COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 06.09.1995 
COM(95) 89 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
introducing registration for crude oil imports and deliveries in the Community 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. On 28 August 1979, following the events in Iran, the Council adopted Regulation 
(EEC) No 1893/79 introducing registration for crude oil imports in the 
Community. A similar system was set up by the International Energy Agency. 
2. In adopting Regulation (EEC) No 2592/79, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) 
No 1370/90, the Council laid down rules for carrying out the registration of crude 
oil imports in the Community. 
The basic Regulation (EEC) No 1893/79 and the supplementary Regulation (EEC) 
No 2592/79 laying down the rules for carrying out the registration of crude oil 
imports expired on 31 December 1991. However, the Member States have 
continued to communicate information to the International Energy Agency 
4. These arrangements, which were established with the objective of monitoring 
market price developments in periods of tension, could also at other times enable 
information on the Community's crude oil supply costs to be obtained rapidly. 
Given that is now essential to have on an ongoing basis a global view of 
Community oil supply, it accordingly appears that these arrangements be once 
again put in place. 
This would not place any additional burden on Member States insofar as they are 
already involved with the other industrialised countries represented in the 
International Energy Agency in efforts to improve their understanding of how the 
market functions. 
Following the diversification of the Community's supplies in recent years and after 
consultation and with the agreement of the Member States' authorities, it is now 
proposed that the list of crude oils for which imports are to be registered should 
be extended. The new arrangements should therefore satisfy the requirements of 
the national authorities and of the International Energy Agency. 
Since fuel quality plays an important role in reducing air pollution, it is proposed 
that the Member States should supply information about the sulphur content of 
imported crude oils. 
^3 
PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
introducing registration for crude oil imports and deliveries in the Community 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular 
Article 213 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas the establishment of a common energy policy is one of the objectives which the 
Community has set itself; whereas it is for the Commission to propose the measures to 
be taken to that end; 
Whereas security of supply at stable prices is one of the main objectives of that policy; 
Whereas market transparency is desirable; 
Whereas, in view of the supply situation and in order to stabilize the Community market 
and ensure that abnormal world market fluctuations do not have an unfavourable impact 
on the Community market, the Member States and the Commission should be informed, 
at regular intervals, about crude oil supply costs; 
Whereas, by means of Regulation (EEC) No 1893/79,1 as last amended by Regulations 
(EEC) No 4152/88,2 and (EEC) No 1370/903 the Council introduced arrangements for the 
registration of crude oil imports in the Community; 
Whereas, by means of Regulation (EEC) No 2592/79,4 as last amended by Regulations 
(EEC) No 4152/88 and (EEC) No 1370/90, the Council laid down rules for carrying out 
the registration of cuuie oil imports in the Community provided for in Regulation (EEC) 
No 1893/79; 
Whereas those Regulations expired on 31 December 1991; whereas the rules that they 
laid down should be reintroduced, while adapting them to the trading conditions 
prevailing on international oil markets and the objective of maintaining or improving 
environmental quality; whereas the reporting requirements should be aligned, as far as 
possible, on the requirements of the national authorities and of the International Energy 
Agency, 
OJNoL220, 30.8.1979, p. 1. 
OJNoL367, 31.12.1988, p. 7. 
OJNoL 133, 2^.5.1990, p.l. 
OJNoL297, 24.11.1979, p. 1. 
Hi 
Article 1 
Any person or undertaking importing crude oil from third countries or receiving a crude 
oil delivery from another Member State shall be obliged to provide information to the 
Member State in which he is established concerning the characteristics of the imports or 
deliveries. 
Article 2 
On the basis of the information referred to in Article 1, Member States shall, at regular 
intervals, forward to the Commission such information as will enable a true picture to be 
obtained of the developments in the conditions under which the imports or deliveries 
have taken place. 
This information shall be circulated to the Member States. 
Article 3 
The information collected and forwarded pursuant to this Regulation shall be confidential. 
This provision shall not prevent the publication of general information or information in 
summary form which does not contain details relating to individual undertakings. 
Article 4 
1. The information which persons or undertakings are obliged to communicate to the 
Member State in which they are established shall relate to each import or delivery of 
crude oil at a specific price. 
2. "Import" means each quantity of crude oil which enters the customs territory of the 
Community for purposes other than transit. "Delivery" means each quantity of crude oil 
coming from another Member State for purposes other than transit. Imports or deliveries 
carried out on behalf of companies situated outside the importing country and intended 
for refining under contract and subsequent export in their entirety in the form of products 
shall be excluded. 
3. However, oil extracted from the seabed over which a Member State exercises 
exclusive rights for the purposes of exploitation shall not be considered, when it enters 
the customs territory of the Community, as being an import within the meaning of 
paragraph 2. 
Article 5 
For the purposes of Article 1 of this Regulation, the characteristics of each import or 
delivery of crude oil into a Member State shall include: 
the designation of the crude oil, including the API gravity, 
the quantity in barrels, 
the cif price paid per barrel, 
the percentage sulphur content. 
Article 6 
The information referred to in Articles 4 and 5 shall be forwarded to the Member State 
concerned in respect of each period not exceeding one month. 
