Article 1 Subject matter
This Regulation lays down certain procedures for the adoption of detailed rules for the implementation of certain provisions of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part, (hereinafter referred to as SAA), and of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community and the Republic of Albania (hereinafter referred to as the Interim Agreement).
Article 2 Concessions for fish and fishery products
Detailed rules for the implementation of Article 15(1) of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 28(1) of the SAA, concerning the tariff quotas for fish and fishery products, shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 12(2) of this Regulation.
Article 3 Tariff reductions
1. Subject to paragraph 2, rates of preferential duty shall be rounded down to the first decimal place. 2. Where the result of calculating the rate of the preferential duty in application of paragraph 1 is one of the following, the preferential rate shall be considered a full exemption: (a) 1 % or less in the case of ad valorem duties, or (b) EUR 1 or less per individual amount in the specific duties.
Article 4 Technical adaptations
Amendments and technical adaptations to the provisions adopted pursuant to this Regulation rendered necessary by changes to the Combined Nomenclature codes and to the TARIC subdivisions or arising from the conclusion of new or modified Agreements, Protocols, Exchanges of Letters or other acts between the Community and the Republic of Albania, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 12(2) of this Regulation.
Article 5 General safeguard clause
Without prejudice to Article 7 of this Regulation, where the Community needs to take a measure as provided for in Article 25 of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 38 of the SAA, it shall be adopted in accordance with the conditions and procedures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 3285/94, unless otherwise specified in Article 25 of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 38 of the SAA.
Article 6 Shortage clause
Without prejudice to Article 7 of this Regulation, where the Community needs to take a measure as provided for in Article 26 of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 39 of the SAA, it shall be adopted in accordance with the procedures laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 2603/69.
Article 7 Exceptional and critical circumstances
Where exceptional and critical circumstances arise within the meaning of Article 26(4) of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 39(4) of the SAA, the Commission may take immediate measures as provided for in Article 26 of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 39 of the SAA. If the Commission receives a request from a Member State, it shall take a decision thereon within five working days of receipt of the request. The Commission shall notify the Council of its decision. Any Member State may refer the Commission's decision to the Council within ten working days of receiving notification of the decision. The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within two months.
Article 8 Safeguard clause for agricultural and fisheries products
1. Notwithstanding the procedures referred to in Articles 5 and 6 of this Regulation, where the Community needs to take a safeguard measure as provided in Article 25 of the Interim Agreement and thereafter Article 38 of the SAA concerning agricultural and fisheries products, the Commission shall, at the request of a Member State or on its own initiative, decide upon the necessary measures after, where applicable, having had recourse to the referral procedure provided for in Article 25 of the Interim Agreement and thereafter Article 38 of the SAA. If the Commission receives a request from a Member State, it shall take a decision thereon: (a) within three working days following the receipt of a request, where the referral procedure provided for in Article 25 of the Interim Agreement and thereafter Article 38 of the SAA does not apply; or (b) within three days of the end of the 30-day period referred to in Articles 25(5)(a) of the Interim Agreement and thereafter Article 38(5)(a) of the SAA, where the referral procedure provided for in Article 25 of the Interim Agreement and thereafter Article 38 of the SAA applies. The Commission shall notify Member States of the measures it decided. 2. Measures decided on by the Commission pursuant to paragraph 1 may be referred to the Council by any Member State within three working days of the date on which they were notified. The Council shall meet without delay. It may, acting by qualified majority, amend or repeal the measures in question within one month following the date on which they were referred to the Council.
Article 9 Dumping and subsidy
In the event of a practice which is liable to warrant application by the Community of the measures provided for in Article 24(2) of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 37(2) of the SAA, the introduction of anti-dumping and/or countervailing measures shall be decided upon in accordance with the provisions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 384/96 or Regulation (EC) No 2026/97, respectively.
Article 10 Competition
1. In the event of a practice that may justify application by the Community of the measures provided for in Article 37 of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 71 of the SAA, the Commission shall, after examining the case, on its own initiative or on the request of a Member State, decide whether such practice is compatible with the Agreements. The measures provided for in Article 37(9) of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 71(9) of the SAA, shall be adopted in the cases of aid in accordance with the procedures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2026/97 and in the other cases in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 133 of the Treaty. 2. In the event of a practice that may cause measures to be applied to the Community by the Republic of Albania on the basis of Article 37 of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 71 of the SAA, the Commission shall, after examining the case, decide whether the practice is compatible with the principles set out in the Interim Agreement, and thereafter the SAA. Where necessary, it shall take appropriate decisions on the basis of criteria which result from the application of Articles 81, 82 and 87 of the Treaty.
Article 11 Fraud or failure to provide administrative cooperation
Where the Commission, on the basis of information provided by a Member State or on its own initiative, finds that the conditions laid down in Article 30 of the Interim Agreement and thereafter in Article 43 of the SAA are fulfilled, the Commission shall, without undue delay: (a) inform the Council; and (b) notify the Joint Committee, and thereafter the Stabilisation and Association Committee, of its finding together with the objective information, and enter into consultations within the Stabilisation and Association Committee. Any publication under Article 30(5) of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 43(5) of the SAA, shall be done by the Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union . The Commission may decide, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 12(3) of this Regulation, to suspend temporarily the relevant preferential treatment of the products as provided for in Article 30(4) of the Interim Agreement, and thereafter Article 43(4) of the SAA.
Article 12 Committee
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Customs Code Committee set up by Article 248a of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply. The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months. 3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply. 4. The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.
Article 13 Notification
Notification to the Joint Committee, and thereafter the Stabilisation and Association Council and the Stabilisation and Association Committee, respectively, as required by the Interim Agreement or the SAA shall be the responsibility of the Commission, acting on behalf of the Community.
Article 14 Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .