COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 27 11.1996 
COM(96) 612 final 
96/0292 (ACC) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
extending Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of 
Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the 
adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural 
concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account of the Agreement 
on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. In accordance with its obligations under the Agreement on Agriculture concluded 
during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, the Community 
replaced variable agricultural levies and other agricultural non-tariff barriers with 
fixed customs duties from 1 July 1995. This threatens to reduce the value of the 
agricultural concessions accorded under the Europe Agreements (Hungary, Poland, 
the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Bulgaria and Romania), and in 
particular of preferential access to the Community market for certain agricultural 
products originating in the countries concerned. In order to smooth the transition 
to the system applicable from 1 July 1995 and maintain the level of preferences 
accorded, the agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements 
need to be adjusted. 
2. At the same time, Articles 76, 102 and 128 of the Act of Accession require 
Austria, Finland and Sweden to apply, from 1 January 1995, the provisions of the 
preferential agreements concluded by the Community with certain non-member 
countries, among them Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, 
Hungary, Poland and Romania. 
3. On 6 March 1995 the Council adopted negotiating directives for the conclusion 
of additional protocols to the Europe Agreements, notably with regard to 
agricultural products. These negotiating directives provide for the adjustment of 
the agricultural concessions accorded under the Europe Agreements, taking 
account not only of the Community's obligations under the Agreement on 
Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round (see paragraph 1 above) but of 
the consequences of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden (see 
paragraph 2 above). 
4. Once these negotiations have been concluded, interim Additional Protocols 
relating solely to trade will be applied pending ratification of the Additional 
Protocols by all the parties concerned. In view of the time available, however, 
there is no way that the interim Additional Protocols can enter into force on 
1 January 1997. 
5. On 21 December 1995 the Council adopted a series of autonomous measures 
aimed at maintaining the level of preferences accorded under the Europe 
Agreements and taking account of pre-existing agricultural trade arrangements 
between the new Member States and the associated countries of Central and 
Eastern Europe. These measures applied until 30 June 1996. Pursuant to Council 
Regulation (EC) No 1194/96, they were extended until 31 December 1996. 
6. This proposal is aimed at extending to 31 December 1997 the measures adopted 
by the Council on 21 December 1995. 
i 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No ...796 
of 
extending Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of 
Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the 
adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural 
concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account of the Agreement 
on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations 
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 the measures provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing 
certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural 
products and providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, 
of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account 
of the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral 
trade negotiations were extended to 31 December 1996 pursuant to Council Regulation 
(EC) No 1194/962; 
Whereas it was planned to replace those measures with interim Additional Protocols to 
the Europe Agreements; whereas, in view of the lack of time available, those Protocols 
cannot enter into force on 1 January 1997; whereas Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 should 
therefore be extended to 31 December 1997, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
In Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 3066/95, the second sentence is hereby replaced by 
the following: 
"It shall apply from 1 January to 31 December 1997." 
Article 2 
OJ No L 328, 30.12.1995, p. 31. 
OJNoL 161,26.6.1996, p. 2. 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Communities. 
It shall apply from 1 January 1997. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member 
States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President 
<* 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
DATE 
BUDGET HEADING: 1000 APPROPRIATIONS: ECU 864 million 
TITLE: Draft Council Regulation (EC) No ... /..of extending Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of 
Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain 
agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements lo lake account of the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay 
Round of multilateral trade negotiations 
LEGAL BASIS: Article 113 of the Treaty 
AIMS OF PROJECT: 
To extend Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 pending the conclusion of interim Additional Protocols with the Central and Eastern European countries. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS PERIOD OF 12 
MONTHS CURRENT FINANCIAL 
YEAR 
(96) FOLLOWING 
FINANCIAL YEAR 
(97) 
5.0. 
5.1. EXPENDITURE 
CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET 
(REFUNDS/INTERVENTION) 
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION 
OTHER 
REVENUE 
- OWN RESOURCES OF Till: EC 
(LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES) 
- NATIONAL 
5.0.1 
5.1.1. 1998 
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE 
ESTIMATED REVENUE 1999 2000 2001 
5 2 METHOD OF CALCULATION: 
Since it amends no quota, this Regulation is - pending the conclusion of interim Protocols - without financial repercussions 
60. CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT CHAPTER OF HIE 
CURRENT BUDGET? YES/NO 
6.1. CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT BUDGET? 
YES/NO 
62 IS A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET NECESSARY? YES/MO 
6.3. WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY? YES/MO 
OBSERVATIONS: 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 612 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 02 03 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-611-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-11870-2 
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