Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan amending the EC–Jordan Association Agreement
Date: 2006-12-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Jordan, agricultural product, agricultural trade, agro-industry, association agreement (EU), exemption from customs duties, liberalisation of trade

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 19.12.2006 
COM(2006) 836 final 

2006/0270 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the 
European Community and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan amending  
the EC–Jordan Association Agreement 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Article  15  of  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Agreement 
establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of 
the  one  part,  and  the  Hashemite  Kingdom  of  Jordan,  of  the  other  part  ("the  Association 
Agreement"),  Council  Decision  2006/67/EC  of  20  December  2005  on  the  conclusion  of  an 
Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the 
Hashemite  Kingdom  of  Jordan  concerning  reciprocal  liberalisation  measures  and  amending 
the  EC-Jordan  Association  Agreement  as  well  as  replacing  Annexes  I,  II,  III  and  IV  and 
Protocols  1  and  2  to  that  Agreement,  introduced  further  bilateral  trade  concessions  in 
agricultural and processed agricultural products, effective on 1 January 2006. 

It  should  be  clarified  that  the  new  reciprocal  liberalisation  measures  introduced  by 
Decision 2006/67/EC  of  20  December  2005  only  relate  to  agricultural  and  processed 
agricultural  products,  and  not  to  fish  and  fisheries  products  covered  by  Chapter  3, 
headings 1604 and 1605, and sub-headings 0511 91, 2301 20 and ex 1902 20 (“stuffed pasta 
containing  more  than  20%  by  weight  of  fish,  crustaceans,  molluscs  or  other  aquatic 
invertebrates”). For processed agricultural products, which are subject to a revision clause, a 
reference to the time schedule for the revision should be added. 

After the adoption  of Decision 2006/67/EC of  20 December 2005, the Jordanian authorities 
informed  the  Commission  services  of  discrepancies  relating  to  certain  Jordanian  customs 
nomenclature codes. Articles 11a and 16, as well as Annex III and the Annex to Protocol 2 to 
the  Association  Agreement  should  therefore  be  amended  in  order  to  correct  these 
discrepancies. 

The Commission proposes to the Council to adopt, in order to clarify and correct some of the 
new  provisions  introduced  by  Council  Decision  2006/67/EC  of  20  December  2005,  the 
amendment of Articles 11a and 16, as well as Annex III and of the Annex to Protocol No 2 of 
the Association Agreement by means of an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters. 

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2006/0270 (ACC) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the 
European Community and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan amending  
the EC–Jordan Association Agreement 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article 133, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2), 
thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

In accordance with the provisions of Article 15 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement 
establishing  an  Association  between  the  European  Communities  and  their  Member 
States,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  Hashemite  Kingdom  of  Jordan,  of  the  other  part1 
(hereinafter referred to as "the Association Agreement"), the Agreement in the form of 
an  Exchange  of  Letters  between  the  European  Community  and  the  Hashemite 
Kingdom  of  Jordan  concerning  reciprocal  liberalisation  measures  and  amending  the 
EC-Jordan Association Agreement as well as replacing Annexes I, II, III and IV and 
Protocols  1  and  2  to  that  Agreement2,  approved  by  Council  Decision  2006/67/EC3, 
(hereinafter  referred  to  as  "the  Agreement  in  the  form  of  an  Exchange  of  Letters"), 
introduced further bilateral trade concessions in agricultural and processed agricultural 
products, effective on 1 January 2006. 

After  the  adoption  of  Decision  2006/67/EC,  the  Jordanian  authorities  informed  the 
Commission  services  of  discrepancies  relating 
to  certain  Jordanian  customs 
nomenclature codes. 

It should be clarified that the new reciprocal liberalisation measures introduced by the 
Agreement  in  the  form  of  an  Exchange  of  Letters  only  relate  to  agricultural  and 
processed  agricultural  products,  and  not  to  fish  and  fisheries  products  covered  by 
Chapter 3,  headings  1604  and  1605,  and  sub-headings  0511 91,  2301 20  and 
ex 1902 20 (“stuffed pasta containing more than 20% by weight of fish, crustaceans, 
molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates”). 

1 
2 
3 

OJ L 129, 15.5.2002, p. 3. 
OJ L 41, 13.2.2006, p. 3. 
OJ L 41, 13.2.2006, p. 1. 

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(4) 

(5) 

Therefore, Articles 11a and 16, as well as Annex III and the Annex to Protocol 2 to the 
Association Agreement should be amended in order to correct these discrepancies. 

