# L_2004227EN.01003501.xml

| 26.6.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 227/35 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

26.6.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 227/35

---

COUNCIL DECISION

of 21 June 2004

amending Decision 2003/893/EC on trade in certain steel products between the European Community and Ukraine

(2004/521/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | As from 1 May 2004, the European Union includes 10 new Member States, which are: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. The 2003 Act of Accession stipulates in its Article 6(8) that the quantitative restrictions applied by the Community on imports of steel products shall be adjusted on the basis of imports of new Member States over recent years. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

As from 1 May 2004, the European Union includes 10 new Member States, which are: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. The 2003 Act of Accession stipulates in its Article 6(8) that the quantitative restrictions applied by the Community on imports of steel products shall be adjusted on the basis of imports of new Member States over recent years.

| (2) | By Decision 2003/893/EC (1), the Council adopted quantitative limits on imports into the European Community of certain steel products originating in Ukraine. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

By Decision 2003/893/EC (1), the Council adopted quantitative limits on imports into the European Community of certain steel products originating in Ukraine.

| (3) | Since the negotiations with Ukraine on the conclusion of a bilateral steel agreement have not been completed, and in pursuance of Article 6(8), third subparagraph of the 2003 Act of Accession, it is necessary to provide for the increase of existing quantitative limits to ensure that traditional trade is maintained after the enlargement of the European Union. This increase is based on the average of the imports of the relevant steel products by the new Member States over the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 adjusted pro rata temporis, since the enlargement will be effective on 1 May 2004, and further adjusted by applying the same reducing factor of 30 % already applied to the quantitative limits adopted as a result of the obstacles to the export of ferrous scrap imposed by Ukraine. These quantitative limits will be further amended as necessary following the conclusion of an agreement. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

Since the negotiations with Ukraine on the conclusion of a bilateral steel agreement have not been completed, and in pursuance of Article 6(8), third subparagraph of the 2003 Act of Accession, it is necessary to provide for the increase of existing quantitative limits to ensure that traditional trade is maintained after the enlargement of the European Union. This increase is based on the average of the imports of the relevant steel products by the new Member States over the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 adjusted pro rata temporis, since the enlargement will be effective on 1 May 2004, and further adjusted by applying the same reducing factor of 30 % already applied to the quantitative limits adopted as a result of the obstacles to the export of ferrous scrap imposed by Ukraine. These quantitative limits will be further amended as necessary following the conclusion of an agreement.

| (4) | Therefore, Annex II to Council Decision 2003/893/EC should be amended, |
| --- | --- |

(4)

Therefore, Annex II to Council Decision 2003/893/EC should be amended,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Annex II to Decision 2003/893/EC shall be replaced by the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall take effect on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Luxembourg, 21 June 2004.

For the Council

The President

J. WALSH

---

(1)  
  OJ L 333, 20.12.2003, p. 84.

1

---

ANNEX

‘ANNEX II

QUANTITATIVE LIMITS — UKRAINE

| (tonnes) |
| --- |
| Year
  Products | 2004 |
| SA Flat products |
| SA1 Coils | 62 037 |
| SA2 Heavy plate | 200 104 |
| SA3 Other flat products | 66 608 |
| SB Long products |
| SB1 Beams | 12 481 |
| SB2 Wire rod | 66 828 |
| SB3 Other long products | 122 170 |

(tonnes)

Year

Products

2004

SA Flat products

SA1 Coils

62 037

SA2 Heavy plate

200 104

SA3 Other flat products

66 608

SB Long products

SB1 Beams

12 481

SB2 Wire rod

66 828

SB3 Other long products

122 170

---