CELEX: 51981PC0206
Language: en
Date: 1981-04-30 00:00:00
Title: Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorizing the Commission to negotiate on behalf of the Community an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters amending certain zero-duty tariff quotas opened by the United Kingdom for 1981 in accordance with Protocol 1 of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Finland#Recommendation for a COUNCIL REGULATION concerning the conclusion of the Agreeement in the form of an exchange of letters amending certain zero-duty tariff quotas opened by the United Kingdom for 1981 in accordance with Protocol 1 of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Finland (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (81) 206
Vol. 1981/0076
 ---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
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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,
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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,
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                COM(81)206 final
                                               Brussels , 30 April 1981
                                Recommendation for a
                                  COUNCIL DECISION
       authorizing the Commission to negotiate on behalf of the Community
       an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters amending certain
       zero-duty tariff quotas opened by the United Kingdom for 1981 in
       accordance with Protocol 1 of the Agreement between the European
       Economic Community and the Republic of Finland
                                Recommendation for a
                                 COUNCIL REGULATION
       concerning the conclusion of the Agreeement in the form of an
       exchange of letters amending certain zero-duty tariff quotas
      opened by the United Kingdom for 1981 in accordance with Protocol
       1 of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and
       the Republic of Finland
                                                      X «s >        /\
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                ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )        : v\
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C0MC81 ) 206 final                                    V- . •
 ---pagebreak---                                                                • Ccnn lob
                                                           £
                            ' Explanatory Momoriinauja
1 . Ar, in 1979 and I98O "the United Kingdom has requested that the. 1981 zero-duty tariff
      quota for coated printing and writing paper, including light weight .. .
       coated mechanical paper weighing less than ^5 gnis/m2 ( LWC), provided
      for in Protocol llo 1 of the Free Trade Agreement "between . the European .            " .
      Economic Community (EEC ) and Finland be increased. .
2 . The reasons . for this request are the following : ••
      - Since the conolusion of the     Agreement in 1973 the demand
         structure for paper product a imported from Finland has changed con­
         siderably.
      - The demand for light weight coated paper' lias increased sharply since 1973°
      - There is no production of this type of paper in the United Kingdom
         and even though there has "been a considerable increase in imports
         of thin type' of paper, from mills within the CcEiataiity over the past years , United
         Kingdom converters are continuing to experience difficulties in obtaining adequate
          supplies in the present tight situation . Imports froi> the Member States continvsd
         to increase slightly in 1980 and from Finland the;- were somewhat lower . Nonethele .
         the zero-duty tariff quota covered only half the imports from Finland .
3 . The increase in the quotas for coated printing aad writing paper would
      be for 1981 and would be accomplished through a. temporary transfer of               :
      7*571 tons frcm tho underutilized quota for ex 43.01 C II (kraft paper
      for larf-e capacity sackc) to the quota cx 48 . 07 B ( coated printing and
      writing paper)*                                .
4. In. view -of .the present shortage of light weight coated paper /in the
      Community end the fact that the increase requested is limited to the
      year 198 1, this facilitation of imports to th- 'United Kingdom should
   . aot cause difficulties to the Cosnpunity paper industry. The increase
      of imports of LWC from other Member States into the Unit od _ Kingdoin
      in the course of tho lost yee.ra shows that imports from Finland have not
      hurt the penetration of the United Exngdoiv E -xrket by Coir.?! unity pro­
    ' (hi'jery .                                                           •
 ---pagebreak---                    :        • -       ■ -
                                    " 2 •»»
                                                ■■■-          {<   -
                                                            1
  Ulxo tt*t      cLiv.i. ií      ox D.oí/uGj^íís "tho.*coic'fíí proposss "to ajnczid.
  •the United fcngdorri zero-duty tariff .quotas for coated printing and writing
  paper and Jcraft proper for Jarg'e capacity sacks contained in AXMOX A
 to Protocol ITc .1 of the above mentioned Free Trade Agreement .
