COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 656/98 of 16 March 1998 adopting autonomous and transitional measures for the preferential trade arrangements with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria in certain processed agricultural products
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the 1994 Act of Accession,
Whereas, pending adaptation of Protocol 3 to the Europe Agreements concluded with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria (1), Council Regulation (EC) No 1568/97 of 24 July 1997 adopting autonomous and transitional measures for the preferential trade arrangements with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria in certain processed agricultural products (2) was adopted, which, until 31 December 1997 maintains the degree of preference granted, thus offsetting possible negative effects the implementation of the results of the Uruguay Round may have on exports of these countries to the Community;
Whereas the negotiations with the countries concerned for the conclusion of Protocol 3 adapted the Europe Agreements have been initialled; whereas procedures for the formal adoption of these are under way; whereas the time schedule required for formal adoption may not allow for the entry into force of the adaptation Protocols on 1 January 1998; whereas it is therefore advisable to extend the concessions on an autonomous basis until 31 December 1998;
Whereas the implementation of the measures provided for in the additional Protocols adjusting the Europe Agreements with the Czech Republic and Slovakia by autonomous measures has made redundant the provisions of Regulations (EC) No 315/94 (3) and (EC) No 316/94 (4); whereas it is appropriate to repeal these Regulations,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
1. From 1 January to 31 December 1998 the goods originating from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria listed in Annex I shall be subject to the annual tariff quotas and preferential duties mentioned in that Annex. The basic amounts to be taken into consideration in calculating the reduced agricultural components and additional duties applicable to the importation into the Community are given in Annex II.
2. From 1 January to 31 December 1998 the processed agricultural products originating in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria and listed in Annex III to this Regulation shall be subject to the duties provided for in that Annex.
Article 2
The Commission may, in accordance with Article 16 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 of 6 December 1993 laying down the trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products (5), suspend the autonomous application of the measures laid down in Protocol 3 in favour of the countries referred to in Article 1 if these countries fail to apply reciprocal measures in favour of the Community.
Article 3
The concessions applying to trade in processed agricultural products provided for in the additional Protocols adapting the Europe Agreements with the countries referred to in Article 1 shall, from the entry into force of each of those Protocols, replace the concessions provided for in the annexes to this Regulation. The detailed rules implementing the measures provided for in this Regulation shall be also applicable for the corresponding measures provided in the additional Protocols.
Article 4
The quotas referred to in Annex I to this Regulation shall be administered by the Commission in accordance with the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1460/96 of 25 July 1996 establishing the detailed rules for implementing the preferential trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products, as provided for in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 (6).
Article 5
Regulations (EC) No 315/94 and (EC) No 316/94 are hereby repealed.
Article 6
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
It shall apply from effect from 1 January 1998.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 16 March 1998.