Proposal for a Council Regulation on the implementation by the Commission of activities to promote market access for Community industry to third countries (96/C 316/07) COM(96) 432 final - 96/0219(ACC)

(Submitted by the Commission on 6 September 1996) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 113 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal of the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas the common commercial policy would be incomplete, if it were not accompanied on the Community level by specific activities designed to remove trade barriers and facilitate market penetration for Community industry to third countries;

Whereas therefore new worldwide commercial opportunities for Community industry should be supported by a market access policy of the European Community;

Whereas the policy needs to be backed up by specific activities to identify and find ways to eliminate trade barriers, to indicate market opportunities, and to raise the profile of Community industry;

Whereas to this end it is necessary to adopt rules laying down the basic objectives to be achieved by the Commission as well as the means to achieve these goals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Commission shall design and carry out a market access programme aimed at improving the access of Community products and cross-border services in third countries.

Article 2

1. The Commission of the European Communities shall, in particular, undertake, directly or indirectly, the following activities:

- analysis of the conditions of market access in third countries,

- establishment and development of databases as well as coordination and dissemination of information concerning trade barriers, international or national trade regulations,

- studies concerning, in particular, implementation by third countries of their obligations under international trade agreements, or in connection with the preparation of negotiations,

- organization of, or participation in, trade fairs in third countries,

- organization of seminars and business fora, production and distribution of studies, information packs, publications, leaflets concerning any legal or economic aspect relating to access to third countries markets or international trade conditions,

- any other activity destined to raise the profile of the Community industry, promote the image of Community products or services and support market openings.

2. In implementing the activities referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall ensure the consistency of the specific activities developed thereunder with the various aspects of other Community policies.

Article 3

In order to enable the Commission to carry out the market access activities, promote the European opportunities resulting from international trade agreements and other activities mentioned in this Regulation, the Commission shall dispose of the necessary financial resources. For that reason, the Commission will include annual proposal for its financial requirements, for the activities specified in Article 2, under the normal budgetary procedures.

Article 4

The market access programme referred to pursuant to Article 1 shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 5.

Article 5

The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee for access to third country markets hereinafter referred to as 'the Committee`, composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.

The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have his position recorded in the minutes.

The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.

Article 6

Without prejudice to other Community provisions, the actions developed by the Community under the present Regulation may be accompanied by separate activities by Member States in the field of export promotion.

Article 7

This regulation shall enter into force on . . .

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