This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 26 May 2003.
For the European Parliament
The President
P. Cox
For the Council
The President
G. Drys
(1) OJ C 180 E, 26.6.2001, p. 108.
(2) OJ C 260, 17.9.2001, p. 57.
(3) OJ C 107, 3.5.2002, p. 54.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 24 October 2001 (OJ C 112 E, 9.5.2002, p. 146), Council Common Position of 9 December 2002 (OJ C 32 E, 11.2.2003, p. 26) and Decision of the European Parliament of 8 April 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(5) OJ L 240, 29.8.1991, p. 36.
(6) OJ L 52, 22.2.1997, p. 1.
(7) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
(8) OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47.
ANNEX I
The NUTS classification (code - name)
>TABLE>
ANNEX II
Existing administrative units
At NUTS level 1 for Belgium "Gewesten/Régions", for Germany "Länder", for Portugal "Continente", Região dos Açores and Região da Madeira, and for United Kingdom Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Government Office Regions of England.
At NUTS level 2 for Belgium "Provincies/Provinces", for Germany "Regierungsbezirke", for Greece "periferies", for Spain "comunidades y ciudades autónomas", for France "régions", for Ireland "regions", for Italy "regioni", for the Netherlands "provincies" and for Austria "Länder".
At NUTS level 3 for Belgium "arrondissementen/arrondissements", for Denmark "Amtskommuner", for Germany "Kreise/kreisfreie Städte", for Greece "nomoi", for Spain "provincias", for France "départements", for Ireland "regional authority regions", for Italy "provincie", for Sweden "län" and for Finland "maakunnat/landskapen".
ANNEX III
Smaller administrative units
For Belgium "Gemeenten/Communes", for Denmark "Kommuner", for Germany "Gemeinden", for Greece "Demoi/Koinotites", for Spain "Municipios", for France "Communes", for Ireland "counties or county boroughs", for Italy "Comuni", for Luxembourg "Communes", for the Netherlands "Gemeenten", for Austria "Gemeinden", for Portugal "Freguesias", for Finland "Kunnat/Kommuner", for Sweden "Kommuner" and for the United Kingdom "Wards".