P6_TA(2005)0066

Scheme of generalised tariff preferences *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (COM(2004)0699 — COM(2005)0043 — C6-0001/2005 — 2004/0242(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2004)0699) [1] and the amended proposal (COM(2005)0043) [1],

- having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee "Developing countries, international trade and sustainable development: the function of the Community's generalised system of preferences (GSP) for the ten-year period from 2006 to 2015" (COM(2004)0461),

- having regard to its resolution of 14 October 2004 [2] concerning the above-mentioned Communication,

- having regard to Article 133 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0001/2005),

- having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade and the opinion of the Committee on Development (A6-0045/2005),

1. Approves the amended Commission proposal as amended;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

5. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION | AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT |

Amendment 1

Recital 1a (new)

| (1a) Since its creation, the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) has been one of the key EU trade and development policy instruments to assist developing countries reduce poverty by generating revenue through international trade and to contribute to their sustainable development by promoting industrial development and the diversification of their economies. |

Amendment 2

Recital 4

(4) This Regulation is the first regulation implementing those guidelines. It should apply from 1 April 2005 until 31 December 2008. | (4) This Regulation is the first regulation implementing those guidelines. After being published in the Official Journal of the European Union, it should apply from 1 April 2005 until 31 December 2008. |

Amendment 3

Recital 6a (new)

| (6a) In order to increase the utilisation rate of the GSP and to allow developing countries to capture the benefits of international trade and preferential arrangements, the European Union will strive to provide these countries, and in particular the LDCs, with adequate technical assistance. |

Amendment 4

Recital 7

(7) The special arrangement for sustainable development and good governance is based on an integral concept of sustainable development as recognized by international conventions and instruments such as the UN Declaration on the Right to Development of 1986, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 1992, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998, the UN Millennium Declaration of 2000 and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development of 2002. Consequently, developing countries which due to a lack of diversification and insufficient integration into the international trading system are vulnerable while assuming special burdens and responsibilities due to the ratification and effective implementation of core international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance should benefit from additional tariff preferences. These preferences are designed to promote further economic growth and thereby to respond positively to the need for sustainable development. Under this arrangement ad valorem tariffs are therefore suspended for the beneficiary countries, as well as specific duties (unless combined with an ad valorem duty). | (7) The special arrangement for sustainable development and good governance is based on an integral concept of sustainable development as recognized by international conventions and instruments such as the UN Declaration on the Right to Development of 1986, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 1992, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998, the UN Millennium Declaration of 2000 and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development of 2002. Consequently, developing countries which due to a lack of diversification and means of economic development and to insufficient appropriate integration into the international trading system are vulnerable, while assuming special burdens and responsibilities due to the ratification and effective implementation of core international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance, should benefit from additional tariff preferences. These preferences are designed to promote further economic growth and thereby to respond positively to the need for sustainable development. Under this arrangement ad valorem tariffs are therefore suspended for the beneficiary countries, as well as specific duties (unless combined with an ad valorem duty). |

Amendment 5

Recital 9

(9) The Commission should monitor the effective implementation of the international conventions in accordance with the respective mechanisms thereunder and should assess the relationship between additional tariff preferences and the promotion of sustainable development. | (9) The Commission will monitor the effective implementation of the international conventions in accordance with the respective mechanisms thereunder and will assess the relationship between additional tariff preferences and the promotion of sustainable development. |

Amendment 6

Recital 13a (new)

| (13a) In order to prevent the erosion of preferences, the Commission will consider transferring products currently classified as "sensitive" to the "non-sensitive" category in the next regulation. |

Amendment 7

Recital 16

(16) For the sake of coherence of the Community commercial policy, a beneficiary country should not benefit from both the Community's scheme of generalised tariff preferences and a free trade agreement, if that agreement covers at least all the preferences provided by the present scheme for that country. | (16) For the sake of coherence of the Community commercial policy, a beneficiary country should not benefit from both the Community's scheme of generalised tariff preferences and a free trade agreement, if that agreement covers and effectively implements and, where appropriate, consolidates at least all the preferences granted by the present scheme for that country. |

