COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 05.11.1996 
COM(96) 550 final 
96/0264 (ACC) 
96/0265 (ACC) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council 
established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and 
their Member States, of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, 
which entered into force on 1 February 1995, concerning the export of certain steel 
products from the Slovak Republic to the European Communities 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
concerning the export of certain ECSC and EC steel products from the Slovak Republic 
to ihe European Communities for the period 1 January to 31 December 1997 (extension 
of the double-checking system) 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
The aim of the double-checking system is to improve transparency and to avoid possible 
diversions of trade. It is founded on the provision in the EC-Slovak Republic Europe 
Agreement1 which allows either Party to introduce an administrative procedure having as 
its purpose the rapid provision of information on the trend of trade flows. The Parties 
agreed to establish such a system in 1996 in respect of certain ECSC and EC steel 
products by means of Association Council Decision N° 2/952. Council Regulation (EC) 
N° 3054/953 established the corresponding implementing legislation for the Community. 
At its meeting on 7 October 1996, the Contact Group agreed to recommend that the 
Association Council should extend the double-checking system, with certain 
amendments, for the period between 1 January and 31 December 1997. 
The attached proposals consequently seek to extend Association Council Decision N° 
2/95 and Council Regulation (EC) N° 3054/95, with certain amendments, for the period 
between 1 January and 31 December 1997. 
In view of the time which these procedures could take, the Contact Group also agreed, if 
necessary, to extend the double-checking system on a temporary basis by means of 
autonomous measures, pending the entry into force of the Association Council Decision 
and of the implementing legislation. 
1 OJN°L 359, 31.12.94, p. 2. 
2 OJN°L 325, 30.12.95, p. 65. 
3 OJN°L 325, 30.12.95, p. 1. 
Proposal for a Council Decision 3 G J O 2.fe Lf I A CC \ 
on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council established 
by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, 
of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 
February 1995, concerning the export of certain steel products from the Slovak Republic 
to the European Communities 
The Council of the European Union, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular 
Article 113 together with Article 228, para 2, first sentence, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the Decision of the Council and the Commission of 19 December 1994 
on the conclusion of the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and 
their Member States, of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, and in 
particular Article 2(1) thereof, 
Whereas the Contact Group referred to in Article 10 of Protocol 2 of the Europe 
Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States of the one part 
and the Slovak Republic of the other part, which entered into force on 1 February Î9951, 
met on 7 October 1996 to discuss trends in imports of ECSC and EC products from the 
Slovak Republic into the Community and recognised the need to find appropriate 
solutions in the framework of Article 34.2 of the Agreement in order to ensure that the 
attainment of the objectives of the Agreement will not be jeopardised; 
Whereas the Contact Group therefore agreed to recommend to the Association Council 
established under Article 104 of the Agreement that the double-checking system 
introduced in 1996 by Association Council Decision N° 2/952 should be renewed for the 
period betiveen I January and 31 December 1997; 
Whereas the Parties are desirous to promote the orderly and equitable development of 
trade in steel between the Community and the Slovak Republic; 
Whereas the Association Council, having been supplied with all relevant information, has 
determined that the solution acceptable to the two parties which least disturbs the 
functioning of the Agreement is the renewal of the double-checking system, without 
quantitative limits, for the import into the Community of certain steel products covered 
by the ECSC and EC Treaties between 1 January and 31 December 1997, 
'OJL 359, 31.12.94, p. 1 
2 OJL 325, 30.12.95, p.65 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
The position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council established 
by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, 
of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, concerning the export of 
certain steel products from the Slovak Republic to the European Communities, and in 
particular the renewal of the double-checking system, shall be based on the draft decision 
of the Association Council annexed to this Decision. 
