Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION authorising transfers between the quantitative limits of textiles and clothing products originating in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

On 15 December 1992, the European Community and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam initialled an Agreement on trade in textile and clothing products [1] which was approved on 8 August 1996. [2] That Agreement has been last amended by an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, initialled on 15 February 2003 and provisionally applied from 10 September 2003. [3]

[1] OJ L 410, 31.12.1992, p. 279.

[2] OJ L 199, 8.8.1996, p. 1.

[3] OJ L 152, 20.06.2003, p. 41.

In the light of the quota increase provided for under the Exchange of Letters of 15 February 2003, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on 10 September 2003, made a request that the unused quantities of the quota increase for 2003 be transferred to the quantitative limits of quota year 2004. Vietnamese and European Community operators could only partially benefit from the quota increase in 2003, and it is appropriate to transfer the unused part of these additional quantities to the quota levels of quota year 2004.

2004/0128 (ACC)

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION authorising transfers between the quantitative limits of textiles and clothing products originating in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 15 December 1992, the European Community and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam initialled an Agreement on trade in textile and clothing products [4] which was approved on 8 August 1996. [5] That Agreement has been last amended by an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, initialled on 15 February 2003 and provisionally applied from 10 September 2003. [6]

[4] OJ L 410, 31.12.1992, p. 279.

[5] OJ L 199, 8.8.1996, p. 1.

[6] OJ L 152, 20.06.2003, p. 41.

(2) Pursuant to Article 9 of this Agreement certain quantitative limits may be transferred to the following year if they have not been used in the current year.

(3) In the light of the quota increase provided for under the Exchange of Letters of 15 February 2003, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on 10 September 2003, made a request that the unused quantities of the quota increase for 2003 be transferred to the quantitative limits of quota year 2004.

(4) As Vietnamese and European Community operators could only partially benefit from the quota increase in 2003, and it is appropriate to transfer the unused part of these additional quantities to the quota levels of quota year 2004.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Transfers between the quantitative limits for textile goods originating in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam are authorised for the quota year 2004 in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX

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