CELEX: 51975PC0334
Language: en
Date: 1975-07-04 00:00:00
Title: RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of the agreement amending the agreement between the EEC and the Arab Republic of Syria on the supply of flour of soft wheat as food aid (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (75) 334
Vol. 1975/0129
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
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concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic
Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as
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 ---pagebreak---   COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                      COM(75)334 final
                                                      Brussels , 4 July 1975
                   RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
  on the conclusion of the agreement amending the agreement between the
           EEC and the Arab Republic of Syria on the supply of
                      flour of soft wheat as food aid
               ( submitted to the Council by the Commission)
COM(75) 334 final
 ---pagebreak---                                           - 2 -
    1 . During the negotiations of August a.nd September 1974 for the Agreement 1
          between the K0C and the Arab Republic of Syria on supply of flour of
          soft wheat as food aid for 1973/74 » the Commission had proposed to the
         Syrian authorities a UMR figure^, to appear in Article V of the Agreement ,
         of 204 000 metric tons of soft wheat or its equivalent in flour of soft
         wheat , ihe calculation of this figure had been based , in accordance with
         the principles adopted in this connection within the framework of the FAO
         on average commercial imports into Syria during the preceding 5 years .
           1 . Syria 's import requirements were lower in 1973/74 than in the preceding
                 years , the country 's requirements tending to fluctuate greatly from
                                                                     *       · -   Λ ,
                year to year be reason of harvest variations ;
          ii . their count ry was facing severe economic difficulties as a result of
                the efforts being ma.de for reconstruction }
       ni . help for refugees had been added to the usual burdens on the State .
       The council was subsequently informed (by telex from the delegation in
       Washington , on 21 November 1974 ) that for their part the United States had
       signed a wheat supply agreement with Syria under PL 4-80, on the basis of -
 a UMR of 204.-000 metric tons , thus breaking the rule that the UMR is indivisible
 (        a given product aiid period there can be only one UMR). On being consulted
 the Syrian Embassy confirmed this information and explained that the Syrian
 Government had had to make a special -fcereals distribution to peasants and
villages in Syria and accordingly found itself obliged to increase its
purchases 01 . • sat on the international markets . Furthermore , it declared
its readiness to renegotiate the Agreement with the Community.
1
   The Agreement was signed on 11 November 1974 , see OJ No. L 355 of 14 December
2
   flVn                 15 Requirement , expressing the recipient country 's need to import
   it  *       n- S°ur°es d^ing the year in question a certain quantity of wheat or
   its equivalent xn flour .
 ---pagebreak---  . While regretting that the Syrian Government had negotiated on the basis of
   two UMRs ( with the Community then with the United States ) and having
   communicated its regret to the Syrian authorities , the Commission considers
   that the Agreement should be suitably amended (the UMR figure of 204 000
   metric tons being restored ) in view of the fact that this amendment is
   after all in the interests of the exporting countries and therefore of the
   Community.
                                                               «
. It is therefore proposed that the Council conclude the Agreement in the
   form of ail exchange of letters^" amending the supply Agreement signed on
   11 November by the Syrian Government and the Community .          ,   «. . ,
 Draft Decision annexed hereto .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 4 -
                                 COUNCIL DECISION
     on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters-
     amending the Agreement of 11 November 1974 between the Riropean Economic
     Community and the Arab Republic of Syria on the supply of flour of soft
    wheat as food aid .
    THE COUNCIL OP THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic CoiMiunity/ "
   and m particular Articles 113 , 114 and 228 thereof;
   Having regard to the Recommendation from the Commission ;
   Whereas the European Economic Community has concluded the 1971 Pood Aid
  Convention :
                                                   • «*
   Whereas an Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Arab
  Republic of Syria on the supply of flour of soft wheat as food aid, was
  signed on 11 November 1974 ;
 Whereas the Arab Republic of Syria has requested that the UMR figure be
 amended and the Community considers that this request is justified;
 Whereas in order to grant this request Article V of the abovementioned
 Agreement must be amended ,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :
                                Article 1
1 '6 Agree:aeat in      form of an exchange of letters between the European
       omic Community and tne Arab Republic of Syria, the text of which is
annexed to tnis Decision, is hereby ooncluded on behalf of the Community.
      No* L 219 of 9 August 1974, p. 24
 ---pagebreak---                                  Article 2
  he President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the persons
empowered to sign the Agreement and to confer on them the powers required
to bind the Community.
Done at Brussels ,
                                            For the Council
                                             The President
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 6 -
                             agreement
   In the form of an exchange of letters amending the Agreement of 11 November
   1974 between the European Economic Community and the Arab Republic of -Syria
  on the supply of flour of soft wheat as food aid .
           Letter from the European Economic Community
  Sir .
 With reference to the Agreement of 11 November I974 between the European
 Economic Community and the Arab Republic of Syria on the supply of flour
 of soft wheat as food aid . Article V of which provideds for a UMR of
 102 000 metric ton3 of soft wheat or its equivalent in flour of soft
wheat and to your request that this UMR be amended to 204 000 metric tons ,
 I have the honour ro propose to you the following amendment to the above-
mentioned Agreement :             '
In Article V "204 000" shall be substituted for " 102.000".
I shall be obliged if you will inform me whether your Government can agree
to the ajbove .                        v
Please accept . Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration .
                                              For the Council of the
                                              European Communities
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 7 -
               B. Letter from the Arab Republic of Syria
  Sir .
    have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today 's date,
 reading as follows :
   rfith reference to the Agreement of 11 November 1974 between the European
   Economic Community and the Arab Republic of Syria on the supply of flour
   of soft wheat as food aid , Article 7 of which provides for a UMR of
  102 000 tonnes of soft wheat or its equivalent in flour of soft wheat ,
  and to your request that this UMR be amended to 204 000 metric tons , -I ...
  have the honour to propose to you the following amendment to the above–
  mentione Agreement ;
  In Article V "204 000" shall be substitued for " 102 000".
 I shall be obliged if you will inform me whether your Government can
 agree to the above ".
I have the honour to inform you that the Government of- the Arab Republic
of Syria agrees to the amendment proposed in your letter.
Please accept , Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration .
                                               For the Goverment of the
                                              Abar Republic of Syria ■