Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 on common rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries
Date: 2006-11-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Bulgaria, Romania, accession to the European Union, import policy, quantitative restriction, textile product

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 28.11.2006 
COM(2006)737 final 

2006/0242 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

amending Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 on common rules for imports of certain textile 
products from third countries 

(presented by the Commission) 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
  
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1)  CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

110 

•  Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

As  from  1  January  2007,  the  European  Union  will  include  2  new  Member  States, 
Romania  and  Bulgaria.  Article  6(7)  of  the  Act  of  Accession  provides  that  the 
quantitative  restrictions  applied  by  the  Community  on  imports  of  textile  and  clothing 
products are to be adjusted to take account of the accession of the new Member States 
to the Community. The quantitative restrictions applicable to imports of certain textile 
products  from  third  countries  into  the  enlarged  Community  must  consequently  be 
adjusted  so  as  to  cover  actual  imports  into  the  new  Member  States.  This  necessitates 
amendments to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93. 

120 

•  General context 

In  order  to  prevent  that  the  enlargement  of  the  Community  would  have  restrictive 
effects  on  trade  in  an  enlarged  EU,  it  is  appropriate  to  adjust  the  quota  levels.  The 
methodology  used  takes  into  account  the  traditional  imports  into  the  new  Member 
States, as the EU did for the previous enlargements. 

130 

•  Existing provisions in the area of the proposal 

OJ L 79, 17.3.2004, p. 1, OJ L 177, 8.7.2005, p. 19, OJ L 7, 12.1.2006, p. 8. 

2)  CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

•  Consultation of interested parties 

No formal consultation is necessary within the enlargement process. 

•  Collection and use of expertise 

There was no need for external expertise. 

•  Impact assessment 

219 

229 

230 

No  impact  assessment  needed  as  Regulation  is  direct  consequence  of  Enlargement 
decision. 

3)  LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

305 

•  Summary of the proposed action 

The proposal is an amendment of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 on common 
rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries. The amendment must 
enter into force on 1 January 2007. 

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
 
310 

•  Legal basis 

341 

342 

Article 133 of the Treaty establishing the EC 

•  Choice of instruments 

Proposed instruments: regulation. 

Other means would not be adequate for the following reason(s). 

Other  means  would  not  be  adequate  because  there  are  no  other  means  available  to 
amend Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93. 

4)  BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

409 

The proposal has no implication for the Community budget. 

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
 
2006/0242 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

amending Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 on common rules for imports of certain textile 
products from third countries 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article 133 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,  

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

1 

As  from  1  January  2007,  the  European  Union  will  include  two  new  Member  States, 
Romania  and  Bulgaria.  Article  6(7)  of  the  Act  of  Accession  provides  that  the 
quantitative restrictions applied by the Community on imports of textile and clothing 
products are to be adjusted to take account of the accession of the new Member States 
to the Community. The quantitative restrictions applicable to imports of certain textile 
products  from  third  countries  into  the  enlarged  Community  should  consequently  be 
adjusted  so  as  to  cover  imports  into  the  two  new  Member  States.  This  necessitates 
amendments  to  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  3030/93  of  12  October  1993  on 
common rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries1. 

In order to prevent the enlargement of the Community from having restrictive effects 
on trade, it is appropriate, when amending the quantities, to use a methodology which 
takes  into  account,  for  the  purpose  of  adjusting  the  new  quota  levels,  the  traditional 
imports into the new Member States. A formula consisting of the average of the last 
three  years’  imports  into  the  two  new  Member  States  originating  in  third  countries, 
provides an adequate measurement of those historical flows. The years 2003 to 2005 
have  been  selected  as  the  most  significant,  as  they  represent  the  latest  available 
information about the two new Member States’ imports in textiles and clothing. 

Accordingly, Annexes V and VII to Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 should be amended 
to  list  quota  levels  applicable  from  the  date  of  the  enlargement,  namely  1  January 
2007. 

All provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 should be adapted so as to apply to 
imports  into  the  new  Member  States.  Consequently,  the  initials  of  the  new  Member 
States should be inserted in Annex III. 

OJ  L  275,  8.11.1993,  p.  1.  Regulation  as  last  amended  by  Commission  Regulation  (EC)  No  35/2006 
(OJ L 7, 12.1.2006, p. 8). 

EN 

4 

   EN 

                                                 
(5) 

Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 should therefore be amended accordingly, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 is amended as follows: 

1. 

In Article 2, paragraph 9 is replaced by the following: 

“9.  The release for free circulation in one of the new Member States acceding to 
the  European  Communities  on  1  January  2007,  namely  Romania  and  Bulgaria,  of 
textile  products  which  are  subject  to  quantitative  limits  or  to  surveillance  in  the 
Community and which have been shipped before 1 January 2007 and enter the two 
new Member States on or after 1 January 2007 shall be subject to presentation of an 
import  authorisation.  Such  import  authorisation  shall  be  granted  automatically  and 
without  quantitative  limitation  by  the  competent  authorities  of  the  Member  State 
concerned,  upon  adequate  proof,  such  as  the  bill  of  lading,  that  the  products  have 
been shipped before 1 January 2007. 

