows:  (1)OJ No L 183, 1.8.1977, p. 64. (2)OJ No C 180, 28.7.1977, p. 29. (3)OJ No L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 1. (4)OJ No L 356, 27.12.1973, p. 79. (5)OJ No L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 7. (6)OJ No L 72, 18.3.1976, p. 16. (7)OJ No 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2290/66. (8)OJ No L 83, 30.3.1976, p. 34.     1. The following shall be substituted for Article 11:  "Article 11  1. Member States shall require that packages of basic seed and certified seed, except where seed of the latter category takes the form of small EEC packages:    (a) be labelled on the outside with an official label which has not previously been used, which satisfies the conditions laid down in Annex III (A) and on which the information is given in one of the official languages of the Community. The colour of the label shall be white for basic seed and blue for certified seed. When a label with a string-hole is used, its attachment shall be ensured in all cases with an official seal. If, in cases under Article 4 (a), the basic seed does not satisfy the conditions laid down in Annex I in respect of germination, this fact shall be stated on the label. The use of official adhesive labels shall be authorized. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21 the indelible printing under official supervision of the prescribed information on the package according to the label's model may be authorized;       (b) contain an official document, in the same colour as the label, giving at least the information required under Annex III, (A) (I) (3), (4), (5), (10) and (11). This document shall be drawn up in such a manner that it cannot be confused with the official label referred to under (a). This document is not necessary if the information is printed indelibly on the package or if, in accordance with the provisions under (a), an adhesive label or a label of non-tear material is used.       2. Member States may provide for exceptions to paragraph 1 in the case of small packages of basic seed where they are marked : "passed for marketing in ... (Member State concerned) only"."   2. In Article 11b, the following shall be substituted for "officially sealed and marked" : "closed and marked officially or under official supervision".   3.  In the first indent of Article 14 (1), the following shall be substituted for "officially marked and sealed" : "marked and closed officially or under official supervision".   4.  In Annex III (A) (I), the following shall be added:  "12. Where at least germination has been retested, the words "retested ... (month and year)" and the service responsible for such retesting may be indicated. Such information may be given on an official sticker attached to the official label."    Article 2 Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed (1), as last amended by Directive 75/444/EEC (2), shall be amended as follows:    1. In Article 2, the following paragraphs shall be added:  "1a. Amendments to be made to the list of species referred to in paragraph 1 (A) in the light of the development of scientific or technical knowledge concerning the descriptions and hybrids resulting from the crossing of species covered by this Directive shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21.  1b. Member States may be authorized in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21 to permit, by way of derogation from paragraph 1 (C) (a), to be certified as certified seed seeds of selfpollinating or apomictic species which have been entered for certification as basic seed and which have been produced directly from a generation prior to basic seed but which has not been officially examined. This provision shall not apply to hybrid seeds. Certification as certified seed may only occur if this is requested by the applicant for certification with the agreement of the breeder and if an official post-control test based on samples taken officially and carried out at the latest during the growing season of the entered seeds shows that the seeds from the previous generation have met the requirements for basic seed in respect of varietal identity and purity. In this case the breeder shall, when the samples are taken, state the total area which has been under production of seed of the previous generation. These conditions may be amended in the light of development of scientific or technical knowledge in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21.  Member States shall require that the official labels for seeds marketed in accordance with the authorization referred to in the first subparagraph be marked : "passed for marketing in ... (Member State concerned) only" ; in addition Member States may require in this case that the official labels also be marked : "intended for further multiplication only"."  (1)OJ No 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2298/66. (2)OJ No L 196, 26.7.1975, p. 6.           2. The following shall be substituted for Article 10:  "Article 10  1. Member States shall require that packages of basic seed, certified seed and commercial seed, except where seed of the last two categories takes the form of small EEC B packages:        (a) be labelled on the outside with an official label which has not previously been used, which satisfies the conditions laid down in Annex IV (A) and on which the information is given in one of the official languages of the Community. The colour of the label shall be white for basic seed, blue for certified seed of the first generation after basic seed, red for certified seed of subsequent generations and brown for commercial seed. When a label with a string-hole is used, its attachment shall be ensured in all cases with an official seal. If, in cases under Article 4 (a), the basic seed or certified seed does not satisfy the conditions laid down in Annex II in respect of germination, this fact shall be stated on the label. The use of official adhesive labels shall be authorized. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21, the indelible printing under official supervision of the prescribed information on the package according to the label's model may be authorized;               (b) contain an official document, in the same colour as the label, giving at least the information required under Annex IV (A) (I) (a) (3), (4) and (5) and, in the case of commercial seed, under (b) (2), (4) and (5). This document shall be drawn up in such a manner that it cannot be confused with the official label referred to under (a). This document is not necessary if the information is printed indelibly on the package or if, in accordance with the provisions under (a), an adhesive label or a label of non-tear material is used.                  2. Member States may provide for exceptions to paragraph 1 in the case of small packages of basic seed where they are marked : "passed for marketing in : ... (Member State concerned) only"."           3. In Article 10b, the following shall be substituted for "officially sealed and marked" : "closed and marked officially or under official supervision".           4. In the first and second indents of Article 14 (1), the following shall be substituted for "officially marked and sealed" : "marked and closed officially or under official supervision".           5. In Annex IV (A) (I), the following shall be added under (a):  "12. Where at least germination has been retested, the words "retested ... (month and year)" and the service responsible for such retesting may be indicated. Such information may be given on an official sticker attached to the official label."           6. In Annex IV (A) (I), the following shall be added under (b):  "9. Where at least germination has been retested, the words "retested ... (month and year)" and the service responsible for such retesting may be indicated. Such information may be given on an official sticker attached to the official label."           7. In Annex IV (A) (I), the following is added under (c):  "7. Where at least germination of all the components of the mixture has been retested, the words "retested ... (month and year)" and the service responsible for such retesting may be indicated. Such information may be given on an official sticker attached to the official label label."              Article 3 Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed (1), as last amended by Directive 75/444/EEC, shall be amended as follows:    1. In Article 2, the following paragraphs shall be added:  "1a. Amendments to be made to the list of species referred to in paragraph 1 (A) in the light of the development of scientific or technical knowledge concerning the descriptions and hybrids resulting from the crossing of species covered by this Directive shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21.  1b. Member States may be authorized in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21 to permit, by way of derogation from paragraph 1 under F (a) or G (a), to be certified as certified seed of the first generation or certified seed of the second generation seeds of self-pollinating species which have been entered for certification as basic seed and which have been produced from a generation prior to basic seed but which has not been officially examined. This provision shall not apply to hybrid seeds. Certification as certified seed may only occur if this is requested by the applicant for certification with the agreement of the breeder and if an official post-control test based on samples  (1)OJ No 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2309/66.    taken officially and carried out at the latest during the growing season of the entered seed shows that the seeds from the previous generation have met the requirements for basic seed in respect of varietal identity and purity. In this case the breeder shall, when the samples are taken, state the total area which has been under production of seeds of the previous generation. These conditions may be amended in the light of development of scientific or technical knowledge in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21.  Member States shall require that the official labels for seeds marketed in accordance with the authorization referred to in the first subparagraph be marked : "passed for marketing in ... (Member State concerned) only" ; in addition Member States may require in this case that the official labels also be marked "intended for further multiplication only"."       2. The following shall be substituted for Article 10:  "Article 10 1. Member States shall require that packages of basic seed and certified seed of all kinds:        (a) be labelled on the outside with an official label which has not previously been used, which satisfies the conditions laid down in Annex IV and on which the information is given in one of the official languages of the Community. The colour of the label shall be white for basic seed, blue for certified seed and for certified seed of the first generation and red for certified seed of the second generation. When a label with a string-hole is used, its attachment shall be ensured in all cases with an official seal. If, in cases under Article 4 (1) (a) and (2), the basic seed or maize seed does not satisfy the conditions laid down in Annex II in respect of germination, this fact shall be stated on the label. The use of official adhesive labels shall be authorized. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21, the indelible printing under official supervision of the prescribed information on the package according to the label's model may be authorized;               (b) contain an official document, in the same colour as the label, giving at least the information required under Annex IV (A) (a) (3), (4) and (5). This document shall be drawn up in such a manner that it cannot be confused with the official label referred to under (a). This document is not necessary if the information is printed indelibly on the package or if, in accordance with the provisions under (a), an adhesive label or a label of non-tear material is used.                  2. Member States may provide for exceptions to paragraph 1 in the case of small packages where they are marked : "passed for marketing in ... (Member State concerned) only".   3. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21, Member States may be authorized to retain until 30 June 1980 provisions allowing the marketing of cereal seeds the packaging of which includes the prescribed information but in a different layout from that provided for in the sixth sentence of paragraph 1 (a)."   3.  In Article 14 (1), the following shall be substituted for "officially marked and sealed" : "marked and closed officially or under official supervision".  4.  In Annex IV (A), the following shall be added under (a):  "10. Where at least germination has been retested, the words "retested ... (month and year)" and the service responsible for such retesting may be indicated. Such information may be given on an official sticker attached to the official label."  5.  In Annex IV (A), the following shall be added under (b):  "7. Where at least germination of all the components of the mixture has been retested, the words "retested ... (month and year)" and the service responsible for such retesting may be indicated. Such information may be given on an official sticker attached to the official label."              Article 4 The following paragraph la shall be added to Article 10 of Council Directive 68/193/EEC of 9 April 1968 on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vine (1), as last amended by Directive 74/648/EEC (2):  "1a. Nevertheless Member States may permit that 10 packages or bundles of rooted grafts of the same characteristics, or five packages or bundles of rooted cuttings of the same characteristics are marked with only one label conforming to the specifications in Annex IV. In this case, the packages or bundles shall be tied together in such a way that, when they are separated, the tie is damaged and cannot be re-used. The label shall be attached with this tie. Reclosing shall not be authorized."  (1)OJ No L 93, 17.4.1968, p. 15. (2)OJ No L 352, 28.12.1974, p. 43.     Article 5 Council Directive 69/208/EEC of 30 June 1969 on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants (1), as last amended by Directive 75/444/EEC, shall be amended as follows:    1. In Article 2, the following paragraphs shall be added:  "1a. Amendments to be made to the list of species referred to in paragraph 1 (A) in the light of the development of scientific or technical knowledge concerning the descriptions and hybrids resulting from the crossing of species covered by this Directive shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20.  1b. Member States may be authorized in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20 to permit, by way of derogation from paragraph 1 D (a) or E (a), to be certified as certified seed of the first generation or certified seed of the second generation seeds of self-pollinating species which have been entered for certification as basic seed and which have been produced from a generation prior to basic seed but which has not been officially examined. This provision shall not apply to hybrid seeds. Certification as certified seed may only occur if this is requested by the applicant for certification with the agreement of the breeder and if an official post-control test based on samples taken officially and carried out at the latest during the growing season of the entered seed shows that the seeds from the previous generation have met the requirements for basic seed in respect of varietal identity and purity. In this case the breeder shall, when the samples are taken, state the total area which has been under production of seed of the previous generation. These conditions may be amended in the light of the development of scientific or technical knowledge in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20.  Member States shall require that the official labels for seeds marketed in accordance with the authorization referred to in the first subparagraph be marked : "passed for marketing in ... (Member State concerned) only" ; in addition, Member States may require in this case that the official labels also be marked "intended for further multiplication only"."       2. In Article 2 (2) (c) "30 June 1982" shall be substituted for "30 June 1978".       3. In Article 10 the following shall be substituted for paragraphs 1 and 2:  "1. Member States shall require that packages of basic seed, certified seed of all kinds and commercial seed:      (a) be labelled on the outside with an official label which has not previously been used, which satisfies the conditions laid down in Annex IV and on which the information is given in one of the official languages of the Community. The colour of the label shall be white for basic seed, blue for certified seed of the first generation after basic seed, red for certified seed of subsequent generations and brown for commercial seed. When a label with a string-hole is used, its attachment shall be ensured in all cases with an official seal. If, in cases under Article 4 (a), the basic seed does not satisfy the conditions laid down in Annex II in respect of germination, this fact shall be stated on the label. The use of official adhesive labels shall be authorized. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20 the indelible printing under official supervision of the information on the package according to the label's model may be authorized;           (b) contain an official document, in the same colour as the label, giving at least the information required under Annex IV, (A) (a), (4), (5) and (6) and, in the case of commercial seed, under (b), (2), (5) and (6). This document shall be drawn up in such a manner that it cannot be confused with the official label referred to under (a). This document is not necessary if the information is printed indelibly on the package or if, in accordance with the provisions under (a), an adhesive label or a label of non-tear material is used.   2. Member States may provide for exceptions to paragraph 1 in the case of small packages where they are marked : "passed for marketing in ... (Member State concerned) only"."     