ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
DE LA COMMISSION 
 
 
 
COLLECTION RELIEE DES 
DOCUMENTS "COM" 
 
 
 
 
COM (83) 248 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0103 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), t his file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februa r 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 v om 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 
COM(83)  248 final 
Brussels,  5 May  1983 
Recommendation for  a 
COUNCIL  DECISION 
authorizing  the Commission to  negotiate  on behalf of the  Community 
an agreement in the  form of an exchange of  letters  amending 
certain  zero-duty  tariff  quotas  opened by the United  Kingdom 
for 1983 in  accordance  with Protocol  No 1 of the 
Agreement between the European Economic  Community 
and the  Republic  of Finland 
(submitted  to the  Council by the Commission) 
COM(83)  248 final 

Explanatory  Memorandum 
1. As for the Last four  years the United  Kingdom  has requested that the 
1983 zero-duty  tariff quota for coated  printing  and writing  paper, 
including  Light weight coated mechanical  paper weighing  less than 
65 gms/m 2 (LWC), provided for in Protocol No 1 of the  Free Trade Agree­
ment between  the European  Economic  Community  (EEC) and Finland be in­
creased. 
2. The reasons  for this request are the following: 
- Since the conclusion of the  Agreement  in 1973 the  demand structure 
for paper products  imported  from Finland has  changed  considerably. 
- The demand  for light weight coated paper has increased sharply since 
1973, in  particular  for a special  type of this paper supplied by 
Finland. 
- There is no production of  this type of paper in the United  Kingdom 
and although the rest of the  Community  has been able to supply an 
increasing  proportion of U.K.  demand,  much of the latter has still 
to be met by supplies  from Finland.  Politically  and economically it 
would not be desirable to  impose customs  duties -  even very minor 
ones - on this traditional  commerce  during the  last year of transition 
towards  full free trade. 
3. The increase in the  quotas for coated  printing  and writing  paper would be 
for 1983 and  would be accomplished  through  a temporary  transfer of 
7.571 tons from the underutilized  quota for ex 48.01 C II  (kraft paper 
for large capacity  sacks)  to the quota ex 48.07 D (coated  printing  and 
writing paper). 
4. Therefore, the  Commission  presents to the Council the attached  recommen­
dation for a Council Decision authorizing the  Commission  to negotiate on 
behalf of the  Community  an agreement  in the form of an exchange  of letters 
amending  certain zero-duty  tariff quotas opened by the United  Kingdom  for 
1983 in accordance  with Protocol No 1 of the  Agreement  between  the 
European  Economic  Community  and the Republic of Finland. 

RBCCKNEimATION  FOR A 
COUNCIL DECISION 
authorising  the Commission  to negotiate  on "behalf of the  Community  an 
agreement  in the form of an exchange  of letters amending  certain  zero-
duty tariff (footas opened by the United  Kingdom  for 1933 in  accordance--  ^ 
with Protocol No 1 of  the Agreement between the Europe  n Economic Community 
and the Republic of Finland  />>·...:;·'··.·· 
THE COUWCIL OF SHE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES  ^?'v:"-.'-  v- -;:.?·/'··· 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the  European  Economic  Coarounity, 
and in particular  Article  113 thereof}  .  .. ·. 
Having regard to the  Agreement  signed in Brussels  on 5 October  1973 between 
the European  Economic  Community'and  the Republic of Finland (l) 
Having regard to the  recommendation  from the Commission} 
Whereas certain  zero-duty  tariff quotas opened by the United  Kingdom  for 
1983 in accordance with Protocol  No 1 of the aforementioned  Agreement  should be 
amended, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWSt 
Sole, Article 
The Commission  is hereby authorized to negotiate  on behalf of the  Community 
an agreement  in the form of an exchange  of letters amending  certain  zero-duty 
tariff quotas opened by the United  Kingdom  for 198 3 in  accordance  with Proto­
col No 1 of the Agreement between the European Economic Community  and the 
Republio of Finland. 
(l) OJ No L 328, 28.11.1973, p.2 

- 2 -
The Commission,  assisted  by representatives  of the Member States,  shall 
conduct the negotiations  in accordance  with the annexed  directives. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Counoil 
The President 

Annex 
Directives  for negotiation  from the Council to the  Commission 
According to Protocol No 1 of the  Agreement  between  the European  Economic 
Community  and the Republic of Finland signed in Brussels on 5  October  1973 (1) 
the United  Kingdom  has since 1  January  1974 opened  zero-duty  tariff  quotas 
for coated printing and writing  paper  (ex 48.07  D) as well as for kraft  paper 
for large capacity  sacks  Cex 48.01 C II). The permissible  maxima  for these 
quotas were fixed on the basis of  statistics  for the period  1968-1971. 
Since 1974 the  demand  for light weight  coated  paper  (LWC) has increased 
significantly  in particular for a special  type of this paper  supplied 
by Finland. 
Thus an increase in the  quota  for coated printing and writing  paper 
(ex 48.07  D) for 1983 should be  accomplished  through  a temporary  trans­
fer of 7 571 t  from the underutilized  quota  for kraft  paper  for large 
capacity  sacks  (ex 48.01 C II) to the  former  quota. 
(1) OJ No L  328, 28.11.1973,  p. 2 

Financial  sheet 
The inoreaae by 7,571 t of the duty-free  quota would mean a reduction 
of 98.600  ECU in Customs  duties levied on light weight  coated paper. 
It is unlikely  that the  revenue  from duties  levied on kraft paper  would 
increase  "because  of the quota reduction, since  these .quotas were not 
fully utilized  in the past.