Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) establishing certain measures concerning imports of processed agricultural products from Switzerland in order to take account of the results of the Uruguay Round negotiations in the agricultural sector

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Council Decision of 22 December 1994 concerning the conclusion of the agreements reached in the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations (1986-1994) was implemented for certain agricultural products on 1 July 1995. These agreements provide for the application of specific amounts to processed agricultural products in place of the previous variable components.

The existing free trade agreement with Switzerland contains a protocol specifically relating to processed agricultural products. This protocol currently provides only for variable components to be applied, upon import, to certain processed agricultural products. These variable components have been replaced by specific amounts following the implementation of the agreements on agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations. In order to avoid disturbing traditional trade flows and to maintain the existing level of reciprocal preferences, it has proved necessary to make certain technical adjustments by introducing reduced specific amounts.

All the changes necessary to implement the results of the Uruguay Round negotiations have been negotiated with Switzerland and will be incorporated in the existing Protocol. However, in view of the fact that these negotiations will not be completed by 1 July 1999, it is necessary to adopt autonomous measures in order to maintain the existing level of reciprocal preferences pending the conclusion of the negotiations.

For these reasons, the Commission proposes that the Council adopt the following Regulation.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) establishing certain measures concerning imports of processed agricultural products from Switzerland in order to take account of the results of the Uruguay Round negotiations in the agricultural sector

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 from the Commission,

(1) Whereas, under the preferential agreement between the European Community and Switzerland, concessions regarding certain processed agricultural products have been granted on a reciprocal basis;

(2) Whereas, further to Council Decision 94/800/EC of 22 December 1994 concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community, as regards matters within its competence, of the agreements reached in the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations (1986-1994) (1), certain concessions regarding processed agricultural products have been amended as from 1 July 1995;

(1) OJ L 336, 23.12.1994, p. 1.

(3) Whereas as a result certain aspects of the preferential agreement concluded with Switzerland, and in particular the protocol concerning processed agricultural products annexed to this agreement, should be adjusted in order to maintain the existing level of reciprocal preferences;

(4) Whereas to that end negotiations are still in progress with Switzerland with a view to the conclusion of amendments to this protocol; whereas, however, it is not possible to conclude these negotiations in time in order to implement the necessary adjustments on 1 July 1999;

(5) Whereas, in the circumstances, it is appropriate for the European Community to adopt autonomous measures in order to maintain the existing level of reciprocal preferences, pending the conclusion of negotiations; whereas the duties resulting from those measures may not exceed those applicable under the Common Customs Tariff,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. From 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000, the basic amounts to be taken into account in the calculation of the agricultural components and the additional duties applicable at importation into the Community of goods originating in Switzerland shall be those mentioned in the Annex to this Regulation.

2. The Commission may, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 (2), suspend application of the measures provided for in paragraph 1 if Switzerland discontinues the application of its reciprocal measures in favour of the Community.

(2) OJ L 318, 20.12.1993, p. 18.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply with effect from 1 July 1999.

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

Anexo - Bilag - Anhang - ?a?a?t?µa - Annex - Annexe -Allegato - Bijlage - Anexo - Liite - Bilaga

Montantes básicos, considerados par calcular los elementos agrícolas reducidos y derechos adicionales, aplicables a la importación en la Comunidad

Basisbeløb taget i betragtning ved beregningen af de nedsatte landbrugs elementer og tillægstold anvendelig ved indførsel i Fællesskabet

Grundbeträge, die bei der Berechnung der ermäßigten Agrarteilbeträge und Zusatzzölle, anwendbar bei der Einfuhr in die Gemeinschaft berücksichtigt worden sind

?as??? p?s? p?? e??f??sa? ?p??? ??a t?? ?p?????sµ? t?? µetaß??t?? st???e??? ?a? p??s?et?? dasµ?? p?? efa?µ????ta? sta a???t??? st???e?a ?at? t?? e?sa???? st?? ?????t?ta

Basic amounts taken into consideration in calculating the reduced agricultural components and additional duties, applicable on importation into the Community

Montants de base, pris en considération lors du calcul des éléments agricoles réduits et droits additionnels applicables à l'importation dans la Communauté

Importi di base, presi in considerazione per il calcolo degli elementi agricoli e dei dazi addizionali applicabili all'importazione nella Comunità

Basisbedragen, in aanmerking genomen bij de berekening van de verlaagde agrarische elementen en aanvullende invoerrechten, geldend bij invoer in de Gemeenschap

Montantes de base tomados em consideração aquando do cálculo dos elementos agrícolas reduzidos e dos direitos adicionais aplicáveis à importaçaõ na Comunidade

Yhteisöön tulevaan tuontiin sovellettavia alennettuja maatalousosia ja lisätulleja laskettaessa huomioon otettavat perusmäärät

Grundpriser som beaktas vid beräkning av minskade jordbruksbeståndsdelar och tilläggstull som skall utgå på import till gemenskapen //

EUR/100 kg

Trigo blando / Blod hvede / Weichweizen / ?a?a?? s?t??? / Common wheat / Blé tendre / Grano tenero / Zachte tarwe / Trigo mole / Tavallinen vehnä / Vete // 9,771

Trigo duro /Härd hvede / Hartweizen /S????? s?t??? / Durum wheat / Blé dur /Grano duro /Durum tarwe / Trigo duro /Durumvehnä / Durumvete // 15,168

Centeno/ Rug / Roggen /S??a?? /Rye /Seigle / Segala / Rogge / Centeio / Ruis /Råg // 10,129

Cebada / Byg / Gerste / ??????? /Barley/ Orge / Orzo / Gerst / Cevada / Ohra / Korn // 10,129

Maiz / Majs / Mais / ?a?aµp??? / Maize / Maïs / Granturco / Maïs / Milho / Maissi / Majs // 10,276

Arroz descascarillado de grano largo / Ris, afskallet, langkornet / Reis, langkörnig, geschält / ?p?f????µ??? ???? µa???spe?µ? / Long-grain husked rice / Riz décortiqué à grains longs / Riso semigreggio a grani lunghi / Langkorrelige gedopte rijst / Arroz em películas de grãos longos / Pitkäjyväinen esikuorittu riisi / Ris, skalat långkornigt // 28,910

Leche desnatada en polvo / Skummetmælkspulver / Magermilchpulver / ?p?ß??t???µ??? ???a se s???? / Skimmed-milk powder / Lait écrémé en poudre / Latte scremato in polvere / Magere-melkpoeder / Leite desnatado em pò/ Rasvaton maitojauhe / Skummjölkspulver // 123,750

Leche entera en polvo / Sodmælkspulver / Vollmilchpulver / ????e? ???a se s???? / Whole-milk powder / Lait entier en poudre / Latte intero in polvere / Vollemelkpoeder / Leite inteiro ein pö / Rasvainen maitojauhe / Mjölkpulver // 142,660

Mantequilla / Smør / Butter / ???t??? / Butter / Beurre / Burro / Boter / Manteiga / Voi / Smör // 207,333

Azùcar blanco / Hvidt sukker / Weißzucker / ?e??? ???a?? / White sugar / Sucre blanc / Zucchero bianco / Witte suiker / Açùcar branco / Valkoinen sokeri / Vitt socker // 43,675

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