CELEX: 51975PC0677
Language: en
Date: 1975-12-19 00:00:00
Title: RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION authorizing the Commission to open negotiations with India for the conclusion of an Agreement on trade in coir products (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (75) 677
Vol. 1975/0248
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983,
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit
règlement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983
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
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243,
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1.
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983,
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OP THB EUitOSSAN COMMUNITIES
                                                 COM(75)677 final .
                                                 Brussels , 19 December 1975
                      RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
                authorizing the Commission to open negotiations
                with India for the conclusion of an Agreement on
                              trade in coir products
                  ( submitted to the Council b,}' the Commission )
   COi;(75 ) 677 final .
 ---pagebreak---                                EXPL.X.TORY IIE.IORAÏTDUi :
                                        *■ >■■!– Y –CJ ^    –»
1 . By a decision of 21 March 1574        an Agreement on trade in coir products
was concluded between the Republic of India and the EEC .
This Agreement is in force until 31 December 1 > 75 and. enables India -
the principal exporting country - to enjoy generalized tariff preferences
for its exports of coir products .        When preparing its offer on generalized
preferences , the Community considered that for coir products " duty-free
entry would be one of the special measures to be adopted with regard to
                                                        2
developing countries which are exporters'                 .
The Agreement comprises principally :
   the autonomous suspension by the Community of CCT duties in accordance
   with the rates and timetable specified ( 60'/o at 1 January 1975 )?
   the setting-up of a Joint Cooperation Committee to explore the
   opportunities for cooperation in research into and development of the
   production of the products in question .
Since the Agreement expires on 31 December 1975 , "the import arrangements to
be operative from 1 January 197^ should be determined . The Commission
considers that it would be appropriate to seek to conclude a new arrangement
with India permitting :
"oj Ho L 82 , 27 March 1574 .
  Sri Lcinlcci, also enjoys "tariff preferences for coir products . In view of
  the amount exported by Sri Lanka, the Community considered that the
  preferences could be granted without an agreement being negotiated ;
  however , it was agreed by an exchange of letters that Sri Lanka would
  consent to negotiations if necessary .
 ---pagebreak---    the continuation for the duration of the .Agreement of the process of
   autonomous suspension of tariffs "begun by the preceding Agreement , with
   a view to the eventual total suspension of duties ;
                             • - ·.   ν». ·    >*.*■. <_ '«
   the continuation of the efforts made "by botji Parties , within the Joint
   Cooperation Committee under the present Agreement , in connection with :
   researoh into and' development of production ;
   an assurance to be given by India that raw materials would "be supplied to
   the Community coir products industry on non-discriminatory terms .
Duty-free entry had "been envisaged when the Community made its offer on
tariff preferences »   Furthermore , the Indian authorities have on several
occasions drawn the Community 's attention to the vital importance' to their
country* s economy of the production and export of finished coir products .
Production is concentrated in a particularly underprivileged part of India
and provides employment for over a million people ; exports of coir products ,
moreover, acoount for an appreciable proportion of India's foreign currency
earnings .      .
As regards quantities , it should be pointed out that there is no limit on
imports into the Community of coir products , except coir mats , which are
Btill subject to quantitative restriction in one Member State ,
The reason for asking India to provide assurances on the supply of raw
materials to the Community is that India is virtually the . Community's
sole supplier# Moreover , the current Agreement contains comparable
provisions .
3 . The Commission accordingly recommends that the. Council , adopt the draft
decision annexed hereto .                    ,
 ---pagebreak---                              ϊΕσΟΙΜ^ΤΰΛΪΙΟΝ^ΟΕ ' Ά '
                               COUNCIL DECISION
               authorizing "the Commission to open negotiations
              with India for the conclusion of an Agreement on
                            trade in coir products
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
and in particular Article 113 thereof ;
Having regard to the Recommendation from the Commission ;
Whereas for coir products the Community 's offer on generalized tariff
preferences states that duty-free entry would "be "one of the special
measures to "be adopted with regard to developing countries which are
exporters ")
Whereas an Agreement on trade in ooir products embodying such " special
measures " was concluded  "between the Community and India ; whereas this
Agreement expires on 31 December 1975 ?
Whereas it is now desirable to authorize the opening of negotiations with
India with a view to determining the arrangements to be applied after that
date for trade in coir products ,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS ;
                                 Sole Article
The Commission is hereby authorized to open negotiations for the conclusion
of an Agreement between the European Economic Community and India on trade
in coir products * The Commission shall oonduct the negotiations in
consultation with the Article 113 Committee and in accordance with the
directives annexed hereto .
Done at Brussels ,
                                                         For the Council
                                                         The President
 ---pagebreak---                            NEGOTIATJUG DIRECIT/ES
1 « The Agreement is to be valid for four years , that is until 31 December
    1979 .        '  '          '
2 . The Community is to continue the process of autonomous suspension of
    customs duties in annual stages , for the duration of the Agreement , with
    a view to achieving duty-free entry "by 1 January 1979 *      1-     ^
3 « A Joint Cooperation Committee will "be set up to formulate suggestions
    in connection with cooperation in : the - fields of research into- and
    development of the production and uses of coir products#
4 * Assurances are to be obtained from India as regards the supply on non-
    discriminatory terms of the raw materials needed by the Community coir
                                                                     *S    ' -v • '•< • •
    products industry .