2004/583/EC: Council Decision of 26 July 2004 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation amending the Agreement between the European Coal and Steel Community and the Government of the Russian Federation on trade in certain steel products

31.7.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 255/31
COUNCIL DECISION
of 26 July 2004
concerning the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation amending the Agreement between the European Coal and Steel Community and the Government of the Russian Federation on trade in certain steel products
(2004/583/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 300(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part (1), entered into force on 1 December 1997.
(2) Article 21 of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement provides that trade in European Coal and Steel Community (hereinafter referred to as ‘the ECSC’) products is to be governed by Title III of that Agreement, save for Article 15 thereof, and by the provisions of an Agreement on quantitative arrangements concerning exchanges of ECSC steel products.
(3) On the 9 July 2002 the ECSC and the Government of the Russian Federation concluded such an Agreement on trade in certain steel products (2) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’), approved on behalf of the ECSC by Commission Decision 2002/603/ECSC (3).
(4) The ECSC Treaty expired on 23 July 2002 and the European Community took over all rights and obligations contracted by the ECSC.
(5) Pursuant to Article 10(2) of the Agreement the Parties agreed that it should be continued and that all rights and obligations of the Parties should be maintained after such expiry.
(6) The Parties entered into consultations as provided for in Article 2(4) of the Agreement and agreed to increase the quantitative limits set out in the Agreement to take into account the enlargement of the European Union.
(7) Furthermore, the Parties agreed to increase the quantitative limits also with regard to Declaration No 1 of the Agreement on the setting up of service centres in the European Union.
(8) The amending Agreement should be approved,