CELEX: 51995PC0089
Language: en
Date: 1995-09-06
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) introducing registration for crude oil imports and deliveries in the Community

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                  Brussels, 06.09.1995
                                                  COM(95) 89 final
                                   Proposal for a
                         COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)
introducing registration for crude oil imports and deliveries in the Community
                          (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                        EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.  On 28 August 1979, following the events in Iran, the Council adopted Regulation
    (EEC) No 1893/79 introducing registration for crude oil imports in the
    Community. A similar system was set up by the International Energy Agency.
2.  In adopting Regulation (EEC) No 2592/79, as last amended by Regulation (EEC)
    No 1370/90, the Council laid down rules for carrying out the registration of crude
    oil imports in the Community.
    The basic Regulation (EEC) No 1893/79 and the supplementary Regulation (EEC)
   No 2592/79 laying down the rules for carrying out the registration of crude oil
    imports expired on 31 December 1991. However, the Member States have
   continued to communicate information to the International Energy Agency
4. These arrangements, which were established with the objective of monitoring
   market price developments in periods of tension, could also at other times enable
   information on the Community's crude oil supply costs to be obtained rapidly.
   Given that is now essential to have on an ongoing basis a global view of
   Community oil supply, it accordingly appears that these arrangements be once
   again put in place.
   This would not place any additional burden on Member States insofar as they are
   already involved with the other industrialised countries represented in the
   International Energy Agency in efforts to improve their understanding of how the
   market functions.
   Following the diversification of the Community's supplies in recent years and after
   consultation and with the agreement of the Member States' authorities, it is now
   proposed that the list of crude oils for which imports are to be registered should
   be extended. The new arrangements should therefore satisfy the requirements of
   the national authorities and of the International Energy Agency.
   Since fuel quality plays an important role in reducing air pollution, it is proposed
   that the Member States should supply information about the sulphur content of
   imported crude oils.
                                       3
                                     ^
 ---pagebreak---                  PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)
  introducing registration for crude oil imports and deliveries in the Community
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular
Article 213 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas the establishment of a common energy policy is one of the objectives which the
Community has set itself; whereas it is for the Commission to propose the measures to
be taken to that end;
Whereas security of supply at stable prices is one of the main objectives of that policy;
Whereas market transparency is desirable;
Whereas, in view of the supply situation and in order to stabilize the Community market
and ensure that abnormal world market fluctuations do not have an unfavourable impact
on the Community market, the Member States and the Commission should be informed,
at regular intervals, about crude oil supply costs;
Whereas, by means of Regulation (EEC) No 1893/79,1 as last amended by Regulations
(EEC) No 4152/88,2 and (EEC) No 1370/903 the Council introduced arrangements for the
registration of crude oil imports in the Community;
Whereas, by means of Regulation (EEC) No 2592/79,4 as last amended by Regulations
(EEC) No 4152/88 and (EEC) No 1370/90, the Council laid down rules for carrying out
the registration of cuuie oil imports in the Community provided for in Regulation (EEC)
No 1893/79;
Whereas those Regulations expired on 31 December 1991; whereas the rules that they
laid down should be reintroduced, while adapting them to the trading conditions
prevailing on international oil markets and the objective of maintaining or improving
environmental quality; whereas the reporting requirements should be aligned, as far as
possible, on the requirements of the national authorities and of the International Energy
Agency,
        OJNoL220, 30.8.1979, p. 1.
        OJNoL367, 31.12.1988, p. 7.
        O J N o L 133, 2^.5.1990, p.l.
        OJNoL297, 24.11.1979, p. 1.
                                          Hi
 ---pagebreak---                                         Article 1
Any person or undertaking importing crude oil from third countries or receiving a crude
oil delivery from another Member State shall be obliged to provide information to the
Member State in which he is established concerning the characteristics of the imports or
deliveries.
                                        Article 2
On the basis of the information referred to in Article 1, Member States shall, at regular
intervals, forward to the Commission such information as will enable a true picture to be
obtained of the developments in the conditions under which the imports or deliveries
have taken place.
This information shall be circulated to the Member States.
                                        Article 3
The information collected and forwarded pursuant to this Regulation shall be confidential.
This provision shall not prevent the publication of general information or information in
summary form which does not contain details relating to individual undertakings.
                                        Article 4
1. The information which persons or undertakings are obliged to communicate to the
Member State in which they are established shall relate to each import or delivery of
crude oil at a specific price.
2. "Import" means each quantity of crude oil which enters the customs territory of the
Community for purposes other than transit. "Delivery" means each quantity of crude oil
coming from another Member State for purposes other than transit. Imports or deliveries
carried out on behalf of companies situated outside the importing country and intended
for refining under contract and subsequent export in their entirety in the form of products
shall be excluded.
3. However, oil extracted from the seabed over which a Member State exercises
exclusive rights for the purposes of exploitation shall not be considered, when it enters
the customs territory of the Community, as being an import within the meaning of
paragraph 2.
                                        Article 5
 ---pagebreak--- For the purposes of Article 1 of this Regulation, the characteristics of each import or
delivery of crude oil into a Member State shall include:
         the designation of the crude oil, including the API gravity,
         the quantity in barrels,
         the cif price paid per barrel,
         the percentage sulphur content.
