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II Acts whose publication is not obligatory

Council

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            COUNCIL DECISION         

of 11 October 2004         

concerning the conclusion of the Protocol to the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, of the other part, to take into account the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

(2004/778/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2), and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3), thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Protocol to the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Community, deposit the instruments of approval provided for in Article 11 of the Protocol.

Article 3

The Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis with effect from 1 May 2004.

Done at Brussels, 11 October 2004.

For the Council

The President

B. R. BOT            

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(1)OJ L 330, 14.12.2001, p. 3.

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            PROTOCOL         

to the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, of the other part, to take into account the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Community’         

of the one part, and

THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, hereinafter referred to as ‘Croatia’         

of the other part,

Having regard to the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the new Member States) to the European Union on 1 May 2004,

Whereas:

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TEXT OF THE INTERIM AGREEMENT INCLUDING ITS ANNEXES AND PROTOCOLS

SECTION I

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

Article 1

Agricultural products sensu stricto

1.   Annex IV(a) and Annex IV(c) to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex I to this Protocol.

2.   Annex IV(b) to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex II to this Protocol.

3.   Annex IV(d) to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex III to this Protocol.

4.   Annex IV(e) to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex IV to this Protocol.

5.   Annex IV(f) to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex V to this Protocol.

6.   A point (d) shall be added to Article 14 (3) of the Interim Agreement as follows:

7.   The text of Annex VI to this Protocol shall be added to the Interim Agreement as Annex IV(g).

Article 2

Fisheries products

1.   Annex V(a) to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex VII to this Protocol.

2.   Annex V(b) to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex VIII to this Protocol.

Article 3

Processed agricultural products

Lists 2 and 3 of Annex II to Protocol 3 to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by Lists 2, 3 and 4 of Annex IX to this Protocol.

Article 4

Wine agreement

Annex I to the Additional Protocol adjusting the trade aspects of the Interim Agreement, to take account of the outcome of the negotiations between the parties on reciprocal preferential concessions for certain wines, the reciprocal recognition, protection and control of wine names and the reciprocal recognition, protection and control of designations for spirits and aromatised drinks, shall be replaced by the text of Annex X to this Protocol.

SECTION II

RULES OF ORIGIN

Article 5

1.   Paragraph 4 of Article 18 of Protocol 4 to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the following:

1.‘4.   Movement certificates EUR.1 issued retrospectively must be endorsed with one of the following phrases:

2.   Paragraph 2 of Article 19 of Protocol 4 to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the following:

2.‘2.   The duplicate issued in this way must be endorsed with one of the following words:

3.   Annex I to Protocol 4 to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex XI to this Protocol.

4.   Annex II to Protocol 4 to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex XII to this Protocol.

5.   Annex IV to Protocol 4 to the Interim Agreement shall be replaced by the text of Annex XIII to this Protocol.

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

SECTION III

Article 6

WTO

The Republic of Croatia undertakes that it shall not make any claim, request or referral nor modify or withdraw any concession pursuant to GATT 1994 Articles XXIV.6 and XXVIII in relation to this enlargement of the Community.

Article 7

Proof of origin and administrative cooperation

1.   Proofs of origin properly issued by either the Republic of Croatia or a new Member State in the framework of preferential agreements or autonomous arrangements applied between them shall be accepted in the respective countries, provided that:

Where goods were declared for importation in either the Republic of Croatia or a new Member State, prior to the date of accession, under preferential agreements or autonomous arrangements applied between the Republic of Croatia and that new Member State at that time, proof of origin issued retrospectively under those agreements or arrangements may also be accepted provided that it is submitted to the customs authorities within the period of four months from the date of accession.

2.   The Republic of Croatia and the new Member States are authorised to retain the authorisations with which the status of ‘approved exporters’ has been granted in the framework of preferential agreements or autonomous arrangements applied between them, provided that:

These authorisations shall be replaced, no later than one year after the date of accession, by new authorisations issued under the conditions of the Interim Agreement.

3.   Requests for subsequent verification of proof of origin issued under the preferential agreements or autonomous arrangements referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be accepted by the competent customs authorities of either the Republic of Croatia or the Member States for a period of three years after the issue of the proof of origin concerned and may be made by those authorities for a period of three years after acceptance of the proof of origin submitted to those authorities in support of an import declaration.

Article 8

Goods in transit

1.   The provisions of the Interim Agreement may be applied to goods exported from either the Republic of Croatia to one of the new Member States or from one of the new Member States to the Republic of Croatia, which comply with the provisions of Protocol 4 to the Interim Agreement and that on the date of accession are either en route or in temporary storage, in a customs warehouse or in a free zone in the Republic of Croatia or in that new Member State.

