Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) establishing certain measures concerning imports of processed agricultural products from Switzerland in order to take account of the results of the Uruguay Round negotiations in the agricultural sector
Date: 1996-11-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Switzerland, agro-industry, customs duties, import, tariff negotiations, trade agreement (EU)

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 28.11.1996 
COM(96) 618 final 

96/0289  (ACQ 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 

establishing certain measures concerning imports of processed agricultural 
products from Switzerland in order to take account of the results of the Uruguay 
Round negotiations in the agricultural sector 

(presented by the Commission) 

Explanatory  memorandum 

The  Council  Decision  of  22  December  1994  concerning  the  conclusion  of  the 
agreements reached  in the Uruguay  Round  multilateral  negotiations  (1986-1994) 
was  implemented  for  certain  agricultural  products  on  1  July  1995.  These 
agreements  provide  for  the  application  of  specific  amounts  to  processed 
agricultural products in place of the previous variable components. 

The  existing  free  trade  agreement  with  Switzerland  contains  a  protocol 
specifically  relating  to  processed  agricultural  products.  This  protocol  currently 
provides  only  for  variable  components  to  be  applied,  upon  import,  to  certain 
processed  agricultural  products.  These  variable  components  have  been  replaced 
by  specific  amounts  following  the  implementation  of  the  agreements  on 
agriculture  concluded  during  the  Uruguay  Round  multilateral  negotiations.  In 
order to avoid disturbing traditional trade flows and to maintain the existing level 
of  reciprocal  preferences,  it  has  proved  necessary  to  make  certain  technical 
adjustments by introducing reduced specific amounts. 

All  the  changes  necessary  to  implement  the  results  of  the  Uruguay  Round 
negotiations  have  been  negotiated  with  Switzerland  and  will  be  incorporated  in 
the existing Protocol. However, in view of the fact that these negotiations will not 
be completed by 1  January  1997, it is necessary to adopt autonomous measures in 
order  to  maintain  the,existing  level  of  reciprocal  preferences  pending  the 
conclusion of the negotiations. 

For these reasons, the Commission proposes that the Council adopt the  following 
Regulation. 

£ 

Proposal Council Regulation (EC) No ..../ of.... 
establishing certain measures concerning imports of processed  agricultural 
products from Switzerland in order to take account of the results of the Uruguay 
Round negotiations in the agricultural sector 

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,  under  the  preferential  agreement  between  the  European  Community  and 
Switzerland,  concessions  regarding  certain  processed  agricultural  products  have  been 
granted on a reciprocal basis; 

Whereas,  further  to  Council  Decision  94/800/EC of  22  December  1994  concerning  the 
conclusion  on  behalf  of  the  European  Community,  as  regards  matters  within  its 
competence,  of the  agreements  reached  in the Uruguay  Round  multilateral  negotiations 
(1986-1994)1,  certain  concessions  regarding  processed  agricultural  products  have  been 
amended as from 1  July 1995; 

Whereas as a result certain aspects of the agreement concluded  with  Switzerland,  and in 
particular  the  protocol  concerning  processed  agricultural  products  annexed  to  this 
agreement,  should  be  adjusted  in  order  to  maintain  the  existing  level  of  reciprocal 
preferences; 

Whereas to that end negotiations are still in progess with  Switzerland  with a view to the 
conclusion  of  amendments  to  this  protocol;  whereas,  however,  it  is  not  possible  to 
conclude these negotiations in time in order to implement the necessary  adjustments  on 1 
January  1997; 

Whereas  in those  circumstances  it  is appropriate  for  the European  Community  to  adopt 
autonomous  measures  in  order  to  maintain  the  existing  level  of  reciprocal  preferences, 
pending the conclusion of negotiations; 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

OJNoL336,  23.12.1994, p.  1. 

Article 1 

1.  From  1 January  1997 to 30 June  1997, the basic amounts to be taken into account in 
the calculation of the agricultural  components and the additional  duties applicable  at 
importation  into  the  Community  of  goods  originating  in  Switzerland  shall  be  those 
mentioned in the annex to this Regulation. 

2.  The  Commission may,  in accordance  with the procedure  laid down  in Article  16 of 
Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  3448/932,  suspend  application  of  the  measures 
provided  for  in  paragraph  1  if  Switzerland  discontinues  the  application  of  its 
reciprocal  measures  in favour  of the Community. 

Article 2 

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 Brussels,  ... 

