CELEX: 22005A0318(01)
Language: en
Date: 2005-03-18 00:00:00
Title: Agreement in the Form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Belarus amending the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Belarus on trade in textile products

18.3.2005          EN                          Official Journal of the European Union                                     L 72/19
                               AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS
          between the European Community and the Republic of Belarus amending the Agreement between
                    the European Community and the Republic of Belarus on trade in textile products
                                          A. Letter from the Council of the European Union
          Sir,
          1.     I have the honour to refer to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of
          Belarus on trade in textile products initialled on 1 April 1993, as last amended and extended by the
          Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on 23 December 2003 (hereafter referred to
          as the Agreement).
          2.     In view of the expiry of the Agreement on 31 December 2004 and in accordance with Article 19(1)
          of the Agreement, the European Community and the Republic of Belarus agree to extend the duration of the
          Agreement, for a further period of one year, subject to the following amendments and conditions:
          2.1. The text of Article 19(1), second and third sentences, of the Agreement shall be replaced by the
          following:
                ‘It shall be applicable until 31 December 2005.’
          2.2. Annex II which sets out the quantitative restrictions for exports from the Republic of Belarus to the
          European Community is replaced by Appendix 1 to this letter.
          2.3. The Annex to Protocol C which sets out the quantitative restrictions for exports from the Republic
          of Belarus to the European Community after OPT operations in the Republic of Belarus is replaced for the
          period of 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005 by Appendix 2 to this letter.
          2.4. Imports into Belarus of textile and clothing products of European Community origin shall be subject
          in 2005 to custom duties not exceeding those provided for 2004 in Appendix 4 of the Agreement in the
          form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Belarus initialled on
          11 November 1999.
          In the case of non-application of these rates the Community will have the right to reintroduce for the period
          of the agreement remaining unexpired on a pro rata basis the levels for quantitative restrictions applicable
          for 2004 as specified in the Exchange of Letters initialled on 23 December 2003.
          3.     Should the Republic of Belarus become a Member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) before the
          date of the expiry of the Agreement, the Agreements and rules of the WTO shall be applied from the date
          of the Republic of Belarus’ accession to the WTO.
          4.     I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government of the foregoing.
          Should this be the case, this Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters shall enter into force on the
          first day of the month following the day on which the Parties have notified each other that the legal
          procedures necessary to this end have been completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied provisionally
          from 1 January 2005 on the condition of reciprocity.
          Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
                                                                                    For the Council of the European Union
 ---pagebreak--- L 72/20        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                                18.3.2005
                                                Appendix 1
                                                ‘ANNEX II
                   Belarus        Category                        Unit    Quota as from 1 January 2005
        Group IA           1                                    tonnes                1 585
                           2                                    tonnes                5 100
                           3                                    tonnes                  233
        Group IB           4                                 1 000 pieces             1 600
                           5                                 1 000 pieces             1 058
                           6                                 1 000 pieces             1 400
                           7                                 1 000 pieces             1 200
                           8                                 1 000 pieces             1 110
        Group IIA          9                                    tonnes                  363
                           20                                   tonnes                  318
                           22                                   tonnes                  498
                           23                                   tonnes                  255
                           39                                   tonnes                  230
        Group IIB          12                                 1 000 pairs             5 958
                           13                                1 000 pieces             2 651
                           15                                1 000 pieces             1 500
                           16                                1 000 pieces               186
                           21                                1 000 pieces               889
                           24                                1 000 pieces               803
                           26/27                             1 000 pieces             1 069
                           29                                1 000 pieces               450
                           73                                1 000 pieces               315
                           83                                   tonnes                  178
        Group IIIA         33                                   tonnes                  387
                           36                                   tonnes                1 242
                           37                                   tonnes                  463
                           50                                   tonnes                  196
        Group IIIB         67                                   tonnes                  339
                           74                                1 000 pieces               361
                           90                                   tonnes                  199
        Group IV           115                                  tonnes                   87
                           117                                  tonnes                1 800
                           118                                  tonnes                  448’
 ---pagebreak--- 18.3.2005       EN          Official Journal of the European Union                        L 72/21
                                           Appendix 2
                                   ‘ANNEX TO PROTOCOL C
                   Category                    Unit                As from 1 January 2005
          4                               1 000 pieces                    4 733
          5                               1 000 pieces                    6 599
          6                               1 000 pieces                    8 800
          7                               1 000 pieces                    6 605
          8                               1 000 pieces                    2 249
          12                              1 000 pieces                    4 446
          13                              1 000 pieces                      697
          15                              1 000 pieces                    3 858
          16                              1 000 pieces                      786
          21                              1 000 pieces                    2 567
          24                              1 000 pieces                      661
          26/27                           1 000 pieces                    3 215
          29                              1 000 pieces                    1 304
          73                              1 000 pieces                    4 998
          83                                 tonnes                         664
          74                              1 000 pieces                      872’
 ---pagebreak--- L 72/22          EN                             Official Journal of the European Union                                      18.3.2005
                                       B. Letter from the Government of the Republic of Belarus
        Sir,
        I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of … which reads as follows:
             ‘1.     I have the honour to refer to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic
             of Belarus on trade in textile products initialled on 1 April 1993, as last amended and extended by the
             Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on 23 December 2003 (hereafter referred to
             as the Agreement).
             2.     In view of the expiry of the Agreement on 31 December 2004 and in accordance with Article
             19(1) of the Agreement, the European Community and the Republic of Belarus agree to extend the
             duration of the Agreement, for a further period of one year, subject to the following amendments and
             conditions:
             2.1. The text of Article 19(1), second and third sentences, of the Agreement shall be replaced by the
             following:
                   ‘It shall be applicable until 31 December 2005.’
             2.2. Annex II which sets out the quantitative restrictions for exports from the Republic of Belarus to
             the European Community is replaced by Appendix 1 to this letter.
             2.3. The Annex to Protocol C which sets out the quantitative restrictions for exports from the
             Republic of Belarus to the European Community after OPT operations in the Republic of Belarus is
             replaced for the period of 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005 by Appendix 2 to this letter.
             2.4. Imports into Belarus of textile and clothing products of European Community origin shall be
             subject in 2005 to custom duties not exceeding those provided for 2004 in Appendix 4 of the
             Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the
             Republic of Belarus initialled on 11 November 1999.
             In the case of non-application of these rates the Community will have the right to reintroduce for the
             period of the agreement remaining unexpired on a pro rata basis the levels for quantitative restrictions
             applicable for 2004 as specified in the Exchange of Letters initialled on 23 December 2003.
             3.     Should the Republic of Belarus become a Member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) before
             the date of the expiry of the Agreement, the Agreements and rules of the WTO shall be applied from
             the date of the Republic of Belarus’ accession to the WTO.
             4.     I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government of the
             foregoing. Should this be the case, this Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters shall enter
             into force on the first day of the month following the day on which the Parties have notified each other
             that the legal procedures necessary to this end have been completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied
             provisionally from 1 January 2005 on the condition of reciprocity.’
        I have the honour to confirm that my Government is in agreement with the content of your letter.
        Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.
                                                                              For the Government of the Republic of Belarus