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Brussels, 13.5.2008

COM(2008) 302 final

2008/0094(ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 752/2007 of 30 May 2007 on administering certain restrictions on imports of certain steel products from Ukraine

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The trade in certain steel products between the European Community and Ukraine has been governed by an Agreement, establishing also quota for imports into Europe of steel originating in Ukraine. As foreseen in Article 10(4) of the Agreement, with the accession of Ukraine to the World Trade Organisation the Agreement will be terminated and the quota abolished. The date of accession is foreseen for 16 May 2008. Therefore, the Commission proposes now to repeal the Regulation implementing the Agreement in the Community.

The Council is invited to adopt the proposal of the Commission and publish the Regulation in the Official Journal.

2008/0094(ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 752/2007 of 30 May 2007 on administering certain restrictions on imports of certain steel products from Ukraine

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,

Whereas:

1. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part[1], hereinafter referred to as “the PCA”, entered into force on 1 March 1998.

2. Article 22(1) of the PCA provides that trade in certain steel products shall be governed by Title III of that Agreement, with the exception of Article 14 thereof, and by the provisions of an agreement on quantitative arrangements.

3. On 18 June 2007, the European Community and the Government of Ukraine concluded such an Agreement on trade in certain steel products[2], hereinafter referred to as “the Agreement”.

4. On 30 May 2007, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 752/2007 on administering certain restrictions on imports of certain steel products from Ukraine[3] in order to implement the Agreement.

5. The Agreement, in Article 10(4) rules that in the event that Ukraine accedes to the World Trade Organisation before the expiration of the Agreement, the Agreement shall be terminated and the quantitative limits shall be abolished as of the date of Accession.

6. On 16 May 2008 Ukraine will become a member of the World Trade Organisation.

7. On that date the Regulation to implement the Agreement will become without substance.

8. For reasons of clarity it is therefore necessary to repeal Regulation (EC) No 752/2007,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 752/2007 is hereby repealed.

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 […]

[1] OJ L 49, 19.2.1998, p. 3.

[2] OJ L 178, 6.7.2007, p. 24.

[3] OJ L 178, 6.7.2007, p. 1.