COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 24.06.1997 
COM(97) 319 final 
97/0184 (ACC) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
laying down certain rules for the application of the special arrangements for imports of 
olive oil originating in Tunisia 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. Article 16 of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the 
Republic of Tunisia grants certain reductions in the levy on imports into the 
Community of olive oil other than that which has undergone a refining process. Those 
reductions consist of a flat-rate deduction of ECU 0.7245/100 kg and a deduction of 
ECU 14.60/100 kg provided that Tunisia levies an export charge of an equal amount. 
2. Article 17 of the Agreement provides for exemption from payment of the fixed 
component of the levy on imports into the Community of olive oil having undergone a 
refining process, wholly obtained in Tunisia and transported direct from that country 
to the Community. 
3. As part of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, the Community has 
undertaken to calculate tariff equivalents for the variable levies and replace them by 
fixed customs duties. 
4. This could have prevented application of the concessions under the current 
arrangements. Pending the introduction of new rules by the Council, the Commission 
adopted transitional rules (Regulation (EC) No 2146/95, as last amended by 
Regulation (EC) No 2388/96), providing for deductions from the customs duties. This 
transitional arrangement expires on 30 June 1997. 
in order to meet the Community's commitments, it is therefore necessary to introduce 
a new Council Regulation to implement the concessions in their updated form. 
5. In addition, for the sake of administrative simplification, the Commission proposes 
that the Council should grant it authority to make amendments required to adapt to 
any future changes made to the agreements by the Council under the Management 
Committee procedure. 
Council Regulation (EC) No ...,/97 
of.... 
laying down certain rules for the application 
of the special arrangements for imports of olive oil 
originating in Tunisia 
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 Articles 16 and 17 of, and Annex B to, the Cooperation Agreement between the 
European Economic Community and the Republic of Tunisia1, as amended by an 
Additional Protocol to that Agreement,2 provide for special arrangements for imports of 
olive oil falling within CN codes 1509 and 1510, wholly obtained in Tunisia and 
transported direct from that country to the Community; 
Whereas, for olive oil falling within CN codes 1509 10 10, 1509 10 90 and 1510 00 10, the 
special arrangements provide for a flat-rate deduction of ECU 0.7245 per 100 kilograms 
from the applicable levy, representing the reduction provided for in Article 16(l)(a) of the 
Agreement; whereas, provided that Tunisia levies an export charge, those arrangements 
provide for a further reduction of that levy corresponding to the amount of the special 
charge, but not exceeding ECU 14.60 per 100 kilograms, representing the reduction 
provided for in Article 16(l)(b) of the Agreement; 
1 OJ No L 265, 27.9.1978, p. 2. 
2 OJ No L 297, 21.10.1987, p. 36. 
Whereas the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of 
multilateral trade negotiations3 provides that the variable levies applied to imports of 
agricultural products are to be replaced by fixed customs duties from 1 July 1995; 
Whereas continuation of the arrangements makes it necessary to adopt new implementing 
rules and repeal Council Regulation (EEC) No 1508/764; 
Whereas, in accordance with the Agreement, the special export charge should be reflected 
in the price of the olive oil upon importation into the Community; whereas, to ensure the 
correct application of the arrangements in question, the necessary measures should be 
adopted to ensure that the charge is paid at the latest when the oil is imported; 
Whereas if the present conditions of the special arrangements provided for in the 
Cooperation Agreement are amended, in particular as regards the amounts, or if a new 
agreement is concluded, it will be necessary to adjust this Regulation to incorporate those 
changes; whereas provision should be made for those adjustments to be adopted by the 
Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 38 of Council 
Regulation No 136/66/EEC of 22 September 1966 on the establishment of a common 
organisation of the market in oils and fats5, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 
1581/966; 
Whereas, by Regulation (EC) No 2146/95,7 the Commission introduced an autonomous 
system as a transitional measure expiring on 30 June 1997; whereas this Regulation should 
therefore apply from 1 July 1997, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
This Regulation lays down certain rules for the application of the special arrangements for 
imports of olive oil originating in Tunisia. 