Amendment 8

Recital 17a (new)

| (17a) From 2008, the graduation mechanism will be applied so as to prevent the possible graduation of imports from beneficiary countries of the present scheme whose exports to the Community in a given section have not increased in relation to other GSP beneficiaries. |

Amendment 9

Recital 18a (new)

| (18a) Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down the system of rules of origin will be reviewed in the near future in order to better serve the purpose of promoting economic and industrial development. The review will be completed at the latest one year prior to the expiry of this Regulation and will cover the form, substance and procedures of the system of origin of rules, based on best international practice and with a view to harmonising existing systems within the EU. The new system of rules of origin will consider, amongst other issues, cross-regional cumulation and global cumulation, the elimination of the requirement of a double transformation process for certain products, and the consideration of a country as eligible for GSP and Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential treatment even if it is not the final country for export, provided that significant value is added to the goods in that country. |

Amendment 10

Recital 21a (new)

| (21a) According to Article 37(6) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, the revision of this Regulation in 2008 shall take into account the interests of the ACP countries, including non-LDCs, not willing or able to conclude an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in the context of the Cotonou Agreement, so that the GSP provides them with at least an equivalent preferential treatment to the one they were granted under the Cotonou Agreement. |

Amendment 11

Article 1, paragraph 1

1. The Community scheme of generalised tariff preferences (hereafter "the scheme") shall apply from 1 April 2005 to 31 December 2008 in accordance with this Regulation. | 1. The Community scheme of generalised tariff preferences (hereafter "the scheme") shall apply after being published in the Official Journal of the European Union from 1 April 2005 to 31 December 2008 in accordance with this Regulation. |

Amendment 12

Article 3, paragraph 1a (new)

| 1a. On the basis of the latest comparable and adjusted data available at the time of adoption of this Regulation, the Commission shall establish which beneficiary countries meet the criteria set out in paragraph 1. |

Amendment 13

Article 3, paragraph 1b (new)

| 1b. Each year the Commission shall publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union listing the beneficiary countries which meet the condition set out in paragraph 1. |

Amendment 14

Article 3, paragraph 2

2. When a beneficiary country benefits from a commercial agreement with the Community which covers at least all the preferences provided by the present scheme for that country, it shall be removed from the list of beneficiary countries in Annex I. | 2. When a beneficiary country benefits from a commercial agreement with the Community, application of the commercial agreement shall take precedence provided it effectively implements and, where appropriate, consolidates at least all the preferences granted by the present scheme to that country. A commercial agreement with the Community will not preclude eligibility for the special incentive arrangement provided for in Section 2 of this Regulation. |

Amendment 15

Article 3, paragraph 3a (new)

| 3a. In order to improve the impact of the present scheme, the Commission shall provide developing countries and especially LDCs with adequate technical assistance for the purpose of building the institutional and regulatory capacity required to capture the benefits of international trade and the GSP. |

Amendment 16

Article 3, paragraph 3b (new)

| 3b. When the Commission calculates graduation percentages, the level of imports formerly eligible for GSP of countries under paragraph 2 will be included in the calculation. |

Amendment 17

Article 5, paragraph 3a (new)

| 3a. The Commission shall give priority within the World Trade Organization to harmonising rules of origin which introduce preferential treatment for the developing and least developed countries. |

Amendment 18

Article 8, paragraph 3a (new)

| 3a. Technical assistance shall also be provided to help eligible developing countries comply with the ratification and effective implementation requirements of the new special incentive arrangement for sustainable "development" and good governance. |

Amendment 19

Article 9, paragraph 1, point (c)

(c)commits itself to ratify and effectively implement by 31 December 2008 those conventions listed in Part B of Annex III which it has not yet ratified and effectively implemented, and | (c)actually begins procedures to ratify and effectively implement all the conventions listed in Annex III within 4 years after first being granted the special incentive arrangement., and |

Amendment 20

Article 9, paragraph 2, point (b)

(b)whose GSP-covered imports to the Community represent less than 1 % in value of total GSP-covered imports to the Community. | (b)whose GSP-covered imports to the Community represent less than 1 % in value of total GSP-covered imports to the Community or less than 2 % in value thereof if its GSP-covered imports in one section account for more than 50 % of its total GSP-covered imports to the Community. |

