CELEX: 51995PC0399
Language: en
Date: 1995-09-06
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) providing for suspension of in-quota tariff rates for certain agricultural products

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
•ù ir
                                         Brussels, 06.09.1995
                                         COM(95) 399 final
                                         95/0222 (ACC)
                          Proposal for a
                t:OUNÇaj^EGULATION (HC)
      providing for suspension of in-quota tariff rates for
               certain agricultural products.
                 (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                            EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1. In the Uruguay Round the Communities converted the so-called balance
   sheet arrangement for import of certain live bovine animals into a tariff
   quota. The in-quota tariff rate was fixed at 16% + 582 ECU/t which
   corresponded to the import levy applied in the period 1986 to 1988 .
   According to the Europe Agreements the CEC countries had to pay 25% of
   the levy fixed for import of such animals i.e. around 400 ECU/t (plus the
   ad valorem duty). In order not to increase the import charge for imports
   from these countries it is proposed to reduce the specific amount,
   constituting part of the in-quota tariff rate, to 25% of the amount
   applicable on 1 July 1995.
2. Furthermore, the European Communities undertook to open minimum access
   tariff quotas for agricultural products. For a number of these tariff
   quotas the Communities indicated the following condition:
   "Import under the Europe Agreements may be taken into account when
   implementing this quota."
3. The purpose of that condition is to establish a system whereby countries
   covered by the Agreements avail themselves of their right under the World
   Trade Organization (WTO) in the first instance and secondly by the
   arrangements provided for in the Europe Agreements. In order to implement
   such a system it is necessary to ensure that the benefit for an importer
   would be the same whether the import is made under WTO commitments or
   under the bilateral arrangements. This means in practice that the in-
   quota rates applied under the two systems shall be identical.
4. As regards imports from the CEC countries the Commission has submitted to
   the Council a proposal stipulating, as an autonomous and transitional
   measure, that imports under tariff quotas shall be subject to an in-quota
   tariff rate equal to 20 % of the normal duty rates for import under the
   "most favoured nation" clause. These rates will in several cases be lower
   than the in-quota rates bound in the WTO. Consequently, it will be
   necessary to suspend the rates under WTO to the same level as those
   proposed to CEC countries. In cases where the in-quota tariff under WTO
   are lower than those applicable towards CEC countries no changes are
   required.
5. When the in-quota tariff rates are aligned, the Commission services will
   have  the possibility to administer the WTO tariff quotas in such a way
   that  import under the European Agreements will be counted against the
   EC's commitments under the WTO.
 ---pagebreak---                                      Proposal for a
                             COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)
                providing for suspension of in-quota tariff rates for
                certain agricultural products.
   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 a tariff quota for certain live bovine animals has been opened from
  1 July 1995 in accordance with the Community's obligations under the
  Agreement on Agriculture concluded in the framework of the Uruguay Round of
  Multilateral Trade Negotiations; whereas when imports from The Republic of
  Hungary, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic,
1
  Romania and the Republic of Bulgaria take place under this tariff quota, the
  present level of import charge for imports from those countries is not
  maintained; whereas the in-quota tariff rate bound in the WTO should be
  reduced on an autonomous basis; whereas the reduced rate should, in
  accordance with the WTO rules, be applied erga omnes;
  Whereas the European Community has in the framework of the WTO undertaken to
  open a number of tariff quotas,- whereas in implementing these commitments
  imports under the Europe Agreements should be taken into account; whereas in
  order to achieve this aim in conformity with the rules of the WTO, the in-
  quota tariff rates of these tariff quotas should be reduced to the same
  levels as those applicable for imports from CEC countries; whereas,
  consequently, the in-quota rates bound in WTO should be suspended to a lower
  level ;
 Whereas, except for the provisions on live animals, the provisions of this
 Regulation shall be applied when detailed rules for the application of
 Council Regulation      (EC) No                of              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
 Multilateral Trade Negotiations(^, have been adopted;
 Whereas the concessions provided for in Regulation (EC) No                    are
 transitional measures applicable from 1 July 1995 until 31 December 1995;
 whereas the provisions of the present Regulation should, where possible, be
 applied during the same period,
 HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
  (1 )   OJ No. L
 ---pagebreak---                                        Article 1
 1.  The in-quota tariff rates for the tariff quotas listed in the Annex shall
     be suspended and the level indicated in column 5 applied.
