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 Hungary on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines
Date: 2000-02-03
Institutions: European Community, Hungary
Subjects: Hungary, agreement (EU), tariff quota, trade agreement, trade promotion, wine

12. 8. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 212/3

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 Hungary on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines

A. Letter from the Community

Brussels, 24 July 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 Hungary 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 Hungary 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 European Union, and to
extending the Agreement beyond 31 December 1998.

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

I. In point 2), first and third indent of the Agreement, the words ‘...within the meaning of the Hungarian
Law No 36/1970 on winegrowing and implementing Regulation No 40/1977 (MEM), as amended by
Regulation No 7/1990 (FM) and No 23/1992 (FM),...’ shall be replaced by the following words:
‘...
within the meaning of the Hungarian Wine Law...’.

II. 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

Hungarian customs
tariff code

ex 2204 21
ex 2204 29

Wine of fresh grapes

Description

1999
Quantity in hectolitres

51 170
63 500

ex 2204 10

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

3 390’

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

‘Quantities of wine originating in Hungary and qualifying for tariff reductions

CN code

Description

ex 2204 21

including wine of superior quality and quality wine
Quality wine,
bearing the geographical indication “Tokaj” and wine bearing the name
“Tajbor”

1999
Quantity in hectolitres

216 930

ex 2204 29

Wine of fresh grapes

113 460

ex 2204 10

Quality sparkling wine in containers holding not more than two litres

3 700’

L 212/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12. 8. 1999

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

‘In the case of duties applied by Hungary 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,

— in 1999, in accordance with the principle of standstill, the duties applicable will be as indicated in

the following table:

Duties applied by Hungary to imports of wine originating in the Community

Hungarian CN code

Description

Applicable duties in
1999

ex 2204 10

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

21 %

ad

valorem

2204 21 excluding

Wine in containers holding two litres or less

28 % ad valorem

2204 21 79
2204 21 80
2204 21 83
2204 21 84
2204 21 94 01
2204 21 98 01
2204 21 98 01

2204 21 79
2204 21 80
2204 21 83
2204 21 84

2204 21 94 01
2204 21 98 01
2204 21 99 01

2204 29 excluding
2204 29 65
2204 29 75
2204 29 83
2204 29 84
2204 29 94 01
2204 29 98 01
2204 29 99 01

2204 29 65
2204 29 75
2204 29 83
2204 29 84

2204 29 94 01
2204 29 98 01
2204 29 99 01

10,5 % ad valorem

70 % of
MFN duty

applicable

Wine in containers holding more than two litres

28 % ad valorem

10,5 % ad valorem

70 % of 1999 applic-
able MFN duty’

12. 8. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 212/5

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

This Agreement shall enter into force on the day of its signature. It shall apply from 1 May 1999 to 31
December 1999, in accordance with the respective legislation and regulations of the Contracting Parties. 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 for cooperation between
Hungary and the European Community to support the implementation of a programme for progressive
application by Hungary of the ‘acquis communautaire’ in the field of wine and spirits, particularly as regards
instruments in the winegrowing sector (including the
reinforcing the supply management and control
establishment of a vineyard register).

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

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

On behalf of the Council of the European Union

L 212/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12. 8. 1999

B. Letter from the Republic of Hungary

Brussels, 29 July 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 Hungary 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 Hungary 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
European Union, and to extending the Agreement beyond 31 December 1998.

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

I. In point 2), first and third indent of the Agreement, the words “... within the meaning of the
Hungarian Law No 36/1970 on winegrowing and implementing Regulation No 40/1977 (MEM), as
amended by Regulation No 7/1990 (FM) and No 23/1992 (FM),...” shall be replaced by the
following words: “... within the meaning of the Hungarian Wine Law...”.

II. 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

Hungarian customs
tariff code

ex 2204 21
ex 2204 29

Description

Wine of fresh grapes

1999
Quantity in hectolitres

51 170
63 500

ex 2204 10

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

3 390”

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

“Quantities of wine originating in Hungary and qualifying for tariff reductions

CN code

Description

ex 2204 21

Quality wine, including wine of superior quality and quality wine
bearing the geographical indication “Tokaj” and wine bearing the
name “Tajbor”

1999
Quantity in hectolitres

216 930

ex 2204 29

Wine of fresh grapes

113 460

ex 2204 10

Quality sparkling wine in containers holding not more than two
litres

3 700”

12. 8. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 212/7

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

“In the case of duties applied by Hungary 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,

— in 1999, in accordance with the principle of standstill, the duties applicable will be as indicated

in the following table:

Duties applied by Hungary to imports of wine origianting in the Community

Hungarian CN code

Description

ex 2204 10

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

Applicable duties
1999

21 %

ad

valorem

2204 21 excluding
2204 21 79
2204 21 80
2204 21 83
2204 21 84
2204 21 94 01
2204 21 98 01
2204 21 99 01

2204 21 79
2204 21 80
2204 21 83
2204 21 84

2204 21 94 01
2204 21 98 01
2204 21 99 01

2204 29 excluding
2204 29 65
2204 29 75
2204 29 83
2204 29 84
2204 29 94 01
2204 29 98 01
2204 29 99 01

2204 29 65
2204 29 75
2204 29 83
2204 29 84

2204 29 94 01
2204 29 98 01
2204 29 99 01

Wine in containers holding two litres or less

28 % ad valorem

10,5 % ad valorem

70 % of 1999 applic-
able MFN duty

Wine in containers holding more than two litres

28 % ad valorem

10,5 % ad valorem

70 % of 1999 applic-
able MFN duty”

L 212/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12. 8. 1999

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

This Agreement shall enter into force on the day of its signature. It shall apply from 1 May 1999 to 31
December 1999, in accordance with the respective legislation and regulations of the Contracting Parties.
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 for cooperation
between Hungary and the European Community to support the implementation of a programme for
progressive application by Hungary of the acquis communautaire in the field of wine and spirits,
particularly as regards reinforcing the supply management and control instruments in the winegrowing
sector (including the establishment of a vineyard register).

I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the content 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 Hungary