ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(75)365
Vol.1975/0147

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(75)365final.
Brussels ,15July 1975
COMMISSION COMMUNICATION TOTHE COUNCIL
onthe Community position inrespect ofthenegotiations concerning
theharmonization ofagricultural policies between theCommunity and
Greece
RECOMMENDATION FOR ACOUNCIL DECISION
adopting certain directives ontheposition oftheCommunity within
theEEC-Greece Council ofAssociation concerning the ,harmonization
oftheagricultural policies oftheCommunity andGreese
CQMC75)365final.

Commission Communication to "theCouncil onthe
harmonization ofagricultureal policies
TheCommission would like toemphasize that theattached Communication
totheCouncil hasbeen drawn upinaccordance with thedecision ofthe
Association Council of28April 1975 "tostart work ontheharmonization of
agricultural policies ,adecision which wastaken before theapplication
formembership submitted byGreece on12June 1975 *
TheCommission therefore asked itself whether theanalyses and
proposals contained inthis Communication were still relevant .After
examining inparticular theGreek attitude tothegeneral plan andGreece 's
approach tothespecific matter ofwhat should bedone attheAssociation
Council meeting inJuly ,which istobeheld inAthens ,theCommission
considers that theenclosed text isstill relevant .Itwill take time to
initiate andcarry outtheprocedure which will have tofollow theapplication
formembership andtheGreek authorities areperfectly aware ofthis .
Inthefirst place theCommission should draw upanopinion which
theMember States should then examine .Secondly ,atadatewhich cannot yet
befixed ,negotiations could beopened .Ifthey were successful theresult
would have toberatified inalltheMember States andinGreece .
O
This isavery lengthy procedure andtherefore itisnotpossible
todelay bysuch aperiod oftime thenegotiations ontheharmonization
ofagricultural policies ,which isaprerequisite forthedevelopment of
theAssociation andalso animportant aspect ofthemembership negotiations .
Itisonly atalater stage ,inanumber ofmonths ,that themeasures to
benegotiated will tend inonedirection oranother according towhether
association oraccession isassumed asthebasis .Nevertheless themeasures
proposed inthis communication foradecision bytheAssociation Council
will have tobetaken before negotiations start .
TheCommission therefore stresses that this document must beexamined
rapidly bytheCouncil inview ofthedecisions tobetaken bytheAssociation
Council on23July next .

COMMISSION "£
1OFTHE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
7- I
aî«;* &
.59r.*\S/
CommissionCommunication totheCouncilontheCommunitypositionin
,respeotofthenegotiations concerning
theharmonization ofagricultural policiesbetweentheCommunityand
Greece
1.Thefirstphaseofthereactivation oftheAssociation between
GreeceandtheCommunity,whichbeganinJuly1974followingtheoverthrow
ofthedictatorship inAthens,hasnowbeencompleted.Itwasmainly
concernedwith:thefreeingofthebalanceofthefirstfinanoialprotocol,
whichwasfrozenin1967;theholdingofthefirstCouncilofAssociation
atministeriallevelon2December1974»thedecisiontotakeupagainthe
processleadingtotheharmonization ofagricultural policies ;theconclus­
ionoftheadditionalprotocolextendingtheAssociationtothethreenew
MemberStatesandofaninterimagreementtoensuretheapplication from
1July1975ofthetradeprovisionsofthatprotocol;theCommunity's
decisioninprinciple,whichhasbeennotifiedtotheGreekGovernment,
tonegotiateasecondfinancialprotocol;andfinally,theresumption
ofparliamentary cooperationwiththeappointment onbothsidesofthe
membersoftheJointParliamentary Committee(whichhelditsfirst■'
meetinginAthensfrom26to28June1975)*Themostremarkableresultsof
thefreezingoftheAssociationwereinthesectorsoffinancialcooperation
andofAgriculture.Thecommunityinfacthaltedthe
applicationofthefinancialprotocolinforceatthetimeofthecoupd'etat«
IntheagriculturalsectortheCommunitystoppedthenegotiations begunin1962
ontheharmonization ofagriculturalpoliciesforcertainsectorsanddecidedto
longermake,asregardstheothersectors,thedeclarationswhicharerequired
underArticle35inordertosetintraintheharmonization process.
?-*
-2-'
■ / ..