2.   Preferential treatment may be granted in such cases, subject to the submission to the customs authorities of the importing country, within four months from the date of accession, of a proof of origin issued retrospectively by the customs authorities of the exporting country.

Article 9

Quotas in 2004

For the year 2004, the volumes of the new tariff quotas and the increases of the volumes of existing tariff quotas shall be calculated as a pro rata of the basic volumes, taking into account the part of the period elapsed before 1 May 2004.

GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

SECTION IV

Article 10

This Protocol and the Annexes thereto shall form an integral part of the Interim Agreement.

Article 11

1.   This Protocol shall be approved by the Community and by the Republic of Croatia in accordance with their own procedures.

2.   The instruments of approval shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

Article 12

1.   This Protocol shall enter into force on the same day as the Treaty of Accession provided that all the instruments of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before that date.

2.   If not all the instruments of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before that date, this Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the first month following the date of the deposit of the last instrument of approval.

3.   If not all the instruments of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before 1 May 2004, this Protocol shall apply provisionally with effect from 1 May 2004.

Article 13

This Protocol is drawn up in duplicate in the Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovene, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, and Croatian languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

Article 14

The text of the Interim Agreement, including the Annexes and Protocols forming an integral part thereof, and the Final Act together with the declarations annexed thereto shall be drawn up in Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak, and Slovenian languages, and these texts shall be authentic in the same way as the original texts. The Interim Committee shall approve these texts.

ANNEX I

                     ‘ANNEX IV(a) AND IV(c)

Croatian tariff concessions for agricultural products

(Duty-free for unlimited quantities at 1 May 2004)

[referred to in Article 14(3)(a)(i)]

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(1)  As defined by the Croatian Customs Tariff – published in NN 184/2003, as amended.

ANNEX II

                     ‘ANNEXE IV b

CROATIAN TARIFF CONCESSION FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

(Duty-free within quota as from 1 May 2004)

[referred to in Article 14(3)(a)(ii)]

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(*1)  Quota shall be allocated in the period from 21 February – 14 September.

ANNEX III

                     ‘ANNEX IV(d)

CROATIAN TARIFF CONCESSION FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

(progressive elimination of MFN duties within tariff quotas)

[referred to in Article 14(3)(c)(i)]

Customs duties for the commodities listed in this annex shall be reduced and eliminated in accordance with the following timetable:

ANNEX IV

                     ‘ANNEX IV(e)

CROATIAN TARIFF CONCESSION FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

(Progressive reduction of MFN duties for unlimited quantities)

[referred to in Article 14(3)(c)(ii)]

Customs duties for the commodities listed in this annex shall be reduced in accordance with the following timetable:

ANNEX V

                     ‘ANNEX IV(f)

CROATIAN TARIFF CONCESSION FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

(Progressive reduction of MFN duties within quota)

[referred to in Article 14(3)(c)(iii)]

Customs duties for the commodities listed in this annex shall be reduced in accordance with the following timetable:

ANNEX VI

                     ‘ANNEX IV(g)

CROATIAN TARIFF CONCESSION FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

[referred to in Article 14(3)(d)]

Customs duties for the commodities listed in this annex shall be applied as indicated from 1 May 2004.

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(*1)  In the year 2005 the quota for the products 1601 00 is subject to a 400t increase.

ANNEX VII

                     ‘ANNEX V(a)

(products referred to in Article 15(1))

Imports into the European Community of the following products originating in Croatia shall be subject to the concessions set out below.

Over the tariff quotas, the duty rate applicable to all products of HS position 1604 except prepared or preserved sardines and anchovies will be 60 % of MFN in 2004 and 50 % of MFN from 2005 onwards. For sardines and anchovies over the tariff quota the duty rate will be full MFN duty.’               

ANNEX VIII

                     ‘ANNEX V(b)

(Products referred to in Article 15(2))

Imports into Croatia of the following products originating in the European Community shall be subject to the concessions set out below.

Over the tariff quota, the duty rate applicable to all products of HS position 1604 except prepared or preserved sardines and anchovies will be 60 % of MFN in 2004 and 50 % of MFN from 2005 onwards. For sardines and anchovies over the tariff quota the duty rate will be full MFN duty.’               

