10.1.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 5/15 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 12 December 2005 adopting the rules laying down the procedure for granting financial aid to supplement the pension of a surviving spouse who has a serious or protracted illness or who is disabled (2006/6EC, Euratom) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities laid down in Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 (1), and in particular Article 76a thereof, Having regard to the opinion of the Staff Regulations Committee, Whereas the institutions of the European Communities must lay down by common accord the conditions for granting financial aid to supplement the pension of a surviving spouse who has a serious or protracted illness or who is disabled, HAS ADOPTED THESE RULES: Article 1 As part of the social measures provided for under the Staff Regulations, a surviving spouse who has a serious or protracted illness or who is disabled may receive financial aid increasing the pension from the institution for the duration of the serious or protracted illness or disability on the basis of an examination of the social and medical circumstances of the person concerned. Atrticle 2 The decision to grant aid under Article 76a of the Staff Regu- lations shall be taken by the appointing authority of the Commission. 1) OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation p g Yy Reg (EC, Euratom) No 31/2005 (O] L 8, 12.1.2005, p. 1). Managing the appropriations assigned to the implementation of Article 76a shall be the responsibility of the Commission. Article 3 The surviving spouse concerned or his or her legal represen- tative (hereinafter referred to as the applicant) shall submit an application to the Social Welfare Department of the institution responsible for establishing the pension rights of the surviving spouse concerned. The application shall be accompanied by a detailed medical report, with supporting documents as appro- priate, by the doctor treating the surviving spouse; the report shall identify the serious or protracted illness or the disability and propose the measures required to alleviate the effects of the disability or the serious or protracted illness. Article 4 The decision of the appointing authority of the Commission shall be taken on the basis of a medical opinion and an opinion on the social circumstances of the person concerned, taking account of the objectives specified in Article 1. Article 5 Taking account of the doctor’s opinion, the medical officer of the institution responsible within the meaning of Article 3 shall issue a decision on the possibility of recognising the illness or disability, and on the seriousness and presumed duration thereof. He or she shall also issue a decision on the measures to alleviate the effects of the illness or disability. Where the medical officer of the institution issues an unfavourable opinion, the case shall be submitted for an opinion to a committee composed of the medical officer of the institution, the doctor treating the applicant and a third doctor appointed by those two doctors by mutual agreement.