AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS amending the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines

A. Letter from the Community

Brussels, 19 March 1998

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the Agreement of 29 November 1993 between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines and to the negotiations which have taken place between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria with a view to adapting the said Agreement following the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union, and to the consultations on extending the Agreement beyond 31 December 1997.

I hereby confirm that the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria have agreed on the following:

I. Table 1 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table:

'>TABLE>

II. Table 2 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table:

'>TABLE>

III. Point 3(a) of the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following:

'in the case of duties applied by Bulgaria to imports of wine originating in the Community:

- in 1993: 90 % of the basic duty,

- in 1994: 80 % of the basic duty,

- in 1995 and subsequent years: 70 % of the basic duty but not exceeding 28 % ad valorem;`.

This Exchange of Letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their respective procedures.

This Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 1998 and remain in force for an initial period ending on 31 December 1998. During the first half of 1998, consultations shall take place to determine whether and under what conditions it should be extended.

I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the contents of this letter.

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

On behalf of the Council of the European Union

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>

B. Letter from Bulgaria

Brussels, 19 March 1998

Sir,

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

'I have the honour to refer to the Agreement of 29 November 1993 between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines and to the negotiations which have taken place between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria with a view to adapting the said Agreement following the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union, and to the consultations on extending the Agreement beyond 31 December 1997.

I hereby confirm that the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria have agreed on the following:

I. Table 1 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table:

">TABLE>

II. Table 2 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table:

">TABLE>

III. Point 3(a) of the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following:

"in the case of duties applied by Bulgaria to imports of wine originating in the Community:

- in 1993: 90 % of the basic duty,

- in 1994: 80 % of the basic duty,

- in 1995 and subsequent years: 70 % of the basic duty but not exceeding 28 % ad valorem;".

This Exchange of Letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their respective procedures.

This Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 1998 and remain in force for an initial period ending on 31 December 1998. During the first half of 1998, consultations shall take place to determine whether and under what conditions it should be extended.

I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the contents of this letter.`

I have the honour to confirm that my Government is in agreement with the contents of your letter.

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

For the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria

>REFERENCE TO A FILM>