Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) establishing certain measures concerning imports of processed agricultural products from Switzerland in order to take account of the Uruguay Round negotiations in the agricultural sector
Date: 1999-04-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Uruguay Round, agricultural policy, agricultural product, import policy, tariff policy

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 22.04.1999
COM(1999)186 final

99/0094 (ACC)

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 These variable components have been replaced by specific amounts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 July 1999, 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.

2

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

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,

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

(2) 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;

(3) Whereas as a result certain aspects of the preferential 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;

(4) Whereas to that end negotiations are still in progress 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 July 1999;

(5) Whereas, in the 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; whereas the
duties resulting from those measures may not exceed those applicable under
the Common Customs Tariff,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

1

OJ L 336, 23.12.1994, p. 1.

3

Article 1

1.

2.

From 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000,
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.

in accordance with the procedure laid down in
The Commission may,
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 seventh day following its publication in
the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply with effect from 1 July 1999.

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

2

OJ L 318, 20.12.1993, p. 18.

4

ANEXO - BILAG - ANHANG -

ΠΑΡΑΡΤΗΜΑ

- ANNEX - ANNEXE -ALLEGATO - BIJLAGE

- ANEXO - LIITE - BILAGA

Montantes básicos, considerados par calcular los elementos agrícolas reducidos y derechos adicionales,
aplicables a la importación en la Comunidad

Basisbeløb taget i betragtning ved beregningen af de nedsatte landbrugs elementer og tillægstold anvendelig
ved indførsel i Fællesskabet

Grundbeträge, die bei der Berechnung der ermäßigten Agrarteilbeträge und Zusatzzölle, anwendbar bei der
Einfuhr in die Gemeinschaft berücksichtigt worden sind
Βασικά ποσά που ελήφθησαν υπόψη για τον υπολογισµό των µεταβλητών στοιχείων και πρόσθετων δασµών
που εφαρµόζονται στα αγροτικά στοιχεία κατά την εισαγωγή στην Κοινότητα

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

Importi di 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

Montantes de base tomados em consideração aquando do cálculo dos elementos agrícolas reduzidos e dos
direitos adicionais aplicáveis à importaçaõ na Comunidade

Yhteisöön tulevaan tuontiin sovellettavia alennettuja maatalousosia ja lisätulleja laskettaessa huomioon
otettavat perusmäärät

Grundpriser som beaktas vid beräkning av minskade jordbruksbeståndsdelar och tilläggstull som skall utgå
på import till gemenskapen

EUR/100 kg

Trigo blando / Blod hvede / Weichweizen /
tenero / Zachte tarwe / Trigo mole / Tavallinen vehnä / Vete

Μαλακό σιτάρι

/ Common wheat / Blé tendre / Grano

9,771

Trigo duro /Härd hvede / Hartweizen /
/Durum tarwe / Trigo duro /Durumvehnä / Durumvete

Σκληρό σιτάρι

/ Durum wheat / Blé dur /Grano duro

15,168

Centeno/ Rug / Roggen /

Σίκαλη

Cebada / Byg / Gerste /

Κριθάρι

Maiz / Majs / Mais /

Καλαµπόκι

/Rye /Seigle / Segala / Rogge / Centeio / Ruis /Råg

/Barley/ Orge / Orzo / Gerst / Cevada / Ohra / Korn

/ Maize / Maïs / Granturco / Maïs / Milho / Maissi / Majs

Arroz descascarillado de grano largo / Ris, afskallet, langkornet / Reis, langkörnig, geschält /
Αποφλοιωµένο ρύζι µακρόσπερµο
/ Long-grain husked rice / Riz décortiqué à grains longs / Riso
semigreggio a grani lunghi / Langkorrelige gedopte rijst / Arroz em películas de grãos longos /
Pitkäjyväinen esikuorittu riisi / Ris, skalat långkornigt

Αποβουτυρωµένο γάλα

Leche desnatada en polvo / Skummetmælkspulver / Magermilchpulver /
σε σκόνη

/ Skimmed-milk powder / Lait écrémé en poudre / Latte scremato in polvere / Magere-

melkpoeder / Leite desnatado em pò/ Rasvaton maitojauhe / Skummjölkspulver

Leche entera en polvo / Sodmælkspulver / Vollmilchpulver /
/ Whole-
milk powder / Lait entier en poudre / Latte intero in polvere / Vollemelkpoeder / Leite inteiro ein
pö / Rasvainen maitojauhe / Mjölkpulver

Πλήρες γάλα σε σκόνη

Mantequilla / Smør / Butter /

Βούτυρο

/ Butter / Beurre / Burro / Boter / Manteiga / Voi / Smör

Azùcar blanco / Hvidt sukker / Weißzucker /
Zucchero bianco / Witte suiker / Açùcar branco / Valkoinen sokeri / Vitt socker

/ White sugar / Sucre blanc /

Λευκή ζάχαρη

5

10,129

10,129

10,276

28,910

123,750

142,660

207,333

43,675

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

BUDGET HEADING:
Article 120
TITLE:
Proposal for a Council Regulation 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: 16.02.1999
APPROPRIATIONS:

LEGAL BASIS:
Article 113

AIMS:
To maintain the existing level of reciprocal preferences for processed agricultural products during the implementation of the
agreements concluded in the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations in the agricultural sector

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

PERIOD OF 12
MONTHS

(EUR million)

CURRENT
FINANCIAL
YEAR
(1999)
(EUR million)

FOLLOWING
FINANCIAL
YEAR
(2000)
(EUR million)

5.0

5.1

CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET

NATIONAL AUTHORITIES
OTHER

EXPENDITURE
-
(REFUNDS/INTERVENTION)
-
-
REVENUE
-
(LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES)
NATIONAL
-

OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC

5.0.1 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE
5.1.1 ESTIMATED REVENUE
5.2 METHOD OF CALCULATION:

2000

2001

2002

2003

6.0

6.1

CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT
CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?
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?
OBSERVATIONS:

YES NO

YES NO
YES NO
YES NO

The Regulation as proposed does not have any financial impact since the specific duties to be applied are essentially the same as
those currently in force. In view of the fact that the Regulation provides for a standstill based on an average of the variable
components applied during 94/95 to maintain the traditional trade flows, the customs duties are not changing significantly.

6