Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. In response to requests from several Member States, the Commission's departments, together with the government experts concerned, considered whether to open, increase and extend autonomous tariff quotas for certain industrial products.

2. Following the discussion, at a meeting of the Economic Tariff Questions Group, it was concluded that the Member States could approve new quotas, increases or extensions to quotas for the products covered by the proposal for a Regulation, without disturbing the markets for such products.

Hence the attached proposal for a Regulation.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 26 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) By virtue of Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 of the Council from 20th December 1996 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products [1] Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products were opened. Community demand for the products in question should be met under the most favourable conditions. Community tariff quotas should therefore be opened at reduced or zero rates of duty for appropriate volumes, and increased, extended or terminated in the case of certain existing tariff quotas, while avoiding any disturbance to the markets for these products;

[1] OJ L 345, 31.12.1996, p. 1; as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2287/2002 (OJ L 348, 21.12.2002, p. 42).

(2) Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 should therefore be amended,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

With effect from 1 July 2003, the tariff quotas listed in the Annex to this Regulation shall be added to Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2505/96.

Article 2

For the quota period from 1 January to 30 June 2003 in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 2505/96:

- the quota amount of the tariff quota 09.2902 is fixed at 20.000 units.

- the quota amount of the tariff quota 09.2935 is fixed at 120.000 tonnes.

Article 3

For the quota period from 1 January to 31 December 2003 in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 the quota amount of the tariff quota 09.2904 is fixed at 8.500 units.

Article 4

The quota periods of the tariff quotas 09.2867 and 09.2985, which are foreseen in annex I of Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 is extended up to 31 December 2003.

Article 5

The quota period of the tariff quota 09.2991, which is foreseen in annex I of Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 is terminated by 30 June 2003.

Article 6

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following 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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(a) Control of the use for this special purpose shall be carried out pursuant to the relevant Community provisions.

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ANNEX

Effective from 1.1.2003:

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Total loss of revenue in relation to the previous quota period: + 620.562 EUR crude.

Effective from 1.7.2003:

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Total loss of revenue in relation to the previous quota period: + 5.288.933,25 EUR crude.

FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES

Provisions on the management of tariff quotas include the measures needed to prevent and protect against frauds and irregularities.