Council Regulation (EC) No 1039/2003 of 2 June 2003 adopting autonomous and transitional measures concerning the importation of certain processed agricultural products originating in Estonia and the exportation of certain agricultural products to Estonia

Council Regulation (EC) No 1039/2003
of 2 June 2003
adopting autonomous and transitional measures concerning the importation of certain processed agricultural products originating in Estonia and the exportation of certain agricultural products to Estonia
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Articles 133(2) and (4) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) Protocol No 2 to the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Estonia, of the other part, hereinafter referred to as the "Europe Agreement" and approved by Decision 98/180/EC, ECSC, Euratom of the Council and of the Commission(1), provides for tariff concessions for processed agricultural products originating in Estonia. Protocol No 2 was amended by the Adaptation Protocol(2) adjusting trade aspects of the Europe Agreement. It was improved by Decision No 6/2001 of the EC-Estonia Association Council(3).
(2) A trade agreement has recently been concluded which amends the Adaptation Protocol. It aims to improve economic convergence in preparation for accession and should enter into force not later than 1 July 2003. On the Community side this agreement lays down concessions in the form of completed liberalisation of trade for certain processed agricultural products and duty-free quotas for others. For imports outside of these quotas the current provisions continue to apply.
(3) The procedure for adopting a decision to amend the Adaptation Protocol will not be completed in time for it to enter into force on 1 July 2003. It is therefore necessary to provide for the application of the concessions made to Estonia on an autonomous basis from 1 July 2003.
(4) On processed agricultural products covered by Protocol No 2, but not listed in the present Regulation, the trade provisions laid down by Protocol No 2 should apply.
(5) For the importation of certain goods no duties should be applied; those goods should not be eligible for export refunds.
(6) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code(4) provides for a system for managing tariff quotas. The duty-free quotas opened by this Regulation should be managed by the Community authorities and the Member States in accordance with this system.
(7) The measures necessary to implement this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(5),