COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 3058/95
of 22 December 1995
extending into 1996 the application of Regulations (EEC) No 3833/90, (EEC) No 3835/90, (EEC) No 3900/91 and (EC) No 2651/95 applying generalized tariff preferences in respect of certain agricultural products originating in developing countries and amending certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 3282/94
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,
Whereas within the context of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), the European Community offered to grant tariff preferences on certain agricultural products coming under Chapters 1 to 24 of the Common Customs Tariff which originate in developing countries; whereas the preferential treatment proposed in the offer consists, in respect of certain goods which are subject to the trade arrangements laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 3448/93 (1), of a reduction in the fixed component of the charge applicable to such goods by virtue of that Regulation, and, in respect of products which are subject to the single customs duty, of a reduction in such duty; whereas preferential imports of the products concerned should be effected in general without quantitative restrictions;
Whereas the positive role played by this system in improving access for developing countries to the markets of the preference-giving countries was recognized at the ninth session of the Unctad Special Committee on Preferences; whereas it was there agreed that the objectives of the system of generalized preferences would not be fully achieved by the end of 1980, that consequently it should be prolonged beyond the initial period, as an overall review of the system was started in 1990;
Whereas the part of the Community's scheme of generalized preferences covering industrial products is the subject of a Regulation applicable for four years and based on the 10-year guidelines adopted by the Community; whereas, in view of the special problems relating to the implementation of the results of the Uruguay Round for the products referred to in this Regulation, it appears unlikely that a Regulation based on the new 10-year guidelines for these products can be envisaged before the middle of 1996; whereas, therefore, the current scheme for agricultural products should be temporarily renewed for six months, pending the introduction of a new agricultural scheme on 1 July 1996, with the amount of annual preferential imports as provided for in Article 7 and Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 3833/90 (2) accordingly being halved;
Whereas countries undertaking effective programmes to combat drug production and trafficking should, however, remain entitled to the more favourable arrangements granted them under the previous scheme,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Regulations (EEC) No 3833/90, (EEC) No 3835/90 (3), (EEC) No 3900/91 (4), (EC) No 3282/94 (5) and (EC) No 2651/95 (6), applying generalized tariff preferences in respect of certain agricultural products originating in developing countries shall apply mutatis mutandis from 1 January 1996 to 30 June 1996.
References in the Regulations mentioned in the first subparagraph to specific dates in 1995 and 1996 shall be taken to refer to the same dates in 1996 and 1997.
Article 2
The fixed amounts set out in column 5 of Annex I and the quantities set out in Article 7 (2) and (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 3833/90 shall each be reduced by half.
Article 3
Technical amendments to the annexes to Regulations (EEC) No 3833/90, (EEC) No 3835/90, (EEC) No 3900/91 and (EC) No 3282/94 as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 4
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1996.
It shall be applicable until 30 June 1996.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 22 December 1995.