COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 09.02.1996 
COM(96) 41 final 
9670038 (ACC) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on the conclusion of the Third Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement between the European 
Communities and their Member States, of the one part and the Republic of Bulgaria, of the other part 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Following the Essen Summit, a Second Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement 
with Bulgaria was adopted in December 1994 aligning, inter alia, the date of final 
elimination of customs duties applied by the Community to Bulgarian exports in the 
textiles sector with that in the Europe Agreements with the Visegrad countries, i.e. on 1 
January 1997. 
During the negotiations held on 27-28 November 1995 pursuant to Article 1, paragraph 3 
of the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement on Trade in Textile Products, 
Bulgaria offered to accelerate by one year its tariff dismantling for products of Chapters 
50-63 of the Bulgarian Tariff listed in Annex VI to the Europe Agreement and requested 
in return the reduction by the European Community of its preferential customs duties to a 
rate equal to two-sevenths of the basic duty from 1 January 1996. 
The present adjustment would bring the tariff treatment of Bulgarian exports in textile 
products in line with that of the Visegrad associated countries. 
The Council is requested to adopt the attached Decision on the conclusion of a Third 
Protocol to the Europe Agreement with Bulgaria. 
X 
Council Decision 
of 19% 
on the conclusion of the Third Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement between the European 
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Bulgaria, of the other part 
(96/.../EC) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 in 
conjunction with Article 228 (2) thereof, 
Having regard to the Europe Agreement signed by the Parties on 8 March 1993 \ as amended by the 
Second Additional Protocol signed on 30 December 1994^ 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas in the framework of the negotiations held on 27-28 November 1995 in accordance with Article 1 
(3) of the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement on Trade in Textile Products between the 
European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria, Bulgaria declared that it is prepared to accelerate by 
one year its tariff dismantling for products of Chapters 50-63 of the Bulgarian Customs Tariff listed in 
Annex VI to the Europe Agreement, to reach zero duty on 1 January 2001; In return Bulgaria requested 
the reduction by the European Community of customs duties on imports applicable in the Community to 
textile products falling within Section XI (Chapters 50 to 63) of the combined nomenclature and 
originating in Bulgaria in accordance with Protocol 4 of the Europe Agreement to a rate equal to two-
sevenths of the basic duty rate from 1 January 1996; 
Whereas this adjustment to the Europe Agreement should be approved, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS : 
Article J 
A Third Additional Protocol amending the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and 
their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Bulgaria, of the other part, is hereby approved 
on behalf of the Community. 
The text of the Third Additional Protocol is attached to this Decision. 
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the person empowered to sign the Third 
Additional Protocol on behalf of the European Community. 
The President of the Council shall give the notification on behalf of the European Community that all 
necessary procedures have been completed 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
The President 
1 OJN°L 358, 31.12.94. 
2 OJN°L 378, 31.12.94. 
Draft 
THIRD ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL 
to the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member 
States, of the one part, and the Republic of Bulgaria, of the other part 
THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (hereinafter referred to as "the Community"), 
of the one part, and 
THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA (hereinafter referred to as "Bulgaria"), 
of the other part, 
WHEREAS, the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European 
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Bulgaria, of 
the other part (hereinafter referred to as "the Europe Agreement") was signed in Brussels 
on 8 March 1993, and entered into force on 1 February 1995; 
WHEREAS, certain provisions of the Europe Agreement relating to the dismantlement of 
customs duties were last amended by the Second Additional Protocol signed on 30 
December 1994 (hereinafter referred to as "the Second Additional Protocol"); 
BEARING IN MIND the desirability of the Community of aligning the duties applicable 
to exports of textile products originating in Bulgaria with those of the Visegrad associated 
countries; 
BEARING IN MIND the willingness of Bulgaria to accelerate by one year its tariff 
dismantling for products of Chapters 50-63 of the Bulgarian Customs Tariff listed in 
Annex VI to the Europe Agreement, to reach zero duty on 1 January 2001; 
BEARING IN MIND the objectives of the Europe Agreement and, in particular, those 
referred to in Article 1(2) second and third indents thereof, 
HAVE DECIDED to conclude this Protocol and to this end have designated as their 
plenipotentiaries : 
THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY : 
THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA 
who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, HAVE AGREED 
AS FOLLOWS : 
Article 1 
The third indent of Article 2 (1) of Protocol 1 on textile and clothing products to the 
Europe Agreement as last amended by the Second Additional Protocol, shall be replaced 
by the following text : 
"at the start of the fourth year, to two-sevenths of the basic duty". 
Article 2 
The following text shall be added to the end of Article 11 (3) of the Europe Agreement: 
"However, in the case of products listed in Chapters 50-63 of the Bulgarian 
Customs Tariff, Bulgaria shall eliminate all such duties eight years after the entry into 
force of the Agreement." 
Article 3 
This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Europe Agreement. 
Article 4 
This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date upon 
which the Parties notify each other of the completion of the procedures necessary for that 
purpose. This Protocol shall apply from 1 January 1996. 
If this Protocol should enter into force after 1 January 1996, any duties paid which would 
not have been payable if the Protocol had entered into force and its provisions had been 
implemented on that date shall be refunded and such refund shall be deemed to constitute 
full compliance with the obligation not to impose such duties. 
Article 5 
This Protocol shall be drawn up in two copies in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, 
French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and the Bulgarian 
languages, each of these texts being equally authentic. 
On behalf of the Community For the Republic of Bulgaria 
Financial Statement 
1. Budget heading : Chapter 12. Article 120 
2 Legal basis : Article 113 of the Treaty 
3. Titles of tariff measures : 
- Draft Council Decision on the conclusion of the Third Additional Protocol to the 
Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, 
of the one part, and the Republic of Bulgaria, of the other part 
- Draft Third Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement between the European 
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of 
Bulgaria, of the other part 
4. Aim : 
Fulfillment of the obligations arising from the adoption of the Third Additional 
Protocol to the Europe Agreement with Bulgaria 
5. Method of calculation : 
On the basis of the 1994 EUR-12 imports from Bulgaria, the customs revenue 
forgone concerning this tariff measure is estimated to 2.15 Mio ECU. 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 41 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-053-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-00214-3 
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