4.  In Article 13 (1), the following shall be substituted for "officially marked and sealed" : "marked and closed officially or under official supervision".  (1)OJ No L 169, 10.7.1969, p. 3.       5.  In Annex IV (A), the following is added under (a):  "11. Where at least germination has been retested, the words "retested ... (month and year)" and the service responsible for such retesting may be indicated. Such information may be given on an official sticker attached to the official label."     6.  In Annex IV (A), the following is added under (b):  "10. Where at least germination has been retested, the words "retested ... (month and year)" and the service responsible for such retesting may be indicated. Such information may be given on an official sticker attached to the official label."              Article 6 The following sentence shall be added to Article 21 (2) of Directive 70/457/EEC:  "In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23, this period may be extended for third countries if the available information does not permit a determination according to paragraph 1 and for as long as it does not permit such a determination."   Article 7 Council Directive 70/458/EEC shall be amended as follows:    1. In Article 2, the following paragraphs shall be added:  "1a. Amendments to be made to the list of species referred to in paragraph A in the light of the development of scientific or technical knowledge concerning the descriptions and hybrids resulting from the crossing of species covered by this Directive shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 40.  1b. Member States may be authorized in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 40 to permit, by way of derogation from paragraph 1 (C) (a), to be certified as certificated seed seeds of self-pollinating species which have been entered for certification as basic seed and which have been produced from a generation prior to basic seed but which has not been officially examined. This provision shall not apply to hybrid seeds. Certification as certified seed may only occur if this is requested by the applicant for certification with the agreement of the breeder and if an official post-control test based on samples taken officially and carried out at the latest during the growing season of the entered seed shows that the seeds from the previous generation have met the requirements for basic seed in respect of varietal identity and purity. In this case the breeder shall, when the samples are taken, state the total area which has been under production of seed of the previous generation. These conditions may be amended in the light of development of scientific or technical knowledge in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 40.  Member States shall require that the official labels for seeds marketed in accordance with the authorization referred to in the first subparagraph be marked : "passed for marketing in ... (Member State concerned) only" ; in addition Member States may require in this case that the official labels also be marked : "intended for further multiplication only"."       2. The following shall be substituted for Article 26 (1):  "1. Member States shall require that packages of basic seed and certified seed, except where seed of the latter category takes the form of small packages:      (a) be labelled on the outside with an official label which has not previously been used, which satisfies the conditions laid down in Annex IV (A) and on which the information is given in one of the official languages of the Community. The label may be placed inside transparent packages provieded it can be read. The colour of the label shall be white for basic seed and blue for certified seed. When a label with a string-hole is used, its attachment shall be ensured in all cases with an official seal. If in cases under Article 21, the basic seed does not satisfy the conditions laid down in Annex II in respect of germination, this fact shall be stated on the label. The use of official adhesive labels shall be authorized. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 40 the indelible printing under official control of the prescribed information on the package according to the label's model may be authorized;           (b) contain an official document, in the same colour as the label, giving at least the information required under Annex IV (A) (a) (4), (5), (6) and (7). This document shall be drawn up in such a manner that it cannot be confused with the official label referred to under (a). This document is not necessary if the information is printed indelibly on the package or if, in accordance with the provisions under (a), the label is inside a transparent package or an adhesive label or a label of non-tear material is used."                   3. In Article 26, the following paragraph shall be added:  "1a. Member States may provide for exceptions to paragraph 1 in the case of small packages of basic seed where they are marked : "passed for marketing in ... (Member State concerned) only"."       4. In Article 30 (1), the following shall be substituted for "officially marked and sealed" : "marked and closed officially or under official supervision".       5. The following sentence shall be added to Article 32 (2):  "In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 40 this period may be extended for third countries if the available information does not permit a determination according to paragraph 1 and for as long as it does not permit such a determination."          Article 8 Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply:    - with Article 6 and Article 7 (5) on 1 July 1977,       - with Article 5 (2) on 1 July 1978,       - with the other provisions of this Directive not later than 1 July 1979.          Article 9 This Directive is addressed to the Member States.     Done at Brussels, 19 December 1977.  For the Council  The President  H. SIMONET