COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
0(0i'r C0M(91) 303 final 
Brussels, 26 July 1991 
Proposal for a 
Council Regulation (EEC) N* 
extending into 1992 the application of Council Regulations (EEC) 
N's 3831/90, 3832/90, 3833/90 and 3835/90 of 20 December 1990 
applying generalized tariff preferences for 1991 
in respect of certain products originating 
in developing countries 
Proposal for a 
Council Regulation (EEC) N" 
extending into 1992 the application of Council Regulation 
(EEC) N° 3834/90 of 20 December 1990 
reducing for 1991 the levies on certain agricultural 
products originating in developing countries 
Draft 
DECISION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF 
THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, 
MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL 
extending into 1992 the application of Decisions 90/672/ECSC and 
90/673/ECSC of 20 December 1990 applying generalized tariff preferences 
for 1991 in respect of certain steel products 
originating in developing countries 
(presented by the Commission) 
-I-
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
In its Communication of 6 July 1990 to the Council, concerning 
the Guidelines for the Generalized Preferences System for the 1990s the 
Commission announced that it would present a comprehensive proposal for 
a revised scheme on the basis of these new guidelines as soon as the 
impact of the result of the Uruguay Round negotiations could be 
assessed. 
Putting into operation a revised GSP from 1 January 1992 has 
become impossible as these negotiations have continued beyond the 
envisaged deadline and because it will be necessary, while revewing 
the GSP, to take into account the most recent evolutions of certain 
beneficiaries' specific situations. 
Consequently, the purpose of the present draft whilst awaiting 
for the revised scheme to be finalised, is to allow for a provisional 
extension beyond 1 January 1992 of the scheme in force in 1991. 
In doing so the Commission does not aim at delaying for longer 
than is strictly necessary the proposal for the new scheme, it 
therefore intends to present such a proposal as soon as possible 
during the course of 1992. Hence the prolongation of the present scheme 
in 1992 is not envisaged as going on necessarily until the end of the 
year but only up to when the revised scheme might be put into 
operation. 
The principle of the extension beyond 1 January 1992 of the 1991 
scheme as it stands contains one exception : the elimination from the 
textile scheme of the so called "double return to the reserve" 
mechanism whose alleged advantages, compared to the complexity of its 
management, do not Justify its being maintained and whose suppression 
has been repeatedly requested by all those services of the Commission, 
as well as of the Member States, charged with its administration. 
Such is the object of the present proposal for Council regulations 
and ECSC decision. 
- 3 -
Proposal for a 
Council Regulation (EEC) No ... 
extending into 1992 the application of Council Regulations 
(EEC) Nos 3831/90, 3832/90, 3833/90 and 3835/90 of 20 December 1990 
applying generalized tariff preferences for 1991 
in respect of certain products 
originating in developing countries 
THE COUNCIL 
COMMUNITIES, OF THE EUROPEAN 
Having regard to the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic 
Community, and in particular 
Article 113 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the 
Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
European Par I lament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the 
Economic and Social Committee, 
Whereas, in accordance with its offer 
made within the context of the United 
Nations Conference on Trade and 
Development (UNCTAD), the European 
Economic Community opened generalized 
tariff preferences commencing in 1971, 
notably in respect of finished and 
semi-finished industrial products from 
developing countries; whereas the 
initial ten-year period of application 
of this system of preferences ended on 
31 December 1980; 
Whereas, however, the positive role 
played by this system in improving 
access for the developing countries to 
the markets of the preference-giving 
countries was recognized at the ninth 
session of the UNCTAD Special Committee 
on Preferences; whereas it was there 
agreed that the objectives of the 
system of generalized preferences would 
not be fully achieved by the end of 
1980, that consequently it should be 
prolonged beyond the initial period, an 
overall review of the system having 
started in 1990; Whereas the review of the system has 
continued into 1991 and the progress 
of the work makes it unlikely that a 
scheme based on new gu i de 11nes wouId 
be established by 1 January 1992; 
Whereas the validity of the scheme 
for 1991 should therefore be 
provisionally extended beyond 
1 January 1992, pending the 
implementation of the new scheme 
sometime in 1992; 
Whereas the mechanism provided for 
in the third, fourth and fifth 
paragraphs of Article 5 of 
Regulation (EEC) No 3832/90 presents 
technical problems which warrant its 
amendment, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Subject to the following Articles, 
Regulations (EEC) Nos 3831/90, 
3832/90, 3833/90 and 3835/90 shall 
apply mutatis mutandis from 
1 January 1992 until the entry into 
force of a revised scheme and in any 
case not later than 31 December 
1992. 