Hence,immediately democracywasrestoredinGreece,the
Communityindicateditsreadinesstoopenthesetwoimportantsets
ofnegotiations .Forthesereasonsalso,theCouncilofAssociat­
ionof2December1974decidedtostartthenegotiations .
Numerouscontactshavebeenmadesubsequently betweenthe
relevantdepartments oftheCommissionandtheGreekGovernmentin
ordertoidentifytheproblemstobesolvedandtheobstaclestobe
overcomeifthetaskentrustedtothetwoPartiesbytheCouncilof
Associationistobecarriedoutsuccessfully .
Theseinterdepartmental contacts,theresultsofwhich
shouldbeexaminedinthelightofallthequestionsraisedbythe
relaunching oftheAssociation ,haveled.theCommissiontotheconclus­
ionsandproposalsthatarethesubjectofthiscommunication ,which
setsouttodealwiththequestionofharmonization ofagricultural
policies.Acommunication concerningfinancialcooperationwillbe
submittedforthwithtotheCouncil.
»
2.Theharmonization processshould,accordingtothetermsof
theAgreement(article32),coveragricultureasawhole.Inaccord­
ancewiththefourthparagraphofArticle33itshouldbecompletedby
1November1984*Nineyearsremaintoaccomplishthiswhereasthirteen
yearshavepassedsince12November1962whentheCommunitymadethe
harmonization declarationforthefirstfivegroupsofproducts(l).
Moreover,almostallsectorsofagriculturearenowcovered
bythecommonorganization ofthemarkets.ThismeansthattheCouncil
ofAssociationdecisionof2December1974impliesthattheoverallhar­
monizationprocessshouldbestartedrelativelysoon*
-2-
(l)Cereals,pigmeat,poultrymeat,eggs,fruitandvegetables

3.BothGreeceand-theCommissionhavefoundthaiacertaindegree
ofpriorityshould "begrantedtoalimitednumberofsectorsofmutual
interesttoGreeceandtheCommunityandfirstlytothefruitandvege­
tableandwinesectors,fromwhichcome"mostGreekexportstothe
Communitycountriesandwhichhavecausedcertaindifficulties thatit
wouldbeaswelltoavoidinfuture.Itshouldalsobestressedthat,
inthecaseofwine,thespecialtreatmentwhichaccordedinadvanceby
theAgreement(Protocolno.14),setupbeforethecommonorganization
ofthemarketswasachievedand,therefore,definedon_anationalbasis,
shouldbereplacedassoonaspossiblebyasystemwhichconformswith
thecommonorganization ofmarketsintheCommunityandwiththeTreaty
ofRome.FruitandvegetableshavebeencomingintotheCommunityfree
ofdutysince1stJuly1968.
ForthesereasonstheCouncilofAssociationdecidedon
28April1975togiveprioritytothetwosectorsmentionned.This
decisiondoesnotprejudiceactionsintheothersectors,inparticular
thefiveaforementioned sectorsamongstwhichcerealsareofparticular
Communityinterest.
4»Theactualcontentsoftheharmonization programmearenot
setoutintheAthensAgreement.ThethirdparagraphofArticle33
merelydefinesitsaims:"Thepurposeofharmonization shallbeto
ensureequalityoftreatmentbetweenproductsofMemberStatesand
likeproductsofGreeceonthemarketsoftheContractingParties,
takingaccounttheobjectivessetoutinArticle39oftheTreaty
establishing theCommunity".
Article35oftheAgreementstates,however,that"Assoon
astheCommunityhasdeclaredthatthebasicprovisionsforimplement–
r
xngthecommonagricultural policyinrespectofaparticularproduct
havebeenlaiddown....andassoonasGreecehasdeclareditsreadi­
nesstoundertakeharmonization *...";thusitisclearlyunderstood
thatitisuptoGreecetoalignitselfonCommunitypolicy,theCommu­
nityforitspart,beingobligedunderthesecondparagraphofArticle
33to"takedueaccount...."ofGreece'spositionwhensettingupthe
commonagriculturalpolicy. '
MoreoverGreeceacceptsthisobligationcompletely.Tothis
effect,itdecidedandaccordinglyinformedtheCommunity,thatitwas

