Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the provisional application of the trade and trade-related provisions of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part
Date: 2003-12-21
Institutions: Egypt, European Community
Subjects: Egypt, agricultural product, agricultural trade, association agreement (EU), tariff quota

31.12.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 345/115

AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

concerning the provisional application of the trade and trade-related provisions of the Euro-Medi-
terranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part

A. Letter from the Community

Brussels, … December 2003

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the
European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the
other part, signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2001 (the ‘Association Agreement’).

Pending the entry into force of the Association Agreement, I have the honour to propose to you that the
European Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt apply provisionally as from 1 January 2004, Articles
2, 6 to 28, 31, 33 to 37, 55, 82 to 84, 86 to 87, 90 and 91, the relevant Declarations (1), Annexes 1 to 6,
Protocols 1 to 5 and the Exchange of Letters concerning fresh cut flowers and flowers and flower buds
falling within subheading 0603 10 of the Common Customs Tariff.

The Cooperation Council set up under the Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Com-
munity and the Arab Republic of Egypt signed on 18 January 1977 shall perform mutatis mutandis its
duties until the Association Council and the Association Committee provided for in Title VIII of the Asso-
ciation Agreement are created. It shall establish its Rules of Procedures and may create if appropriate, any
committees and subcommittees to which it may delegate, in full or in part, any of its powers.

During the provisional application of the abovementioned Articles, and where appropriate, reference to the
‘Association Council’ and to the ‘Association Committee’ shall be construed as reference to the Cooperation
Council and the committees established by it.

As regards provisions covered by this Agreement and the subsequent application of the Association Agree-
ment, it is agreed that the date of entry into force of the Association Agreement shall be the date of entry
into force of this Agreement.

For the first year of application, the volumes of tariff quotas shall be calculated as a pro rata of the basic
volumes, taking into account the part of the period elapsed before the date of entry into force of this
Agreement. As regards certain products listed in Protocol 1 to the Association Agreement, the following
arrangements will apply:
for products falling under CN code 0703 20 00, 0709 90 39, 0709 90 60,
0711 20 90, 0712 90 19, 0714 20 90, 1006, 1212 91, 1212 99 20, 1703, 2302, the concession granted
should also apply to specific duties. These arrangements will remain in application upon the entry into
force of the Association Agreement.

The provisions provisionally applied shall replace Articles 8 to 36, 43 to 46, 48 to 51 of the Cooperation
Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt signed on 18
January 1977, including Annexes A, B, C, D, Protocol 2, and the relevant joint declarations, declarations
and Exchanges of Letters; and the Agreement between the Member States of the European Coal and Steel
Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt signed in Brussels on 18 January 1977.

I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to your Government, this letter and your
confirmation shall together constitute an Agreement between the European Community and the Arab
Republic of Egypt.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of our highest consideration,

On behalf of the European Community

(1) Joint Declarations on Articles 14, 18, 34, 37 and Annex 6, and the Joint Declaration on the protection of data;

Declarations by the European Community on Articles 11, 19, 21, 34.

L 345/116

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

31.12.2003

B. Letter from Egypt

Brussels, … December 2003

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 Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between
the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt,
of the other part, signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2001 (the “Association Agreement”).

Pending the entry into force of the Association Agreement, I have the honour to propose to you that
the European Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt apply provisionally as from 1 January 2004,
Articles 2, 6 to 28, 31, 33 to 37, 55, 82 to 84, 86 to 87, 90 and 91, the relevant Declarations (1),
Annexes 1 to 6, Protocols 1 to 5 and the Exchange of Letters concerning fresh cut flowers and flowers
and flower buds falling within subheading 0603 10 of the Common Customs Tariff.

The Cooperation Council set up under the Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic
Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt signed on 18 January 1977 shall perform mutatis mutandis
its duties until the Association Council and the Association Committee provided for in Title VIII of the
Association Agreement are created. It shall establish its Rules of Procedures and may create if appro-
priate, any committees and subcommittees to which it may delegate, in full or in part, any of its
powers.

During the provisional application of the abovementioned Articles, and where appropriate, reference
to the “Association Council” and to the “Association Committee” shall be construed as reference to the
Cooperation Council and the committees established by it.

As regards provisions covered by this Agreement and the subsequent application of the Association
Agreement, it is agreed that the date of entry into force of the Association Agreement shall be the date
of entry into force of this Agreement.

For the first year of application, the volumes of tariff quotas shall be calculated as a pro rata of the
basic volumes, taking into account the part of the period elapsed before the date of entry into force of
this Agreement. As regards certain products listed in Protocol 1 to the Association Agreement, the
following arrangements will apply: for products falling under CN code 0703 20 00, 0709 90 39,
0709 90 60, 0711 20 90, 0712 90 19, 0714 20 90, 1006, 1212 91, 1212 99 20, 1703, 2302, the
concession granted should also apply to specific duties. These arrangements will remain in application
upon the entry into force of the Association Agreement.

The provisions provisionally applied shall replace Articles 8 to 36, 43 to 46, 48 to 51 of the Coopera-
tion Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt signed
on 18 January 1977, including Annexes A, B, C, D, Protocol 2, and the relevant joint declarations,
declarations and Exchanges of Letters; and the Agreement between the Member States of the European
Coal and Steel Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt signed in Brussels on 18 January 1977.

I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to your Government, this letter and your
letter confirmation shall together constitute an Agreement between the European Community and the
Arab Republic of Egypt.’

I am able to confirm that the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt is in agreement with the contents
of your letter.

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

For the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt

(1) Joint Declarations on Articles 14, 18, 34, 37 and Annex 6, and the Joint Declaration on the protection of data;

Declarations by the European Community on Articles 11, 19, 21, 34.