- 4 -
Article 2 
Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Article 5 of 
Regulation (EEC) No 3832/90 are 
replaced by the following: 
"Within a time limit fixed by the 
Commission, following the date referred 
to in paragraph 2, each Member State 
shall be required to return to the 
reserve the quantity which has not been 
used within the meaning of 
Article 14(1) on that date." 
Article 3 
The modifications to annexes to 
Regulations 3831/90, 3832/90 and 
3833/90, which are purely of a 
technical nature, are listed in the 
Annex to the present Regulation. 
Article 4 
This Regulation shall enter into force 
on 1 January 1992. 
- 5 -
Council Regulation fEECl No 3831/00 A£UE& 
In Annex 1, in column (2) agalnet order No 10.0117 t 
for "2003 51 00- read "2903 61" 
in Annex I, In column (2), against order No 10.0950 : 
for "8211 91 90" read "8211 91 30 
8211 91 80" 
In Annex I, in column (2). against order No 10.1060 : 
for ''8629 90 99" read "8529 90 70 
8529 90 98u 
in Annex II Part 2, In the flret column of the list relating to 
South Korea : 
for "8515 10 10". read "8515 10 30" 
In Annex II Part 3. In the first column : 
for "ex 2903 19 00", read "ex 2903 19 90" 
for "2924 29 90"» read "2924 29 50 
2924 29 80" 
In Annex ll Part 3, In the flret column : 
for "8473 10 00", read "8473 10" 
for "8473 29 00", read "8473 29" 
for «8473 30 00", read "8473 30" 
for "8473 40 00", read "8473 40" 
In Annex II Part 3, in the first column : 
for "8507 10 91 
8507 10 99", read "8507 10 31 
8507 10 39 
8507 10 81 
8507 10 89" 
for "8507 20 99", read "8607 20 31 
8507 20 39 
8507 20 81 
8507 20 89" 
- 6 -
cannan Raoul ut Ion fEECÏ No 3832/9Û 
In Annex I, In column (3) against order No 40.0060 : 
for "6204 62 35", read "6204 62 39" 
for "6204 63 19 
6204 69 19", read "6204 63 18 
6204 69 18" 
In Annex I, in column (3) against order No 40.0160 : 
for "6203 22 90 
6203 23 90 
6203 29 19", read "6203 22 80 
6203 23 80 
6203 29 18" 
In Annex I, in column (3) against order No 40.0290 ; 
for "6204 22 90 
6204 23 90 
6204 29 19", read "6204 22 80 
6204 23 80 
6204 29 18" 
In Annex I in column (3) against order No 40.0780 t 
below "6211 31 00", Insert "6211 32 31 
6211 32 41 
6211 32 42" 
below "6211 32 90", Insert "6211 33 31 
6211 33 41 
6211 33 42" 
below "6211 41 00". Ineert "6211 42 31 
6211 42 41 
6211 42 42" 
below "6211 42 60". Insert "6211 43 31 
6211 43 41 
6211 43 42" 
- 7 -
Council Regulation fEECÏ No 3833/00 
in Annex I, in column (3) against order No 50.0016 : 
for "Preserved pineapples. In siloes» half siloes or spirals" 
read "Pineapples, prepared or preserved, in slices, half siloes 
or spirals" 
In Annex I, in column (3) against order No 60.0025 : 
for "Preserved pineapples other than In slices, half siloes or 
spirals" 
read "PIneapplee, prepared or preserved, other than in slices, half 
el less or spirals" 
in Annex II in column (2) against order No 52.3680 : 
for "2201 10 00", read "2201 10" 
- 8 -
Proposal for a 
Council Regulation (EEC) No ... 
