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Brussels, 25.11.1996 
COM(96) 597 final 
96/0284 (ACC) 
96/0285 (ACC) 
Proposal for a Council Decision 
on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council 
established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their 
Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, which 
entered into force on 1 February 1995, concerning the export of certain steel 
products from the Czech Republic to the European Communities 
96/0284 (ACC) 
PROPOSAL FOR A 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) Nc 
concerning the export of certain ECSC and EC steel products from the Czech Republic to 
the European Communities for the period 1 January to 31 December 1997 (extension of 
the double-checking system) 96/0285 (ACC) 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
The aim of the double-checking system is to improve transparency and to avoid possible 
diversions of trade. It is founded on the provision in the EC-Czech Republic Europe 
Agreement1 which allows either Party to introduce an administrative procedure having as 
its purpose the rapid provision of information on the trend of trade flows. The Parties 
agreed to establish such a system in 1996 in respect of certain ECSC and EC steel 
products by means of Association Council Decision N° 2/962. Council Regulation (EC) 
N° 790/963 established the corresponding implementing legislation for the Community. 
At its meeting on 18 October 1996, the Contact Group agreed to recommend that the 
Association Council should extend the double-checking system, with certain 
amendments, for the period between 1 January and 31 December 1997. 
The attached proposals consequently seek to extend Association Council Decision N° 
2/96 and Council Regulation (EC) N° 790/96, with certain amendments, for the period 
between 1 January and 31 December 1997. 
'OJN°L 360, 31.12.94, p.12. 
2 OJ N° L 133, 4.6.96, p. 16. 
3OJN°L108, 1.5.96, p. 12. 
Proposal for a Council Decision 
on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council 
established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their 
Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, which 
entered into force on 1 February 1995, concerning the export of certain steel 
products from the Czech Republic to the European Communities 
96/0284 (ACC) 
The Council of the European Union, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular 
Article 113 together with Article 228, paragraph 2, first sentence, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the Decision of the Council and the Commission of 19 December 1994 
on the conclusion of the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and 
their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, and in 
particular Article 2(1) thereof, 
Whereas the Contact Group referred to in Article 10 of Protocol 2 of the Europe 
Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States of the one part 
and the Czech Republic of the other part, which entered into force on 1 February 1995', 
met on 18 October 1996 to discuss trends in imports of ECSC and EC products from the 
Czech Republic into the Community and recognised the need to find appropriate 
solutions in the framework of Article 34.2 of the Agreement in order to ensure that the 
attainment of the objectives of the Agreement will not be jeopardised; 
Whereas the Contact Group therefore agreed to recommend to the Association Council 
established under Article 104 of the Agreement that the double-checking system 
introduced in 1996 by Association Council Decision N° 2/962 should be renewed for the 
period between 1 January and 31 December 1997; 
Whereas the Parties are desirous to promote the orderly and equitable development of 
trade in steel between the Community and the Czech Republic; 
Whereas the Association Council, having been supplied with all relevant information, has 
determined that the solution acceptable to the two parties which least disturbs the 
functioning of the Agreement is the renewal of the double-checking system, without 
quantitative limits, for the import into the Community of certain steel products covered 
by the ECSC and EC Treaties between 1 January and 31 December 1997, 
1 OJL 360, 31.12.94, p. 12 
2OJL 133,4.6.96, p. 16. 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
The position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council established 
by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, 
of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, concerning the export of 
certain steel products from the Czech Republic to the European Communities, and in 
particular the renewal of the double-checking system, shall be based on the draft decision 
of the Association Council annexed to this Decision. 
Done at Brussels 
For the Council 
Draft 
Decision N° /96 of the Association Council, 
association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, 
and the Czech Republic, of the other part 
concerning the export of certain ECSC and EC steel products from the Czech Republic to 
the European Communities for the period 1 January to 31 December 1997 (extension of 
the double-checking system established by Decision N° 2/96 of the Association Council) 
(96/ /ECSC) 
THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL 
Whereas the Contact Group referred to in Article 10 of Protocol 2 of the Europe 
Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their 
Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, which entered 
into force on 1 February 19951 , met on 18 October 1996 and agreed to recommend to the 
Association Council established under Article 104 of the Agreement that the double-
checking system introduced in 1996 by Association Council Decision N° 2/962 should be 
extended for the period between 1 January and 31 December 1997 subject to certain 
amendments; 
Whereas the Association Council, having been supplied with all relevant information, has 
agreed with this recommendation, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS : 
Article 1 
The double-checking system established by Association Council Decision N° 2/96 for the 
period 1 January to 31 December 1996 shall continue to apply for the period between 1 
January and 31 December 1997, subject to the amendments to that Decision shown in 
Article 2. In the Preamble and Article 1(1) and (3) of the Decision, references to the 
period 1 January to 31 December 1996 are hereby replaced by the words "1 January to 31 
December 1997". Article 1 (4) shall be deleted. 
'OJN°L 360, 31.12.94, p. 12. 
2 OJ N° L 133, 4.6.96, p. 16. 
Article 2 
1. In Article 2 of the Decision, the first sentence of paragraph 2 shall be amended to read 
as follows: 
"The Community undertakes to supply the Czech authorities with precise statistical 
information on import documents issued by Member States in respect of the export 
documents issued by the Czech authorities pursuant to Article 1," 
2. Annex I shall be replaced by the text contained in the Annex to this Decision. 
3. In Annex HI, the following change shall be made: delete "Export Licence" and insert 
"Export Document". 
