Agreement in the form of an Exchange of letters amending the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines
Date: 1998-03-19
Institutions: Bulgaria, European Community
Subjects: Bulgaria, agreement (EU), quantitative restriction, tariff quota, tariff reduction, wine

28. 3. 98

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EN

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 96/3

AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

amending the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European
Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff
quotas for certain wines

A. Letter from the Community

Brussels, 19 March 1998

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the Agreement of 29 November 1993 between the European
Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for
certain wines and to the negotiations which have taken place between the European Community
and the Republic of Bulgaria with a view to adapting the said Agreement following the accession
of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the Euro-
pean Union, and to the consultations on extending the Agreement beyond 31 December 1997.

I hereby confirm that the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria have agreed on
the following:

I. Table 1 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table:

‘QUANTITIES OF WINE ORIGINATING IN THE COMMUNITY AND QUALIFYING
FOR TARIFF REDUCTIONS

Bulgarian
customs
tariff code

ex 2204 21
ex 2204 29

ex 2204 10

Description

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Quantity in hectolitres

Wine of fresh grapes

42 000

46 200

50 400

54 600

58 800

63 000

Quality sparkling wine whether or not produced
in specified regions,
in containers holding not
more than 2 litres

1 000

1 100

1 200

1 300

1 400

1 500’

II. Table 2 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table:

‘QUANTITIES OF WINE ORIGINATING IN BULGARIA AND QUALIFYING FOR
TARIFF REDUCTIONS

CN code

Description

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Quantity in hectolitres

ex 2204 21

Quality wine, including quality wine with a desig-
nation of origin

214 000

247 000

280 400

313 600

346 800

401 230

ex 2204 29

Quality wine, including quality wine with a desig-
nation of origin, and wine obtained from grapes of
the “Gamza” vine variety designated and presented
under that name or under the synonym “Kadarka”

118 000

118 000

118 000

118 000

118 000

128 000

ex 2204 10

Quality sparkling wine, in containers holding no
more than 2 litres

1 000

1 100

1 200

1 300

1 400

1 600’

L 96/4

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EN

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Official Journal of the European Communities

28. 3. 98

III. Point 3(a) of the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following:

‘in the case of duties applied by Bulgaria to imports of wine originating in the Community:

— in 1993: 90 % of the basic duty,

— in 1994: 80 % of the basic duty,
— in 1995 and subsequent years: 70 % of the basic duty but not exceeding 28 % ad

valorem;’.

This Exchange of Letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their
respective procedures.

This Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 1998 and remain in force for an initial
period ending on 31 December 1998. During the first half of 1998, consultations shall take place
to determine whether and under what conditions it should be extended.

I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the
contents of this letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

On behalf of the Council
of the European Union

28. 3. 98

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EN

‹

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 96/5

B. Letter from Bulgaria

Brussels, 19 March 1998

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 Agreement of 29 November 1993 between the European
Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for
certain wines and to the negotiations which have taken place between the European
Community and the Republic of Bulgaria with a view to adapting the said Agreement fol-
lowing the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom
of Sweden to the European Union, and to the consultations on extending the Agreement
beyond 31 December 1997.

I hereby confirm that the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria have agreed
on the following:

I. Table 1 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table:

“QUANTITIES OF WINE ORIGINATING IN THE COMMUNITY AND QUALIFYING
FOR TARIFF REDUCTIONS

Bulgarian
customs
tariff code

ex 2204 21
ex 2204 29

ex 2204 10

Description

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Quantity in hectolitres

Wine of fresh grapes

42 000

46 200

50 400

54 600

58 800

63 000

Quality sparkling wine whether or not produced
in containers holding not
in specified regions,
more than 2 litres

1 000

1 100

1 200

1 300

1 400

1 500”

II. Table 2 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table:

“QUANTITIES OF WINE ORIGINATING IN BULGARIA AND QUALIFYING FOR
TARIFF REDUCTIONS

CN code

Description

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Quantity in hectolitres

ex 2204 21

Quality wine, including quality wine with a desig-
nation of origin

214 000

247 000

280 400

313 600

346 800

401 230

ex 2204 29

Quality wine, including quality wine with a desig-
nation of origin, and wine obtained from grapes of
the “Gamza” vine variety designated and presented
under that name or under the synonym “Kadarka”

118 000

118 000

118 000

118 000

118 000

128 000

ex 2204 10

Quality sparkling wine, in containers holding no
more than 2 litres

1 000

1 100

1 200

1 300

1 400

1 600”

L 96/6

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EN

‹

Official Journal of the European Communities

28. 3. 98

III. Point 3(a) of the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following:

“in the case of duties applied by Bulgaria to imports of wine originating in the Com-
munity:

— in 1993: 90 % of the basic duty,

— in 1994: 80 % of the basic duty,
— in 1995 and subsequent years: 70 % of the basic duty but not exceeding 28 % ad

valorem;”.

This Exchange of Letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with
their respective procedures.

This Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 1998 and remain in force for an initial
period ending on 31 December 1998. During the first half of 1998, consultations shall take
place to determine whether and under what conditions it should be extended.

I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the
contents of this letter.’

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

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Government of the
Republic of Bulgaria