Council Regulation (EC) No 539/96 of 25 March 1996 amending Regulations (EEC) No 1134/91, (EEC) No 4088/87 and (EC) No 1981/94 with regard to the tariff arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 539/96 of 25 March 1996 amending Regulations (EEC) No 1134/91, (EEC) No 4088/87 and (EC) No 1981/94 with regard to the tariff arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
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,
Whereas products originating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip enjoy preferential treatment with regard to access to the Community market under Regulation (EEC) No 1134/91 (1);
Whereas this treatment provides for free access to the Community market for industrial goods and preferential treatment for certain agricultural products;
Whereas, in order to support the peace process in the Middle East, Community aid needs to be stepped up by implementing new measures for encouraging exports from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and whereas, to that end, it is necessary to extend preferential tariff treatment to cut flowers; whereas the abovementioned Regulation should be amended accordingly;
Whereas, in order to avoid disparities in treatment, this tariff concession must be subject to the same price conditions as those applying to the preferential tariff arrangements for cut flowers originating in certain Mediterranean countries in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 4088/87 (2);
Whereas, to enable the tariff quota for cut flowers to apply with immediate effect, it is necessary to amend Regulation (EC) No 1981/94 (3) with regard to the tariff quotas for the products in question,