Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation 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. By Regulation (EC) No 2745/99 of 17.12.1999 the Council has opened a duty free autonomous tariff quota for ferro-chrome of 1,035,000 tonnes. This quota covers the total need of European processing industries for a duty free supply of ferro-chrome in the year 2000.

2. By Council Regulation (EC) No 2793/99 of 17.12.1999 an additional duty free tariff quota for ferro-chrome originating in South Africa of 515,000 tonnes was introduced with effect from 1st January 2000 and applicable when the agreement with Republic of South Africa enters into force.

3. With the introduction of the tariff quota for South Africa the quantity for the autonomous quota has to be reduced accordingly in order to avoid injurious effects on Community producers of this product and to allow South Africa the full benefit of its quota.

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending Regulation 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 Regulation (EC) No 2745/99 of 17.12.1999 [1] 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 has opened a duty free autonomous tariff quota for ferro-chrome of 1,035,000 tonnes. This quota covers at present the total need of European processing industries for a duty free supply of ferro-chrome in the year 2000.

[1] OJ L 331 of 23.12.1999, p. 17

(2) By Council Regulation (EC) No 2793/99 of 17.12.1999 [2] on certain procedures for applying the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa an additional duty free tariff quota for ferro-chrome originating in South Africa of 515,000 tonnes was introduced with effect from 1st January 2000 and applicable when the agreement with Republic of South Africa enters into force.

[2] OJ L 337 of 30.12.1999, p. 29

(3) With the introduction of the tariff quota for South Africa the quantity for the autonomous quota has to be reduced accordingly in order to avoid injurious effects on Community producers of this product and to allow South Africa the full benefit of its quota.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products shall be amended as follows:

- order number 09.2711: the amount of the tariff quota shall be altered to 520.000 tonnes."

Article 2

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

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

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