Proposal for a Council regulation concerning the export of certain steel products from the Slovak Republic to the Community for the period from the date of entry into force of this Regulation up to the date of accession by the Slovak Republic to the European Union (extension of the double-checking system)

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The aim of the double-checking system is to improve transparency and to avoid possible diversions of trade. It is founded on the provision in the EC-Slovak Republic Europe Agreement [1] which allows either Party to introduce an administrative procedure having as its purpose the rapid provision of information on the trend of trade flows. The Parties agreed to establish such a system in 1998 in respect of certain steel products by means of Decision N° 3/97 [2] of the Association Council. By Decision N° 1/99 [3] of the Association Council the system was extended, with amended product coverage, for the period from 1 January to 31 December 1999. By Decision N° 1/2000 [4] of the Association Council the system was extended for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2000. By Decision N° 1/2001 [5] of the Association Council the system was extended for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2001. By Decision N° 3/2002 [6] of the Association Council the system was extended for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2002. Council Regulation (EC) N° 85/98 [7], amended by Council Regulation (EC) N° 288/99 [8], extended by Council Regulations (EC) N° 543/00 [9], N°238/01 [10] and N° 1093/2002 [11]established the corresponding implementing legislation for the Community.

[1] OJ N° L 359, 31.12.94, p. 2.

[2] OJ N° L 13, 19.01.98, p. 71.

[3] OJ N° L 36, 10.02.99, p. 18.

[4] OJ N° L 67, 15.03.00, p. 36.

[5] OJ N° L 35, 6.2.01, p. 38.

[6] OJ N° L 166, 25.6.2002, p. 22.

[7] OJ N° L 13, 19.01.98, p. 15.

[8] OJ N° L 36, 10.02.99, p. 1.

[9] OJ N° L 67, 15.03.00, p. 3.

[10] OJ N° L 35, 6.2.01, p. 2

[11] OJ N° L 166, 25.6.2002, p. 1.

At its meeting on 28 October 2002 , the Contact Group agreed to recommend that the Association Council should extend the double-checking system for the period from the date of entry into force of this Regulation up to the date of accession by the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

The attached proposal consequently seeks to extend Council Regulation (EC) N° 85/98 for the period from the date of entry into force of this Regulation up to the date of accession by the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

2002/0276 (ACC)

Proposal for a Council regulation concerning the export of certain steel products from the Slovak Republic to the Community for the period from the date of entry into force of this Regulation up to the date of accession by the Slovak Republic to the European Union (extension of the double-checking system)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission [12],

[12] OJ C

Whereas:

(1) The Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, entered into force on 1 February 1995 [13];

[13] OJ N° L 359, 31.12.94, p. 2.

(2) The Parties decided by Decision N° ..../2002 [14] of the Association Council to extend the double-checking system introduced by Decision N° 3/97 [15], for the period from the date of entry into force of this Regulation up to the date of accession by the Slovak Republic to the European Union;

[14] See page ... of this Official Journal.

[15] OJ N° L 13, 19.01.98, p. 71.

(3) It is consequently necessary to extend the Community implementing legislation introduced by Council Regulation (EC) N° 85/98 [16] of 19 December 1997, concerning the export of certain steel products from the Slovak Republic to the Community for the period from 1 January to 31 December 1998 (extension of the double-checking system);

[16] OJ N° L 13, 19.01.98, p. 15.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EC) N° 85/98 shall continue to apply for the period from the date of entry into force of this Regulation up to the date of accession by the Slovak Republic to the European Union, in accordance with the provisions of Decision N° ..../2002 of the Association Council between the European Communities and their Member States, of, the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part.

Article 2

Regulation (EC) 85/98 shall in consequence be amended as follows:

1. In the title, preamble and Article 1 (1) and (4) references to the period '1 January to 31 December 2002' shall be replaced by references to 'the date of entry into force of this Regulation up to the date of accession by the Slovak Republic to the European Union'.

2. Annex IV to that Regulation shall be replaced by the text contained in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 3

Goods shipped to the EC as from 1 January 2003 until the date of entry into force of this Regulation shall be excluded from the scope of this Regulation.

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 10th day following 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

ANNEX

LISTE OVER KOMPETENTE NATIONALE MYNDIGHEDER

LISTE DER ZUSTÄNDIGEN BEHÖRDEN DER MITGLIEDSTAATEN

ÄÉÅÕÈÕÍÓÅÉÓ ÔÙÍ ÁÑ×ÙÍ ÅÊÄÏÓÇÓ ÁÄÅÉÙÍ ÔÙÍ ÊÑÁÔÙÍ ÌÅËÙÍ

LISTA DE LAS AUTORIDADES NACIONALES COMPETENTES

LISTE DES AUTORITES NATIONALES COMPETENTES

ELENCO DELLE COMPETENTI AUTORITA NAZIONALI

LIJST VAN BEVOEGDE NATIONALE INSTANTIES

LISTA DAS AUTORIDADES NACIONAIS COMPETENTES

LUETTELO TOIMIVALTAISISTA KANSALLISISTA VIRANOMAISISTA

FÖRTECKNING ÖVER BEHÖRIGA NATIONELLA MYNDIGHETER

LIST OF THE COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Ministère des Affaires Economiques

Administration des Relations Economiques

Services Licences

Rue Général Leman 60

B-1040 Bruxelles

Fax: +32-2-230 83 22 // FRANCE

Service des Industries Manufacturières

DIGITIP

12, rue Villiot - Bâtiment LE BERVIL

F-75572 Paris cedex 12

Fax: +33-1-53 44 91 81

Ministerie van Economische Zaken

Bestuur van de Economische Betrekkingen

Dienst Vergunningen

Generaal Lemanstraat 60

B-1040 Brussel

Fax:+32-2-230 83 22 // IRELAND

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Import/ Export Licensing, Block C

Earlsfort Centre

Hatch Street

Dublin 2

Fax :+353-1-631 28 26

DANMARK

Erhvervsfremme Styrelsen

Økonomi- og Erhvervsministeriet

Vejlsøvej 29

DK-8600 Silkeborg

Fax: +45 35 46 64 01 // ITALIA

Ministero delle Attivita Produttive

Direzione generale per la politica commerciale e per la gestione del regime degli scambi

Viale America 341

I-00144 Roma

Fax : +39-6-59 93 22 35 / 59 93 26 36

DEUTSCHLAND

Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle,

(BAFA)

Frankfurter Strasse 29-35

D-65760 Eschborn 1

Fax : +49-61 96 9 42 26 // LUXEMBOURG

Ministère des affaires étrangères

Office des licences

BP 113

L-2011 Luxembourg

Téléfax : +352-46 61 38

ÅËËÁÓ

Õðïõñãåßï ÅèíéêÞò Ïéêïíïìßáò

ÃåíéêÞ Ãñáììáôåßá Äéåèíþí Ó÷Ýóåùí

Äéåýèõíóç Äéåèíþí Ïéêïíïìéêþí Ñïþí

ÊïñíÜñïõ 1

GR-105 63 ÁèÞíá

Fax : +301-3286094 //

NEDERLAND

Belastingdienst/Douane centrale dienst voor in- en uitvoer

Postbus 30003, Engelse Kamp 2

NL-9700 RD Groningen

Fax : +31-50 526 06 98

m.i.v. 18.01.2002

Fax :+31-50 5232341

ESPAÑA

Ministerio de Economía

Secretaría General de Comercio Exterior

Paseo de la Castellana 162

E-28046 Madrid

Fax : +34-1-563 18 23/349 38 31 //

ÖSTERREICH

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit

Aussenwirtschaftsadministration

Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 55-57

A-1030 Wien

Fax: +43-1-711 00/8386

PORTUGAL

Ministério das Finanças

Direcção Geral das Alfândegas e dos Impostos Especiais sobre o Consumo

Rua Terreiro do Trigo, Edifício da Alfândega de Lisboa

1140-060 Lisboa - Portugal

Fax: (351) 218 814 261 //

SVERIGE

Kommerskollegium

Box 6803

S-11386 Stockholm

Fax: 46-8-30 67 59

SUOMI

Tullihallitus

PL 512

FIN-00101 Helsinki

Telekopio: + 358 9 614 2852 //

UNITED KINGDOM

Department of Trade and Industry

Import Licensing Branch

Queensway House - West Precinct

Billingham, Cleveland

UK-TS23 2NF

Fax : 44-1642-533 557