29. 6. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 160/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1256/96 of 20 June 1996 applying multiannual schemes of generalized tariff preferences from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1999 in respect of certain agricultural products originating in developing countries 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 (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), (1)  Whereas, in accordance with its offer made in the context of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Community opened generalized tariff preferences commencing in 1971 in respect of certain agricultural products of Chapters 1 to 24 of the Common Customs Tariff from developing countries; whereas the initial 10-year period of application of such preferences ended on 31 December 1980 and a second 10-year period ended on 31 December 1990, though the scheme has been kept in being unchanged until now; (2)  Whereas the positive role played by this system in the past in improving access for the developing countries to the markets of preference-giving countries is accepted and justifies its continued existence for a time, in step with other priority measures, including the multilateral liberalization of trade; (") OJ No C 163, 6. 6. 199, p. 1. (%) Opinion delivered on 9 May 1996 (O] No C 152, 27. §. 1996). (*) Opinion delivered on 24 April 1996 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Whereas in communications to the Council dated 6 July 1990 and 1 June 1994 the Commission set out its recommendations for a further 10-year period of application of its scheme of generalized preferences; Whereas the Treaty on European Union has lent a fresh impetus to Community development policy as an aspect of the Union’s foreign policy, with priority given to the sustainable economic and social development of the developing countries and their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy; Whereas the Community scheme of generalized preferences should accordingly become more development-oriented, focusing on the countries which have most need of it, i.e. the poorest countries; whereas the scheme should be complementary to World Trade Organization (WTO) instruments and should foster the integration of developing countries into the world economy and the multilateral trading system; whereas the giving of preferences should therefore be seen as a transitional measure, to be used at need and phased out when the need is considered no longer to exist; Whereas the new offer aims at a level of liberalization which is neutral overall compared with the existing scheme, as regards the impact of the preferential margin on the potential volume of preferential trade, without prejudice to special incentive arrangements; Whereas the new offer must also take account of certain sectors or products which are sensitive for