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
Date: 1996-11-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Association Council (EU), Czechia, import (EU), iron and steel product, trade agreement (EU)

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

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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 
system,  with  certain 
amendments, for the period between  1  January and 31 December  1997. 

the  double-checking 

should  extend 

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. 

' O J N °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 
2O JL  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 

Decision N° 

Draft 
/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. 

' O J N °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." 

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of signature. 

Article 3 

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 

(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 

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 

721123 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 11 00 
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 91 20 
7213 9141 
7213 9149 
7213 91 70 
7213 91 90 
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 32 11 
7216 32 19 
7216 32 91 
7216 32 99 

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. 
3O J N °L  133, 4.6.96, p. 16. 
4O J N °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) 

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 

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 

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 

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