COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 25.11.1997 
COM(97) 617 final 
97/0325 (ACC) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EO 
opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas 
for certain fisheiy products originating in Ceuta 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. Article 3(2) of Protocol 2 to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal stipulates that certain 
fishery products originating in Ceuta and Melilla shall qualify for exemption from customs 
duties when imported into the Community. This Article goes on to specify that exemption 
shall be granted within the limits of Community tariff quotas calculated by product and on the 
average quantities actually disposed of during 1982, 1983 and 1984 in that part of Spain which 
is included in the customs territory of the Community or exported to the Community as 
constituted in 1985. 
2. The Spanish administration has asked the Commission by letter dated 2 June 1997 to open 
tariff quotas for live fry and juveniles of sea bream and bass (CN code ex 0301 99 90), sea bass 
(CN code 0302 69 95) and sea bream (CN code 0302 69 94), originating in Ceuta. 
The Spanish authorities backed their request with social and economic arguments on Ceuta, 
showing the constraints under which Ceuta's economy is operating and the difficulties faced by 
the local fishing industry. 
3. In the past some fishery products originating in Ceuta enjoyed the benefit of tariff quotas when 
imported into the Community. Later, exports to the Community fell as a result of a reduction 
in the volume of fishery catches. The use of these quotas then became negligible and they 
were not extended after 1992. 
Live fry and juveniles of sea bream and bass, sea bream and sea bass, are covered by Article 3 
of Protocol 2, but have not been able to enjoy the benefit of the quotas in question because 
aquaculture is a new activity in Ceuta. 
4. A Community tariff quota was opened for 1995 by Council Regulation (EC) No 1326/95 for 
products of CN code ex 0301 99 90. 
For 1996 and 1997, the Council opened tariff quotas for products of CN codes ex 0301 99 90, 
0302 69 94 and 0302 69 95. 
Fresh tariff quotas for these products for 1998 and thereafter are justified because the 
economic situation in Ceuta requires the adoption of preferential measures to facilitate its 
exports to the Community. Also, some non-member countries, in particular the Maghreb 
countries, are granted preferential tariff treatment by the Community for products of the same 
CN codes. This warrants the adoption by the Community of similar tariff measures for Ceuta. 
The quota period will run from 1 January to 31 December each year. No unused part of the 
quota may be carried over to the next quota period. 
The annual quota volumes are as follows: 
fry and juveniles of sea bass and sea bream 3 000 000 units 
sea bass and sea bream 100 tonnes 
These volumes have been calculated on the basis of estimated production of these products, 
according to information received by the Spanish authorities. 
5. These annual Community tariff quotas should therefore be opened. 
Such is the purpose of the attached proposal. 
Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) No ,../... 
of 
opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for certain fishery 
products originating in Ceuta 
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, 
Whereas, by virtue of Article 3(2) of Protocol 2 to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, certain 
fishery products originating in Ceuta and Melilla are eligible, as of 1 January 1993, for exemption 
from customs duties in the customs territory of the Community; whereas that exemption is granted 
within the limit of tariff quotas calculated by product with reference to the average quantities actually 
disposed of during 1982, 1983 and 1984 in that part of Spain which is included in the customs 
territory of the Community or exported to the Community as constituted in 1985; 
Whereas the products originating in Ceuta which have enjoyed the benefit of the tariff arrangements 
set up by Protocol 2 are no longer exported to the Community because of a decrease in volume of fish 
catches put on to the market; whereas the tariff quotas opened for Ceuta were not extended beyond 
31.12.1992 on this account; whereas live fry and juveniles of sea bream and bass, sea bream and sea 
bass, henceforth replace these products in trade with the Community; 
Whereas Ceuta's location as an enclave on the African continent poses specific problems; whereas the 
lack of both agriculture and industry leaves fishing as Ceuta's primary industry; whereas since the 
crisis is occurring in that sector, aquaculture has the potential to offer Ceuta's economic operators an 
alternative source of income to sea fishing; 
Whereas the positive role played in the past by the system of preferential tariff treatment in granting 
access to the Community markets for certain fishery products originating in Ceuta justifies 
continuation of such treatment alongside other forms of Community action, in particular assistance 
from the Community structural funds for Objective 1 regions, of which Ceuta is one; 
Whereas the preferential tariff treatment granted to fishery products derived from aquaculture in Ceuta 
should therefore play a greater part in fostering the development of the region; 
Whereas the Community accords some non-member countries, in particular the Maghreb countries, 
preferential tariff treatment in the form of exemption from customs duties for products of CN codes ex 
0301 99 90, 0302 69 94 and 0302 69 95; whereas steps should be taken to ensure that the tariff 
treatment of such products originating in Ceuta and imported into the Community is comparable to 
that accorded to these non-member countries; whereas the tariff arrangements applied to Ceuta need to 
be adjusted accordingly; 
Whereas by Regulation (EC) No 1326/95,1 the Council opened a Community tariff quota (09.0321) 
for 1995 for live fry and juveniles of sea bream and bass originating in Ceuta; whereas, by Regulation 
(EC) No 1822/96,2 the Council opened new zero-duty Community tariff quotas for 1996-97 for live 
fry and juveniles of sea bream and bass, sea bream and sea brass, originating in Ceuta (order nos 
09.0321 and 09.0322); 
OJNoL128, 13.6.1995, p. 6. 
