COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 22.05.1996 
COM(96) 221 final 
96/0136 (ACQ 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION qy> 
extending Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of 
Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the 
adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural 
concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account of the Agreement 
on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. In accordance with its obligations under the Agreement on Agriculture concluded 
during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, the Community 
replaced variable agricultural levies and other agricultural non-tariff barriers with 
fixed customs duties from 1 July 1995. This threatens to reduce the value of the 
agricultural concessions accorded under the Europe Agreements (Hungary, Poland, 
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania), and in particular of preferential 
access to the Community market for certain agricultural products originating in 
the countries concerned. In order to smooth the transition to the system 
applicable from 1 July 1995 and maintain the level of preferences accorded, the 
agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements need to be 
adjusted. 
2. At the same time, Articles 76, 102 and 128 of the Act of Accession require 
Austria, Finland and Sweden to apply, from 1 January 1995, the provisions of the 
preferential agreements concluded by the Community with certain non-member 
countries, among them Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland 
•* and Romania. 
3. On 6 March 1995 the Council adopted negotiating directives for the conclusion 
of additional protocols to the Europe Agreements, notably with regard to 
agricultural products. These negotiating directives provide for the adjustment of 
the agricultural concessions accorded under the Europe Agreements, taking 
account not only of the Community's obligations under the Agreement on 
Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round (see paragraph 1 above) but of 
the consequences of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden (see 
paragraph 2 above). 
4. Once these negotiations have been concluded, interim Additional Protocols 
relating solely to trade will be applied pending ratification of the Additional 
Protocols by all the parties concerned. In view of the time available, however, 
^ 
there is no way that the interim Additional Protocols can enter into force on 
1 July 1996. 
5. On 21 December 1995 the Council adopted a series of autonomous measures 
aimed at maintaining the level of preferences accorded under the Europe 
Agreements and taking account of pre-existing agricultural trade arrangements 
between the new Member States and the associated countries of Central and 
Eastern Europe. These measures apply until 30 June 1996. 
6. This proposal is aimed at extending to 31 December 1996 the measures adopted 
by the Council on 21 December 1995. 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No ..../.. 
of 
extending Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of 
Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the 
adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural 
concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account of the Agreement 
on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations 
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 the measures provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing 
certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural 
products and providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, 
of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account 
of the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral 
trade negotiations expire on 30 June 1996; 
Whereas it was planned to replace those measures with interim Additional Protocols to 
the Europe Agreements; whereas those Protocols cannot enter into force on 1 July 1996; 
whereas Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 should therefore be extended to 31 December 1996, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
OJ No L 328, 30.12.1995, p. 31. 
Article 1 
In Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 3066/95, the second sentence is hereby replaced by 
the following: 
"It shall apply from 1 January to 31 December 1996." 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Communities. 
It shall apply from 1 July 1996. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member 
States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President 
-T 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 221 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 02 11 03 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-233-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-04231-5 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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