Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt on the adjustment of the regime for imports into the European Community of oranges originating in and imported from Egypt
Date: 1996-04-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: CCT duties, Egypt, citrus fruit, cooperation agreement (EU), import policy, import price

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

* 

-sir 

Brussels,  19.04.19% 
COM(96)  85  final 

96/0054  (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the conclusion  of an Agreement  in the form of an 
exchange  of letters  between  the European  Community 
and  the Arab  Republic  of Egypt on the adjustment  of the 
regime  for imports  into the European  Community of 
oranges  originating  in and imported  from  Egypt 

(presented  by the  Commission) 

Explanatory  Memorandum 

Following  the  agreements  concluded  during  the  Uruguay  Round  of 
the  GATT  negotiations,  some  changes  have  been  made  to  the 
legislation  on  imports  into  the  Community  of  oranges  as  from 1 
December  1995. 

An  additional  specific  duty  is now  levied  on  imports of  oranges 
between  the  period  from  December  to  May,  a period  during  which 
the reference price  system previously  applied. A shipment  can be 
exempted  from  this  specific  duty may  haveif  a given  entry  price 
a  negative  effect  on  the 
is  complied  with.  This  new  regime 
Community's  traditional  imports  from  Egypt. 

Article  22  of  the  Cooperation  Agreement  between  the  European 
Economic  Community  and  the  Republic  of  Egypt  provides  for 
adjustments  to the Agreement  when  changes  are  introduced  by  the 
Community  in  the  current  rules.  Egypt  has  requested  the 
introduction  of changes  in the Cooperation Agreement  in order  to 
permit  the  continuation  of  its  traditional  exports  of oranges. 

Negotiations  have been held with Egypt  and an agreement  has been 
reached  which  enables  the  concessions  previously  granted  to  be 
maintained.  The  arrangement  provides  a  special  entry  price  for 
8,000 tonnes of Egyptian  oranges during  the period  from  December 
to May. This quantity corresponds to Egyptian traditional exports 
to  the  Community  during  that  period.  This  special  entry  price 
is  equal  to  that  agreed  with  Morocco  and  Israel.  (See  Council 
Regulation  (EC) No  3057/95  of  22.12.1995, OJ No  L326/3). 

The provisions  of this Agreement  shall  commence  on  1st  December 
1996. 

This Agreement  is contained  in an exchange of letters  (attached) 
which  the  Commission  herewith  recommends  to  the  Council  for 
adoption. 

a 

Proposai for a 

COUNCIL DFCISTON 

on the conclusion of an Agreement  in the form of an 
exchange of letters between the European Community 
and  the Arab Republi : of Egypt on the adjustment of'rh-
regime  for import:; into the European Community of 
oranges originating  in and imported  from Egypt 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 
and  in  particular  Article  113  in  conjunction  with  the  first 
sentence of Article 228  (2) thereof, 

Having  regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

Whereas,  in  the  context  of  the  Uruguay  Round  of  multilateral 
trade  negotiations  the  import  regime  for  oranges  has  been 
changed; 

Whereas,  this  new  regime  may  have  a  negative  effect  on  the 
Community's traditional  imports from Eygpt; 

Whereas  Article  22  of  the  Cooperation  Agreement  between  the 
European  Economic  Community  and  the  Arab  Republic  of  Egypt1 
provides  that,  where  the  existing  rules  are  modified,  the 
Community may amend the regime set out in the Agreement  for the 
products concerned; 

Whereas  the  Community  has  agreed  with  Egypt  that, pending  the 
conclusion of a new Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, the said regime 
will be adjusted on the basis of an Agreement in the form of an 
exchange of letters; 

Whereas this Agreement  should now be approved; 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The Agreement  in the form of an exchange of letters between the 
European  Community  and  the  Arab  Republic  of  Egypt  on  the 
adjustment of the regime for imports into the European Community 
of  oranges  originating  in  and  imported  from  Egypt  is  hereby 
approved  on  behalf of the European Community. 

The text of the Agreement  is attached to this Decision. 

OJ No L 266 of 27.9.1978, p. 1 

3 

Arlicit?  2 

The  President  of  the  Council  is  hereby  authorized  to  designate 
the  person  empowered  to  sign  the  Agreement  so  as  to  bind  the 
Community. 

