Commission Regulation (EC) No 1343/2003 of 23 July 2003 suspending for an additional period of six months, with regard to sugar of CN codes 1701 and 1702 imported from Serbia and Montenegro, the arrangements provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process
Date: 2003-07-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Serbia and Montenegro, import, originating product, sugar, tariff preference

L 189/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

29.7.2003

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1343/2003

of 23 July 2003

suspending for an additional period of six months, with regard to sugar of CN codes 1701 and
1702 imported from Serbia and Montenegro, the arrangements provided for in Council Regulation
(EC) No 2007/2000 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories partici-
pating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000 of 18
September 2000 introducing exceptional trade measures for
countries and territories participating in or
linked to the
European Union's Stabilisation and Association process,
amending Regulation (EC) No 2820/98 and repealing Regula-
tions (EC) No 1763/1999 and (EC) No 6/2000 (1), as last
amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 607/2003 (2), and
in particular Article 12(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(EC)

Regulation

764/2003 (3)
Commission
suspended, for a period of three months, the preferential
arrangements provided for in Council Regulation (EC)
No 2007/2000 for sugar of CN codes 1701 and 1702
imported from Serbia and Montenegro.

No

(5)

(6)

There has been no significant change in the situation in
Serbia and Montenegro with regard to the deficiencies
found in their system of certification and control of the
preferential origin of sugar, despite the ongoing efforts
of the authorities in Serbia and Montenegro. Moreover, a
reasonable amount of time is needed for the situation to
be redressed.

The Commission therefore considers that the suspension
measure should be extended for an additional period of
six months, insofar as sugar of CN codes 1701 or 1702
declared as originating in Serbia and Montenegro is
concerned,
in application of Article 12(3) of Council
Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000.

(7)

The Customs Code Committee has been informed
accordingly,

At the basis of that decision were findings made in
Serbia and Montenegro according to which the system
of certification and control of the preferential origin of
sugar of CN codes 1701 and 1702 did not allow the
this beneficiary country to
competent authorities of
verify the originating status of
the products and to
provide administrative cooperation as required for the
verification of evidence of origin.

The suspension measure was consequently decided in
application of the provisions laid down in Article 12(1)
of Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000.

Article 12(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000 states
that, on conclusion of the period of suspension, the
Commission shall decide either to terminate or to extend
the suspension measure.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The preferential arrangements provided for in Council Regula-
tion (EC) No 2007/2000 for sugar of CN codes 1701 and
1702 imported from Serbia and Montenegro are suspended for
an additional period of six months.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that
of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It is applicable from 8 August 2003.

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

Done at Brussels, 23 July 2003.

For the Commission

Frederik BOLKESTEIN

Member of the Commission

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(1) OJ L 240, 23.9.2000, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 86, 3.4.2003, p. 18.
(3) OJ L 109, 1.5.2003, p. 13.