Done at Brussels 
For the Council 
Decision N° .....>./96 of the Association Council, 
association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, 
and the Slovak Republic, of the other part 
of 1996 
concerning the export of certain ECSC and EC steel products from the Slovak Republic 
to the European Communities for the period 1 January to 31 December 1997 (extension 
of the double-checking system established by Decision N° 2/95 of the Association 
Council) 
(96/ /ECSC) 
THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL 
Whereas the Contact Group referred to in Article 10 of Protocol 2 of the Europe 
Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their 
Member States, of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, which entered 
into force on 1 February 19951 , met on 7 October 1996 and agreed to recommend to the 
Association Council established under Article 104 of the Agreement that the double-
checking system introduced in 1996 by Association Council Decision N° 2/9S2 should be 
extended for the period between 1 January and 31 December 1997 subject to certain 
amendments; 
Whereas the Association Council, having been supplied with all relevant information, has 
agreed with this recommendation, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS : 
Article 1 
The double-checking system established by Association Council Decision N° 2/95 for the 
period 1 January to 31 December 1996 shall continue to apply for the period between 1 
January and 31 December 1997, subject to the amendments to that Decision shown in 
Article 2. In the Preamble and Article 1 (1) and (3) of the Decision, references to the 
period 1 January to 31 December 1996 are hereby replaced by the words "1 January to 31 
December 1997". Article 1 (4) shall be deleted. 
1 OJN°L 359, 31.12.94, p. 2. 
2OJN°L325, 30.12.95, p. 65. 
Article 2 
1. In Article 2 of the Decision, the first sentence of paragraph 2 shall be amended to 
read as follows: 
"The Community undertakes to supply the Slovak authorities with precise statistical 
information on import documents issued by Member States in respect of the export 
documents issued by the Slovak authorities pursuant to Article 1." 
2. Annex I shall be replaced by the text contained in the Annex to this Decision. 
3. In Annex III, the following change shall be made: delete "Export Licence" and insert 
"Export Document". 
4. In Annex IV, paragraph 3 shall be deleted. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of signature. 
It shall apply with effect from 1 January 1997. 
Done at 
For the Association Council 
The President 
ANNEX 
ANNEXI 
SLOVAK REPUBLIC 
List of products subject to double-checking (1997) 
Hot-railed coils and pickled coils 
72081000 
720825 00 
7208 26 00 
7208 2700 
7208 36 00 
7208 37 10 
7208 3790 
7208 38 10 
7208 38 90 
7208 39 10 
7208 39 90 
72191100 
72191210 
7219 12 90 . 
72191310 
7219 14 10 
7219 14 90 
72251910 
7225 20 20 
7225 30 00 
Cut lenghts 
7208 4010 
7208 40 90 
7208 51 10 
7208 5199 
7208 52 10 
7208 52 99 
7208 53 10 
7208 53 90 
7208 54 10 
7208 54 90 
7208 90 10 
7208 90 90 7211 19 20 
72U 19 90 
7212 60 91 
72201100 
7220 12 00 
7220 90 31 
7226 19 10 
7226 20 20 
7226 91 10 
7226 91 90 
7226 93 20 
7226 94 20 
7226 99 20 
Cold-rolled strip and hoop 
721123 10 
721123 51 
721123 99 
721129 20 
72119019 
7211 90 90 
7226 92 90 
7226 93 80 
7226 94 80 
7226 99 80 
Hot dip galvanized sheets, coils and strip 
7210 11 90 
7210 41 90 
7210 61 10 
7212 30 90 721041 10 
7210 49 10 
7210 49 90 
Cold-rolled sheets and coils 
720915 00 
7209 16 90 
720917 90 
720918 91 
720918 99 
7209 25 00 
7209 26 90 
7209 27 90 
7209 28 90 
7209 9010 
7209 90 90 
Hot-rolled strip and hoop 
7211 14 10 
7211 14 90 Tinplate in coils, sheet and strip 
7210 12 11 7210 11 10 7210 70 31 
7210 70 39 
7212 10 99 
NOM oriented grain steel sheets, coils and strip for 