For the Council 

2O J N o L 3 1 8,  20.12.1993, p.  18 

</ 

ANEXO  -  BlLAG  -  ANHANG  -  FlAPAPTHMA  -  ANNEX  -  ANNEXE 
-ALLEGATO  -  BULAGE  -  ANEXO  -  L U TE  -  BlLAGA 

Montantes bâsicos, considerados par calcular los elementos agricolas reducidos y derechos adicionales, 
aplicables a las importaciônes en la Comunidad 

Basisbefôb taget i betragtning ved beregningen af de nedsatte landbrugs elementer og tillaegstold 
anvendelig ved indfersel i Faellesskabet 

Grundbetrâge, die bei der Berechnung der ermâfligten Agrarteilbetràge und Zusatzzôlle, anwendbar bei 
der Einfuhr  in die Gemeinschaft beriicksichtigt worden sind 

BaaiKÔ noaâ nou eXfjtpGnoav  unôtyrj yia TOV unoXoyianô TOJV nerap\r|Tœv oroixeicav Kai 
np6o8eru>v 5aona>v nou e<papn6Çovrai ara crypcmKâ oroixeia KOTCLTTIV eiaaYO)Yn OTrjv 
Koivorryra 

Basic amounts taken into consideration in calculating the reduced agricultural components and additional 
duties, applicable on importation into the Community 

Montants de base, pris en considération lors du calcul des éléments agricoles réduits et droits additionnels 
applicables à l'importation dans la Communauté 

Import i de base, presi in considerazione per il calcolo degli elementi agricoli e dei dazi addizionali 
applicabili all'importazione nella Comunità 

Basisbedragen, in aanmerking genomen bij de berekening van de verlaagde agrarische elementen en 
aanvullende invoerrechten, geldend bij invoer in de Gemeenschap 

ecus/ECU/Ecu 
/ 
ecu/écus/ecua/ 
100 kg 

Montantes de base tornados em consideraçâo aquando do câlculo dos eiementos agrîcolas reduzidos e dos 
direitos adicionais aplicâveis à importaçaô na Comunidade 

Yhteisôôn tulevaan tuontiin sovellettavia alennettuja maatalousosia ja lisâtulleja laskettaessa huomioon 
otettavat perusmâàrât 

Grundpriser som beaktas vid berâkning av minskade jordbruksbestândsdelar och tillâggstull som skal! utgâ 
pâ import till gemenskapen 

Trigo blando /  Blod hvede / Weichweizen  /  MdXaKÔ ciTâpi / Common wheat  /  Blé tendre / 
Grano tenero /  Zachte tarwe / Trigo mole / Tavallinen vehnâ / Vête 
Trigo duro /Hârd hvede / Hartweizen /lK\r|pô aixdpi /  Durum wheat / Blé dur  /Grano duro 
/Durum  tarwe /  Trigo duro /Durumvehnà /  Durumvete 
Centeno/  Rug /  Roggen  /IiKaXn, /Rye /Seigle  / Segaîa / Rogge /  Centeio /  Ruis /Râg 
Cebada  /  Byg /  Gerste /  KpiSdpi  /Barley/  Orge / Orzo / Gerst  / Cevada / Ohra  / Korn 
Maiz / Majs  / Mais  /  KaXqunÔKi / Maize / Maïs / Granturco  / Maïs / Milho / Maissi  /  Majs 
Arroz descascarillado de grano largo /  Ris, afskallet,  langkornet  / Reis,  langkôrnig, geschàk  / 
AnO(p\oio)uévo pûÇi uaKpôonepi-io  /  Long-grain  husked  rice /  Riz décortiqué  à grains  longs 
/  Riso semigreggio  a grani  lunghi /  Langkorrelige  gedopte rijst  /  Arroz em peh'culas de grâos 
longos /  Pitkàjyvàinen  esikuorittu riisi /  Ris, skalat  làngkornigt 
Lèche desnatada  en polvo /  Skummetmselkspulver / Magermilchpuiver  / Anof!>QUTUpu)ji£VO 
yâXa as  OKÔvr]  ! Skimmed-milk powder  /  Lait érémé en poudre  /  Latte scremato  in polvere / 
Magere-melkpoeder  / Leite desnatado em po/ Rasvaton maitojauhe  /  Skummjôîkspulver 
Lèche entera  en polvo /  Sodmaeîkspulver /  Vollmiichpulver /  (IXripsq yaka  as  aKÔvr) / 
Whole-milk  powder  /  Lait entier  en poudre  /  Latte  iniero in polvere  / Vollemelkpoeder  /  Leite 
inteiro ein pô /  Rasvainen  maitojauhe  /  Mjôlkpulver 
Mantequilla  /  Smesr / Butter  / BoÙTUpo / Butter  / Beurre / Burro  / Boter  / Manteiga  / Voi / 
Smôr 
Azùcar bianco /  Hvidt  sukker / Weifizucker  / AeuKr] ^âxapn  / White sugar  /  Sucre blanc / 
Zucchero  bianco / Witte suiker  /  Açùcar branco / Valkoinen  sokeri / Vitt  socker 

9,771 

15,168 

: 2,734 
î ,04(i 
^6,344 

.3",!82 

179,34 

260,64 

^ —J 

48.000 

5" 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 618  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

11  03  02  01 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-96-614-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-11903-2 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

6