Amendment 21

Article 9, paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall keep under review the status of ratification and effective implementation of conventions listed in Annex III. Prior to the expiry of the period of application of this regulation, the Commission shall present to the Council a report concerning the status of ratification of such conventions, including recommendations on whether the ratification and effective implementation of such conventions should be required in order to benefit from the future granting of the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance. | 3. The Commission shall keep under review the status of ratification and effective implementation of conventions listed in Annex III. Prior to the expiry of the period of application of this regulation, the Commission shall present to the Council a report concerning the status of ratification and implementation of such conventions by each country benefiting from the special incentive arrangement. Where appropriate, the Commission shall include recommendations on whether additional steps for the effective implementation of a convention should be taken by a specific country. In its report the Commission shall also evaluate the effectiveness of the special arrangement in fulfilling its aim and recommend, where appropriate, the revision of Annex III. |

Amendment 22

Article 10, paragraph 1, point (a)

(a)a country or territory listed in Annex I made a request to that effect within three months after the date of entry into force of this Regulation, and | (a)a country or territory listed in Annex I made a request to that effect, and |

Amendment 23

Article 10, paragraph 2a (new)

| 2a. Where a State meeting the conditions laid down in Article 9(2) has not ratified and implemented a maximum of two of the Conventions listed in Annex III due to constitutional constraints but undertakes to ratify and implement them as quickly as possible in accordance with its constitutional provisions, with the assistance of the international organisations responsible, this may be considered by the Commission as equivalent to compliance with the conditions laid down in Article 9(1). The Commission shall monitor strict compliance with the undertaking and shall withdraw the benefits under the special arrangement in the event of any infringements or unjustified delay on the part of the requesting country. The Commission shall hear evidence from any relevant source, including the competent international organisation, and where appropriate the European Parliament and civil society representatives, and shall inform the Committee and the European Parliament. |

Amendment 24

Article 11, paragraph 1

1. Where the Commission receives a request accompanied by the information referred to in Article 10, the Commission shall examine the request. The examination shall take into account the findings of the relevant international organisations and agencies. It may ask the requesting country any questions which it considers relevant and may verify the information received with the requesting country or any natural or legal person. | 1. Where the Commission receives a request accompanied by the information referred to in Article 10, the Commission shall examine the request. The examination shall take into account the findings of the relevant international organisations and agencies. It may ask the requesting country any questions which it considers relevant and should verify the information received with the requesting country or any relevant source, including where appropriate the European Parliament and relevant representatives of civil society, such as social partners. The Commission shall inform the requesting country, the European Parliament and the Committee of its assessments and invite the requesting country to comment. |

Amendment 25

Article 11, paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall notify a requesting country of a decision taken in accordance with paragraph 2. Where a country is granted the special incentive arrangement, it shall be informed of the date on which that decision enters into force. The Commission shall by 30 June 2005 at the latest list in Annex I, Column E the beneficiary countries benefitting from the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance. | 3. The Commission shall notify a requesting country of a decision taken in accordance with paragraph 2. Where a country is granted the special incentive arrangement, it shall be informed of the date on which that decision enters into force. The Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union, by 30 June 2005 at the latest, a list of the beneficiary countries benefitting from the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance. |

Amendment 26

Article 11, paragraph 4

4. Where a requesting country is not granted the special incentive arrangement, the Commission shall explain the reasons if that country so requests. | 4. Where a requesting country is not granted the special incentive arrangement, the Commission shall explain the reasons and inform the requesting country and the European Parliament thereof. |

Amendment 27

Article 11, paragraph 5

5. The Commission shall conduct all relations with a requesting country concerning the request in close coordination with the committee indicated in Article 26. | 5. The Commission shall conduct all relations with a requesting country concerning the request in close coordination with the committee indicated in Article 26 and with the European Parliament. |

Amendment 28

Article 12, paragraph 4

4. Common Customs Tariff duties on the products of tariff heading 1701 shall be reduced by 20% on 1 July 2006, by 50% on 1 July 2007 and by 80% on 1 July 2008. They shall be entirely suspended as from 1 July 2009. | 4. Without prejudice to the longer transition delays and/or smaller percentages that may be established by the future reform of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for sugar, common Customs Tariff duties on the products of tariff heading 1701 shall be reduced by 20% on 1 July 2006, by 50% on 1 July 2007 and by 80% on 1 July 2008. They shall be entirely suspended as from 1 July 2009. |