-4-
readytotakeoveralltheCommunityrules.Indeedfinthecourseof
technicaldiscussionsheldonthissubject,theGreekauthoritiespoint­
edouttotheCommissionthatworkonthetwo"priority"sectorswasal­
readywellinhandontheirside.Asafirststagetowardsharmonizat­
ion!GreecehaschosentoadaptitslegalinstrumentstothatoftheCom­
munity.TheCommissionfeelsthatthisnecessarystepwillnotbetaken
withoutdifficulties ,especiallyinviewoftheeconomicsituationofGreek
agricultureandtheorganisationoj^itsmarkets.Greecewillneedassist­
ance,mainlytechnical,fromtheCommunitytoaccomplishthisfirststep.
TheGreekauthorities areperfectlyawareofthisandhavepointeditout
totheCommission'sexpertsonseveraloccasions.TheCommissionfeels
thattheCommunityshouldgiveapositivereplytotheGreekrequestsin
thisfieldwhentheycometobeexpressed.
»
5*Thisstepalone,thoughnecessary,willnotsuffice.Itwill
havetobecoupledwitheconomicmeasurestakenbyGreecetoprepareits
agricultureforthepossibility oftakingadvantage,ontheCommunitymar­
ket,ofequalityoftreatmentwithCommunityproducts,whichisinline
withthefinalobjectiveoftheAgreementinthefieldofharmonization ,
whiletakingintoaccounttheobjectivessetoutinArticle39ofthe
TreatyofRome,inaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthethirdparagraph
ofArticle33oftheAthensAgreement.Thisclearlymeansthate<juality
oftreatmentwithCommunityproductsmustnotbeasourceofdisturbance
fortheCommunitymarkei^asgovernedbythecommonrules.Hereagain,
thedifficulties willbemany.TheGreekauthorities seemdetermined
toovercomethem,thistoowithCommunityaid.Greecewillrequestthis
aidattwolevels,teohnicalandfinancial.TheCommissionfeelsthat,
asinthecasereferredtoaboveofrequestsforhelpinthematterof
legalinstruments ,theCommunityshouldrespondtotherequestfortech­
nicalhelp.

-5-
Therestructuring ofGreekagriculturewilltaketimeand
willbeeffectedbyprogressivestages;thesameislikelytobe^true
oftheadoptionofCommunityrules.Asfaraspossiblethesestages
shouldbedefinedrightfromthe6tart.Itshouldbeunderstood ,how­
ever,thatitisonlyattheendoftheprocess,whentheCommunityrules
determiningtheconditionsthatarethebasisforfreeintra-Community
movementofagricultural productsareactuallyappliedinGreece-account
beingtakenofcourse,ofthespecialfeaturesofGreekagriculture-that
theaimofharmonization willbeachievedand,consequently ,theequality
oftreatmentbetweenproductsreferredtointhethirdparagraphofArticle
33canbeapplied.Untilthenitwillobviouslybenecessarytocorrect
anydisparitiesthatpersiet-thoughnormallylessandless-duringthe
processofachievingharmonization .Appropriate machinerywillhaveto
beestablishedforthispurpose.
Thisshouldnotraiseanyinsurmountable difficulties sincethe
Communitycanfindthetechnicalmeansofsolvingtheseproblemswithinthe
arrayofmechanismsprescribedbyitsagricultural policy.
6*Implementation ofthefirststageoftheharmonization process
mustinanycaseberesumed-orbegun-whateverthedeadlinestobeset
bythePartiesandwhatevertheoverallframeworktheygivetotheseneg­
otiations.Itisalsobyreferencetothisinitialsituationthatthe
CouncilofAssociationwillhavetotake,assoonaspossible,itsfirst
practicaldecisionsunderArticle34oftheAthensAgreement.TheCom­
missionconsidersthat,whentheCouncilofAssociationmeets,theCommu­
nityshouldproposethattheCouncildecideonthebasisofArticle34»
andinparticularparagraph2thereof:
(l)TharbtheCommunityinformGreeceof
(a)allamendmentstothecommonrulesinthefruitand
vegetablesectorintroducedsincethelastofficialinformationsupplied'
before19*57;