Article  3 

If necessary,  the Commission  shall  adopt  detailed  rules  for  the 
application  of  this  Decision,  in  accordance  with  the  procedure 
laid down  in Article  33 of Regulation  (EEC) No 1035/722, as  last 
amended  by  Regulation  (EC) No  1363/95.3 

Done  at  Brussels, 

1996 

For  the  Council 

The  President 

2 OJ  No  L  118  of  20.5.1972, p. 1 

3 OJ  No  L  132 of  16.6.1995, p. 8 

AGREEMENT 

in  the  form  of  an  exchange  of  letters  between  the  European 
Community  and the Arab Republic of Egypt concerning  the import 
regime in the Community of oranges from Egypt 

Letter from the Community 

Sir 

I have the honour to refer to the consultations held between the 
Egyptian authorities and the services of the European Commission 
on the  implementation  of the new WTO commitments  following  the 
Uruguay Round. 

The aim of these consultations was to grant to Egypt, pending the 
conclusion of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement and according to 
Article 22 of the Cooperation Agreement, preferences equivalent 
to those provided  for in the Cooperation Agreement between  the 
European Economic Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt. 

It has been agreed that for fresh oranges falling within the code 
ex 080510 : 

1. From 1 December to 31 May and for a maximum quantity of 8,000 
tonnes, the entry price level from which specific duties will be 
reduced to zero shall be Ecu 273 Ecu/tonne. 

2.  This  agreed  entry  price  shall  be  reduced  in  the  same 
proportion and at the same pace as the entry prices bound within 
the WTO. 

3.  If the entry price  of a particular  lot  is 2%, 4%, 6% or 8r. 
below the agreed entry price, the specific customs duty shall be 
2%, 4%, 6% or 8% of the agreed entry price as appropriate. 

4.  If the entry price  of a particular  lot  is below  92% of the 
agreed entry price, the specific customs duty bound within the 
WTO shall apply. 

This  Agreement  shall  enter  into  force  upon  signature  of  both 
parties.  It shall be applicable as from 1 December 1996. 

I should be grateful if you would kindly inform me whether your 
government  is in agreement with the above. 

Please accept, the assurance of my highest  consideration 

For the Council of the European Union 

5" 

AGREEMENT 

in  the  form  of  an  exchange  of  letters  between  the  European 
Community  and  the Arab  Republic  of  Egypt  concerning  the  import 
regime  in  the Community  of oranges  from  Egypt 

Letter  from  the Arab  Republic  of  Egypt 

Sir 

I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
today's  date  which  reads  as follows; 

"I have the honour to refer to the consultations held between the 
Egyptian authorities and the services of the European  Commission 
on  the  implementation  of  the  new  WTO  commitments  following  the 
Uruguay  Round. 

The  aim  of  these  consultations  was  to  grant  to  Egypt,  pending 
the conclusion of the Euro-Mediterranean  Agreement  and according 
to  Article  22 
oL  the  Cooperation  Agreement,  preferences 
equivalent  to  those  provided  for  in  the  Cooperation  Agreement 
between  the European Economic Community  and the Arab Republic of 
Egypt. 

It has been agreed that for fresh oranges falling within the code 
ex  080510 : 

1. From  1 December  to 31 May  and  for a maximum quantity  of 8,000 
tonnes  the  entry  price  level  from which  specilic  duties  will  be 
reduced  to  zero  shall  be  Ecu  273  Ecu/tonne. 

2.  This  agreed  entry  price  shall  be  reduced  in  the  same 
proportion  and  at  the  same  pace  as  the  entry  prices  bound  with 
the WTO. 

3.  If  the  entry  price  of  a particular  lot  is  2%,  4%,  6%  or  8% 
below  the agreed entry price, the specific customs duty  shall be 
2%,  4%,  6%  or  8% of  the  agreed  entry  price  as appropriate. 

4.  If  the  entry  price  of  a  particular  lot  is  below  92% of  the 
agreed  entry  price,  the  specific  customs  duty  bound  within  the 
WTO  shall  apply. 

This  Agreement  shall  enter  into  force  upon  signature  of  both 
parties.  It  shall  be  applicable  as  from  1 December  1996. 

I  should  be  grateful  if you would  kindly  inform  mo  whether  your 
qovernement  is  in agreement: with  t ho above..1. 

Please  accept  the  assurance  of my  highest  consideration" 

I  have  the honour  to confirm  that my Government  is  in  agreement 
with  the  contents  of  your  letter. 

Please  accept  the  assurance  of my  consideration 

For  the Government  of  the Arab  Republic  of  Egypt 

6 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 85 final 

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