Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) amending the arrangements applying to imports into the Community of certain agricultural products originating in Cyprus
Date: 1994-07-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Cyprus, association agreement (EU), fruit product, grape, import, tariff quota

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

COM(94) 304 final 
Brussels, 12.07.1994 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  REGULATION  (EC) 

amending the arrangements  applying to  imports 
into the community of certain agricultural  products 
originating  in Cyprus 

(presented  by  the  Commission) 

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Explanatory Memorandum 

1. 

The Agreement establishing an Association between the European 
Community and the Republic of Cyprus, supplemented by the 
Protocol laying down the conditions and procedures for 
implementing the second stage of the Agreement, provides for 
the opening of a tariff quota for fresh table grapes 
originating in Cyprus (7 500 t) and for an annual increase in 
the said quota, which will reach 11 000 tonnes in 1997.  The 
period laid down for importing these products free of customs 
duties runs from 8 June to 4 August. 

Exports to the Community of table grapes originating in Cyprus have 
covered only between 40% and 70% of the quotas granted in recent years 
because the grapes had not ripened by the date mentioned  .  At the 
request of the Cypriot authorities, an extension to the timetable is 
proposed which will take account of the way the Community's own 
production is staggered. 

2. 

The Agreement and Protocol also provide for a tariff quota for 
concentrated grape juice and musts.  This quota, which stood 
at 3 000 t initially, will reach 4 500 t in 1997, based on an 
annual increase of 5%. 

Actual exports to the Community of these products from Cyprus have 
amounted to 5 500 t on average in recent years and the Cypriot 
authorities want the quota to be raised to 7 000 t. 

Given the traditional trade flows in these products and the special 
sensitivity of the sector within the Community, it is proposed to 
increase the quota for these products by 1 000 tonnes. 

3. 

Imports of prepared (tinned) grapes originating in Cyprus have 
traditionally formed the largest share of total imports into 
the Community  (more than 70%) and amount to between 5- 000 and 
6 000 tonnes.  Community industry undertakes further 
processing  (fruit salads).  Intra-Community trade in prepared 
grapes is limited (300 - 400 tonnes annually) and Community 
exports to third countries do not exceed 300 t a year. 

W 

The Association Agreement concluded between the European Community  and 
Cyprus does not provide  for any concessions  as regards prepared grapes. 
To maintain traditional trade  flows and to reduce the significant  trade 
deficit Cyprus has with the Community  a Community  tariff quota of  3 000 
tonnes at zero duty is proposed  as an autonomous measure.  This will go 
some way to meeting the request of the Cypriot authorities. 

These are the aims of the attached proposal. 

Council Regulation  (EC) No 

/94 

of 

1994 

amending the arrangements  applying  to imports  into the Community 
of certain agricultural products originating  in Cyprus 

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 of the Commission, 

Whereas the Agreement establishing  an Association  between the European 
Economic Community  and the Republic of Cyprus  (hereinafter  referred to as 
Cyprus)(*), as supplemented  by the Protocol  laying down the conditions and 
procedures  for the implementation  of the second stage of the Agreement 
establishing  an Association between the European Economic  Community  and the 
Republic  of Cyprus and adapting certain provisions of the Agreement(2), 
provides  for the opening of, and annual increases  in, Community  tariff 
quotas for certain agricultural products; 

Whereas  some of the concessions  granted to Cyprus should be increased; 
whereas  imports  from Cyprus only partly cover the tariff quota  laid down for 
fresh table grapes because the product has not ripened by the date fixed in 
the Protocol; whereas Article  1 of Council Regulation  (EC) No 298/94 of 
7 February  1994 opening and providing  for the administration  of Community 
tariff  quotas  for certain agricultural products originating  in Cyprus 
(1994)(3) lays down that the products  in question can be imported  into the 
Community  free of customs duties between  8 June and  4 August; whereas the 
timetable  should be adjusted  to allow Cyprus to benefit  fully  from this 
concession; 

Whereas for several years now the annual increase  in the tariff quota for 
concentrated  grape  juice and musts  laid down in the Protocol has not been 
sufficient to cover the actual imports into the Community  of these 
products;  whereas Article  1 of Council Regulation  (EC) No 298/94 of 
7 February  1994 lays down that the products in question may be imported 
into the Community  free of customs duties up to a quota  limit of 4 050 
tonnes; whereas this quota should therefore be increased by  1 000 tonnes; 