Article 7 
The information which Member States are obliged to communicate to the Commission 
pursuant to Article 2 shall be forwarded within one month of the end of each month 
referred to in Article 6 of this Regulation. This information shall consist, for each type 
of crude oil, of an aggregation of the data which the Member States receive from persons 
and undertakings. For each type of crude oil, the information shall comprise: 
the designation of the crude oil, including the average API gravity, 
the quantity in barrels, 
the average cif price, 
the number of companies reporting, 
the percentage sulphur content. 
Article 8 
1. The Commission shall analyse the information gathered pursuant to Article 7 and 
communicate it to the Member States each month. 
2. The Member States and the Commission shall consult each other at regular 
intervals at the request of a Member State or on the initiative of the Commission. 
Such consultations shall relate in particular to the communications from the 
Commission referred to in paragraph 1. 
Consultations may be organized with international organizations and third 
countries which have set up similar information systems. 
Article 9 
1. The information communicated pursuant to Article 4 and the information provided 
for in Article 7 shall be confidential. This provision shall not, however, prevent 
the distribution of information in a form which does not disclose details relating 
to individual undertakings, i.e. which refers to at least three undertakings. 
2. The information forwarded to the Commission on the basis of Article 7 and the 
communications referred to in Article 8(1) can only be used for the purposes of 
Article 8(2). 
3. If the Commission discovers, in the information communicated to it by the 
Member States in accordance with Article 7, the existence of anomalies or 
inconsistencies which prevent it from obtaining a true picture of developments in 
the conditions under which imports and deliveries have taken place, it may ask 
the Member States to allow it access to the relevant unaggregated information 
provided by the undertakings and the calculation and assessment procedures used 
to arrive at the aggregated information. 
Article 10 
The Commission shall, after consulting the Member States, adopt detailed rules for 
implementing this Regulation. 
Article 11 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal 
of the European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member 
States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
The President. 
GOVERNMENT REPORTING TO THE COMMISSION 
ON CRUDE OIL IMPORTS AND DELIVERIES 
a Type of crude 
oil (API) Volume 
(1000 Brl) Cif price 
(US*/Brl) API density % Sulphur Number of 
companies 
COMMUNICATION DES ETATS MEMBRES A LA COMMISSION SUR LES IMPORTATIONS ET LES LIVRAISONS DE PETROLE BRUT 
Type de Pétrole Brut (API) Volume 
(1000 Brl) Prix CAF 
(USVBrl) Densi té 
API X 
Soufre Nombre de 
compagnies 
Murban (40) 
Umm Shaif (37) 
Upper Zakum(34) 
Lower Zakum (40) 
Other 
(31) Abu Dhabi 
Abu Dhabi 
Abu Dhabi 
Abu Dhabi 
Abu Dhabi 
Dubai - Dubai 
SharJah 
Iran - Iranian Light (34) 
Iran - Iranian Heavy (31) 
Iran - Other 
Iraq - Basrah Light (34) 
Iraq - Kirkuk (36) 
Iraq - Other 
Kuwait - Blend (30-31) 
Oman - Oman (34) 
Qatar - Mar ine (40) 
Qatar - Land (41) 
Saudi Arabian - Light (33-34) 
Saudi Arabian - Medium (30-31,5) 
Saudi Arabian - Heavy (27-28) 
Saudi Arabia - Berri (37-38) 
Saudi Arabia - Other 
Syria - Light (36) 
Syr ia - Souedie (24) 
Yemen - Other 
Middle East - Other 
Algeria - Saharan Blend (44) 
Alger ia - Other 
Cabinda (32) 
Other Angola -
Angola -
Cameroon 
Congo 
Egypt 
Egypt 
Gabon 
Gabon Medium/Light (30-40) 
Heavy (<30) 
Rabi/Rabi Kounga (34) 
Other 
k Libya - Light (40) 
Libya - Medium (30-40) 
Libya - Heavy (<30) 
Nigeria - Medium (<33) 
Nigeria - Light (33-45) 
Nigeria - Condensate (>45) 
Tun i s i a 
Zaire 
Afr ica - Other 
Indonesia - Other 
Russia - Urals (32) 
Russia - Other 
Azerba i Jan 
Kazakhstan 
Ukraine 
FSU - Other 
Denmark (33-34,5) 
Norway - Stratfjord (38) 
Norway - GulIfaks (29) 
Norway - Oseberg (34) 
Norway - Ekofisk (43) 
Norway - Other 
United Kingdom - Brent Blend (37-38) 
United Kingdom - Forties (39-40) 
United Kingdom - Flotta (34,7) 
United Kingdom - Other 
Europe - Other 
Ecuador - Oriente (29) 
Ecuador - Other 
Mex ico - Maya (22) 
Mexico Isthmus (34) 
Mexico - Olmeca (40) 
Venezuela - Light (>30) 
Venezuela - Medium (22-30) 
Venezuela - Heavy (17-22) 
Latin America - Other 
Other Crudes 
TOTAL 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 89 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 12 14 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-101-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-86847-3 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg