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.
OJ L 101, 11.4.2001, p. 1. Decision amended by Decision 2004/194/EC (OJ L 63, 28.2.2004, p. 48).
(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.
OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1.
(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.
OJ L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 17.
(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.
OJ L 80, 27.3.2003, p. 36.
(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
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 VS = Verschlusssache. — 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 The classification Très secret défense, which covers governmental priority issues, may only be changed with the Prime Minister’s authorisation.	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 Stg = staatsgeheim. . 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’