                                          Article 6
The information referred to in Articles 4 and 5 shall be forwarded to the Member State
concerned in respect of each period not exceeding one month.
                                          Article 7
The information which Member States are obliged to communicate to the Commission
pursuant to Article 2 shall be forwarded within one month of the end of each month
referred to in Article 6 of this Regulation. This information shall consist, for each type
of crude oil, of an aggregation of the data which the Member States receive from persons
and undertakings. For each type of crude oil, the information shall comprise:
        the  designation of the crude oil, including the average API gravity,
        the  quantity in barrels,
        the  average cif price,
        the  number of companies reporting,
        the  percentage sulphur content.
                                          Article 8
1.      The Commission shall analyse the information gathered pursuant to Article 7 and
        communicate it to the Member States each month.
2.      The Member States and the Commission shall consult each other at regular
        intervals at the request of a Member State or on the initiative of the Commission.
        Such consultations shall relate in particular to the communications from the
        Commission referred to in paragraph 1.
        Consultations may be organized with international organizations and third
        countries which have set up similar information systems.
                                         Article 9
 ---pagebreak---  1.     The information communicated pursuant to Article 4 and the information provided
        for in Article 7 shall be confidential. This provision shall not, however, prevent
        the distribution of information in a form which does not disclose details relating
        to individual undertakings, i.e. which refers to at least three undertakings.
2.      The information forwarded to the Commission on the basis of Article 7 and the
        communications referred to in Article 8(1) can only be used for the purposes of
        Article 8(2).
3.      If the Commission discovers, in the information communicated to it by the
        Member States in accordance with Article 7, the existence of anomalies or
        inconsistencies which prevent it from obtaining a true picture of developments in
        the conditions under which imports and deliveries have taken place, it may ask
        the Member States to allow it access to the relevant unaggregated information
        provided by the undertakings and the calculation and assessment procedures used
        to arrive at the aggregated information.
                                         Article 10
The Commission shall, after consulting the Member States, adopt detailed rules for
implementing this Regulation.
                                         Article 11
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of 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.
 ---pagebreak---                       GOVERNMENT REPORTING TO THE COMMISSION
                           ON CRUDE OIL IMPORTS AND DELIVERIES
  Type of crude Volume          Cif price    API density  % Sulphur Number of
  oil (API)     (1000 Brl)      (US*/Brl)                           companies
a
 ---pagebreak---              COMMUNICATION DES ETATS MEMBRES A LA COMMISSION SUR LES IMPORTATIONS ET LES LIVRAISONS DE PETROLE BRUT
Type de Pétrole Brut (API)                               Volume       Prix CAF         Densi té          X         Nombre de
                                                       (1000 Brl)    (USVBrl)            API          Soufre       compagnies
Abu Dhabi     Murban (40)
Abu Dhabi     Umm Shaif (37)
Abu Dhabi     Upper Zakum(34)
Abu Dhabi     Lower Zakum (40)
Abu Dhabi     Other
Dubai - Dubai (31)
SharJah
Iran - Iranian Light (34)
 Iran - Iranian Heavy (31)
 Iran - Other
 Iraq - Basrah Light (34)
 Iraq - Kirkuk (36)
 Iraq - Other
Kuwait - Blend (30-31)
Oman - Oman (34)
Qatar - Mar ine (40)
Qatar - Land (41)
Saudi Arabian - Light (33-34)
Saudi Arabian - Medium (30-31,5)
Saudi Arabian - Heavy (27-28)
Saudi Arabia - Berri (37-38)
Saudi Arabia - Other
Syria - Light (36)
Syr ia - Souedie (24)
Yemen - Other
Middle East - Other
Algeria - Saharan Blend (44)
Alger ia - Other
 Angola - Cabinda (32)
Angola - Other
 Cameroon
 Congo
 Egypt    Medium/Light (30-40)
 Egypt    Heavy (<30)
 Gabon    Rabi/Rabi Kounga (34)
 Gabon    Other
 ---pagebreak---   Libya - Light (40)
  Libya - Medium (30-40)
  Libya - Heavy (<30)
  Nigeria - Medium (<33)
  Nigeria - Light (33-45)
  Nigeria - Condensate (>45)
  Tun i s i a
  Zaire
  Afr ica - Other
  Indonesia - Other
  Russia - Urals (32)
  Russia - Other
  Azerba i Jan
  Kazakhstan
  Ukraine
k FSU - Other
  Denmark (33-34,5)
  Norway - Stratfjord (38)
  Norway - GulIfaks (29)
  Norway - Oseberg (34)
  Norway - Ekofisk (43)
  Norway - Other
  United Kingdom - Brent Blend (37-38)
  United Kingdom - Forties (39-40)
  United Kingdom - Flotta (34,7)
  United Kingdom - Other
  Europe - Other
  Ecuador - Oriente (29)
  Ecuador - Other
  Mex ico - Maya (22)
  Mexico Isthmus (34)
  Mexico - Olmeca (40)
  Venezuela - Light (>30)
  Venezuela - Medium (22-30)
  Venezuela - Heavy (17-22)
  Latin America - Other
  Other Crudes
  T O T A L
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                    ISSN 0254-1475
                                                             COM(95) 89 final
                                             DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                        12 14
                                     Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-101-EN-C
                                                              ISBN 92-77-86847-3
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
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