COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1774/1999

of 29 July 1999

concerning the conclusion of the 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 Hungary on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines, and amending Regulation (EC) No 933/95 opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for certain wines

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) An Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines between the European Community and the Republic of Hungary(1) was signed on 29 November 1993;

(2) That Agreement expired on 31 December 1998;

(3) In order to preserve reciprocal preferential treatment and to continue to promote the development of trade in wine the Agreement should be extended until 31 December 1999;

(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 933/95 of 10 April 1995 opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for certain wines originating in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania(2) opened tariff quotas for certain wines in accordance with the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Hungary; following the new Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters, Regulation (EC) No 933/95 has to be amended accordingly;

(5) In order to facilitate the implementation of certain provisions of the Agreement, the Commission should be authorised to adopt the necessary legislation for implementation of the Agreement in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 83 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 of 16 March 1987 on the common organisation of the market in wine(3),

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The 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 Hungary on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Regulation.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Community.

Article 3

The Commission is hereby authorised to adopt the necessary acts for implementation of the Agreement, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 83 of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87.

Article 4

In Regulation (EC) No 933/95, Article 1 is hereby amended as follows:

1. in Article 1(1), the table under (b) "Wines originating in Hungary" shall be replaced by the following table:

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2. in the first subparagraph of Article 1(2), point (d) shall be replaced by the following: "(d) quota No 09.7009:

This is to certify that the wine referred to in this document is a quality sparkling wine in accordance with the Hungarian Wine Law;"

3. in the first subparagraph of Article 1(2), point (e) shall be replaced by the following: "(e) quota No 09.7011:

This is to certify that the wine referred to in this document is a quality wine, including wine of superior quality and quality wine bearing the geographical indication 'Tokaj' and wine bearing the name 'Tájbor' in accordance with the Hungarian Wine Law."

4. in Article 1(2), the second subparagraph shall be deleted.

Article 5

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply as from 1 May 1999.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 29 July 1999.

For the Council

The President

S. HASSI

(1) OJ L 337, 31.12.1993, p. 83.

(2) OJ L 96, 28.4.1995, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 813/98 (OJ L 116, 18.4.1998, p. 1).

(3) OJ L 84, 27.3.1987, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1627/98 (OJ L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 8).