Commission Regulation (EC) No 2040/2002 of 15 November 2002 on surveillance measures regarding imports of certain textile products originating in the Syrian Arab Republic
Date: 2002-11-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Syria, cotton, import policy, originating product, textile fibre

L 313/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16.11.2002

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2040/2002

of 15 November 2002

on surveillance measures regarding imports of certain textile products originating in the Syrian
Arab Republic

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(5)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 of 7
March 1994 on common rules for imports of textile products
from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agree-
ments, protocols or other arrangements, or by other specific
Community import rules (1), as last amended by Regulation
(EC) No 1309/2002 (2), and in particular Article 11(1), point
(b), thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 956/2001 (3) expires on
17 November 2002.

The surveillance conducted during the last eighteen
months has shown that the surge of imports into the
Community in cotton yarn (Category 1) originating in
Syrian Arab Republic at very low prices, which had
taken place during the last three years (from almost nil
in 1996 to 10 % of Community imports in 2000), has
stabilised after the surveillance was put into place.

The investigations conducted by the Commission in
2001 and in 2002 have demonstrated that the increase
of the Syrian production capacity and, simultaneously,
of their EU export sales, were related to an increase of
the capacity of production of cotton yarn in Syria. These
are almost exclusively export oriented and mainly
focused on the EU market. Additionally it cannot be
excluded that a further capacity increase would result in
another upsurge of Syrian exports to the EU.

The same investigations have also concluded that, after a
significant
increase in Syrian export volume in the
period 1998 to 2000, these exports are now stable, but
still significant, and that the average Syrian export prices
to the EU are still decreasing, accounting among the
lowest EU import prices.

(1) OJ L 67, 10.3.1994, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 192, 20.7.2002, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 134, 17.5.2001, p. 31.

imports

to the European Union,

Considering the results of the investigations carried out
so far, and in particular the possibility that the installa-
tion by Syria of new capacity for cotton yarn production
may result over the coming months in further price
reduction and in a resumption of the increase of such
exports
into the
Community of cotton yarn (category 1) originating in
the Syrian Arab Republic should continue to be closely
monitored. It is therefore appropriate to renew for a
period of 18 months the surveillance mechanism put in
place by Commission Regulation (EC) No 956/2001.
Accordingly, cotton yarn products shipped from the
Syrian Arab Republic and put into free circulation in the
Community should enter the Community under the
surveillance mechanism and the requirements regarding
production of an import document, as set out in Article
(3) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 517/94
14(1),
should apply.

(2),

(6)

(7)

In order not to interrupt the present import regime, it is
desirable that this Regulation enters into force on 18
November 2002.

These measures are in conformity with the opinion
expressed by the committee established by Regulation
(EC) No 517/94,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Imports into the Community of cotton yarn (Category 1), origi-
nating in the Syrian Arab Republic and released for free circula-
tion into the Community shall be subject to prior Community
surveillance.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 18 November 2002.

It shall apply for a period of 18 months.

16.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 313/25

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

Done at Brussels, 15 November 2002.

For the Commission

Pascal LAMY

Member of the Commission