(b)thecommonrulesinthewinesectorandanyrelated
rules(forexample,theviticultural landregister)andanyproposals
foramendmentstoregulationsbeingstudiedbytheCouncil*
(2)ThatGreeceinformtheCommunityof
(a)anylaws,regulationsoradministrative actionwhichGreece
hasalreadyadoptedorisproposingtoadoptinordertotakeoverCommu­
nityrules;
(b)anybasicdocumentation givingsupportingreasonsfora
givenspecialprovisionconsiderednecessarybyGreeceinordertotake
accountofitsspecialpositionbutconforminginspiritnevertheless
toCommunityrules. '
(3)Thatconsultations underArticle34(3)takeplacewithinthe
CouncilofAssociation onthemeasurescommunicated inaccordancewith
paragraphs 1and2above.
7.Suchconsultations should,however,beinterpretedinawide
sensebecause,asbothsideshaveacknowledged onmorethanoneoccas­
ion,thereislosttimetobemadeup.Moreover,thetimeremaining
fortotalharmonization isrelativelyshort.Forthisreasonthe
Commissionconsidersthattheconsultations willhavetocoverthewhole
rangeoffieldsreferredtoabove,inadditiontodealingwiththeGreek
requestsfortechnicalassistance,notonlyfromtheangleofdrawingup
textsandprovidingnormalexplanations ongivenaspectsofCommunity
,J

rulesortheiroperation,butalsofromtheangleofmeasurestoadapt
Greekagriculturetotherequirements ofadevelopment oftradeinagricul­
turalproductsbetweentheParties.Inaddition,theneedtomakerapid
progressimpliesthatthePartiesshouldnotrestrictthemselvestoexchan­
gingsomeviewsattherhythmofmeetingsoftheAssociationbodies,whether
itbetheCouncilortheCommitteeeven.Thenumeroustechnicaltasks
willhavetobecarriedoutbyexpertsdesignatedforthepurpose.•For
thesereasonstheCommission .considersthattheCommunityshouldpropose
thattheCouncilofAssociation decidethat,foreachofthetwosectors,
thetextcommunicated bybothsidesshouldbesubmittedtopanels
ofexpertssetupaccordingtonecessity,whosetaskitwouldbetosuggest
totheCommitteeofAssoc­
iation,withaminimumofdelay,possibleamendmentstobemadeordecis­
ionsthatshouldbetakenonthosetextsbytheCouncilofAssociation .
Moreover,theCommunityshoulddeclareitselfready,in
theCouncilofAssociation ,toplaceatthedisposalofGreeceallthe
expertsoradvisersfoundtoberequiredbytheGreekdepartments inthe
lightofthestudyofproblemscroppingupastheprocessundertakenpro­
ceeds.
8.inconclusion ,theCommissionwould,liketostresstheimport­
anceofthenegotiations which,
willverysoonbeopenedwithGreece.Itisimportant
thatthenegotiations shouldbecarefullypreparedandapproachedwith
anopen–minded,butrealisticattitudeinviewofwhatisatstake.A
solidbasicfundofinformation mustbebuiltupandadetailedexaminat­
ionofthatinformationcarriedout.Itisforthisreasonthatthe
Commissionproposesthatnegotiations inthefieldoftheharmonization
ofagriculturalpoliciesshouldbeginonthebasisofthedecisionsthat
theCouncilofAssociation wouldbeaskedtotake:thesedecisionswould
concernboththecontentofthecommunications thataretobepresented
andthewaysandmeansofexaminingthem.
TheCommissionconsequently submitstotheCouncilarecommendation
foraCouncildecisionadoptingcertaindirectivesonthepositionofthe
CommunitywithintheESC–GreeceCouncilofAssociationconcerningthe
harmonization oftheagriculturalpoliciesoftheCommunityandGreece.
./8

