CELEX: 51996PC0612
Language: en
Date: 1996-11-27
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) extending Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the Europa Agreements to take account of the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                      Brussels, 27 11.1996
                                                      COM(96) 612 final
                                                     96/0292 (ACC)
                                      Proposal for a
                            COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)
extending Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of
    Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the
    adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural
concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account of the Agreement
on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations
                             (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                       EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1. In accordance with its obligations under the Agreement on Agriculture concluded
   during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, the Community
   replaced variable agricultural levies and other agricultural non-tariff barriers with
   fixed customs duties from 1 July 1995. This threatens to reduce the value of the
   agricultural concessions accorded under the Europe Agreements (Hungary, Poland,
   the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Bulgaria and Romania), and in
   particular of preferential access to the Community market for certain agricultural
   products originating in the countries concerned. In order to smooth the transition
   to the system applicable from 1 July 1995 and maintain the level of preferences
   accorded, the agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements
   need to be adjusted.
2. At the same time, Articles 76, 102 and 128 of the Act of Accession require
   Austria, Finland and Sweden to apply, from 1 January 1995, the provisions of the
   preferential agreements concluded by the Community with certain non-member
   countries, among them Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic,
   Hungary, Poland and Romania.
3. On 6 March 1995 the Council adopted negotiating directives for the conclusion
   of additional protocols to the Europe Agreements, notably with regard to
   agricultural products. These negotiating directives provide for the adjustment of
   the agricultural concessions accorded under the Europe Agreements, taking
   account not only of the Community's obligations under the Agreement on
   Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round (see paragraph 1 above) but of
   the consequences of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden (see
   paragraph 2 above).
4. Once these negotiations have been concluded, interim Additional Protocols
   relating solely to trade will be applied pending ratification of the Additional
   Protocols by all the parties concerned. In view of the time available, however,
   there is no way that the interim Additional Protocols can enter into force on
    1 January 1997.
5. On 21 December 1995 the Council adopted a series of autonomous measures
   aimed at maintaining the level of preferences accorded under the Europe
   Agreements and taking account of pre-existing agricultural trade arrangements
   between the new Member States and the associated countries of Central and
   Eastern Europe. These measures applied until 30 June 1996. Pursuant to Council
    Regulation (EC) No 1194/96, they were extended until 31 December 1996.
6.  This proposal is aimed at extending to 31 December 1997 the measures adopted
    by the Council on 21 December 1995.
                                          i
 ---pagebreak---                         COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No ...796
                                          of
 extending Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of
     Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the
     adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural
 concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account of the Agreement
 on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular
Article 113 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas the measures provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing
certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural
products and providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure,
of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account
of the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral
trade negotiations were extended to 31 December 1996 pursuant to Council Regulation
(EC) No 1194/962;
Whereas it was planned to replace those measures with interim Additional Protocols to
the Europe Agreements; whereas, in view of the lack of time available, those Protocols
cannot enter into force on 1 January 1997; whereas Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 should
therefore be extended to 31 December 1997,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
                                         Article 1
In Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 3066/95, the second sentence is hereby replaced by
the following:
"It shall apply from 1 January to 31 December 1997."
                                          Article 2
         OJ No L 328, 30.12.1995, p. 31.
        O J N o L 161,26.6.1996, p. 2.
 ---pagebreak--- This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the
Official Journal of the European Communities.
It shall apply from 1 January 1997.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
States.
Done at Brussels,                                                       For the Council
                                                                          The President
                                            <*
 ---pagebreak---                  FINANCIAL STATEMENT                                                                         DATE
        BUDGET HEADING: 1000                                                                                 APPROPRIATIONS: ECU 864 million
        TITLE: D r a f t Council Regulation (EC) No ... /..of       extending Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of
        Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain
        agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements lo lake account of the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay
        Round of multilateral trade negotiations
        LEGAL BASIS: Article 113 of the Treaty
        AIMS OF PROJECT:
        To extend Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 pending the conclusion of interim Additional Protocols with the Central and Eastern European countries.
        FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS                                                 PERIOD OF 12              CURRENT FINANCIAL                FOLLOWING
                                                                                   MONTHS                         YEAR                 FINANCIAL YEAR
                                                                                                                   (96)                        (97)
5.0.    EXPENDITURE
          CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET
          (REFUNDS/INTERVENTION)
          NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
          OTHER
5.1.    REVENUE
        - OWN RESOURCES OF Till: EC
          (LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES)
        - NATIONAL
                                                                                 1998                   1999                 2000                 2001
5.0.1   ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE
5.1.1.  ESTIMATED REVENUE
52      METHOD OF CALCULATION:
        Since it amends no quota, this Regulation is - pending the conclusion of interim Protocols - without financial repercussions
60.     CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT CHAPTER OF HIE
        CURRENT BUDGET?                                                                                                                        YES/NO
6.1.    CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?
                                                                                                                                               YES/NO
62      IS A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET NECESSARY?                                                                                                   YES/MO
6.3.    WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY?                                                                                        YES/MO
OBSERVATIONS:
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                           COM(96) 612 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                  02 03 11
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-611-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-78-11870-2
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