2.   Paragraph 1 shall apply to products for which import licenses are issued:
           in the period 1 July to 31 December 1995 in respect of the products
           listed in the Annex under a ) ,
           in  the   period  1 October   to  31  December  1995   in  respect  of   the
          products listed in the Annex under b ) .
3.   The Commission shall adopt the detailed rules for the application of this
     Regulation in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of
     Regulation    (EEC) No 804/68 ^ ^   as last amended by the Act of Accession
     of Austria,    Finland and Sweden and by Regulation        (EEC) No   3290/94^ 2 ^,
     and the corresponding provisions of the other Regulations on the common
     organization of the markets.
                                       Article 2
The provisions of this Regulation shall apply for the products listed in the
Annex under b) where detailed rules for the application of          (EC) -        have
been adopted.
                                      Article 3
This   Regulation    shall  enter into    force  on  the  third   day  following   its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in
all Member States.
Done at Brussels,
                                                   For the Council
                                                   The President
 (1) OJ N° L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 13
 (2) OJ N° L 349, 31.12.1994, p. 105
 ---pagebreak---                                                             ANNEX
                                                           Quota quantity   Bound in-quota    Applied in-quota
   CN code                      Description                   1995/96         tariff rate        tariff rate
                                                                             1 000 kg/net       1 000 kg/net
a) ex 0102 90 05 Live young male bovine animals weighing          169 000     16% + 582 ECU     16% + 341,7 ECU
   ex 0102 90 29 300 kg or less intended for fattening                 head   16% + 582 ECU     16% + 341,7 ECU
   ex 0102 90 49                                                              16%+ 582 ECU      16% + 341,7 ECU
b)               Cheese and curd:
   ex 0406 30 10       Processed Emmentaler                         4 000t            719 ECU          425,6 ECU
   ex 0406 90 07       Emmentaler                                                     858 ECU          504,4 ECU
   ex 0406 90 12                                                                      858 ECU          504,4 ECU
   ex 0406 30 10       Processed Gruyère                              000 t           719 ECU          425,6 ECU
   ex 0406 90 08       Gruyère, sbrinz                                                858 ECU          504,4 ECU
   ex 0406 90 14                                                                      858 ECU          504,4 ECU
   0406 90 01          Cheese for processing                        4 000 t           835 ECU          490,8 ECU
   0406 10 20          Fresh (unripened or uncured) cheese          5.189 t           926 ECU          543,8 ECU
                       including whey cheese, and curd,
                       other than pizza cheese
   0406 10 80                                                                       1 064 ECU          649,8 ECU
   0406 20 90          Other grated or powdered cheese                                941 ECU           552,8ECU
   0406 30 31          Other processed cheese                                         690 ECU          408,6 ECU
   0406 30 39                                                                         719 ECU          425,6 ECU
   0406 30 90                                                                       I 029 ECU          631,6 ECU
   0406 40 10          Blue-veined cheese                                             704 ECU          414,0 ECU
   0406 40 50                                                                         704 ECU          414,0 ECU
   0406 40 90                                                                         704 ECU          414,0 ECU
   0406 90 90          Bergkâse and Appenzell                                         858 ECU          504,4 ECU
   0406 90 16
   0406 90 18          Fromage fribourgeois, Vacherin                                 755 ECU          504,4 ECU
                       Mont d'Or and Tête de Moine
   0406 90 23          Edam                                                           755 ECU          443,6 ECU
   0406 90 25          Tilsit                                                         755 ECU          443,6 ECU
   0406 90 27          Butterkâse                                                     755 ECU          443,6 ECU
   0406 90 29          Kashkaval                                                      755 ECU          443,6 ECU
   0406 90 31          Feta                                                           755 ECU          443,6 ECU
   0406 90 33                                                                         755 ECU          443,6 ECU
   0406 90 35          Kefalo-Tyri                                                    755 ECU          443,6 ECU
   0406 90 37          Finlandia                                                      755 ECU          443,6 ECU
                                                               4-
 ---pagebreak---                                                    Quota quantity   Bound in-quota    Applied in-quota
CN code                     Description               1995/96         tariff rate        tariff rate
                                                                     1 000 kg/net       1 000 kg/net
                                                                                              5
            Cheese and curd: (continued)
 0406 90 39      Jarlsberg                                (5 189 t)           755 ECU          443,6 ECU
