ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
DE LA COMMISSION 
 
 
 
COLLECTION RELIEE DES 
DOCUMENTS "COM" 
 
 
 
 
COM (83) 038 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/00 15 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), t his file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februa r 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 v om 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 
COM(83) 38 final 
Brussels,  3 February  1983 
JOINT COMMITTEE  DECISION 
further  amending  Article  8 of Protocol  3 concerning  the definition  of 
the concept  of 'originating  products'  and methods  of administrative 
cooperation 
Proposal  for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION  (EEC) 
on the application  of Decision  of the  EEC-(A)  Joint 
Committee  further  amending  Article  8 of Protocol  3 concerning  the 
definition  of the  concept  of 'originating  products'  and methods  of 
administrative  cooperation 
(submitted  to the  Council  by the  Commission) 
COM(83) 38 final 

EXPLANATORY  NOTE 
In Article 8 of Protocol  No. 3 to  each of the EEC-EFT  A Agreements  there 
are three  limits expressed in  ECU which relate to the  form of documen­
tation required  to establish  a right to obtain preference.  These  limits 
have no economic  effects. 
The same Article 8 provides for  the value of ECU  used to be frozen for 
two years at  a time, based on the value  of the ECU at a  fixed date. Every 
two years the  base date is automatically  changed. 
This automatic  change  of base date has the  result that the currency 
equivalents  to the  limits expressed in  ECU are  reduced in those  Member 
States or EFTA  countries with stronger currencies.  Even if this is 
compensated  for, by altering  the ECU value of the limits upwards  so that 
the limits as expressed  in the  currency  of any  country involved is never 
decreased,  this still means that over time  the real value of the  limits 
tends to decrease. This decrease  in the  real value of the  limits means 
that the administrative  savings involved in using  simplified  documentation 
of origin status becomes  relatively  less as time goes on. 
The proposed  draft Joint Committee  Decision  is intended  to raise the 
limits of 2,750 ECU, 550 ECU and 190 ECU to 3,400 ECU, 680 ECU and 
240 ECU respectively  to take account  of these factors. 
For the sake of completeness  and clarity a draft of a Council Regulation 
to apply the  Joint Committee  Decisions  when adopted are included. 

JOINT COMMITTEE  DECISION 
further amending  Article 8 of Protocol  3 concerning  the definition  of the 
concept of 'originating  products'  and methods  of administrative 
cooperation 
THE JOINT COMMITTEE, 
Having regard  to the  Agreement between  the European Economic 
Community  and (A)  signed in Brussels  on (B), 
Having regard  to Protocol  3 concerning  the definition  of the  concept of 
'originating  products'  and methods  of administrative cooperation,  and in 
particular  Article 28 thereof, 
Whereas the  equivalents  of the amounts  in ECU in some  national 
currencies  on 1 October  1982 were lower than  their equivalents  on 1 
October 1980; whereas  this fact, as a result of the  automatic  change of 
base date provided for in Decision  No. 1/78 of  the Joint Committee  would 
lead, on the  conversion  into the national currencies concerned,  to a 
diminution  of the  effective  limits for simplified  documentary 
requirements;  whereas in  order to avoid this, it is necessary  to raise the 
limits expressed in  ECU, 
HAS DECIDED AS  FOLLOWS  : 
(A) The Republic  of Austria,  the Republic  of Finland,  the Republic  of 
Iceland, the Kingdom  of Norway,  the Portuguese Republic,  the 
Kingdom of Sweden, the  Swiss Confederation 
(B) Austria,  Iceland Portugal,  Sweden,  Switzerland :  22 July 1972 
Norway t 14 May 1973 
Finland : 5 October 1973 

- 2 -
Article 1 
Article 8 of Protocol  3 as last amended is  hereby further amended by 
replacing  in : 
paragraph  Kb) "2750 ECU" by "3400 ECU", 
paragraph  2, "190 ECU" by "240 ECU" and "550 ECU" by "680 
ECU". 
Article 2 
This Decision  shall enter into force  on 1 May 1983. 
Done at Brussels,  For the  Joint Committee 
The President 

Proposal  for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on the application  of Decision  of the  EEC-(A)  Joint 
Committee  further  amending  Article 8 of Protocol  3 concerning  the 
definition  of the concept of 'originating  products'  and methods  of adminis­
trative cooperation 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the  Treaty establishing  the European Economic 
Community,  and in particular  Article 113 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal  from the Commission, 
Whereas the Agreement between  the European Economic Community  and 
(B) (1) was signed on (C)  and entered into force  on (D); 
Whereas by virtue of Article 28 of Protocol  3 concerning  the definition  of 
the concept  of 'originating products'  and methods  of administrative 
cooperation,  which forms an integral  part of the  said Agreement,  the 
Joint Committee  has adopted  Decision  No. further  amending  Article 8 
of that Protocol; 
Whereas  it is necessary  to apply that Decision in  the Community; 
(A) Austria, Finland,  Norway,  Portugal,  Sweden,  Switzerland, Iceland. 
(B) The Republic  of Austria,  the Republic  of Finland,  the Kingdom  of 
Norway, the  Portuguese  Republic,  the Kingdom  of Sweden, the Swiss 
Confederation,  the Republic  of Iceland. 
(C) Austria, Portugal,  Sweden,  Switzerland, Iceland :  22 July 1972 
Norway : 14 May 1973 
Finland t 5 October  1973 
(D) Austria, Portugal,  Sweden,  Switzerland :  1 January 1973 
Norway : 1 July 1973 
Finland : 1 January 1974 
Iceland :  1 April 1973 
(1) Austria,  Sweden,  Switzerland  : OJ No. L 300, 31  .12.1972,  pp. 2, 
97 and 189 
Finland : OJ No. L  328, 28.11.1973,  p. 2 
Norway : OJ No. L  171, 27.6.1973,  p. 2 
Portugal, Iceland :  OJ No. L  301, 31 .12.1972,  pp. 165 and 2 

- 2 -
HAS ADOPTED  THIS REGULATION : 
Article 1 
Decision No. of  the EEC-(A) 
Community. Joint Committee  shall apply in the 
The text of the Decision is  annexed to this Regulation. 
Article 2 
This Regulation  shall enter into force  on the  third day following  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