Council Regulation (EC) No 522/94 of 7 March 1994 on the streamlining of decision-making procedures for certain Community instruments of commercial defence and amending Regulations (EEC) No 2641/84 and No 2423/88

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 522/94 of 7 March 1994 on the streamlining of decision-making procedures for certain Community instruments of commercial defence and amending Regulations (EEC) No 2641/84 and No 2423/88
THE COUNCIL OF THE  EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Whereas the common commercial policy must be based on uniform principles, in particular with regard to commercial defence;
Whereas instruments of commercial defence, in particular in respect of unfair trade practices, are an indispensable complement to an open market and fair trading system, thus contributing to the harmonious development of world trade;
Whereas the completion of the internal market in 1992 makes it appropriate to improve the functioning of the existing instruments of commercial defence against unfair trade practices;
Whereas it is therefore appropriate to streamline decision-making procedures laid down in certain instruments of commercial defence, in particular those for imposing definitive anti-dumping and countervailing duties;
Whereas it also appears appropriate to amend Council Regulation (EEC) No 2641/84 of 17 September 1984 on the strengthening of the common commercial policy with regard in particular to protection against illicit commercial practices (2) in respect of the  Community decision-making mechanism for the initiation and the subsequent conduct and termination of dispute settlement proceedings within the context of any applicable multilateral rules;
Whereas, for the sake of consistency, the same procedures should apply to other possible international dispute settlement procedures in the area of the common commercial policy which fall within the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 2641/84, to the extent  that this is not already the case;
Whereas, in order to ensure that the Community can act quickly in the defence of its commercial interest, provision should be made for the initiation, where appropriate, of international dispute settlement proceedings without the prior opening of the  examination procedure laid down in Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 2641/84;
Whereas, therefore, it appears appropriate to amend Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (3), and Regulation (EEC) No  2641/84,