 0406 90 50      Cheese of sheep's milk or buffalo                            755 ECU          443,6 ECU
                 milk
 0406 90 61      Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano                            941 ECU          552,8 ECU
                 Fiore Sardo, Pecorino
 0406 90 63                                                                   941 ECU          552,8 ECU
 0406 90 69      Other                                                        941 ECU          552,8 ECU
 0406 90 73      Pro vo lone                                                  755 ECU          443,6 ECU
 0406 90 75      Asiago, Caciocavallo, Montasio,                              755 ECU          443,6 ECU
                 Ragusano
 0406 90 76      Danbo, Fontal, Fontina, Fynbo,                              755 ECU           443,6 ECU
                 Havarti, Maribo, Sams0
 0406 90 78      Gouda                                                       755 ECU           443,6 ECU
 0406 90 79      Esrom, Italico, Kernhem, Saint-                             755 ECU           443,6 ECU
                 Nectaire, Saint-Paulin, Taleggio
 0406 90 81      Cantal, Cheshire, Wensleydale,                              755 ECU           443,6 ECU
                 Lancashire, Double Gloucester,
                 Blarney, Colby, Monterey
 0406 90 82      Camembert                                                   755  ECU          443,6 ECU
 0406 90 84      Brie                                                        755  ECU          443,6 ECU
 0406 90 85      Kefalograviera, Kasseri                                     755  ECU          443,6 ECU
 0406 90 86      Exceeding 47% but not exceeding                             755  ECU          443,6 ECU
                 52%
 0406 90 87      Exceeding 52% but not exceeding                             755 ECU           443,6 ECU
                 62%
 0406 90 88      Exceeding 62% but not exceeding                             755 ECU           443,6 ECU
                 72%
 0406 90 93      Exceeding 72%                                               926 ECU           543,8 ECU
 0406 90 99      Other                                                     1 064 ECU           649,8 ECU
 ---pagebreak---        FINANCIAL STATEMENT
       BUDGET HEADING: Chapter 10: Levies, premiums, etc.                                APPROPRIAT10NS:ECU 946.2
                                                                                         million
       TITLE:
       Proposal for a Council Regulation providing for suspension of in-quota tariff rates for certain agricultural products
       LEGAL BASIS:
       Article 113 of the Treaty
       AIMS:
       To bring the rates for products for which a "minimum access" quota exists and in respect of which a reduction in rates
       has been negotiated under the "Europe Agreements" with the countries of eastern and central Europe into line with the
       rates under those Agreements.
       FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:                                 PERIOD OF 12              CURRENT                 FOLLOWING
                                                                  MONTHS                 FINANCIAL                FINANCIAL
                                                                                             YEAR                    YEAR
                                                                                              (95)                    (96)
                                                                (ECU million)           (ECU million)           (ECU million)
5.0.   EXPENDITURE
       - CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET
         (REFUNDS/INTERVENTION)
       - NATIONAL AUTHORITIES
       -OTHER
5.1.   REVENUE                                                                                p.m.                      10
       - OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC
         (LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES)
       - NATIONAL
                                                                  1997              1998              1999              2000
5.0.1. ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE
5.1.1. ESTIMATED REVENUE
5.2.   METHOD OF CALCULATION:
       The loss of own resources as compared with the amending and supplementary budget corresponds to the part of the
       GATT quota not utilized by the countries of eastern and central Europe and absorbed by other countries for which a
        hypothetical reduction of 20% of the full rate of duty was not taken into account in calculations for the amending and
       supplementary budget.
6.0.    CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT
        CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?
6.1.    CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT
        BUDGET?
                                                         É»
 ---pagebreak--- 6.2.  WILL A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET BE NECESSARY?
6.3.  WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY?
OBSERVATIONS   For the 169 000 head of cattle, it is assumed that the countries of eastern and central Europe will make the
              maximum possible use of the "minimum access" GATT quotas.
 ---pagebreak---                                                                      ISSN 0254-1475
                                                              COM(95) 399 final
                                                DOCUMENTS
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  EN                                                                   02 03 11
                                       Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-426-EN-C
                                                               ISBN 92-77-92635-X
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