Whereas imports of prepared grapes originating  in Cyprus do not benefit 
from preferential  treatment pursuant to the Protocol concluded with that 
country; whereas  imports of grapes originating  in Cyprus account  for more 
than 70% of total Community  imports of this product; whereas, to maintain 
traditional trade  flows and reduce the trade deficit Cyprus has with the 
Community  a zero-duty  Community  tariff quota should be opened  for prepared 
grapes originating  in that country;  whereas  for administering  this quota 
the provisions  laid down by Community  legislation  for the other tariff 
quotas  should be applied, 

(1) OJ No L  133, 21. 5.1973, p.  2. 
(2) OJ No L 393, 31.12.1987, p.  2. 
(3) OJ No L  40, 11. 2.1994, p. 10. 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

The tariff quota for fresh table grapes falling within CN codes 08061015 and 
08061019 of the Common Customs Tariff laid down in Article 18(2) of the 
Protocol laying down the conditions and procedures for the implementation of 
the second stage of the Agreement establishing an Association between the 
European Economic Community and the Republic of Cyprus shall apply from 
8 June to 10 August. 

Article 2 

The tariff quota for grape juice and musts falling within CN codes 20096051, 
20096071, ex 20096090 and ex 22043091 of the Common Customs Tariff laid down 
in Article 19(5) of the Protocol laying down the conditions and procedures 
for the implementation of the second stage of the Agreement establishing an 
Association between the European Economic Community and the Republic of 
Cyprus is hereby increased by 1 000 tonnes. 

Article 3 

1. A total annual Community tariff quota of 3 000 tonnes is hereby opened in 

respect of prepared grapes originating in Cyprus and falling within 
CN codes 20089943 and 20089953. 

2. The annual quantity referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be 

adjusted proportionally for 1994. 

3. Articles 2, 3 and 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 298/94 shall apply. 

Article 4 

This Regulation shall enter into force  on the day of 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 

F i n a n c i al  S t a t e m e nt 

Date 

1. BUDGET  HEADING  :  1000 

Appropriations: ECU  1 023.4 million 

2. TITLE : 

Draft  Council  Regulation  amending  the arrangements  applying  to  imports  into  the Union  of  certain 
agricultural  products  originating  in Cyprus 

3. LEGAL  BASIS  :  Article  113 of  the Treaty 

4. AIMS 

To  increase  the Community  tariff  quotas  for certain  agricultural  products 

5.  FINANCIAL  IMPLICATIONS 

5.0  EXPENDITURE 

- CHARGED  TO THE  EC BUDGET 
(RE FUNDS/INTERVENT IONS) 

- NATIONAL  AUTHORITIES 

- OTHER 

5.1  REVENUE 

- OWN  RESOURCES OF  THE EC 
(LEVIES/CUSTOMS  DUTIES) 

- NATIONAL 

PERIOD  OF  12 MONTHS  CURRENT  FINANCIAL  YEAR 

(  1994 

2 

FOLLOWING  FINANCIAL  YEAR 

(  1995 

) 

1996 

1997 

1988 

1999 

-  0.8 

5.0.1  EXPENDITURE  FORECAST 
5.0.2  REVENUE  FORECAST 

5.2 METHOD  OF  CALCULATION 

Loss of  revenue 

- Table grapes 
- Juice and musts 
Seedless  grapes 

Zero duty 
1 000  t x 590 ECU/t  x 28% x 1.207  (DR) =  0.2 
3 000  t x 750 ECU/t  x 22% x 1.207  (DR) =  0.6 

ECU —  0.8 million  (B) 

6.0  CAN  THE PROJECT  BE  FINANCED  FROM APPROPRIATIONS  ENTERED  IN THE RELEVANT  CHAPTER  OF  THE  CURRENT  BUDGET ? 

6.1  CAN  THE PROJECT  BE  FINANCED  BY  TRANSFER  BETWEEN  CHAPTERS OF  THE CURRENT  BUDGET ? 

6.2  WILL  A SUPPLEMENTARY  BUDGET  BE NECESSARY  ? 

6.3  WILL  FUTURE  BUDGET  APPROPRIATIONS  BE NECESSARY  ? 

COMMENTS  : 

YES 

YES 

XXXXX 

YES 

r 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM (94) 304 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

11  03  02 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-318-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-71525-1 

Offîce for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 

6