Commission Regulation (EC) No 2577/97 of 16 December 1997 concerning imports of certain textile products originating in the Russian Federation

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2577/97 of 16 December 1997 concerning imports of certain textile products originating in the Russian Federation
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 of 7 March 1994 on common rules for imports of textile products from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agreements, protocols or other arrangements, or by other specific Community import rules (1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1457/97 (2), and in particular Article 12 (2) in conjunction with Article 25 (5) thereof,
Whereas the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Russian Federation on trade in textile products initialled on 19 December 1995 expired on 31 December 1996; whereas, pending the completion of negotiations directed towards the initialling of a new agreement with the Russian Federation, Commission Regulations (EC) No 2446/96 (3), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 562/97 (4) and (EC) No 1025/97 (5) were adopted in order to safeguard the economic interests of the Community in the further conduct of trade in textile products with that country;
Whereas the measures brought in by Regulation (EC) No 1025/97 are to apply until 31 December 1997, by which date it appears unlikely that a new textiles agreement can be negotiated and brought into application;
Whereas it is necessary, given the sensitivity of the textiles and clothing sector, to maintain the present import regime for an additional period of three months starting on 1 January 1998 and to establish quantitative limits for imports of the same textile products covered by Regulation (EC) No 1025/97;
Whereas these new limits should be set by reference to the period covered together with an increase which does not prejudge the results of the negotiation of a new textiles agreement;
Whereas in the interim the negotiations to reach a new bilateral agreement between the Community and the Russian Federation before the expiry of this Regulation will continue;
Whereas the proposed measures are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Regulation (EC) No 517/94,