For processed agricultural products, which are subject to a revision clause, a reference 
to the time schedule of the revision should be added, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and 
the  Hashemite  Kingdom  of  Jordan  amending  the  EC  –  Jordan  Association  Agreement  is 
hereby approved on behalf of the Community. 

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision. 

The  President  of  the  Council  is  hereby  authorised  to  designate  the  person(s)  empowered  to 
sign the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters in order to bind the Community. 

Article 2 

Article 3 

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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AGREEMENT 

in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the 
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan amending the EC – Jordan Association Agreement  

A. Letter from the European Community 

Sir, 

I  have  the  honour  of  referring  to  the  information  provided  by  your  authorities  after  the 
adoption  of  Council  Decision  2006/67/EC  of  20  December  2005  on  the  conclusion  of  an 
Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the 
Hashemite  Kingdom  of  Jordan  concerning  reciprocal  liberalisation  measures  and  amending 
the  EC-Jordan  Association  Agreement  as  well  as  replacing  Annexes  I,  II,  III  and  IV  and 
Protocols 1 and 2 to that Agreement, as regards discrepancies in reference to certain Jordan 
customs nomenclatures codes. 

In  order  to  refer  to  the  timing  foreseen  for  the  revision  of  the  concessions  applicable  to 
processed  agricultural  products;  a  new  paragraph  5a  is  inserted  in  Article  11a  of  the 
Association Agreement: 

“5a. 

From  1  January  2009  the  Community  and  Jordan  shall  assess  the  situation  with  a 
view to determining the liberalisation measures to be applied by the Community and 
Jordan with effect from 1 January 2010.” 

In  order  to  confirm  that  the  new  reciprocal  liberalisation  measures  introduced  by  the 
Agreement  approved  by  Decision  2006/67/EC  only  relate  to  agricultural  and  processed 
agricultural products and not to fisheries products, Article 16 of the Association Agreement is 
replaced by the following: 

“Article 16 

1. 

2. 

Agricultural  products  other  than  fish  and  fisheries  products  covered  by  Chapter 3, 
headings  1604  and  1605,  and  sub-headings  0511 91,  2301 20  and  ex 1902 20 
(“stuffed pasta containing more than 20% by weight of fish, crustaceans, molluscs or 
other  aquatic  invertebrates”)  originating  in  Jordan  shall  benefit  on  import  into  the 
Community from the provisions set out in Protocol 1. 

Agricultural  products  other  than  fish  and  fisheries  products  covered  by  Chapter 3, 
headings  1604  and  1605,  and  sub-headings  0511 91,  2301 20  and  ex 1902 20 
(“stuffed pasta containing more than 20% by weight of fish, crustaceans, molluscs or 
other  aquatic  invertebrates”)  originating  in  the  Community  shall  benefit  on  import 
into Jordan from the provisions set out in Protocol 2.” 

In order to correct the above mentioned discrepancies in reference to certain Jordan customs 
nomenclature codes, Annex III and the Annex to Protocol 2 to the Association Agreement are 
amended as follows: 

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(1) 

In Annex III: 

(a) 

in list A, codes 210690300, 210690400 and 210690600 are deleted; 

(b) 

in list B, codes 1301100000, 130120100, 130120900, 130190100, 130190900, 
130211100,  130211200,  130239100,  130239900,  190211100,  190211900, 
190590210 and 210690900 are deleted; 

(c) 

in list D, code 350190000 is deleted; 

(d) 

in list E, codes 190300000, 200520100 and 210690990 are deleted; 

(e) 

in list F, code 190539000 is replaced by code 190532000; 

(f) 

in list G, the text shall read as follows: “List of processed agricultural products 
for which customs duties shall not be abolished.” 

(2) 

In the Annex to Protocol 2: 

(a) 

under category A, one iteration of code 130110100 is deleted; 

(b)  under category B, code 130213000 is deleted; 

(c) 

under category E, one iteration of code 130110900 is deleted. 

This Agreement shall be applicable retroactively from 1 January 2006. 

I would be grateful if you could confirm the agreement of your Government to the above. 

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

On behalf of the Council of the European Union 

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B. Letter from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan  

Sir, 

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today’s date, worded as follows: 

“I  have  the  honour  of  referring  to  the  information  provided  by  your  authorities  after  the 
adoption  of  Council  Decision  2006/67/EC  of  20  December  2005  on  the  conclusion  of  an 
Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the 
Hashemite  Kingdom  of  Jordan  concerning  reciprocal  liberalisation  measures  and  amending 
the  EC-Jordan  Association  Agreement  as  well  as  replacing  Annexes  I,  II,  III  and  IV  and 
Protocols 1 and 2 to that Agreement, as regards discrepancies in reference to certain Jordan 
customs nomenclatures codes. 

