Commission Decision
of 1 February 2005
amending Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom
(2005/78/EC, Euratom)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 218(2) thereof,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 131 thereof,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28(1) and Article 41(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
The Commission’s security system is based on the principles set out in Council Decision 2001/264/EC of 19 March 2001 adopting the Council’s security regulations with a view to ensuring a smooth functioning of the decision-making process of the Union.
(2)
The Commission’s provisions on security are contained in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom of 29 November 2001 amending its internal Rules of Procedure .
(3)
Appendix 1 to the Rules on security annexed to those provisions contains a table of equivalence including national security classifications.
(4)
On 16 April 2003, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia signed the Treaty concerning their accession to the European Union . Appendix 1 to the Rules on security should be amended in order to take account of those States.
(5)
On 14 March 2003 the European Union signed an agreement with NATO on the security of information. It is therefore also necessary to establish correspondence with NATO classification levels in Appendix 1 to the Rules on security.
(6)
France and the Netherlands have changed their legislation on classification.
(7)
In the interests of clarity, Appendix 1 to the Rules on security should be replaced.
(8)
At the same time, the Annex to Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom should be corrected in order to ensure that the four classification terms are used homogeneously in all language versions,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Appendix 1 to the Rules on security contained in the Annex to Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
The Annex to Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom is corrected by replacing in all linguistic versions the four classification terms, as appropriate, by the following terms which shall always be written in capital letters:
- ‘RESTREINT UE’,
- ‘CONFIDENTIEL UE’,
- ‘SECRET UE’,
- ‘TRES SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET’.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 1 February 2005.
For the Commission
Siim Kallas
Vice-President
ANNEX
Appendix 1

COMPARISON OF NATIONAL SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS
VS = Verschlusssache.
The classification Très secret défense, which covers governmental priority issues, may only be changed with the Prime Minister’s authorisation.
Stg = staatsgeheim.
EU classification | TRES SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET | SECRET UE | CONFIDENTIEL UE | RESTREINT UE
WEU classification | FOCAL TOP SECRET | WEU SECRET | WEU CONFIDENTIAL | WEU RESTRICTED
Euratom classification | EURA TOP SECRET | EURA SECRET | EURA CONFIDENTIAL | EURA RESTRICTED
NATO classification | COSMIC TOP SECRET | NATO SECRET | NATO CONFIDENTIAL | NATO RESTRICTED
Belgium | Très Secret | Secret | Confidentiel | Diffusion restreinte
Zeer Geheim | Geheim | Vertrouwelijk | Beperkte Verspreiding
Czech Republic | Přísn tajné | Tajné | Důvěrné | Vyhrazené
Denmark | Yderst hemmeligt | Hemmeligt | Fortroligt | Til tjenestebrug
Germany | Streng geheim | Geheim | VS — Vertraulich | VS — Nur für den Dienstgebrauch
Estonia | Täiesti salajane | Salajane | Konfidentsiaalne | Piiratud
Greece | Άκρως Απόρρητο | Απόρρητο | Εμπιστευτικό | Περιορισμένης Χρήσης
Abr: ΑΑΠ | Abr: (ΑΠ) | Αbr: (ΕΜ) | Abr: (ΠΧ)
Spain | Secreto | Reservado | Confidencial | Difusión Limitada
France | Très Secret Défense | Secret Défense | Confidentiel Défense |
Ireland | Top Secret | Secret | Confidential | Restricted
Italy | Segretissimo | Segreto | Riservatissimo | Riservato
Cyprus | Άκρως Απόρρητο | Απόρρητο | Εμπιστευτικό | Περιορισμένης Χρήσης
Latvia | Sevišķi slepeni | Slepeni | Konfidenciāli | Dienesta vajadzībām
Lithuania | Visiškai slaptai | Slaptai | Konfidencialiai | Riboto naudojimo
Luxembourg | Très Secret | Secret | Confidentiel | Diffusion restreinte
Hungary | Szigorúan titkos ! | Titkos ! | Bizalmas ! | Korlátozott terjesztésű !
Malta | L-Ghola Segretezza | Sigriet | Kunfidenzjali | Ristrett
Netherlands | Stg . Zeer Geheim | Stg. Geheim | Stg. Confidentieel | Departementaalvertrouwelijk
Austria | Streng Geheim | Geheim | Vertraulich | Eingeschränkt
Poland | Ściśle Tajne | Tajne | Poufne | Zastrzeżone
Portugal | Muito Secreto | Secreto | Confidencial | Reservado
Slovenia | Strogo tajno | Tajno | Zaupno | SVN Interno
Slovakia | Prísne tajné | Tajné | Dôverné | Vyhradené
Finland | Erittäin salainen | Erittäin salainen | Salainen | Luottamuksellinen
Sweden | Kvalificerat hemlig | Hemlig | Hemlig | Hemlig
United Kingdom | Top Secret | Secret | Confidential | Restricted
OJ L 101, 11.4.2001, p. 1. Decision amended by Decision 2004/194/EC (OJ L 63, 28.2.2004, p. 48).
OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1.
OJ L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 17.
OJ L 80, 27.3.2003, p. 36.