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: 1999-06-18
Institutions: Bulgaria, European Community
Subjects: Bulgaria, agreement (EU), quantitative restriction, tariff quota, wine

8. 7. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 172/3

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, 18 June 1999.

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the Agreement of 29 November 1993 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 and to the negotiations which have taken place between the European Community
and the Republic of Bulgaria with a view to extending the Agreement beyond 31 December 1998.

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

Description

1993
(hl)

1994
(hl)

1995
(hl)

1996
(hl)

1997
(hl)

1998
(hl)

1999
(hl)

ex 2204 21
ex 2204 29

ex 2204 10

Wine of fresh grapes

42 000

46 200

50 400

54 600

58 800

63 000

67 200

1 000

1 100

1 200

1 300

1 400

1 500

1 600’

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

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
(hl)

1994
(hl)

1995
(hl)

1996
(hl)

1997
(hl)

1998
(hl)

1999
(hl)

ex 2204 21

ex 2204 29

ex 2204 10

Quality wine,
quality wine with
designation of origin

including
a

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

Quality sparkling wine,
in
holding
not more than 2 litres

containers

214 000 247 000 280 400 313 600 346 800 401 230 434 430

118 000 118 000 118 000 118 000 118 000 128 000 128 000

1 000

1 100

1 200

1 300

1 400

1 600

1 700’

L 172/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8. 7. 1999

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,

— in 1999, EUR 15 per hectolitre.’

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 1999. It shall expire on 31 December 1999. During the
first half of 1999 negotiations will take place with a view to concluding an additional protocol to the
Europe Agreement covering both wines and spirits. Moreover, the additional Protocol to the Europe
Agreement will define the modalities of cooperation between Bulgaria and the European Community to
support the implementation of a programme for progressive adoption by Bulgaria of the acquis communau-
taire in the field of wine and spirits, particularly as regards reinforcing the supply management and control
instruments in the wine sector (including the establishment of a wine register).

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

8. 7. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 172/5

B. Letter from Bulgaria

Brussels, 18 June 1999.

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 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 and to the negotiations which have taken place between the European
Community and the Republic of Bulgaria with a view to extending the Agreement beyond 31 December
1998.

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

Description

1993
(hl)

1994
(hl)

1995
(hl)

1996
(hl)

1997
(hl)

1998
(hl)

1999
(hl)

ex 2204 21
ex 2204 29

ex 2204 10

Wine of fresh grapes

42 000

46 200

50 400

54 600

58 800

63 000

67 200

1 000

1 100

1 200

1 300

1 400

1 500

1 600’

sparkling
Quality
wine whether or not
produced in speci-
fied
in
regions,
containers
holding
not more than two
litres

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
(hl)

1994
(hl)

1995
(hl)

1996
(hl)

1997
(hl)

1998
(hl)

1999
(hl)

ex 2204 21

ex 2204 29

ex 2204 10

Quality wine,
in-
cluding quality wine
with a designation
of origin

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

Quality
sparkling
in containers
wine,
holding not more
than 2 litres

214 000 247 000 280 400 313 600 346 800 401 230 434 430

118 000 118 000 118 000 118 000 118 000 128 000 128 000

1 000

1 100

1 200

1 300

1 400

1 600

1 700’

L 172/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8. 7. 1999

III. Point 3(4) 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,

— in 1999, EUR 15 per hectolitre.”

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 1999. It shall expire on 31 December 1999. During
the first half of 1999 negotiations will take place with a view to concluding an additional protocol to
the Europe Agreement covering both wines and spirits. Moreover, the additional Protocol to the Europe
Agreement will define the modalities of cooperation between Bulgaria and the European Community to
support the implementation of a programme for progressive adoption by Bulgaria of the acquis
communautaire in the field of wine and spirits, particularly as regards reinforcing the supply management
and control

instruments in the wine sector (including the establishment of a wine register).

I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is an 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