9.12. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities L 337/7 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2431/97 of 8 December 1997 replacing the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 2177/92 concerning the forecast supply balance for sugar for the Azores and Madeira for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 as provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 of 15 June 1992 concerning specific measures for the Azores and Madeira with regard to certain agricultural products ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2348/96 (3, and in particular Article 10 thereof, Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92, the forecast supply balance for sugar in respect of the 1997/98 marketing year for the Azores and Madeira was originally established for the period 1 July to 31 December 1997 in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1270/97 () pending a notification from the competent authorities updating the requirements of the regions concerned and in order to avoid interrupting the applica- tion of the specific supply arrangements; whereas, fol- lowing the presentation of the data for those regions by the Portuguese authorities, the supply balance for the whole of the 1997/98 marketing year has been drawn up; whereas the Annex to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2177/92 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1270/97, should accordingly be replaced; Whereas the supply balances provided for under the specific arrangements are to be drawn up for the period 1 July 1957 to 30 June 1998; whereas the definitive forecast supply balance should accordingly be made applicable from 1 July 1997, Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 2177/92 is hereby replaced by the Annex hereto. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. It shall apply with effect from 1 July 1997. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 8 December 1997. L 173, 27. 6. 1992, p. 13. L 320, 11. 12. 1996, p. 1. L 174, 2. 7. 1997, p. 37. L 217, 31. 7. 1992, p. 71. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission