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\ ?S5)f COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0M(93)137 final 
Brussels, 31 March 1993 
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Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
laying down certain provisions for the application 
of the Bilateral Agreements on Agriculture between the Community, 
of the one part, and Austria, Finland, Iceland, 
Norway and Sweden, of the other part 
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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Within the framework of the negotiations on the establishment of the 
European Economic Area (EEA), the Community signed Bilateral Agreements 
concerning trade arrangements covering certain agricultural products in 
the form of exchanges of letters with Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, 
Sweden and Switzerland in Oporto on 2 May 1992. The Agreements on 
Agriculture were originally scheduled to enter into force on the same 
date as the EEA Agreement. 
As a result of the deferral of the entry into force of the EEA Agreement 
in the wake of Switzerland's decision not to ratify the latter, it was 
decided by the Community on the one hand and by Austria, Finland, 
Iceland, Norway and Sweden on the other hand that the Agreements on 
Agriculture should enter into force earlier than scheduled, i.e. on 
15 April 1993, for a term of validity expiring on 1 January 1994, except 
where it is decided otherwise. 
Following the Council Decision to approve the Agreements, a legal basis 
enabling the Commission to implement the latter must be established. 
The proposed provisions must of necessity be adopted at Community level. 
In the light of the foregoing, the Council is requested to adopt this 
proposa I. 
This proposal has no financial impact on the Community budget. 
It has no impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). 
-1" 
Proposât fpr a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
laying down certain provisions for the application of the Bilateral 
Agreements on Agriculture between the Community, of the one part, and 
Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, of the other part 
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 Community signed Bilateral Agreements concerning trade 
arrangements covering certain agricultural products in the form of 
exchanges of letters with Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and 
Switzerland in Oporto on 2 May 1992; 
Whereas those Agreements were signed at the same time as the Agreement 
on the European Economic Area between the European Economic Community, 
the European Coal and Steel Community and the Member States thereof, of 
the one part, and the Member States of the European Free Trade 
Association, of the other part, hereinafter referred to as the 
"EEA Agreement"; whereas the objective of all parties was to ensure 
that the EEA Agreement and the Bilateral Agreements on Agriculture 
entered into force at the same time; 
Whereas, as a result of the decision of the Swiss Confederation not to 
ratify the EEA Agreement, Agreements in the form of exchanges of letters 
were concluded on 17 March 1993 between the Community, of the one part, 
and Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, of the other part, 
with a view to applying the Bilateral Agreements on Agriculture signed 
on 2 May 1992 with those countries as from 15 April 1993 and until such 
time as the EEA Agreement enters into force-, whereas the Agreements of 
17 March 1993 also provide that, except where the Contracting Parties 
decide otherwise, those provisional Agreements are to expire on 
1 January 1994 if the EEA Agreement does not enter into force on that 
date; 
Whereas, by Decision of 15 March 19931, the Council approved the 
Bilateral Agreements with Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden 
and whereas those Agreements were concluded on 17 March 1993; 
Whereas the implementing provisions for the application of various 
provisions of those Agreements must be laid down, 
1 OJ ... 
-3 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
As regards agricultural products listed in Annex II to the Treaty and 
covered by ^the_ rules of a common organization of the market, the 
implementing provisions for the Bilateral Agreements on Agriculture 
signed on 2 May 1992 in Oporto between the European Economic Community, 
of the one part, and Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, of 
the other part, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid 
down in Article 30 of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68* or in the 
corresponding articles of the other regulations on the common 
organization of the markets. Where the application of the Agreements 
calls for close cooperation with the signatory States, the Commission 
may take any measures necessary to ensure such cooperation. 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its 
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable 
in a 11 Member States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President 
2 Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common 
organization of the market in milk and milk products (OJ No L 148, 
28.6.1968). Last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2071/92 
(OJ No L 215, 30.7.1992). 
^ BSN 0254-1475 
COM(93) 137 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 02 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-93-161-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-54366-3 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg