COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 08.01.1997 
COM(96)709 final 
96/0315 (ACC) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an 
exchange of letters between the European Community and Cyprus 
on the adjustment of the regime for imports into the European 
Community of oranges originating in Cyprus 
and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1981/94 
(presented by the Commission) 

Explanatory Memorandum 
Within the negotiations on agriculture following the Uruguay 
Round, Cyprus has requested a preferential regime on the entry 
price of oranges. Cyprus and the Commission came to an 
agreement which will be presented to the Council for approval 
and conclusion. Within this package, a preferential regime on 
the entry price applied to Cypriot oranges imported into the 
Community has been agreed. For 48,200 tonnes of Cypriot 
oranges, reduced entry prices during the period from 1 December 
until 31 May of each season will apply. This quantity reflects 
the EC average imports of Cypriot oranges in the 92-94 period 
(within the December-May calendar). The agreed reduced prices 
are similar to those agreed with other Mediterranean partners. 
The global agreement will not be in force by 1 December 1996. 
In order to avoid disturbances in the import of Cypriot oranges 
in the 96/97 market season, it would be advisable to put into 
force in advance, on a provisional basis and until the entry 
into force of the global agreement, the regime foreseen for 
this product. 
The Council is therefore requested to conclude the present 
agreement. 
The provisions of this Agreement shall commence on 1 December 
1996. 
This Agreement is contained in an exchange of letters 
(attached). 
The implementation of this Agreement with Cyprus requires a 
modification of Council Regulation (EC) No 1981/94. In order 
to ensure timely implementation and for reasons of efficiency, 
the approval of the agreement and the modifications to the 
Council regulation are contained in the same legal text. 
The Commission herewith recommends this Agreement to the 
Council for adoption. 
a 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION 
on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an 
exchange of letters between the European Community and Cyprus 
on the adjustment of the regime for imports into the European 
Community of oranges originating in Cyprus 
and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1981/94 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Community, and in particular Article 113, in conjunction with 
the first sentence of Article 228 (2) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas, in the context of the Uruguay Round of multilateral 
trade negotiations, the import regime for oranges has been 
changed; 
Whereas, within the negotiations concluded with Cyprus 
concerning the impact of the Uruguay Round on the trade 
relations between the parties, certain adjustments to the 
import regime for oranges from Cyprus are foreseen; 
Whereas an agreement has been reached to put into force in 
advance and until the entry into force of the definitive 
agreement the provisions regarding the import regime for 
oranges; 
Whereas this Agreement should now be approved; 
Whereas Council Regulation (EC) no 1981/94 of 25 July 19941, 
opening and providing for the administration of Community 
tariff quotas for certain products originating in Algeria, 
Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Malta, Morocco, the West Bank 
and the Gaza Strip, Tunisia and Turkey, and providing 
detailed rules for extending and adapting these tariff quotas, 
X0J No L 199 of 2.8.1994, p.l 
2> 
as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1877/962, should 
be modified to implement the new regime for imports into the 
European Community of oranges originating in Cyprus, as 
provided for in the above-mentioned Agreement, with effect from 
1 December 1996; 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the 
European Community and Cyprus on the adjustment of the regime 
for imports into the European Community of oranges originating 
in Cyprus is hereby approved on behalf of the European 
Community. 
The text of the Agreement is attached to this Regulation. 
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate 
the person empowered to sign the Agreement so as to bind the 
Community. 
Article 3 
Annex V to Council Regulation (EC) No 1981/94 shall be amended 
as follows: 
1) Order No 09.1431 shall be inserted as follows 
between Order Nos 09.1409 and 09.1407: 
2OJ No L 249 of 1.10.1996, p. 
4 
Order No CN code Description Quota 
volume per 
year or 
indicated 
period(in 
tonnes) Rate of 
duty(%) 
09.1431 0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 
0805 1001 
1005 
1009 
1011 
1015 
1019 
1021 
1025 
1029 
1031 
1033 
1035 
1061 
1065 
1069 Fresh 
oranges 
from 1 
December to 
31 May of 
the 
following 
year 48 200" 
2) At the end of annex V a footnote (3) shall be 
added : 
"(3) Within this quota, the agreed entry price beyond 
which the specific additional duty provided in 
the Community's list of concessions to the WTO 
is reduced to zero, is: 
- 273 ECU/tonne from 1 December 1996 to 31 May 
1997 
- 271 ECU/tonne from 1 December 1997 to 31 May 
1998 
- 268 ECU/tonne from 1 December 1998 to 31 May 
1999 
- 266 ECU/tonne from 1 December 1999 to 31 May 
2000 
- 264 ECU/tonne, for every period thereafter, 
from 1 December to 31 May. 
s 
If the entry price for a consignment is up to 
2,4,6 or 8% lower than the agreed entry price, 
the specific customs' duty shall be equal 
respectively to 2,4,6 or 8% of this agreed entry 
price. If the entry price for a consignment is 
less than 92% of the agreed entry price, the 
specific customs' duty bound within the WTO 
shall apply." 
Article 4 
The Commission shall adopt detailed rules for the application 
of this regulation, in accordance with the procedure laid down 
in Article 33 of Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 , as last amended 
by Regulation (EC) No 1363/955. 
Article 5 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its 
publication in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities. It shall apply from 1 December 1996. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly 
applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 1996 
For the Council 
The President 
4 OJ No L 118 of 20.5.1972, p.l 
5 OJ No L 132 of 16.6.1995, p. 8 
<a 
AGREEMENT 
in the form of an exchange of letters between the European 
Community and Cyprus on the adjustment of the regime for 
imports into the European Community of oranges originating in 
Cyprus 
A. Letter from the Community 
Sir, 
I have the honour to refer to the negotiations on agriculture 
between the Cypriot authorities and the European Commission 
concerning the impact of the Uruguay Round on the trade 
relations between the parties, in which certain adjustments to 
the import regime for oranges from Cyprus are foreseen; an 
agreement has been reached to put into force in advance on a 
provisional basis and pending the entry into force of the 
global package the provisions regarding the import regime for 
oranges as follows: 
1. From 1 December to 31 May of each season for 48,20 0 tonnes 
of oranges originating in Cyprus and imported into the EC the 
specific duties will be reduced to zero if the following entry 
price levels are respected : 
1996/1997 
1997/1998 
1998/1999 
1999/2000 273 Ecu/tonne 
271 Ecu/tonne 
268 Ecu/tonne 
266 Ecu/tonne 
2000/2001 and following: 264 Ecu/tonne. 
2. If the entry price of a particular lot is up to 2%, 4%, 6% 
or 8% below the entry price agreed upon under paragraph 1, the 
specific duty shall be 2%, 4%, 6% or 8% of the agreed entry 
price, as appropriate. 
3. If the entry price of a particular lot is below 92% of the 
agreed entry price, the specific duty bound within the WTO 
shall apply. 
This Agreement shall enter into force upon the signature of 
both parties. It shall be applicable as from 1 December 1996 
and until the entry into force of the global package. 
¥ 
I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government 
is in agreement with the contents of this letter. 
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration 
For the Council of the European Union 
S 
B. Letter from Cyprus 
Sir, 
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 
today's date which reads as follows: 
" Sir, 
I have the honour to refer to the negotiations on agriculture 
between the Cypriot authorities and the European Commission 
concerning the impact of the Uruguay Round on the trade 
relations between the parties, in which certain adjustments to 
the import regime for oranges from Cyprus are foreseen; an 
agreement has been reached to put into force in advance on a 
provisional basis and pending the entry into force of the 
global package the provisions regarding the import regime for 
oranges as follows. 
1. From 1 December to 31 May of each season, for 48,2 00 tonnes 
of oranges originating in Cyprus and imported into the EC the 
specific duties will be reduced to zero if the following entry 
price levels are respected : 
1996/1997: 273 Ecu/tonne 
1997/1998: 271 Ecu/tonne 
1998/1999: 268 Ecu/tonne 
1999/2000: 266 Ecu/tonne 
2000/2001 and following: 264 Ecu/tonne. 
2. If the entry price of a particular lot is up to 2%, 4%, 6% 
or 8% below the entry price agreed upon under paragraph 1, the 
specific duty shall be 2%, 4%, 6% or 8% of the agreed entry 
price, as appropriate. 
3. If the entry price of a particular lot is below 92% of the 
agreed entry price; the specific duty bound within the WTO 
shall apply. 
This Agreement shall enter into force upon the signature of 
both parties. It shall be applicable as from 1 December 1996 
and up to the entry into force of the global package. 
<3 
I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government 
is in agreement with the contents oL this letter. 
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration." 
I have the honour to confirm that my Goverment is in agreement 
with the contents of your letter. 
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration. 
For the Government of Cyprus 
^JD 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 709 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 11 01 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-721-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-13926-2 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
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