 The r'irmich authorities havo expressed their agxesment vdth the proosdura
 envisaged . It ic proposed that Mr. Pierre Suchat eau signs on "behalf of
 the Coianiunity. The -Finnish Ambassador could sign on "behalf of his govern­
 ment .
 If the Council agrees to the proposed temporary transfer from the zero-duty tariff
 quota ex 48 . CI C II to "oho zero–duty tariff quota ex 48.07 D the corresponding
quoti-/3 will havo to "be modified "by an exchange of letters . A draft regu­
  lation to this end io attached .
 ---pagebreak---                           RE COMMENDATI ON FOR A
                            COUNCIL DECISION
authorizing the Commission to negotiate on behalf of the Community an
agreement in the form of an exchange of letters amending certain zero-
duty tariff quotas opened "by the United Kingdom for 1981 in accordance •
with Protocol 1 of the Agreement "between the European Economic Community
                       and the Republic of Finland
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 Agreement signed in Brussels    on 5 October 1973 "between
the European Economic Community and the Republic of Finland ( l )      -
Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission ;      '
                                                                   ;
Whereas certain zero-duty tariff quotas opened by the United Kingdom for 1931
in accordance with Protocol 1 of the aforementioned Agreement should be
amended
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :
                                   Sole Article
The Commission is hereby authorized to negotiate on behalf of . the Community
an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters amending certain zero-duty
tariff quotas opened by the United Kingdom for 1981 in accordance with Proto­
col 1 of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the
Republic of Finland .
( 1 ) OJ No L 328 . 28.11.1973 , P - 2
 ---pagebreak---                                 - 2 -
The Commission , assisted by representatives of the Member States , shall
conduct the negotiations in accordance with the annexed directives .
                                       Done at Brussels ,
                                            For the Council
                                             The President
 ---pagebreak---                                                               AHïTEX
        Directives for negotiation from the Council to the Commission
According to Protocol      . 1 of the . Agreement between the
European Economic Community and. the Republic of Finland signed ■ in Brussels on .
5 October 1973 ( l ) the United Kingdom has since 1 January 1974 opened , zero-duty
tariff quotas for coated printing and writing paper ( ex 48.07D ) as well
as for kraft paper for large capacity sacks ( ex 48-01 C II ). The permissible
maxima for these quotas were fixed on the basis of statistics for the period
I968-I97I .
Since 1974 the demand for light weight coated paper (LWC ) has increased' ,
significantly and there i's no production of this type of paper in the
United Kingdom and LWC is also in short supply in the Community.
Thus an increase in the quota for coated printing and writing paper .
( ex 48.07 D ) for 1981 should be. accomplished through a "temporary trans­
fer of 7 571 t from the underutilized quota for kraft paper for large •
capacity sacks ( ex 48.01 C II) to "the former quota.
( 1 ) OJ Ko 1 328 , 28.11.1973 , P. 2
 ---pagebreak---                           RECOMMENDATION FOR A
                           COUNCIL REGULATION
 concerning the conclusion of "the Agreement m the form of an exchange of
 letters amending certain zero-duty tariff quotas opend by the United
 Kingdom for 1981 in accordance with Protocol 1 of the Agreement between
        the European Economic Community and the Republic of Finland
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COIflfiJNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
 and in particular Article 113 thereof ,
Having regard to the Agreement between the European Economic Community
and the Republic of Finland ( l ), signed in Brussels on 5 October 1973 j
Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission ,
Whereas certain zero-d.uty tariff quotas opened by the United Kingd.ora for 1981
 in accordance with Protocol 1 of the Agreement should be amended and the
Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters negotiated to this effect
approved ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                                    Article 1
The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters amending certain zero-duty
tariff quotas opened by the United Kingdom for 1981 in accordance with Protocol 1 of
the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of
Finland is hereby approved on behalf of the Community .
The text of the Agreement is armased hereto .
( 1 ) OJ No L 328 , 28.11.1973 , p. 2
 ---pagebreak---                                            . - 2 -
                             *        '
                                        Article 2
The Presidont of the Counoil is hero"by authorized to designate the person
empowered to sign tho Agreement , in order to "bind the Community.              ,   .
