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
Date: 1997-06-02
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Baltic States, agricultural product, agro-industry, free-trade agreement, market access

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  02.06.1997 
COM(97)  262  final 

97/0159  (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 

The  purpose  of  this  proposal  is  to  amend  and  to  extend,  until  the  end  of  1997,  the 
autonomous  measures  applied  by  the  EU  to  imports  of  processed  agricultural  goods 
from  Estonia,  Latvia  and  Lithuania  which  were  introduced  following  the  enlargement 
of  the  Community  and  the  implementation  of  the  Uruguay  Round,  as  laid  down  in 
Council Regulation (EC) No 340/97. 

Protocols  adapting  the Free Trade Agreements  with these countries  have been or soon 
will  be  initialled.  However,  pending  the  procedures  for  their  formal  adoption  by  the 
respective  parties  the  Adaptation  Protocols  will  not  take  effect  on  1  July  1997. 
Therefore,  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 
Regulation (EC) No 340/97 should be extended until 31 December 1997. 

This  proposal  does  not  entail  any  additional  expenditure  other  than  those  already 
agreed upon adoption of Regulations (EC) No 340/97 which it is replacing. 

PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION 

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 of the Free Trade Agreements concluded  with 
Estonia,  Latvia,  Lithuania*,  Council  Regulation  (EC) No  340/97^  was  adopted,  which, 
until  30  June  1997  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  340/97  laid 
down new concessions on a provisional and autonomous basis; 

Whereas  the  negotiations  with  the  countries  concerned  for  the  conclusion  of  Protocols 
amending  the  Free  Trade  Agreements  have  been  or  soon  will  be  concluded  and  new 
Protocols  2  have  been  or  soon  will  be  initialled;  whereas  procedures  for  the  formal 
adoption  of  'interim'  Protocols  covering  solely  the trade-related  aspects  of  the  amending 
protocols are underway;  whereas  the time schedule required  for  formal  adoption may  not 
allow  for  the  entry  into  force  of  the  'interim'  Protocols  on  1 July  1997;  whereas  it  is 
therefore  advisable  to extend  the concessions  on an autonomous basis until 31 December 
1997; 

HAS ADOPTED  THIS  REGULATION: 

Article 1 

1. 

From  1 July  to 31 December  1997 the goods originating  from  Lithuania  listed  in 
Annex  I  to  this  Regulation  shall  be  subject  to  the  annual  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 to the importation  into the Community are given in Annex II. 

OJ  No  L373,  31.12.1994,  p.l  (Estonia) 
OJ  No  L374,  31.12.1994,  p.l  (Latvia) 
OJ  No  L375,  31.12.1994,  p.l  (Lithuania) 

2  OJ  No  L 58,  27.2.1997,  p.25 

2. 

3. 

1. 

2. 

From  1 July  to  31  December  1997  the  goods  originating  from  Latvia  listed  in 
Annex  III  to  this  Regulation  shall  be  subject  to  the  annual  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 to the importation into the Community are given in Annex II. 

From  1 July  to  31  December. 1997 the  goods  originating  from  Estonia  listed  in 
Annex  IV  to  this  Regulation  shall  be  subject  to  the  annual  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 to the importation into the Community are given in Annex II. 

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. 

The  volumes  of  the  tariff  quotas  indicated  in Annexes  I,  III  and  IV  to  the  present 
Regulation  shall be reduced to take account of the volume  of goods  imported  from 
1 January to 30 June  1997 under the equivalent quotas set out in Annexes I, III and 
IV to Regulation (EC) No 340/97. 

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  July  1997. 

This  Regulation  shall  be  binding  in  its  entirety  and  directly  applicable  in  all  Member 
States. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 

OJ  N oL  187, 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 
15180031 
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 

5.5% 
0% 
3.5% 
5.5% 
0% 
5.5% 
EAR 

EAR 

4.4% 

0.73  ECU/% 
vol/hl+2.87 
ECU/hl 
36.9% 

400 

500 

400 

330 

40 

ANNEX II 

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

: 