cj#Althoughthequestionisnotdirectlyconnected ,withthe
harmonization ofagriculturalpoliciesproper,theCommissionconsiders
thattheCouncilofAssociation whichdecidesonthefirstpractical
measuresconcerningharmonizationwillhavetodecidetoterminatethetariffstand
stillreferredtoinArticle37(2)oftheAthensAgreement.This
standstillconcernsallproductsnotlistedinAnnexIIItotheAgree­
ment,thatisthosenotenjoyingthetreatmentinanticipationofharmo­
nizationofagriculturalpolicieslaiddownbyArticle37(l)«This
standstillarrangementfrozethedutiesexistingin1962asregardsthe
originalMemberStates,andin1972asregardsthethreenewMember
States,inrespectofimportsfromGreeceintotheCommunityofthe
agricultural productsinquestion.Theyconstitutethereforeabreach
oftheCCTandareasourceofuselesscomplication tothecustomsdepart­
mentsinasmuchastheproductsconcernedareoftriflingimportancein
tradebetweenGreeceandtheCommunity,sinceallproductsofanyimport­
anceareincludedinAnnexIXLandhence,fromthecustomsangle,aresub­
jecttointra-Community rules.
«
TheCommissionsuggests,therefore,thattheCouncilofAssociat­
ionbeaskedtoterminatethestandstill andentrusttheCustomsCooperat­
ionCommitteewiththetaskofpreparingproposalstobesubmittedtothe
Counciltothatend.

1/180/75-E
RECOMMENDATIONFORACOUNCILDECISIONADOPTINGCERTAIN
DIRECTIVES ONTHEPOSITIONOPTHECOMMUNITY WITHINTHEEEC-
GREECECOUNCILOPASSOCIATION CONCERNING THEHARMONIZATION
OPTHEAGRICULTURAL POLICIESOPTHECOMMUNITY ANDGREECE
THECOUNCILOPTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishing theEuropeanEconomicCommunity;
HavingregardtotheRecommendation fromtheCommission }
WhereasitisappropriatetoadoptcertaindirectivesontheCommunity's
positionwithintheEEC-GreeceCouncilofAssociation concerningthe
harmonization oftheagriculturalpoliciesoftheCommunityandGreecein
accordancewithArticles33to35of"theAgreementestablishing an
Association betweentheEECandGreece;
HASDECIDEDASFOLLOWS:
SoleArticle
Inthedeliberations withintheCouncilofAssociation ontheharmonization
oftheagriculturalpoliciesoftheCommunityandGreeceinaccordance
withArticles33to35oftheAgreementofAssociation
theCommission shallstatetheCommunity'sposition
onthebasisoftheDirectives
annexedhereto.

ANNEX
1. TheCommunity should propose that theCouncil ofAssociation decide
pursuant toArticles 34and35oftheAssociation Agreement :
a)that theCommunity inform Greece of:
–allamendments toitscommon rules inthefruit andvegetable sector
introduced after declarations made bytheCommunity upto19^7 J
–itscommon rules inthewine sector andanyamendments under consideration
bytheCouncil ; "
b)that Greece inform theCommunity of:
–anylaws ,regulations oradministrative measures adopted orcontemplated
inorder totake over Community rules inparticular inthesectors referred
toinsubparagraph (a)
–anybasic documentation providing supporting reasons forspecial measures
considered necessary byGreece totake account ofitsspecial situation
while respecting theaims oftherules ;
c)that theCommunity andGreece immediately begin consultations within
the Council ofAssociation onthe measures communicated inaccordance
with paragraphs (a)and (b);
d)that committees made upofadhocexperts becreated inthecase of
necessity toprepare forthese consultations andtopropose totheCouncil
ofAssociation ,allappropriate recommendations anddecisions regarding
theharmonization ofagricultural policies .
2. TheCommunity should propose that theCouncil ofAssociation undertake ,
inaccordance with Article 5(2)oftheInterim Agreement ,theharmonization
ofthelevels ofcustoms duties resulting from thearrangements provided for
inArticle 37(2)(a)and (b)oftheAssociation Agreement andinstruct the
Customs Cooperation Committee tosubmit proposals tothis end#