ANNEX IX

(Products referred to in Article 12 of the IA)

‘List 2: Quotas and duties applicable upon import into Croatia of goods originating in the Community

List 3: Quotas and duties applicable upon import into Croatia of goods originating in the Community

List 4: Quotas and duties applicable upon import into Croatia of goods originating in the Community

ANNEX X

                     ‘ANNEX I

                              AGREEMENT                           

between the European Community and the Republic of Croatia on reciprocal preferential trade concessions for certain wines

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(*1)OJ L 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Community Regulation (EC) No 1795/2003 (OJ L 262, 14.10.2003, p. 13).’

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(1)  Subject to at least 80 % of the eligible quantity having been utilised in the previous year, the yearly increase is applied until the sum of the quota applying to position ex 2204 10 and ex 2204 21 and the quota applying to position ex 2204 29 reaches a maximum of 98 000 hl.

(2)  Consultations at the request of one of the Contracting Parties may be held to adapt the quotas by transferring quantities from the quota applying to position ex 2204 29 to the quota applying to positions ex 2204 10 and ex 2204 21.

(3)  Subject to at least 80 % of the eligible quantity having been utilised in the previous year, the yearly increase is applied until the quota reaches a maximum of 18 000 hl.

ANNEX XI

                     ‘ANNEX I

INTRODUCTORY NOTES TO THE LIST IN ANNEX II

Note 1:

The list sets out the conditions required for all products to be considered as sufficiently worked or processed within the meaning of Article 6 of the Protocol.

Note 2:

Note 3:

Note 4:

Note 5:

Note 6:

Note 7:

ANNEX XII

                     ‘ANNEX II

LIST OF WORKING OR PROCESSING REQUIRED TO BE CARRIED OUT ON NON-ORIGINATING MATERIALS IN ORDER THAT THE PRODUCT MANUFACTURED CAN OBTAIN ORIGINATING STATUS

The products mentioned in the list may not be all covered by the Agreement. It is, therefore, necessary to consult the other parts of the Agreement.

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(1)  For the special conditions relating to “specific processes”, see Introductory Notes 7.1 and 7.3.

(2)  Note 3 to Chapter 32 says that these preparations are those of a kind used for colouring any material or used as ingredients in the manufacture of colouring preparations, provided that they are not classified in another heading in Chapter 32

(3)  A “group” is regarded as any part of the heading separated from the rest by semicolon.

(4)  In the case of the products composed of materials classified within both headings 3901 to 3906, on the one hand, and within headings 3907 to 3911, on the other hand, this restriction only applies to that group of materials which predominates by weight products.

(5)  The following foils shall be considered as highly transparent: foils, the optical dimming of which, measured according to ASTM-D 1003-16 by Gardner Hazemeter (i.e. Hazefactor), is less than 2 %.

(6)  For special conditions relating to products made of a mixture of textile materials, see Introductory Note 5.

(7)  The use of this material is restricted to the manufacture of woven fabrics of a kind used in paper-making machinery.

(8)  See Introductory Note 6.

(9)  For knitted or crocheted articles, not elastic or rubberised, obtained by sewing or assembling pieces of knitted or crocheted fabrics (cut out or knitted directly to shape), see Introductory Note 6.

(10)  SEMI – Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Institute Incorporated

(11)  This rule shall apply until 31.12.2005.

ANNEX XIII

                     ‘ANNEX IV

Text of theinvoice declaration

The invoice declaration, the text of which is given below, must be made out in accordance with the footnotes. However, the footnotes do not have to be reproduced.

Spanish version

El exportador de los productos incluidos en el presente documento (autorización aduanera no ... (i)) declara que, salvo indicación en sentido contrario, estos productos gozan de un origen preferencial ... (ii).

Czech version

Vývozce výrobků uvedených v tomto dokumentu (číslo povolení ... (i)) prohlašuje, že kromě zřetelně označených, mají tyto výrobky preferenční původ v ... (ii).

Danish version

Eksportøren af varer, der er omfattet af nærværende dokument, (toldmyndighedernes tilladelse nr. ... (i)), erklærer, at varerne, medmindre andet tydeligt er angivet, har præferenceoprindelse i ... (ii).

German version

Der Ausführer (Ermächtigter Ausführer; Bewilligungs-Nr. ... (i)) der Waren, auf die sich dieses Handelspapier bezieht, erklärt, dass diese Waren, soweit nicht anderes angegeben, präferenzbegünstigte ... (ii) Ursprungswaren sind.

Estonian version

Käesoleva dokumendiga hõlmatud toodete eksportija (tolliameti kinnitus nr. ... (i) deklareerib, et need tooted on ... (ii) sooduspäritoluga, välja arvatud juhul kui on selgelt näidatud teisiti.

