98/707/EC: Council Decision of 22 October 1998 relating to the conclusion of a Protocol for the adaptation of the trade aspects of Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, to take into account the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union and the results of the agricultural negotiations of the Uruguay Round, including the improvements of the existing preferential regime

COUNCIL DECISION of 22 October 1998 relating to the conclusion of a Protocol for the adaptation of the trade aspects of Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, to take into account the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union and the results of the agricultural negotiations of the Uruguay Round, including the improvements of the existing preferential regime (98/707/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof, in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 228(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas the Protocol for the adaptation of the trade aspects of the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, should be approved, with a view to taking into account the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union and the results of the agricultural negotiations of the Uruguay Round, including the improvements of the existing preferential regime;
Whereas the Commission should be authorised to take measures to implement the Protocol, notably with regard to basic and processed agricultural products;
Whereas Regulations (EC) No 1595/97 (1) and (EC) No 656/98 (2) brought forward the implementation of certain provisions of the Protocol relating to basic and processed agricultural products, respectively; whereas, therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to ensure a smooth transition between the preferential arrangements applied under those Regulations and those provided for by the Protocol;
Whereas the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement on trade in textile products between the European Community and the Czech Republic was last amended by Decision 96/225/EC (3),