extending to 1992 the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3834/90 
of 20 December 1990 reducing for 1991 the levies on certain agricultural 
products originating in developing countries 
THE COUNCIL 
COMMUNITIES, OF THE EUROPEAN 
Having regard to the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic 
Community, and in particular Article 43 
thereof, 
Having regard to the Act of Accession 
of Spain and Portugal, and in 
particular Articles 89(2) and 234(3) 
thereof, generalized preferences would not be 
fully achieved by the end of 1980, 
that consequently it should be 
prolonged beyond the initial period, 
an overall review of the system 
having started in 1990; 
Whereas the review of the system has 
continued into 1991 and the progress 
of the work makes it unlikely that a 
scheme based on new gu i de Ii nes wouId 
be established by 1 January 1992; 
Having regard to the proposal from the 
Commission, 
Having regard to the 
European Par I lament, opinion of the 
Having regard to the opinion of 
Economic and Social Committee, the 
Whereas, in accordance with its offer 
made within the context of the United 
Nations Conference on Trade and 
Development (UNCTAD), the European 
Economic Community opened generalized 
tariff preferences commencing in 1971, 
notably in respect of finished and 
semi-finished industrial products from 
developing countries; whereas the 
initial ten-year period of application 
of this system of preferences ended on 
31 December 1980; 
Whereas, however, the positive role 
played by this system in improving 
access for the developing countries to 
the markets of the preference-giving 
countries was recognized at the ninth 
session of the UNCTAD Special Committee 
on Preferences; whereas it was there 
agreed that the objectives of the 
system of Whereas the validity of the scheme 
for 1991 should therefore be 
provisionally extended beyond 
1 January 1991, pending the 
implementation of the new scheme 
sometime in 1992; 
Whereas the scheme for 1991 involved 
a preference consisting of a 
reduction of the import levy within 
the limits of a fixed quota, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Regulation (EEC) 
apply mutatis 
1 January 1992 
31 December 1992 
pending the entry 
revised scheme. No 3834/90 sha11 
mutandis from 
until 
at the latest, 
into force of a 
Article 2 
This Decision shall enter into force 
on 1 January 1992. 
- 9 -
DRAFT 
DECISION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF 
THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, 
MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL 
extending into 1992 the application of Decisions 90/672/ECSC and 
90/673/ECSC of 20 December 1990 applying generalized tariff preferences 
for 1991 in respect of certain steel products 
originating in developing countries 
THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS 
OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN 
COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, MEETING 
WITHIN THE COUNCIL, 
In agreement with the Commission, 
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
Decisions 90/672/ECSC and 90/673/ECSC 
shall apply mutatis mutandis from 
1 January 1992 the entry into force of 
a revised scheme and in any case not 
later than 31 December 1992. 
Article 2 
The modifications to the Annex to the 
Decision 90/672/ECSC which are purely 
of a technical nature, are listed in 
the Annex to the present decision. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 
1 January 1992. 
- 10 -
ANNEX 
PoctHPft SQ/07275CSÇ 
In Annex I In column (2) against order No 60.0050 
for "7210 70 21 
7210 70 29", read "7210 70 31 
7210 70 39" 
-M-
FICHE FINANCIERE 
L'incidence financière des préférences tarifaires généralisées 
accordées aux pays en voie de développement est difficilement 
chiffrable avec précision par suite tant de la souplesse des régies 
d'octroi que du fait : 
de la complexité des concessions et de la différenciation entre les 
pays notamment de l'existence de contingents et de plafonds 
tarifaires différents selon les produits et les pays bénéficiaires; 
des régies d'origine auxquelles la structure de production dans les 
PVD ne permet de satisfaire que dans des proportions variables; 
de l'utilisation partielle des avantages offerts due à un manque 
d'information ou d'intérêt économique si le droit normal est peu 
éIevé. 
En fonction de ces éléments, il y a une nette disproportion entre 
l'offre globale ouverte au 1er Janvier et les importations 
effectivement entrées au 31 décembre de la même année avec un taux 
préférentiel. 
L'offre globale SPG pour 1992 est évaluée à 27,8 milliards d'écus, 
comme en 1991. 
La moyenne pondérée des droits de douane du tarif douanier commun 
applicable aux produits en question se situant entre 5,5 X et 6 % et le 
taux moyen d'utilisation étant de 70 %, les recettes douanières non 
percevables du fait de l'application du schéma SPG de la Communauté en 
1992 sont estimées entre 1,04 et 1,17 mi 11 lards d écus. 



ISSN 0234-1475 
COM(91) 303 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 02 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-337-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-74768-4 
Office for Official Publications of the Buropcan Communities 
1^2985 Luxembourg