electrotechnics 
7209 17 10 
7209 27 10 
721123 91 
PROPOSALFORA _ _ i _,-_ / *- r ^\ 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) N° /96 
of 1996 
concerning the export of certain ECSC and EC steel products from the Slovak Republic 
to the European Communities for the period 1 January to 31 December 1997 (extension 
of the double-checking system) 
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 a Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European 
Communities and their Member States, of, the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the 
other part, entered into force on 1 February 19951; 
Whereas the Parties decided in Association Council Decision N° ..../962 to extend the 
double-checking system introduced by Decision N° 2/953 for the period between 1 
January and 31 December 1997 subject to certain amendments; 
Whereas it is consequently necessary to extend the Community implementing legislation 
introduced by Council Regulation (EC) N° 3054/954, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Council Regulation (EC) N° 3054/95 shall continue to apply for the period between 1 
January and 31 December 1997, in accordance with the provisions of Association 
Council Decision N° ..../96 between the European Communities and their Member 
States, of, the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, subject to the 
amendments to that Regulation shown in Article 2. In the Preamble and Article 1 (1) and 
(3) of the Regulation, references to the period 1 January to 31 December 1996 are hereby 
replaced by 1 January to 31 December 1997. Article 1 (4) shall be deleted. 
^J^L 359, 31.12.94, p. 2. 
2 See page ... of this Official Journal. 
3OJN°L325, 30.12.95, p. 65. 
4 OJN°L 325, 30.12.95, p. 1. 
ï ! 
i Article 2 
1. Annex III shall be replaced by the text contained in the Annex to this Regulation. 
2. In Annex IV, the following change shall be made: delete "Export Licence" and insert 
"Export Document". 
Article 3 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal 
of the European Communities. 
It shall apply with effect from 1 January 1997. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member 
States. 
Done at 
For the Council 
The President 
ANNEX 
ANNEX III 
SLOVAK REPUBLIC 
List of products subject to double-checking (1997) 
Hot-rolled coils and pickled coils 
7208 10 00 
7208 25 00 
7208 26 00 
7208 27 00 
7208 36 00 
7208 37 10 
7208 37 90 
7208 38 10 
7208 38 90 
7208 39 10 
7208 39 90 
72191100 
7219 12 10 
7219 12 90 . 
7219 13 10 
7219 14 10 
7219 14 90 
7225 19 10 
7225 20 20 
7225 30 00 
Cut lenghts 
7208 4010 
7208 40 90 
7208 51 10 
7208 51 99 
7208 52 10 
7208 52 99 
7208 53 10 
7208 53 90 
7208 54 10 
7208 54 90 
7208 90 10 
7208 90 90 7211 19 20 
7211 19 90 
7212 60 91 
7220 11 00 
7220 12 00 
7220 90 31 
7226 19 10 
7226 20 20 
7226 91 10 
7226 91 90 
7226 93 20 
7226 94 20 
7226 99 20 
Cold-rolled strip and hoop 
721123 10 
721123 51 
721123 99 
721129 20 
7211 90 19 
7211 90 90 
7226 92 90 
7226 93 80 
7226 94 80 
7226 99 80 
Hot dip galvanized sheets, coils and strip 
7210 11 90 
7210 41 90 
7210 61 10 
7212 30 90 721041 10 
7210 49 10 
7210 49 90 
Cold-rolled sheets and coils 
720915 00 
7209 16 90 
720917 90 
720918 91 
7209 18 99 
7209 25 00 
7209 26 90 
7209 27 90 
7209 28 90 
7209 90 10 
7209 90 90 
Hot-rolled strip and hoop 
7211 1410 
7211 14 90 Tinplate in coils, sheet and strip 
7210 12 11 7210 11 10 7210 70 31 
7210 70 39 
721210 99 
NOM oriented grain steel sheets, coils and strip for 
electrotechnics 
7209 17 10 
7209 27 10 
7211 23 91 
10 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 550 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 11 02 
Catalogue number : CB-GO-96-554-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-10796-4 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
1-1