Greekversion

Ο εξαγωγέας των προϊόντων που καλύπτονται από το παρόν έγγραφο (άδεια τελωνείου υπ'αριθ. ... (i)) δηλώνει ότι, εκτός εάν δηλώνεται σαφώς άλλως, τα προϊόντα αυτά είναι προτιμησιακής καταγωγής ... (ii).

English version

The exporter of the products covered by this document (customs authorisation No ... (i)) declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of ... (ii) preferential origin.

French version

L'exportateur des produits couverts par le présent document (autorisation douanière no ... (i)) déclare que, sauf indication claire du contraire, ces produits ont l'origine préférentielle ... (ii)).

Italian version

L'esportatore delle merci contemplate nel presente documento (autorizzazione doganale n. ... (i)) dichiara che, salvo indicazione contraria, le merci sono di origine preferenziale ... (ii).

Latvian version

Eksportētājs produktiem, kuri ietverti šajā dokumentā (muitas pilnvara Nr. ... (i)), deklarē, ka, iznemot tur, kur ir citādi skaidri noteikts, šiem produktiem ir priekšrocību izcelsme no ... (ii).

Lithuanian version

Šiame dokumente išvardintų prekių eksportuotojas (muitinès liudijimo Nr ... (i)) deklaruoja, kad, jeigu kitaip nenurodyta, tai yra ... (ii) preferencinès kilmés prekés.

Hungarian version

A jelen okmányban szereplő áruk exportőre (vámfelhatalmazási szám: ... (i)) kijelentem, hogy eltérő jelzés hianyában az áruk kedvezményes ... (ii) származásúak.

Maltese version

L-esportatur tal-prodotti koperti b’dan id-dokument (awtorizzazzjoni tad-dwana nru. ... (i)) jiddikjara li, ħlief fejn indikat b’mod ċar li mhux hekk, dawn il-prodotti huma ta’ oriġini preferenzjali ... (ii).

Dutch version

De exporteur van de goederen waarop dit document van toepassing is (douanevergunning nr. ... (i)), verklaart dat, behoudens uitdrukkelijke andersluidende vermelding, deze goederen van preferentiële... oorsprong zijn (ii).

Polish version

Eksporter produktów objętych tym dokumentem (upoważnienie władz celnych nr ... (i)) deklaruje, że z wyjątkiem gdzie jest to wyraźnie określone, produkty te mają ... (ii) preferencyjne pochodzenie.

Portuguese version

O abaixo assinado, exportador dos produtos cobertos pelo presente documento (autorização aduaneira no ... (i)), declara que, salvo expressamente indicado em contrário, estes produtos são de origem preferencial ... (ii).

Slovenian version

Izvoznik blaga, zajetega s tem dokumentom (pooblastilo carinskih organov št ... (i)) izjavlja, da, razen če ni drugače jasno navedeno, ima to blago preferencialno ... (ii) poreklo.

Slovak version

Vývozca výrobkov uvedených v tomto dokumente (číslo povolenia ... (i)) vyhlasuje, že okrem zreteľne označených, majú tieto výrobky preferenčný pôvod v ... (ii).

Finnish version

Tässä asiakirjassa mainittujen tuotteiden viejä (tullin lupa n:o ... (i)) ilmoittaa, että nämä tuotteet ovat, ellei toisin ole selvästi merkitty, etuuskohteluun oikeutettuja... alkuperätuotteita (ii).

Swedish version

Exportören av de varor som omfattas av detta dokument (tullmyndighetens tillstånd nr. ... (i)) försäkrar att dessa varor, om inte annat tydligt markerats, har förmånsberättigande... ursprung (ii).

Croatian version

Izvoznik proizvoda obuhvaćenih ovom ispravom (carinsko ovlaštenje br. ... (i)) izjavljuje da su, osim ako je drukčije izričito navedeno, ovi proizvodi ... (ii) preferencijalnoga podrijetla.

............ (iii)

(Place and date)

............ (iv)

(Signature of the exporter, in addition the name of the person signing the declaration has to be indicated in clear script)’                     

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(i)  When the invoice declaration is made out by an approved exporter, the authorisation number of the approved exporter must be entered in this space. When the invoice declaration is not made out by an approved exporter, the words in brackets shall be omitted or the space left blank.

(ii)  Origin of products to be indicated. When the invoice declaration relates, in whole or in part, to products originating in Ceuta and Mellila, the exporter must clearly indicate them in the document on which the declaration is made out by means of the symbol “CM”.

(iii)  These indications may be omitted if the information is contained on the document itself.

(iv)  In cases where the exporter is not required to sign, the exemption of signature also implies the exemption of the name of the signatory.”

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