17.3.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 79/9 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 596/98 of 9 March 1998 on certain procedures for applying the Europe Agreement establishing an asso- ciation between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Latvia, of the other part 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 a Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Latvia, of the other part, was signed in Brussels on 12 June 1995; Whereas, pending the entry into force of the Europe Agreement, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement), its provisions on trade and trade-related matters have been applied since 1 January 1997 by an Agreement on free- trade ansd trade-related matters between the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Latvia, of the other part, signed in Brussels on 19 December 1994 ('), Whereas it is necessary to lay down the procedures for applying certain provisions of the Agreement; Whereas, with regard to trade protection measures, it is appropriate, where the provisions of the Agreement render it necessary, to lay down specific provisions concerning the general rules provided for in particular in Council Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 of 22 December 1994 on common rules for imports (¥) and in Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (%); Whereas account should be traken of the undertakings set out in the Agreement before deciding whether a safeguard measure should be introduced; Whereas the procedures concerning safeguard clauses provided for in the Treaty establishing the European Community are also applicable; Whereas specific provisions have been adopted for safe- guard measures concerning the textile products covered by Protocol 1 of the Agreement; () OJ L 374, 31. 12. 1994, p. 1. () OJ L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 53. () OJ L 56, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1. Whereas certain provisions should be introduced for the application of tariff quotas and tariff ceilings, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: TITLE 1 Tariff quotas and tariff ceilings Article 1 The rules for the application of Articles 19 and 20 of the Agreement shall be adopted by the Commission according to the procedure provided for in Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 (%), or, according to the case, in the relevant provisions of the other Regulations on the common organisation of the markets, or of Regu- lation (EC) No 3448/93 (%) or by the Commission, assisted by the Customs Code Committee, according to the procedure provided for in Article 2(2) of this Regulation. Article 2 1. Provisions for the application of tariff quotas and tariff ceilings provided for in Annexes V and XII of the Agreement, including amendments and technical adapta- tions made necessary by amendments to the Combined Nomenclature and Taric codes, or arising from the conclusion by the Council of agreements, protocols or exchanges of letters between the Community and Latvia, shall be adopted by the Commission, assisted by the Customs Code Committee set up by Article 247 of Regu- lation (EEC) No 2913/92 (¢), according to the procedure set out in paragraph 2 of this Article. 2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chair may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148(2) of the Treaty in (" OJ L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 21. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 923/96 (O] L 126, 24. 5. 1996, p. 37). () OJ L 318, 20. 12. 1993, p. 18. () OJ L 302, 19. 10. 1992, p. 1.