AGREEMENT in the form of an exchange of letters amending the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on trade in textile products

Letter No 1

Sir,

1. I have the honour to refer to the consultations held on 21 November 1991 between our respective delegations for the purpose of amending the Agreement on trade in textile products between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Bulgaria, initialled on 11 July 1986 and applied since 1 January 1987, amended by the Agreed Minute initialled on 28 November 1990 and applied since 1 January 1991.

2. As a result of these consultations, both Parties agreed to amend Article 17 (1) of the above Agreement so as to extend the period of application of all the provisions of the Agreement for one more year, i.e. until 31 December 1992. Consequently, the Parties also agreed to amend the following provisions:

- Annex II of the Agreement as regards the quantitative limits for exports from the Republic of Bulgaria to the Community of the textile products referred thereto,

- the Annex of Protocol E of the Agreement, as regards the quantitative limits for reimports into the Community of textile products after processing, manufacturing or working in Bulgaria.

The amended Annexes are appended at Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 respectively.

3. The Parties also agreed that as regards Article 13 (3) of the Agreement, the percentage of inter-regional transfers for the year 1992 is fixed at 40 %.

It is understood that if as a result of the application of the above percentage serious difficulties, following significant changes in the pattern of trade, occur in certain regions of the Community, both Parties shall hold consultations without delay with a view to reviewing the situation.

4. Both Parties agreed that this extension of the Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 1992 and shall remain in force until 31 December 1992. The Parties agreed that this Agreement shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 1992.

5. I should be obliged if you would kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government to the foregoing.

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

For the Council

of the European Communities

Appendix 1

ANNEX II

(The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be found in Annex I of the Agreement)

> TABLE POSITION>

>TABLE>

Appendix 2

ANNEX TO PROTOCOL E

(The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be found in Annex I of the Agreement)

>TABLE>

Letter No 2

Sir,

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

'1. I have the honour to refer to the consultations held on 21 November 1991 between our respective delegations for the purpose of amending the Agreement on trade in textile products between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Bulgaria, initialled on 11 July 1986 and applied since 1 January 1987, amended by the Agreed Minute initialled on 28 November 1990 and applied since 1 January 1992.

2. As a result of these consultations, both Parties agreed to amend Article 17 (1) of the above Agreement so as to extend the period of application of all the provisions of the Agreement for one more year, i.e. until 31 December 1992. Consequently, the Parties also agreed to amend the following provisions:

- Annex II of the Agreement as regards the quantitative limits for exports from the Republic of Bulgaria to the Community of the textile products referred thereto,

- the Annex of Protocol E of the Agreement, as regards the quantitative limits for reimports into the Community of textile products after processing, manufacturing or working in Bulgaria.

The amended Annexes are appended as Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 respectively.

3. The Parties also agreed that as regards Article 13 (3) of the Agreement, the percentage of inter-regional transfers for the year 1992 is fixed at 40 %.

It is understood that if as a result of the application of the above percentage serious difficulties, following significant changes in the pattern of trade, occur in certain regions of the Community, both Parties shall hold consultations without delay with a view to reviewing the situation.

4. Both Parties agreed that this extension of the Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 1992 and shall remain in force until 31 December 1992. The Parties agreed that this Agreement shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 1992.

5. I should be obliged if you would kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government to the foregoing.`

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

Appendix 1

ANNEX II

(The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be found in Annex I of the Agreement)

> TABLE POSITION>

>TABLE>

Appendix 2

ANNEX TO PROTOCOL E

(The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be found in Annex I of the Agreement)

>TABLE>

Agreed Minute

At the close of the consultations held on 21 November 1991 between Delegations of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Economic Community for the purpose of amending the Agreement on trade in textile products between the European Economic Community and Bulgaria, initialled on 11 July 1986 and applied from 1 January 1987, the Agreement in question was extended for one year, and the two parties also agreed to determine for 1992 the levels of the quantitative limits appearing in Table II of the Annex to the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters, which is an integral part of the Agreement initialled on 11 July 1986.

The Annex, as amended, is attached to this Agreed Minute.

All the provisions of the extended Agreement apply to Table II of the Annex to the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters as amended by this Agreed Minute.

The Parties have agreed that this Agreed Minute should take effect on 1 January 1992 and apply until 31 December 1992. They have also agreed on de facto application of the Agreed Minute from 1 January 1992.

For the Delegation of

the Republic of Bulgaria

For the Delegation of the

European Economic Community

Appendix

ANNEX (TABLE II) TO THE AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

>TABLE>

Exchange of notes

The Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities presents its compliments to the Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European Communities and has the honour to refer to the Agreement in textile products between Bulgaria and the Community, initialled on 11 July 1986 and applied since 1 January 1987, as extended by the exchange of letters initialled on 21 November 1991.

The Directorate-General wishes to inform the Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion and the coming into force of the extended Agreement, the Community is prepared to allow the provisions of the Agreement to apply de facto from 1 January 1992. This is on the understanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de facto application of the extended Agreement provided that 90 days' notice is given.

The Directorate-General for External Relations would be grateful if the Mission would confirm the agreement of the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria to the foregoing.

The Directorate-General for External Relations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European Communities the assurance of its highest consideration.

Exchange of notes

The Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European Communities presents its compliments to the Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities and has the honour to refer to the Directorate-General's Note verbale regarding the Agreement in textile products between Bulgaria and the Community, initialled on 11 July 1986 and applied since 1 January 1987, as extended by the exchange of letters initialled on 21 November 1991.

The Mission wishes to confirm to the Directorate-General that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion and the coming into force of the extended Agreement, the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria is prepared to allow the provisions of the extended Agreement to apply de facto from 1 January 1992. This is on the unterstanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de facto application of the extended Agreement provided that 90 days' notice is given.

The Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European Communities avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Directorate-General for External Relations the assurance of its highest consideration.