Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EG) adopting autonomous and transitional measures for the free trade agreements with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in certain processed agricultural products
Date: 1996-12-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Baltic States, agro-industry, free-trade agreement, liberalisation of trade, transitional period (EU)

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 05.12.1996 
COM(96) 632  final 

96/0297 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 

adopting autonomous and transitional measures for the free trade agreements with 
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in certain processed agricultural products 

(presented by the.Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

When on  1 July  1995 the  Community  started to implement  its GATT commitment  on 
agriculture  this  led  to  an  increase  in  customs  duties  for  certain  processed  agricultural 
goods. In order to maintain the preferences  granted to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania  in the 
framework  of the Free Trade Agreements the Community  took  autonomous  measures. 
These autonomous measures which were extended by Regulation (EC) No  1820/96 were 
intended to stay in force until the relevant agreements are adapted. 

Since adaptation of the Free Trade Agreements may not be accomplished by 31.12.1997 
and in order to avoid any deterioration in access to the EU market for preferential  trade 
from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania the measures foreseen  in the Regulation  mentioned 
before should be extended until 30 June 1997. 

This proposal does not entail any additional expenditure other than those already agreed 
upon adoption of the Regulation it will replace. 

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

2 

PROPOSAL FOR A 

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) NO 

adopting autonomous and transitional measures for the free trade agreements with 
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in certain processed agricultural  products 

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, 

Having regard to the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, 

Whereas, pending adaptation of Protocol 2 to the Free Trade Agreements, concluded  with 
Estonia,  Latvia,  Lithuania^, Council  Regulation  (EC) No  1820/96^ was  adopted,  which, 
until  31  December  1996  maintains  the  degree  of  preference  granted,  thus  offsetting 
possible  negative  effects  the  implementation  of  the  results  of  the  Uruguay  Round  may 
have on exports of these countries to the Community; 

Whereas,  pending  adoption  of  improved  concessions  granted  to  Estonia,  Latvia,  and 
Lithuania by the  respective  Joint  Committees, Council Regulation  (EC) No  1820/96 laid 
down new concessions on a provisional and autonomous basis; 

Whereas the negotiations which are currently under way with the countries concerned  for 
the  conclusion  of  Protocols  amending  the  Free  Trade  Agreements  have  not  yet  been 
concluded;  whereas  'interim'  Protocols  covering  solely  the  trade-related  aspects  of  the 
amending  protocols  cannot  enter  into  force  on  1 January  1997;  whereas  it  is  therefore 
advisable to extend the concessions on an autonomous basis until 30 June  1997; 

HAS ADOPTED  THIS REGULATION: 

OJ No L 373, 31.12.1994, p. 1  (Estonia) 
OJ No L 374, 31.12.1994, p. 1  (Latvia) 
OJNoL375, 31.12.1994, p. 1  (Lithuania) 

OJ No L 241, 21.9.1996, p. 1 

3 

Article 1 

1. 

2. 

3. 

From 1 January to 30 June 1997 the goods originating in Lithuania listed in Annex 
I  to  this  Regulation  shall  be  subject  to  the  tariff  quotas  and  preferential  duties 
mentioned  in  that  Annex.  The  basic  amounts  to  be  taken  into  consideration  in 
calculating  the  reduced  agricultural  components  and  additional  duties  at 
importation  into the  Community  are given  in Annex  II. The reduced  agricultural 
components apply within the annual quotas set out in Annex I. 

From 1  January to 30 June 1997, the goods originating in Latvia listed in Annex III 
to  this  Regulation  shall  be  subject  to  the  tariff  quotas  and  preferential  duties 
mentioned  in  that  Annex.  The  basic  amounts  to  be  taken  into  consideration  in 
calculating the reduced agricultural components and additional duties applicable at 
importation into  the  Community  are given  in Annex  II. The  reduced  agricultural 
components apply within the annual quotas set out in Annex III. 

From  1 January to 30 June  1997, the goods originating in Estonia listed  in Annex 
IV  to  this  Regulation  shall  be  subject to  the  tariff  quotas  and preferential  duties 
mentioned  in  that  Annex.  The  basic  amounts  to  be  taken  into  consideration  in 
calculating the reduced agricultural components and additional duties applicable at 
importation  into the  Community  are given  in Annex  II. The reduced  agricultural 
components apply within the annual quotas set out in Annex IV. 

Article 2 

The quotas referred to in Annexes I, III and IV to this Regulation shall be  administered 
by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with the provisions  of  Regulation  (EC) No  1460/96 
establishing  the  detailed  rules  for  implementing  the  preferential  trade  arrangements 
applicable  to  certain  goods  resulting  from  the  processing  of  agricultural  products,  as 
provided for in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 3448/933. 

Article 3 

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day after 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 

3 

OJ No L187, 26.7.1996, p. 18 

ANNEX I 

LITHUANIA 

CN code 

Description 

1997 quota 
(tonnes) 

Preference 

Animal and vegetable fats 

300 

Order 
No 
09.6533 

09.6501 

1518 00 10 
1518 00 31 
1518 00 39 
1518 00 91 
1518 00 95 
1518 00 99 
17049071 
17049075 

Boiled sweets 
Caramels 

09.6503 

1806 90 

Chocolate 

09.6528 

2203 00 

Beer 

09.6525 

2208 60 11 

Vodka 

09.6534 

2402 20 90 

Cigarettes 

6% 
0% 
4% 
6% 
0% 
6% 
EAR 

EAR 

6% 

0.79 ECU/% 
vol/hl+3.08 
ECU/hl 
39.6% 

400 

500 

400 

330 

40 

S 

ANNEX II 

Basic amounts to be taken into consideration in calculating agricultural  components 
and additional  duties 

Trigo blando / Blod hvede / Weichweizen / MaXaKÔ aixdpi / 
Common wheat / Blé tendre / Grano tenero / Zachte tarwe / Trigo 
mole / Tavallinen vehnâ / Vete 
Trigo duro /Hard hvede / Hartweizen /iKXrpo aixdpi / Durum 
wheat / Blé dur /Grano duro /Durum tarwe / Trigo duro 
/Durumvehnâ /  Durumvete 
Centeno/ Rug / Roggen /ItKaXr] /Rye /Seigle / Segala / Rogge / 
Centeio / Ruis /Râg 
Cebada / Byg / Gerste / KpiGapi /Barley/ Orge / Orzo / Gerst / 
Cevada / Ohra / Korn 
Maiz / Majs / Mais / KaXannÔKi / Maize / Maïs / Granturco / Maïs / 
Milho / Maissi /  Majs 
Arroz descascarillado de grano largo / Ris, afskallet,  langkornet / 
Reis, langkôrnig, geschàlt / AnocpAoico(jévo pûÇi MaKpôonep|JO / 
Long-grain husked rice / Riz décortiqué à grains longs / Riso 
semigreggio  a grani lunghi / Langkorrelige gedopte rijst / Arroz em 
peliculas de grâos longos / Pitkâjyvâinen esikuorittu riisi / Ris, 
skalat lângkornigt 
Leche desnatada en polvo / Skummetmaelkspulver / 
Magermilchpulver / AnopouTupo)|jévo yàka  ae QKÔvr)  /  Skimmed-
milk powder / Lait érémé en poudre / Latte scremato in polvere / 
Magere-melkpoeder  / Leite desnatado em pô/ Rasvaton  maitojauhe 
/ Skummjôlkspulver 
Leche entera en polvo / Sodmaslkspulver / Vollmilchpulver / 
riXnpeç yàXa  as  QKOVT] / Whole-milk powder / Lait entier en 
poudre / Latte intero in polvere / Vollemelkpoeder / Leite inteiro 
ein pô / Rasvainen maitojauhe / Mjôlkpulver 
Mantequilla / Sm0r / Butter / Boûxupo / Butter / Beurre / Burro / 
Boter / Manteiga / Voi / Smôr 
Azùcar bianco / Hvidt sukker / WeiBzucker / AeuKri Çdxapr)  / 
White sugar / Sucre blanc / Zucchero bianco / Witte suiker / Açùcar 
branco / Valkoinen sokeri / Vitt socker 

I 

ecus/ECU/ 
Ecu/ 
ecu/écus/ecua/ 
100 kg 
9,148 

14,199 

8,914 

8,751 

7,408 

25,441 

27,436 

35,869 

55,129 

32,565 

G 

ANNEX IÏI 

LATVIA 

Order No 

CN code 

Description 

1997 quota 
(tonnes) 

Preference 

Sugar confectionery 

250 

EAR 

Chocolate 

500 

EAR 

09.6335 

09.6536 

09.6537 

1704 90 65 
1704 90 71 
1704 90 75 

1806 3100 
1806 32 10 
1806 32 90 
1806 90 11 
1806 90 19 

1901 90 11 
1901 90 19 
1901 90 91 
1901 90 99 

09.6538 

1905 30 

Biscuits 

09.6527 

2104  10 

Soups and broths 

09.6513 

2105 

Ice-cream 

09.6528 

2203 00 

Beer 

09.6525 

2208 60 11 

Vodka 

09.6529 

2208 70 10 

Liqueurs 

T-

200 

200 

33 

28 

500 

330 

11 

EAR 
EAR 
8.8% 
EAR 

EAR 

5.7% 

EAR 

5.3% 

0.79  ECU/% 
vol/hl+3.08 
ECU/hl 
0.96  ECU/% 
vol/hl+6.16 
ECU/hl 

ANNEX IV 

ESTONIA 

Order 
No 
09.6515 

CN code 

Description 

1997 quota 
(tonnes) 

Preference 

Sugar confectionery 

150 

EAR 

1704  10 11 
1704  10 19 
1704 90 71 
1704 90 75 

09.6530 

1805 00 00 

Cocoa powder 

09.6517 

ex  1806 

Chocolate  confectionery,  excluding 
CN code  1806 10 15 

09.6519 

1806  10 15 
1905 

Bakery goods 

09.6521 

2102  10 39 

Yeasts 

09.9539 

2103 90 90 

Sauces and preparations 

09.6523 

2105 

Ice-cream 

09.6531 

2203 

Beer 

09.6525 

2208 60 11 

Vodka 

09.6529 

2208 70 10 

Liquors 

09.6532 

2208 90 69 

Other spirits 

09.6534 

2402 20 90 

Cigarettes 

28 

500 

110 

2000 

600 

11 

500 

100 

17 

17 

50 

0% 

EAR 

0% 
EAR 

EAR 

6% 

EAR 

5.3% 

0.79  ECU/% 
vol/hl+3.08 
ECU/hl 
0.96  ECU/% 
vol/hl+6.16 
ECU/hl 
0.96  ECU/% 
vol/hl+6.16 
ECU/hl 
39.6% 

1. BUDGET  HEADING  : Article  120 

APPROPRIATIONS : 

2.TITLE 

Proposal  for  a  Council  Regulation  (EC) No 
t 
trade  agreements  with  Lithuania,  Latvia  and  Estonia  in certain  processed  agricultural  products 

adopting autonomous  and  transitional  measures  for  the  free 

3.LEGAL  BASIS : Article  113 (3) 

4.  AIMSiExtending  the  autonomous  mesures  taken  following  enlargment  of  the  Union  and  the  implementation  of  the  agreements 
on  agriculture  reached  in  the  Uruguay  Round  multilateral  negotiations. 

" 

5. FINANCIAL  IMPLICATIONS: 

Period  of  12 months 

Current  financial  year( ) 

Following 
financial  year  ( ) 

5.0.Expenditures : 
- Charged  to the EC budget  (refunds/interventions) 
- National  Authorities 
- Other 

5.1.  Revenue: 
- Own resources of the EC (levies/customs duties) 

5.0.1.ESTIMATED  EXPENDITURE 
5.1.1  ESTIMATED  REVENUE 

5.2. METHOD  OF  CALCULATION 

6.0. CAN  THE  PROJECT  BE FINANCED  FROM  APPROPRIATIONS  ENTERED  IN THE  RELEVANT  CHAPTER 

ON  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 

yes/no 

yes/no 

yes/no 

ves/no 

OBSERVATIONS : 
This  proposal  does  not  entail  any  additional  expenditure  other  than  those already  agreed  upon  adoption  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1820/96 
which  it is  replacing. 

e\ 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 632 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

11  03  01 

15 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-96-630-EN-C 

ISBN  92-78-12888-0 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

lO