Amendment 29

Article 12, paragraph 5a (new)

| 5a. Paragraph 5 shall be without prejudice to the provisions established by the future reform of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for sugar. |

Amendment 30

Article 12, paragraph 7

7. When a country is excluded by the United Nations from the list of the least developed countries, it is withdrawn from the list of the beneficiaries of this arrangement. The removal of a country from the arrangement and the establishment of a transitional period shall be decided by the Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27. | 7. When a country is excluded by the United Nations from the list of the LDCs, it is withdrawn from the list of the beneficiaries of this arrangement. The removal of a country from the arrangement and the establishment of a reasonable transitional period of between 12 and 24 months shall be decided by the Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27. |

Amendment 31

Article 13, paragraph 1

1. The tariff preferences referred to in Articles 7 and 8 shall be removed in respect of products originating in a beneficiary country, of a section, when the average value of Community imports from that country of products included in the section concerned and covered by the arrangement enjoyed by that country exceeds 15% of the value of Community imports of the same products from all countries and territories listed in Annex I over three consecutive years, on the basis of the most recent data available on 1 September 2004. For section XI the threshold is 12,5%. | 1. The tariff preferences referred to in Articles 7 and 8 shall be removed in respect of products originating in a beneficiary country, of a section, when it has attained a high level of competitiveness. For this purpose, a high level of competitiveness shall be deemed to have been attained by a beneficiary country when the average value of Community imports of products from a section in that country which benefit from the arrangements granted under the present scheme exceeds by 15% the value of Community imports of the same products from all countries and territories listed in Annex I over three consecutive years, on the basis of the most recent data available on 1 September 2004. For section XI the threshold is 10%. |

Amendment 32

Article 13, paragraph 3a (new)

| 3a. The calculation of graduation percentages after 2008 shall be based on the data used as referred to in paragraph 1, including all GSP-covered imports at the time this Regulation enters into force. |

Amendment 55

Article 15, paragraph 1, point (a)

(a)serious and systematic violations of principles laid down in the conventions listed in Annex III; | (a)systematic violations of principles laid down in the conventions listed in Annex III; |

Amendment 33

Article 15, paragraph 1, point (e)

(e)serious and systematic unfair trading practices which have an adverse effect to the Community industry, including those which are prohibited or actionable under the WTO Agreements, provided that a determination to that effect has been made previously by the competent WTO body and the unfair practise has not been addressed; | (e)systematic unfair trading practices which have an adverse effect to the Community industry, including those which are prohibited or actionable under the WTO Agreements; |

Amendment 56

Article 15, paragraph 1, point (ea) (new)

| (ea)systematic unfair trading practices not covered under (e) but which have adverse effects on the Community interest and cannot be addressed under (e) or Article 20; |

Amendments 57 and 34

Article 15, paragraph 1, point (f)

(f)serious and systematic infringements of the objectives of regional fishery organisations or arrangements to which the Community is a Member concerning the conservation and management of fishery resources. | (f)systematic infringements of the objectives of regional fishery organisations or arrangements of which the Community is a member concerning the conservation and management of fishery resources, and failure to comply with European health and hygiene standards. |

Amendment 35

Article 16, paragraph 1

1. Where the Commission or a Member State receives information that may justify temporary withdrawal of preferential arrangements and where the Commission considers that there are sufficient grounds for an investigation, the Commission shall inform the Committee. | 1. Where the Commission, the European Parliament or a Member State receives information that may justify temporary withdrawal of preferential arrangements and where the Commission considers that there are sufficient grounds for an investigation, the Commission shall immediately inform the Committee and the European Parliament. |

Amendment 36

Article 16, paragraph 2

2. The Commission may decide, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 28, to initiate an investigation. | 2. The Commission may decide, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 28, to initiate an investigation. With regard to the reasons referred to in point (a) of Article 15(1), the Commission shall automatically initiate an investigation in all cases in which the ILO Conference Committee on the Application of Standards has approved a "Special Paragraph" on labour practices in a beneficiary country with regard to the core labour standards. |