4. In Annex IV, paragraph 3 shall be amended to read as follows: 
"The export documents shall be valid for six months from the date of their issue." 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of signature. 
It shall apply with effect from 1 January 1997. 
Done at 
For the Association Council 
The President 
ANNEX 
ANNEX I 
CZECH REPUBLIC 
List of products subject to double-checking (1997) 
Heavy Plates Wire rod 
(excluding ex-CN Codes) 
7208 40 10 
7208 51 30 
7208 51 50 
7208 5191 
7208 51 99 
7208 52 91 
7208 52 99 
7208 54 10 
7208 90 10 
7208 90 90 7213 10 00 
7213 20 00 
7213 91 10 
7213 91 20 
7213 9141 
7213 9149 
7213 91 70 
7213 91 90 
7213 99 10 
7213 99 90 
7221 00 10 
7221 00 90 
Cold-rolled sheet 
7209 15 00 
7209 16 90 
7209 17 90 
7209 18 91 
7209 18 99 
7209 25 00 
7209 26 90 
7209 27 90 
7209 28 90 7227 10 00 
7227 20 00 
7227 90 10 
7227 90 50 
7227 90 95 
Hematite pig iron 
7201 10 19 
721123 10 
721123 51 
721129 20 Beams and sections 
Hot-rolled strip and hoop 
7211 14 10 
7211 14 90 
7211 19 20 
7211 19 90 7216 31 11 
7216 31 19 
7216 3191 
7216 3199 
7216 32 11 
7216 32 19 
7216 32 91 
7216 32 99 
7212 60 91 
7220 11 00 
7220 12 00 
7220 90 31 
7226 19 10 
7226 20 20 
7226 91 10 
7226 91 90 
7226 99 20 Welded Tubes 
Complete CN heading 7306 
JOINT DECLARATION 
In the context of Association Council Decision N° 2/96, as extended by Association 
Council Decision N° .../96, the Community and the Czech Republic declared that, if so 
requested by the producers of products subject to double-checking, they would inform 
each other immediately in the event of any problems relating to the operation of the 
Decision and the products concerned which might require consultations as provided for 
in Article 3 thereof. 
PROPOSAL FOR A 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) N° .... 
concerning the export of certain ECSC and EC steel products from the Czech Republic to 
the European Communities for the period 1 January to 31 December 1997 (extension of 
the double-checking system) 96/0285 CACO 
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 Commission, 
Whereas a Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European 
Communities and their Member States, of, the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the 
other part, entered into force on 1 February 1995'; 
Whereas the Parties decided in Association Council Decision N° ..../962 to extend the 
double-checking system introduced by Decision N° 2/963 for the period between 1 
January and 31 December 1997 subject to certain amendments; 
Whereas it is consequently necessary to extend the Community implementing legislation 
introduced by Council Regulation (EC) N° 790/964, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Council Regulation (EC) N° 790/96 shall continue to apply for the period between 1 
January and 31 December 1997, in accordance with the provisions of Association 
Council Decision N° ..../96 between the European Communities and their Member 
States, of, the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, subject to the 
amendments to that Regulation shown in Article 2. In the Preamble and Article 1(1) and 
(3) of the Regulation, references to the period 1 January to 31 December 1996 are hereby 
replaced by 1 January to 31 December 1997. Article 1 (4) shall be deleted. 
1 OJN°L360, 31.12.94, p. 12. 
2 See page ... of this Official Journal. 
3OJN°L 133, 4.6.96, p. 16. 
4OJN°L 108, 1.5.96, p. 12. 
Article 2 
1. Annex I shall be replaced by the text contained in the Annex to this Regulation. 
2. In Annex II, the following change shall be made: delete "Export Licence" and insert 
"Export Document". 
Article 3 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal 
of the European Communities. 
It shall apply with effect from 1 January 1997. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member 
States. 
Done at 
For the Council 
The President 
10 
ANNEX 
ANNEX I 
CZECH REPUBLIC 
List of products subject to double-checking (1997) 
Heavy Plates 
(excluding ex-CN Codes) 
7208 40 10 
7208 5130 
7208 51 50 
7208 51 91 
7208 51 99 
7208 52 91 
7208 52 99 
7208 54 10 
7208 90 10 
7208 90 90 
Cold-rolled sheet 
7209 15 00 
7209 16 90 
7209 17 90 
7209 18 91 
7209 18 99 
7209 25 00 
7209 26 90 
7209 27 90 
7209 28 90 
7211 23 10 
721123 51 
721129 20 
Hot-rolled strip and hoop 
7211 14 10 
7211 14 90 
7211 19 20 
7211 19 90 
7212 60 91 
7220 1100 
7220 12 00 
7220 90 31 
7226 19 10 
7226 20 20 
7226 91 10 
7226 91 90 
7226 99 20 Wire rod 
7213 10 00 
7213 20 00 
7213 91 10 
7213 9120 
7213 9141 
7213 91 49 
7213 9170 
7213 9190 
7213 99 10 
7213 99 90 
7221 00 10 
7221 00 90 
7227 10 00 
7227 20 00 
7227 90 10 
7227 90 50 
7227 90 95 
Hematite pig iron 
7201 10 19 
Beams and sections 
7216 31 11 
7216 31 19 
7216 3191 
7216 3199 
7216 3211 
7216 32 19 
7216 32 91 
7216 32 99 
Welded Tubes 
Complete CN heading 7306 
11 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 597 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 11 02 10 12 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-593-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-11671-8 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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