Trigo blando  /  Blod hvede /  Weichweizen  /  MaÀaKO airâpi / 
Common  wheat /Blé  tendre /  Grano  tenero  /  Zachte tarwe /  Trigo 
mole /  Tavallinen vehnà /  Vete 
Trigo duro  /Hard  hvede  /  Hartweizen  /<LKArip6 aixdpi  /  Durum 
wheat  /  Blé dur  /Grano  duro  /Durum  tarwe  / Trigo  duro 
/Durumvehna  /  Durumvete 
Centeno/  Rug  /  Roggen  /IiKOÀr| /Rye  /Seigle  /  Segala /  Rogge  / 
Centeio  /  Ruis  /Râg 
Cebada  /  Byg /  Gerste  /  Kpi9dpi  /Barley/  Orge /  Orzo /  Gerst  / 
Cevada  /  Ohra  /  Korn 
Maiz  / Majs  /  Mais  /  Ka\a[inÔKi /  Maize  / Maïs / Granturco / 
Maïs /  Milho /  Maissi  /  Majs 
Arroz descascarillado  de grano  largo  /  Ris,  afskallet,  langkornet  / 
Reis,  langkôrnig,  geschàlt / Ano(p\oioj|jévo  pûÇi [iaKpôornep|JO 
/  Long-grain  husked  rice /  Riz décortiqué  à grains  longs  /  Riso 
semigreggio  a gram  lunghi /  Langkorrelige  gedopte  rijst  /  Arroz 
em peliculas de gràos  longos  /  Pitkàjyvàinen  esikuorittu  riisi / 
Ris,  skalat  lângkornigt 
Leche desnatada  en polvo /  Skummetmœlkspulver  / 
Magermilchpulver  /  AnoPouTupcofiévo yo-Aa ae  CJK6VT|  / 
Skimmed-milk powder  /  Lait érémé en poudre  /  Latte  scremato  in 
polvere  /  Magere-melkpoeder  /  Leite desnatado em pô/  Rasvaton 
maitojauhe  /  Skummjolkspulver 
Leche entera  en polvo  /  Sodmœlkspulver /  Vollmilchpulver  / 
n\r|p£Ç yôKa  ae  <JK6VT| /  Whole-milk  powder  /  Lait entier  en 
poudre  /  Latte  intero  in polvere  /  Vollemelkpoeder  /  Leite  inteiro 
ein pô /  Rasvainen  maitojauhe  /  Mjôlkpulver 
Mantequilla /  S nw  /  Butter  /  Boûiupo  /  Butter  /  Beurre  /  Burro 
/  Boter  /  Manteiga  /  Voi /  Smôr 
Azùcar  bianco  /  Hvidt  sukker  /  Weiflzucker  / AeuKr| Çaxaprj  / 
White  sugar  /  Sucre  blanc /  Zucchero  bianco  /  Witte suiker  / 
Açùcar  branco  /  Valkoinen  sokeri  /  Vitt  socker 

1  ecus/ECU/ 

Ecu/ 
ecu/écus/ecua/ 
100 kg 
8.524 

13.231 

8.306 

8.306 

7.408 

23.706 

26.730 

33.423 

48.575 

32.565 

ANNEX HI 

LATVIA 

Order No 

CN code 

Description 

1997 quota 
(tonnes) 

Preference 

Sugar confectionery 

250 

EAR 

Chocolate 

500 

EAR 

09.6535 

09.6536 

09.6537 

1704 90 65 
1704 90 71 
1704 90 75 

1806 31 00 
1806 32  10 
1806 32 90 
1806 90  11 
1806 90  19 

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

Food preparations 

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 

200 

200 

36 

30 

500 

330 

12 

EAR 
EAR 
8.2% 
EAR 

EAR 

5.7% 

EAR 

4.4% 

0.73  ECU/% 
vol/hl+2.87 
ECU/hl 
0.89  ECU/% 
vol/hl+5.74 
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 

09.6539 

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 

31 

500 

120 

2000 

600 

12 

500 

100 

18 

18 

50 

0% 

EAR 

0% 
EAR 

EAR 

5.7% 

EAR 

4.4% 

0.73  ECU/% 
vol/hl+2.87 
ECU/hl 
0.89  ECU/% 
vol/hl+5.74 
ECU/hl 
0.89  ECU/% 
vol/hl+5.74 
ECU/hl 
36.9% 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

Date: 25/04/97 

I.BUDGET HEADING  : Article  120 

APPROPRIATIONS  : 

2.TITLE : 

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

3.LEGAL BASIS: Article  113 

4. AIMS:  Extending  the autonomous  measures  taken  following enlargement  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( ) 

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 

Following 
financial 
year() 

yes/no 

yes/no 

yes/no 

yes/no 

OBSERVATIONS : 
This  proposal  does not entail any additional  expenditure  other  than  those already  agreed  upon  adoption  of 
Regulations (EC) No 340/97 which  U  is  replacing. 

S 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(97) 262 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

10  11  15 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-97-250-EN-C 

ISBN  92-78-20637-7 

Office  for  Official  Publications of the European  Communities 

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