Amendment 37

Article 17, paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall seek all information it considers necessary and may verify the information received with economic operators and the beneficiary country concerned. The available assessments, comments, decisions, recommendations and conclusions of the various supervisory bodies of the UN, the ILO and other competent international organizations, shall serve as the point of departure for the investigation as to whether temporary withdrawal is justified for the reason referred to in point (a) of Article 15(1). | 3. The Commission shall seek all information it considers necessary and may verify the information received with economic operators, relevant representatives of civil society, including social partners, and the beneficiary country concerned. The available assessments, comments, decisions, recommendations and conclusions of other EU institutions and the various supervisory bodies of the UN, the ILO and other competent international organisations, shall serve as the point of departure for the investigation as to whether temporary withdrawal is justified for the reason referred to in point (a) of Article 15(1). |

Amendment 38

Article 18, paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall submit a report on its findings to the Committee. | 1. The Commission shall submit a report on its findings to the Committee and the European Parliament. |

Amendment 39

Article 18, paragraph 5

5. Where at the end of the period referred to in paragraph 3, the Commission finds that the beneficiary country concerned has not made the required commitment, and where it considers temporary withdrawal necessary, it shall submit an appropriate proposal to the Council, which shall decide within 30 days by a qualified majority. Where the Council decides on temporary withdrawal, such decision shall enter into force six months after it was taken, unless it is decided before then that the reasons justifying it no longer prevail. | 5. Where at the end of the period referred to in paragraph 3, the Commission finds that the beneficiary country concerned has not made the required commitment, and where it considers temporary withdrawal necessary, it shall, after informing the European Parliament, submit an appropriate proposal to the Council, which shall decide within 30 days by a qualified majority. Where the Council decides on temporary withdrawal, such decision shall enter into force six months after it was taken, unless it is decided before then that the reasons justifying it no longer prevail. |

Amendment 40

Article 19, paragraph 1, introductory part

1. After informing the Committee, the Commission may suspend the preferential arrangements provided for in this Regulation in respect of all or of certain products, originating in a beneficiary country: | 1. After informing the Committee and the European Parliament, the Commission may suspend the preferential arrangements provided for in this Regulation in respect of all or of certain products originating in a beneficiary country: |

Amendment 41

Article 20, paragraph 4

4. The Commission shall take a decision within 30 working days after consulting the Committee. | 4. The Commission shall take a decision within 30 working days after consulting the Committee and after informing the European Parliament. |

Amendment 42

Article 20, paragraph 5

5. Where exceptional circumstances requiring immediate action make an investigation impossible, the Commission may, after informing the Committee, take any preventive measure which is strictly necessary. | 5. Where exceptional circumstances requiring immediate action make an investigation impossible, the Commission may, after informing the Committee and the European Parliament, take any preventive measure which is strictly necessary. |

Amendments 43 and 44

Article 21

Where imports of products included in Annex I to the EC Treaty cause, or threaten to cause, serious disturbance to Community markets or their regulatory mechanisms, the Commission may suspend the preferential arrangements in respect of the products concerned after informing the management committee for the relevant common market organisation. | Where imports of products included in Annex I to the EC Treaty cause, or threaten to cause, serious disturbance to Community markets or their regulatory mechanisms, or fishery products do not comply with the minimum standards required for European Union products with similar characteristics, the Commission may suspend the preferential arrangements in respect of the products concerned after informing the European Parliament and the management committee for the relevant common market organisation. |

Amendment 45

Article 22, paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall inform the beneficiary country concerned of any decision taken in accordance with Articles 19, 20 or 21 before it becomes effective. The Commission shall also notify the Council and the Member States thereof. | 1. The Commission shall inform the beneficiary country concerned as soon as possible of any decision taken in accordance with Articles 19, 20 or 21 before it becomes effective. The Commission shall also notify the Council, the European Parliament and the Member States thereof. |

