COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 10.12.1998 
COM(1998) 729 final 
98/0337 (ACC) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
amending Regulation (EC) No 70/97 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports 
into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina and Croatia and to imports of wine originating in the former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Slovenia 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Council Regulation (EC) No 70/97 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into 
the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 
Croatia and to imports of wine originating in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 
and the Republic of Slovenia, expires on 31 December 1998. 
Regulation (EC) No 70/97, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2636/97, contains the 
autonomous preferential measures applicable to imports into the Community of products 
originating in the Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, countries formerly part 
of Yugoslavia with which no bilateral agreements have yet entered into force. Furthermore, 
as the agreement on 'wines and spirits' envisaged by the Europe Agreement between the 
European Community and the Republic of Slovenia and by the Cooperation Agreement 
between the European Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have yet 
to be concluded, Regulation 70/97 also grants autonomous and transitional concessions for 
imports of wines originating in Slovenia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 
Awaiting the eventual replacement of these arrangements by provisions contained in bilateral 
agreements, Regulation 70/97 should be maintained. The aim of the attached proposal for a 
Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation 7Ô/97 is: 
- the extension of Regulation 70/97 to 1999 for products originating in the Republics of 
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and to imports of wine originating in the former 
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Slovenia, 
- the technical adjustments necessary following the amendments to the combined 
nomenclature and to the Taric subdivisions, 
- the annual increase by 5 % of the amounts of the tariff ceilings for industrial products. 
The Commission recommends the attached proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) for 
adoption to the Council. 
% 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
amending Regulation (EC) No 70/97 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into 
the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 
Croatia and to imports of wine originating in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and 
the Republic of Slovenia 
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 Commission1, 
Whereas Council Regulation (EC) No 70/97 of 20 December 1996 concerning the arrangements 
applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina and Croatia and to imports of wine originating in the former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia and the Republic of Slovenia2, as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2636/973, 
expires on 31 December 1998; 
Whereas these arrangements will eventually have to be replaced by provisions contained in bilateral 
agreements to be negotiated with the countries in question; whereas in the meantime the arrangements 
granted by Regulation (EC) No 70/97 should be maintained; whereas the amounts of the tariff 
ceilings for industrial products should be increased annually by 5 % as provided for in Article 4(1) of 
Regulation (EC) No 70/97; whereas following the amendments to the combined nomenclature and to 
the Taric subdivisions, Regulation (EC) No 70/97 should be amended accordingly; 
Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 12/97 of 18 December 19964, has amended Title IV, 
Chapter 2, of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of 
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code5; Whereas Article 
1 (3) of Regulation (EC) No 70/97 should therefore be amended accordingly; 
Whereas in order to avoid damage to the Community industry for cucumbers, it is necessary,to grant 
the concession for these products in the framework of a tariff quota instead of a reference quantity; 
Whereas in accordance with the conclusions of the Council of 29 April 1997, the development of 
bilateral relations between the European Union and the successor republics of the former Yugoslavia, 
other than Slovenia, is subject to certain conditions; whereas the renewal of autonomous trade 
preferences is linked to respect for fundamental principles of democracy and human rights and to the 
readiness of the countries concerned to allow the development of economic relations between 
themselves; whereas it is, therefore, appropriate to monitor the compliance by Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with these conditions; 
Whereas there has been some progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia in strengthening 
democracy and human rights and in developing relations with their neighbours; whereas it is therefore 
appropriate to continue the inclusion of these countries in the autonomous trade regime for 1999; 
2 OJL 16, 18.1.1997, p. 1. 
3 OJL 356, 31.12.1997, p. 16. 
4 OJ L 9, 13.1.1997, p. 1. 
5 OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1. 
3 
Whereas at the time of the extension of the autonomous trade preferences to the Federal Republic of 
Yugoslavia on 29 April 1997, the Council issued a declaration setting out its expectations in terms of 
démocratisation, in particular the full and speedy implementation of the "Gonzalez" report; whereas it 
also noted that in the absence of progress towards meeting these criteria, the decision granting 
autonomous trade preferences would be reviewed; whereas no significant progress has been made 
with.regard to the relevant conditions, it is not appropriate at this time to include the Federal Republic 
of Yugoslavia in the autonomous trade regime for 1999, without prejudice to the possibility of 
including the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at a later stage should conditions so permit, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Regulation (EC) No 70/97 is hereby amended as follows: 
1. In Article 1 (3), 'section 3 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93', shall be replaced by 
'section 2 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93'. 
2. The second paragraph of Article 14 shall be replaced by the following: 
'It shall apply from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1999.' 
3. The amounts given for the tariff ceilings listed in column 4 in Annexes C I, C II, C III and C IV 
shall be replaced for 1999 by the amounts given in the Annex to this Regulation. 
4. The following amendments shall be made to the CN codes and the descriptions of products and 
footnotes: 
(a) In Annex C I for order No 01.0050, the following shall be deleted: 
- Cellular: 
3921 19 --Of other plastics: 
3921 19 90 - - - Other 
(b) In Annex C I for order No 01.0220, 
(1) 
8502 13 99 I Of an output exceeding 750 kVA 
shall be replaced by: 
8502 13 93 I Of an output exceeding 750 kVA but not exceeding 2 000 
kVA 
8502 13 98 Of an output exceeding 2 000 kVA ~ 
(2) 
8502 20 99 I - - - Of an output exceeding 7,5 kVA 
shall be replaced by: 
8502 20 92 I - - - Of an output exceeding 7,5 kVA but not exceeding 375 kVA 
8502 20 94 - - - Of an output exceeding 375 kVA but not exceeding 750 kVA 
8502 20 98 - - - Of an output exceeding 750 kVA 
(c) At the end of Annex C I, footnote (1), shall be replaced by the following: 
'(1) Entry under this subheading is subject to conditions laid down in the relevant 
Community provisions.' 
(d) In Annex C II for order No 03.0010, 
(1)CN code 2710 00 85 and its description, as well as footnote (1) at the end of the Annex, 
shall be deleted; 
(2)CN code 2710 00 98 shall be replaced by CN code 2710 00 97. 
5. In Annex C V, Taric subdivisions, 
(a) the following shall be inserted: 
06.0030 ex 7213 9170 11 
15 
19 
ex 7213 99 90 11 
19 
ex 7214 9190 10 
(b) for order No 06.0070, the Taric subdivisions for ex 7213 91 70 shall be read '91 and 95', and 
the following shall be inserted: 
ex 7213 91 90 10 
ex 7213 99 90 91 
ex 7214 9190 90 
6. In Annex D, 
(a) the tariff concession in the framework of a reference quantity for cucumbers falling within 
CN code ex 2001 10 00, shall be deleted; 
(b) in column 4, for the tariff concession for sauerkraut (mentioned twice), the following text 
shall be inserted after the words 'reference quantity': 'with order No 18.0550'. 
7. In Annex E, 
(a) the following shall be inserted: 
09.1513 ex 2001 10 00 Cucumbers, prepared or 
preserved by vinegar or 
acetic acid, from 1 January to 
31 December 2 000 
tonnes Free 
(b) at the end of this Annex, 
(1) the Taric subdivision '40' for order No 09.1507, CN code ex 0703 20 00, shall 
be deleted; 
(2) the following shall be inserted: 
09.1513 ex 2001 10 00 11 
19 
i" 
Article 2 
Phis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of 
the European Community. 
It shall apply from 1 January 1999. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done in Brussels on 
By the Council 
The President 
£ 
ANNEX 
Order No Ceiling (tonnes) 
Annex CI 
01.00101 6 045 
01.0020 53 083 
01.0030 79 051 
01.0040 1 861 
01.0050 1 164 
01.0060 5 273 
01.0080 610 
01.0090 168 647 
01.0100 22 838 
01.0110 756 
01.0120 899 
01.0130 374 
01.0140 9 083 
01.0150 2 812 
01.0160 14 766 
01.0167 5 101 
01.0170 1424 
01.0190 1412 
01.0200 4 944 
01.0220 6 123 
01.0230 3 279 
01.0240 3 928 
01.0250 641 
01.0270 1214 
01.0280 9 359 
01.0290] 8 351 
Annex C II 
03.00101 1058 400 
Annex C HI 
04.00301 4 680 
04.0040 1 744 
04.0050 1338 
04.00901 1 619 
Annex CIV 
06.00101 41 525 
06.0020 40 994 
06.0030 39 724 
06.0040 5 664 
06.0050 7 964 
06.0060 49 409 
06.00701 39 579 
* 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
1. Budget heading involved : Chapter 12, Article 120. 
2* Legal Basis : Article 113 of the Treaty. 
3. Title of the measure : 
Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Council Regulation (EC) No 70/97 
concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products 
originating in the Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and to imports of 
wine originating in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of 
Slovenia. 
4. Objective : 
The extension to 1999 of the autonomous preferential trade regime applicable to 
imports into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina and Croatia and to imports of wine originating in the former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Slovenia. 
5. Financial repercussions : 
This Regulation does not entail any financial losses or gains, other than those foreseen 
for the application of the current arrangements under Regulation 70/97 of 20 December 
1996. 
6. Fight against fraud : 
Provisions on the management of tariff quotas and tariff ceilings include the measures 
necessary for preventing and protecting against fraud and irregularities. 
t> 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 729 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 11 09 02 03 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-733-EN-C 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
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