Agreement

in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Tunisia concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures and amendment of the Agricultural Protocols to the EC/Tunisia Association Agreement

Letter No 1

Letter from the European Community

Brussels, 22.12.2000

Sir,

I have the honour of referring to the negotiations which took place under Article 16 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, in force since 1 March 1998, which states that the Community and Tunisia are to gradually liberalise their reciprocal trade in agricultural and fishery products.

These negotiations were held in accordance with Article 18 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement which stipulates that, from 1 January 2000, the Community and the Republic of Tunisia are to assess the situation with a view to determining the liberalisation measures to be applied by the Parties with effect from 1 January 2001.

On the conclusion of the negotiations the two Parties agreed to the following:

1. The dates in Article 1(5) of Protocol No 1 shall be replaced by "from 1 January 2002 to 1 January 2005".

2. In Article 2:

(a) the designation "Côteaux de Teboura" in the second sentence should read "Côteaux de Tebourba".

(b) the following paragraph shall be added:"Wines with a designation of origin originating in Tunisia must be accompanied by a certificate indicating their origin in accordance with the model specified in the preferential agreement or by documents V I 1 or V I 2 completed in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 3590/85 on the certificate and analysis report required for the importation of wine, grape juice and grape must."

3. Article 3 of Protocol No 1 shall be replaced by the following:

"Article 3

1. Imports of untreated olive oil falling within CN codes 15091010 and 1509 10 90, wholly obtained in Tunisia and transported direct from Tunisia to the Community, shall be allowed to enter the Community at a zero rate of duty from 1 January 2001, up to a maximum of 50000 tonnes.

2. Starting on 1 January 2002, this quantity shall be increased annually by 1500 tonnes over four years, with a view to achieving an annual quantity of 56000 tonnes from 1 January 2005.

3. If these imports risk harming the balance on the Community market in olive oil, especially because of the Community's obligations regarding this product in the WTO, the Contracting Parties shall consult each other with a view to finding measures appropriate to the situation, acceptable to both Parties and capable of resolving the problem."

4. The Annexes to Protocols Nos 1 and 3 shall be replaced by Annexes 1A and 1B hereto; a new Annex 2, comprising the model certificate for wines with a designation of origin, shall be added to Protocol No 1.

5. From 1 January 2005 the Community and the Republic of Tunisia will assess the situation with a view to determining the liberalisation measures to be applied by the Community and Tunisia from 1 January 2006, in accordance with the objective laid down in Article 16 of the Association Agreement.

This Agreement shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be applicable from 1 January 2001.

I would be grateful if you could confirm the agreement of your Government to the above.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

On behalf of the Council of the European Union

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Letter No 2

Letter from the Republic of Tunisia

Brussels, 22.12.2000

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date, worded as follows:

"I have the honour of referring to the negotiations which took place under Article 16 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, in force since 1 March 1998, which states that the Community and Tunisia are to gradually liberalise their reciprocal trade in agricultural and fishery products.

These negotiations were held in accordance with Article 18 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement which stipulates that, from 1 January 2000, the Community and the Republic of Tunisia are to assess the situation with a view to determining the liberalisation measures to be applied by the Parties with effect from 1 January 2001.

On the conclusion of the negotiations the two Parties agreed to the following:

1. The dates in Article 1(5) of Protocol No 1 shall be replaced by 'from 1 January 2002 to 1 January 2005'.

2. In Article 2:

(a) the designation 'Côteaux de Teboura' in the second sentence should read 'Côteaux de Tebourba'.

(b) the following paragraph shall be added:'Wines with a designation of origin originating in Tunisia must be accompanied by a certificate indicating their origin in accordance with the model specified in the preferential agreement or by documents V I 1 or V I 2 completed in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 3590/85 on the certificate and analysis report required for the importation of wine, grape juice and grape must.'

3. Article 3 of Protocol No 1 is replaced by the following:

'Article 3

1. Imports of untreated olive oil falling within CN codes 15091010 and 1509 10 90, wholly obtained in Tunisia and transported direct from Tunisia to the Community, shall be allowed to enter the Community at a zero rate of duty from 1 January 2001, up to a maximum of 50000 tonnes.

2. Starting on 1 January 2002, this quantity shall be increased annually by 1500 tonnes over four years, with a view to achieving an annual quantity of 56000 tonnes from 1 January 2005.

3. If these imports risk harming the balance on the Community market in olive oil, especially because of the Community's obligations regarding this product in the WTO, the Contracting Parties shall consult each other with a view to finding measures appropriate to the situation, acceptable to both Parties and capable of resolving the problem.'

4. The Annexes to Protocols Nos 1 and 3 are replaced by Annexes 1A and 1B hereto; a new Annex 2, comprising the model certificate for wines with a designation of origin, is hereby added to Protocol No 1.

5. From 1 January 2005 the Community and the Republic of Tunisia will assess the situation with a view to determining the liberalisation measures to be applied by the Community and Tunisia from 1 January 2006, in accordance with the objective laid down in Article 16 of the Association Agreement.

This Agreement shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be applicable from 1 January 2001.

I would be grateful if you could confirm the agreement of your Government to the above."

The Republic of Tunisia has the honour of confirming its agreement with the contents of this letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Government of the Republic of Tunisia

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ANNEX 1-A

PROTOCOL No 1

1. Arrangements applying to imports into the Community of agricultural products originating in Tunisia

2. Designation of origin certificate

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ANNEX 1-B

PROTOCOL No 3

on the arrangements applying to imports into Tunisia of agricultural products originating in the Community

Sole Article

The customs duties on imports into Tunisia of the products originating in the Community listed in the Annex shall not be higher than those shown in column (a) within the limits of the tariff quotas shown in column (b)

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