In  order  to  refer  to  the  timing  foreseen  for  the  revision  of  the  concessions  applicable  to 
processed  agricultural  products;  a  new  paragraph  5a  is  inserted  in  Article  11a  of  the 
Association Agreement: 

“5a. 

From  1  January  2009  the  Community  and  Jordan  shall  assess  the  situation  with  a 
view to determining the liberalisation measures to be applied by the Community and 
Jordan with effect from 1 January 2010.” 

In  order  to  confirm  that  the  new  reciprocal  liberalisation  measures  introduced  by  the 
Agreement  approved  by  Decision  2006/67/EC  only  relate  to  agricultural  and  processed 
agricultural products and not to fisheries products, Article 16 of the Association Agreement is 
replaced by the following: 

“Article 16 

1. 

2. 

Agricultural  products  other  than  fish  and  fisheries  products  covered  by  Chapter 3, 
headings  1604  and  1605,  and  sub-headings  0511 91,  2301 20  and  ex 1902 20 
(“stuffed pasta containing more than 20% by weight of fish, crustaceans, molluscs or 
other  aquatic  invertebrates”)  originating  in  Jordan  shall  benefit  on  import  into  the 
Community from the provisions set out in Protocol 1. 

Agricultural  products  other  than  fish  and  fisheries  products  covered  by  Chapter 3, 
headings  1604  and  1605,  and  sub-headings  0511 91,  2301 20  and  ex 1902 20 
(“stuffed pasta containing more than 20% by weight of fish, crustaceans, molluscs or 
other  aquatic  invertebrates”)  originating  in  the  Community  shall  benefit  on  import 
into Jordan from the provisions set out in Protocol 2.” 

In order to correct the above mentioned discrepancies in reference to certain Jordan customs 
nomenclature codes, Annex III and the Annex to Protocol 2 to the Association Agreement are 
amended as follows: 

(1) 

In Annex III: 

(a) 

in list A, codes 210690300, 210690400 and 210690600 are deleted; 

(b) 

in list B, codes 1301100000, 130120100, 130120900, 130190100, 130190900, 
130211100,  130211200,  130239100,  130239900,  190211100,  190211900, 
190590210 and 210690900 are deleted; 

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(c) 

in list D, code 350190000 is deleted; 

(d) 

in list E, codes 190300000, 200520100 and 210690990 are deleted; 

(e) 

in list F, code 190539000 is replaced by code 190532000; 

(f) 

in list G, the text shall read as follows: “List of processed agricultural products 
for which customs duties shall not be abolished.” 

(2) 

In the Annex to Protocol 2: 

(a) 

under category A, one iteration of code 130110100 is deleted; 

(b)  under category B, code 130213000 is deleted; 

(c) 

under category E, one iteration of code 130110900 is deleted. 

This Agreement shall be applicable retroactively from 1 January 2006.” 

The  Hashemite  Kingdom  of  Jordan  has  the  honour  of  confirming  its  agreement  with  the 
contents of this letter. 

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

For the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR PROPOSALS HAVING A 
BUDGETARY IMPACT EXCLUSIVELY LIMITED TO THE REVENUE SIDE 

1. 

NAME OF THE PROPOSAL 

Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  on  the  conclusion  of  an  Agreement  in  the  form  of  an 
Exchange  of  Letters  between  the  European  Community  and  the  Hashemite  Kingdom  of 
Jordan amending the EC-Jordan Association Agreement 

2. 

BUDGET LINES 

Chapter 10 – Article 1000: Agricultural duties established by the Institutions of the European 
Communities in respect of trade with non-member countries under the common agricultural 
policy. Amount estimated for the year concerned: EUR 763,5 million– B 2006. 

3. 

FINANCIAL IMPACT  

Proposal has no financial implications 

Proposal  has  no  financial  impact  on  expenditure  but  has  a  financial  impact  on 
revenue - the effect is as follows (*): 

Budget line 

Revenue4 

Article … 

Article … 

Impact on own resources 

Impact on own resources 

(€ million to one decimal place) 

12 month period, 
starting dd/mm/aa 

[Year n] 

Situation following action 

[n+1] 

[n+2] 

[n+3] 

[n+4] 

[n+5] 

Article … 

Article … 

4 

Amounts indicated are net amounts, i.e. gross amounts after deduction of 25% of collection costs. 

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4. 

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES 

5. 

(*) 

OTHER REMARKS  

The  financial  impact  of  the  measure  is  already  indicated  in  the  financial  statement 
number  05/26819  (of  last  year).  The  present  version  of  the  Agreement  regards 
technical modifications without any additional financial implications. 

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