                                        Article 3                           " ,
This Regulation clhall enter into force on tho third , day following
   • its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities . .
This Regulation ehall "be "binding in its entirety and direotly applicable
in all Member States . ^       • «                                                •
                                         •    , Lone at Brussels ,   ' . ">
              " '                                 For the Council  .
                   .. ' ' ''      ' ,                11
                                                   The President
 ---pagebreak---                                Letter Ho 1
Sir ,
In accordance with Protocol 1 of the Agreement between the European Economic
Community and the Republic of Finland signed in Brussels on 5 October 197 3 T
the United Kingdom has since 1 January 1974 opened tariff quotas for coated
printing and writing paper ( ex 48.07 D ) as well as for kraft paper for large
capacity sacks ( ex 48.01 C II ). The permissible maxima for these quotas were
fixed on the "basis of statistics available for the period 1968-1971 .
Within the quota for coated printing and writing paper the United Kingdom
has established a subquota for light weight coated mechanical paper weighing
less than 65 grammes per square meter ( LWC ).
During recent years the demand for LWC has increased significantly in the
United Kingdom and elsewhere . As in 1979 and 1980 the paper in question is
presently in short supply in the Community . In view of this continued shortage
it is 'therefore proposed that the permissible maximum for the quota which the
United Kingdom may open in 1981 for coated printing and writing paper be in­
creased by 7 » 571 tons to a total of 29,074 tons , it being understood that the
increase will be confined to the subquota for LWC . By way of compensation the
permissible maxin -.m for the quota for kraft paper for large capacity sacks will
be reduced for 1981 by 7,571 tons to 46,041 tons . The quota for this type of
paper has been underutilized during recent years .
I should be grateful if you could confirm that your Government is in agreement
with the above .
Please accept , Sir , the assurance of my highest consideration .
                                       On behalf of the Council of the
                                           European Communities
                                              i
 ---pagebreak---                                  Letter No 2
   Sir .                              ^
  I h?ve the honour to acknowlegde receipt of yoir latior of today 's date        *
  which reads as follows :
                               '   '           .         .      '            *
•'In accordance with Protocol 1 of the Agreement "between the European Economic
  Community and the Republic of Finland signed in Brussels on 5 October 1973 »
  the United Kingdom has since 1 January 1974 opened tariff quotas for coated
  printing and writing paper ( ex 48.07 D ) as well as for kraft paper for large
  capacity sacks ( ex 48.01 C II ). The permissible ma^iua for these quotas were
  fixed on the "basis of statistics available for tae period 1968-1971 *
 Within the quota for coated printing and writing paper the United Kingdom
  has established a subquota for light weight coated mechanical paper weighing
  less than 65 grammes per square meter (LWC).
  During recent years the demand for LWC has increased significantly in the -
 United Kingdom and elsewhere . As in 1979 and I98O the paper in question is
  presently in short supply in the Community . In view of this continued shortage
  it is therefore proposed that the permissible maximum for the quota which the
 United Kingdom may open in 1981 for coated printing and writing paper be in­
  creased by 7,571 tons to a total of 29,074 t 0313 * it being understood that the
  increase will be confined to the subquota for LWC . By way of compensation the
 permissible maximum for the quota for kraft paper for large capacity sacks will
 be reduced for I98I by 7,571 tons to 46,041 tons . The quota for this type of
                                                       I
  paper has been underutilized during recent years .
 I should be grateful if you could confirm that your Government is in agreement
 with the above ."
  I have the honour to confirm that my Government is in agreement with , the con­
  tents of your letter .
  Please accept . Sir , the assurance of my highest consideration .
                                           For ti : Republic of Finland
 ---pagebreak---                                                          r
                                  Financial Fheet
TUG uiorcas :- by 7»571 "!■ OF the duty-free, quota would mean a reduction of
 171,583 UCE in Cucto:;io duties levied on light weight coated paper . It ia
•unlikely that the roveiuis from duties levied on kraft paper would increase
"because of the quota reduction , since these ' quotas were not . fully utilized in
 the paut .