Amendment 46

Article 22, paragraph 2

2. Any Member State may refer a decision taken in accordance with Articles 19, 20 or 21 to the Council within ten days. The Council, acting by qualified majority, may adopt a different decision within 30 days. | 2. Any Member State may refer a decision taken in accordance with Articles 19, 20 or 21 to the Council within ten days. The Council, acting by qualified majority, may adopt a different decision within 30 days, after informing the European Parliament. |

Amendment 47

Article 25, paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall, in close cooperation with Member States, monitor the imports of products of CN code 08030019, of tariff headings 0603, 1006, and 1701 and of CN codes 16041411, 16041418, 16041490, 16041939 and 16042070 in order to determine whether the conditions referred to in Articles 20 and 21 are fulfilled. | 3. The Commission shall, in close cooperation with Member States, monitor the imports of products of CN code 08030019, of tariff headings 0603, 1006, and 1701 and of CN codes 16041411, 16041418, 16041490, 16041939, 16042070, 16041416 and 16041931 in order to determine whether the conditions referred to in Articles 20 and 21 are fulfilled. |

Amendment 48

Article 25a (new)

| Article 25a 1. The Commission shall keep Parliament periodically informed with regard to: (a)trade statistics between the European Union and GSP beneficiary countries;(b)the status of ratification and implementation of the conventions included in Annex III by each country benefitting from the special incentive arrangement. Where appropriate, the Commission will include recommendations on whether additional steps for the effective implementation of a convention should be taken by a specific country;(c)relevant information on progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, especially in Least Developed Countries.2. The Commission shall prepare an impact assessment study of the effects of the GSP covering the period from 1 July 2005 to 1 January 2007. The study shall be transmitted to the Committee, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee by 1 March 2007. 3. The Commission, after consulting the Committee, will set the contents of the impact-assessment study referred to in paragraph 2, which shall include the views of the beneficiary countries and in any event shall contain at least the following elements: an in-depth statistical analysis of GSP utilisation rates per country and section including a comparison with previous years;an evaluation of the social and trade-related effects of graduation on graduated countries;a preliminary assessment of the effects of future graduation on the countries likely to be graduated under the next regulation;a comparative study of the preferential treatment offered by the GSP and the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement to ACP countries, with a view to providing them, in a revised regulation, with at least an equivalent preferential treatment to the one they were granted under the Cotonou Agreement;an analysis of the potential effects of extending the system of preferences by increasing the preferential margin accorded for sensitive products and/or transferring "sensitive" products to the "non-sensitive" category;an evaluation of the contribution of this regulation to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular in relation to LDCs.4. The Commission shall submit a special report to the European Parliament at the conclusion of the Doha Round, examining the impact of the negotiations on the scheme established in this Regulation and considering the measures to be adopted to ensure the effectiveness of the generalised system of preferences. |

Amendment 49

Article 26, paragraph 3

3. The Committee shall examine the effects of the Community scheme of generalised tariff preferences, on the basis of a report from the Commission covering the period 1 April 2005 to 31 December 2008. This report shall cover all preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2). | 3. The Committee shall examine the effects of the Community scheme of generalised tariff preferences, on the basis of the impact-assessment study referred to in Article 25a. |

Amendment 50

Article 30, paragraph 1

1. This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 April 2005. Council Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 is repealed with effect from 1 April 2005. | 1. This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 April 2005. Council Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 is repealed with effect from 1 April 2005 without prejudice to paragraph 1a. |

Amendment 51

Article 30, paragraph 1a (new)

| 1a. Sections 2 and 4 of Title II, Sections 1 and 2 of Title III, and Title IV of Council Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 shall remain applicable until the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of the list of the beneficiary countries entitled to benefit from the special incentive arrangement provided for in Section 2 of this Regulation. The special incentive arrangements provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 shall remain applicable until 31 December 2005 to the beneficiary countries that are not included in the list of beneficiary countries for the special incentive arrangement provided for in Section 2 of this Regulation. |

Amendment 52

Article 30, paragraph 2a (new)

| 2a. The proposal for a revised regulation covering the period 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011 shall be transmitted by the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee by 1 June 2007. The new proposal shall duly take into consideration the results of the impact-assessment study referred to in Article 25a(2). |

[1] Not yet published in OJ.

[2] Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2004)0024.

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