5.8.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 259/1

(1)

There is a need to adapt forms necessary for the application of Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72 in connection with the entry into the European Union of the 10 new Member States on 1 May 2004.

(2)

From 1 June 2004 the forms E 111 and E 111 B will be replaced by the European health insurance card in accordance with the procedures laid down in Decision No 191. However, the E 111 and E 111 B forms, delivered before 1 June 2004, will remain valid until 31 December 2004, unless an earlier expiry date is indicated on them.

(3)

Moreover, the Member States mentioned in the list annexed to Decision No 197 of 23 March 2004 are allowed a transitional period for the introduction of the European health insurance card. Hence the competent institutions of these Member States will continue to issue the E 111 forms on the basis of the model reproduced in the annex to this Decision until 31 December 2005.

(4)

Regulation (EC) No 631/2004 has amended Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 in such a way that as from 1 June 2004 all categories of insured persons are entitled to benefits in kind which are necessary for medical reasons during a stay in another Member State. Hence forms E 110, E 128 and E 128 B will become superfluous as from that date. Moreover, as from that date, form E 119 concerns only benefits in cash.

(5)

Pursuant to the abovementioned EC regulation, paragraphs 6 and 7 of Article 17 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 will be abolished as from 1 June 2004. Hence it is necessary to discontinue forms E 113 and E 114.

(6)

The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) of 2 May 1992, supplemented by the Protocol of 17 March 1993, Annex VI, implements Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72 in the European Economic Area.

(7)

The European Community and its Members, and the Swiss Confederation have signed an agreement on the free movement of persons (Switzerland Agreement), which entered into force on 1 June 2002. Annex II to this Agreement implements Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72 in the relations between the European Community and its Members, and the Swiss Confederation.

(8)

For practical reasons, identical forms should be used within the Community, within the European Economic Area and in relations between the Community and the Swiss Confederation,

1.

The model form E 119 reproduced in Decision No 153 shall be replaced by the model reproduced in the annex to this Decision.

2.

From 1 June 2004 until 31 December 2005, the model form E 111 reproduced in Decision No 187 shall be replaced by the model reproduced in the annex to this Decision. In principle, all norms applicable, according to Decision No 190 to the optical-reader data included in the European Card and related to the description, values, length and remarks of the data fields are applicable to the model form E 111.

3.

The model forms E 113 and E 114 reproduced in Decision No 179 shall be discontinued as from 1 June 2004.

4.

Model form E 110 reproduced in Decision No 153, and model forms E 128 and E 128B reproduced in Decision No 177, shall be discontinued as from 1 June 2004.

5.

The competent authorities of the Member States shall make available to the parties concerned (rightful claimants, institutions, etc.) the forms corresponding to the models reproduced in the annex to this Decision.

6.

Each form shall be available in the official languages of the Community. The models shall be laid out in such a manner that the different language versions are perfectly superposable.

7.

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall enter into force on 1 June 2004.