8.12.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 332/19 COMMISSION DECISION of 25 November 1998 extending the prohibition on the use of the comprehensive guarantee for certain external Community transit operations introduced by Decision 96/743/EC (notified under document number C(1998) 3443) (Text with EEA relevance) (98/697/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 82/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (%, and in particular Article 249 thereof, Having regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (°), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1677/98 (*), and in particular Article 362 thereof, Whereas under Article 362(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93, use of the comprehensive guarantee may be temporarily prohibited, at the request of one or more Member States, for goods presenting an increased risk of fraud; Whereas the Commission has to determine at least once a year whether there are grounds for maintaining the meas- ures adopted under Article 362(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93; Whereas under Commission Decision 96/743/EC of 9 December 1996 on the adoption of specific measures to temporarily prohibit the use of the comprehensive guar- antee for certain external Community transit opera- tions (°), as amended by Decision 97/583/EC (°) and extended by Decision 98/7/EC(’), the Commission decided temporarily to prohibit the use of the compre- hensive guarantee in such operations in respect of cigar- ettes of HS subheading 2402 20 and certain goods listed NS SN NN N < 302, 19. 10. 1992, p. 1. 17, 21. 1. 1997, p. 1. 253, 11. 10. 1993, p. 1. 212, 30. 7. 1998, p. 18. 338, 28. 12. 1996, p. 105. 237, 28. 8. 1997, p. 41. 2, 6.1. 1998, p. 11. SN 35 0000000 S S S S S | onll ol ol ol ol ol o8 in the Annex to the Decision, which present an increased risk of fraud; Whereas the protection of the financial interests at risk in those operations makes it necessary to maintain the same measures for a further period of 12 months, for Common transit as for Community transit, in order to ensure maximum effectiveness; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The measures adopted by Decision 96/743/EC shall be extended for a further period of 12 months. Article 2 This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1999. Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 25 November 1998. For the Commission Mario MONTI Member of the Commission