Articje_2 
1. The rate of customs duty applicable to imports into the Community of olive oil 
other than that which has undergone a refining process, falling within CN codes 
3 OJ No L 336, 23.12.1994, p. 1. 
4 OJ No L 169, 28.6.1976, p. 9. 
5 OJ No 172, 30.9.1966, p. 3025. 
6 OJ No L 206, 16.8.1996, p. 11. 
7 OJ No L 215, 9.9.1995, p. 1. 
* 
1509 10 10, 1509 10 90 and 1510 00 10, wholly obtained in Tunisia and transported 
direct from that country to the Community, shall be reduced by ECU 0.7245 per 
100 kilograms. 
2. Where Tunisia levies a special export charge on that olive oil, wholly obtained in 
Tunisia and transported direct from that country to the Community, the rate of 
customs duty shall be further reduced by an amount equal to the special charge but 
not exceeding ECU 14.60 per 100 kilograms. 
3. The reduction in the rate of customs duty provided for in paragraph 2 shall apply to 
all imports for which the importer provides proof, when importing the olive oil, that 
the special export charge is reflected in the import price. 
Article 3 
1. The rate of customs duty applicable to imports into the Community of olive oil 
having undergone a refining process falling within CN code 1509 90 00, wholly 
obtained in Tunisia and transported direct from that country to the Community, 
shall be reduced by ECU 4.661 per 100 kilograms. 
2. The rate of customs duty applicable to imports into the Community of olive oil 
having undergone a refining process falling within CN code 1510 00 90, wholly 
obtained in Tunisia and transported direct from that country to the Community, 
shall be reduced by ECU 8.754 per 100 kilograms. 
Article 4 
Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation shall be adopted by the Commission in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 38 of Council Regulation No 
136/66/EEC. 
Article 5 
Where the present conditions of the special arrangements provided for in the Cooperation 
Agreement are amended, in particular as regards the amounts, or where a new agreement is 
concluded, the Commission shall adopt the resultant adjustments necessary for this 
Regulation in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 38 of Council Regulation 
No 136/66/EEC. 
Article 6 
Council Regulation (EEC) No 1508/76 is hereby repealed. 
Article 7 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official 
Journal of the European Communities. 
It shall apply from 1 July 1997. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
The President 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
BUDGET HEADING: Article 120 (customs duties and other duties) DATE: 
APPROPRIATIONS: ECU 13 559.10m 
2. TITLE: Draft Council Regulation laying down certain rules for the application of the special arrangements for imports of 
olive oil originating in Tunisia 
3. LEGAL BASIS: Article 113 of the Treaty 
4. AIMS OF MEASURE: 
Definitive introduction of the concessions granted in their updated form. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS (in ECU million) PERIOD OF 12 
MONTHS CURRENT 
FINANCIAL 
YEAR (96) FOLLOWING 
FINANCIAL 
YEAR (97) 
5.0. EXPENDITURE CHARGED TO: 
- EC BUDGET 
(REFUNDS/INTERVENTION) 
- NATIONAL BUDGETS 
- OTHER SECTORS 
5.1. REVENUE 
- OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC 
- (LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES) 
- NATIONAL 
1998 
5.0.1. ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE 
5.1.1. ESTIMATED REVENUE 1999 2000 2001 
5.2. METHOD OF CALCULATION: 
6.0. CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT 
CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET? YES/NO 
6.1. CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT 
BUDGET? 
6.2. IS A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET NECESSARY? NO 
6.3. WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY? 
OBSERVATIONS: 
This measure brings into force on a definitive basis the transitional arrangements introduced by the Commission under Regulation 
No 2146/95, as last amended by Regulation No 2388/96. There are no additional financial implications. 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(97) 319 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 02 03 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-307-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-21630-5 
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