OJ No L 241, 21.9.1996, p. 10. ^ 1 ^ 
Whereas the Kingdom of Spain has asked that the Commission open the quotas referred to in 
Regulation (EC) No 1822/96 for 1998 and thereafter; 
Whereas zero-duty Community tariff quotas should therefore be opened for the products in question 
and the volumes fixed on the basis of annual production at 3 million individual fish (fry and juveniles 
of sea bream and sea bass) and 100 tonnes (sea bream and sea bass); whereas the quota period must 
run from 1 January to 31 December each year; whereas application of the quota duty is subject to 
compliance with the rules laid down for the common organisation of the markets; 
Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 1427/973 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/934 laying 
down provisions for the implementation of the Community Customs Code sets out rules for the 
management of tariff quotas designed to be used following the chronological order of dates of 
acceptance of declarations; 
Whereas eligibility for the tariff quotas introduced by this Regulation is subject to the definition of 
preferential origin specified in Article 27 of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92,5 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
The customs duties applicable on importation into the Community of the products in question, 
originating in Ceuta, shall be suspended at the level and within the limits of the annual Community 
tariff quotas shown below: 
Order 
No 
09.0321 
09.0322 NC Code 
ex 0301 99 90 
0302 69 94 
0302 69 95 Taric 
Sub­
division 
•20 Description 
Live fry and juveniles of sea bream 
(Spams aurata) and bass 
(Dicentrarchus labrax) 
Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilt-
headed sea bream (Sparus aurata), 
fresh or chilled Amount of 
quota 
3 000 000 
units 
100 
tonnes Quota duty 
(in %) 
Free 
Free 
3 OJ No L 196,24.7.1997, p. 31. 
4 OJ No L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1. 
5 OJ No L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1. 
\ 
Articie_2 
The products' originating status shall be proven in accordance with Article 6 of Council Regulation 
(EEC)Noll35/88.6 
Article 3 
The tariff quota referred to in Article 1 shall be administered by the Commission, pursuant to Articles 
308a to 308c of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93, which may take all appropriate measures to ensure 
efficient administration thereof. 
Article 4 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Communities. 
It shall apply from 1 January 1998. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
The President 
x 
OJNoL 114, 2.5.1988, p. I. I 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
Budget heading involved: Chapter 12, Article 120 
Legal basis: Article 113 of the Treaty. 
Title of tariff measure: Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) opening and providing for the 
administration of Community tariff quotas for certain fishery products originating in Ceuta. 
Aim: To promote Ceuta's economic development 
Method of calculation: 
Description of 
products 
Fry and juveniles 
of sea bass and 
sea bream 
Sea bass and sea 
bream Variation in 
quota volume 
500 000 
(previous vol.: 
2 500 000 units) 
100 T Variation in 
estimated price 
(ECH/unit) 
-0.036 
(previous price: 
0.31) 
-1003 
(previous price: 
4 650) Variation in 
normal duty 
(%) 
0 
(previous duty: 
16) 
0 
(previous duty: 
15) Variation in 
quota duty 
(%) 
0 
0 Expected variation in the 
loss of revenue in relation 
to the previous quota 
period (in ECU) 
21 920 
(previous loss: 
124 000) 
-15.045 
(previous loss: 
69 750) Loss of revenues for 
the period from 
1.1.98-31.12.98 
(in ECU) 
131 520 
54 705 
6. Loss of revenue 
The expected variation in the loss of revenue in relation to the previous quota period amounts 
to ECU 6 875 for each quota period. 
The loss of revenues for the period from 1.1.1998 to 31.12.1998 amounts to 186 225 ECU. 
v 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(97) 617 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 02 14 08 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-636-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-27772-X 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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