Such licences shall be communicated to the Commission.” 

2. 

In Article 5, the second paragraph is replaced by the following: 

“The  release  for  free  circulation  of  textile  products  sent  from  one  of  the  Member 
States acceding to the European Union on 1 January 2007 to a destination outside the 
Community  for  processing  before  1  January  2007,  and  re-imported  into  the  same 
Member  State  on  or  after  that  date,  shall  upon  adequate  proof,  such  as  the  export 
declaration, not be subject to quantitative limits or import authorisation requirements. 
The competent authorities of the Member State concerned shall provide information 
on those imports to the Commission.” 

3. 

In Annex III, the second indent of Article 28(6) is replaced by the following: 

– 

"two letters identifying the intended Member State of destination, or group of 
such Member States, as follows: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

AT = Austria 

BG = Bulgaria 

BL = Benelux 

CY = Cyprus 

CZ = Czech Republic 

DE = Federal Republic of Germany 

DK = Denmark 

EE = Estonia 

EN 

5 

   EN 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

GR = Greece 

ES = Spain 

FI = Finland 

FR = France 

GB = United Kingdom 

HU = Hungary 

IE = Ireland 

IT = Italy 

LT = Lithuania 

LV = Latvia 

–  MT = Malta 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

PL = Poland 

PT = Portugal 

RO = Romania 

SE = Sweden 

SI = Slovenia 

SK = Slovakia" 

4. 

5. 

Annex V is replaced by the text set out in the Annex part A to this Regulation. 

In Annex VII, the table is replaced by the table set out in the Annex Part B to this 
Regulation. 

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2007. 

Article 2 

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

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
Annex V is replaced by the following: 

ANNEX 

PART A 

“ANNEX V 

COMMUNITY QUANTITATIVE LIMITS 

Applicable for the year 2007 

(The complete 
description of the 
goods is shown in 
Annex I)  

Community 
quantitative limits 

Third country 

Category 

Unit 

2007 

BELARUS 

GROUP IA 

 1 

 2 

 3 

 GROUP IB 

 4 

 5 

 6 

 7 

 8 

 GROUP IIA 

 9 

 20 

 22 

 23 

 39 

 GROUP IIB 

 12 

 13 

 15 

 16 

 21 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

1 000 pairs 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 586 

6 643 

242 

1 839 

1 105 

1 705 

1 377 

1 160 

363 

329 

524 

255 

241 

5 959 

2 651 

1 726 

186 

930 

EN 

7 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24 

 26/27 

 29 

 73 

 83 

 GROUP IIIA 

 33 

 36 

 37 

 50 

 GROUP IIIB 

 67 

 74 

 90 

 GROUP IV 

 115 

 117 

 118 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

1 000 pieces 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

Tonnes 

844 

1 117 

468 

329 

184 

387 

1 312 

463 

207 

359 

377 

208 

268 

2 312 

471 

CHINA 

GROUP IA 

 2 (including 2a) 

tonnes 

70 636 

 GROUP IB 

 42 

 5 

 6  

 7 

 GROUP IIA 

 20 

 39 

 GROUP IIB 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces  

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

tonnes 

tonnes 

 26 

1 000 pieces  

2 

See Appendix A. 

595 624 

220 054 

388 528 

90 829 

18 518 

14 862 

29 736 

EN 

8 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
 31 

1 000 pieces 

250 209 

 GROUP IV 

 115 

tonnes 

5 347 

Category  

Third Country   Remarks 

Appendix A to Annex V 

4 

China 

For  the  purpose  of  setting  off  exports  against  the  agreed  levels  a 
conversion  rate  of  five  garments  (other  than  babies'  garments)  of  a 
maximum commercial size of 130 cm for three garments whose commercial 
size exceeds 130 cm may be applied for up to 5 % of the agreed levels.  

The  export  licence  concerning  these  products  must  bear,  in  box  9,  the 
words “The conversion rate for garments of a commercial size of not more 
than 130 cm must be applied” 

“ 

EN 

9 

   EN 

 
 
 
In Annex VII the table is replaced by the following: 

PART B 

“TABLE 

COMMUNITY QUANTITATIVE LIMITS 

FOR GOODS RE-IMPORTED UNDER OUTWARD PROCESSING TRAFFIC 

(The complete 
description of the 
goods is shown in 
Annex I)  

Community 
quantitative limits 

Third country 

Category 

Unit 

2007 

BELARUS 

GROUP IB 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

GROUP IIB 

12 

13 

15 

16 

21 

24 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pairs 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

26/27 

1 000 pieces 

29 

73 

83 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

Tonnes 

GROUP IIIB 

5 796 

8 079 

10 775 

8 088 

2 754 

5 445 

853 

4 723 

962 

3 142 

809 

3 938 

1 596 

6 119 

813 

74 

1 000 pieces 

1 067 

CHINA 

GROUP IB 

4 

5 

6 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

450 

977 

3 589 

EN 

10 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7 

1 000 pieces 

970 

GROUP IIB 

26 

31 

1 000 pieces 

1 000 pieces 

1 707 

13 681 

“ 

EN 

11 

   EN