COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 339/97 of 17 February 1997 adopting autonomous and transitional measures for the preferential trade arrangements with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria in certain processed agricultural products
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 Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden,
Whereas, pending adaptation of Protocol 3 of the Europe Agreements concluded with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria (1), Council Regulation (EC) No 1534/96 of 25 July 1996 providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of concessions for certain processed agricultural products provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account of the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round Multilateral Trade Negotiations (2) was adopted which, until 31 December 1996 maintains the degree of preference granted, thus offsetting possible negative effects the implementation of the results of the Uruguay Round may have on exports of these countries to the Community;
Whereas the negotiations which are currently under way with the countries concerned for the conclusion of Protocols amending the Europe Agreements have not yet been concluded; whereas 'interim` Protocols covering solely the trade-related aspects of the amending Protocols could enter into force on 1 January 1997; whereas it is therefore advisable to extend the concessions on an autonomous basis until 30 June 1997;
Whereas adoption of this Regulation has rendered obsolete the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 3380/94 of 22 December 1994 opening and providing for the administration of quotas for certain processed agricultural products originating in Hungary (3),
1. From 1 January to 30 June 1997, the basic amounts to be taken into account in the calculation of the reduced agricultural components and the reduced additional duties applicable at importation into the Community of goods originating in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria and listed in Annex I shall be those mentioned in Annex II. The reduced agricultural components apply within the annual quotas set out in Annex I.
2. From 1 January to 30 June 1997, the processed agricultural products originating in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria and listed in Annex III shall be subject to the duties provided for in that Annex.
The quotas referred to in Annex I shall be administered by the Commission in accordance with the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1460/96 of 25 July 1996 establishing the detailed rules for implementing the preferential trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products, as provided for in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 (4).
If the countries mentioned in Article 1 do not apply reciprocal measures in favour of the Community, the Commission may, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 of 6 December 1993 laying down the trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products (5), suspend the measures provided for in Article 1 to this Regulation.
Regulation (EC) No 3380/94 is hereby repealed.
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
It shall apply with effect from 1 January 1997.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.