L 196/26 Official Journal of the European Union 28.7.2007 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 900/2007 of 27 July 2007 on a standing invitation to tender to determine refunds on exports of white sugar until the end of the 2007/2008 marketing year THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 of 20 February 2006 on the common organisation of the markets in the sugar sector (1), and in particular Articles 23(4) and 40(1)(g) thereof, Whereas: (1)  In view of the situation on the Community and world sugar markets, a standing invitation to tender should be opened for the export of white sugar until the end of the 2007/2008 marketing year which, having regard to possible fluctuations in world prices for sugar, must provide for the determination of export refunds. (2)  The general rules governing invitations to tender for the purpose of determining export refunds for sugar estab- lished by Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 should be applied. (3) In order to prevent any abuse associated with the re- import or re-introduction into the Community of sugar sector products that have qualified for export refunds, no export refund should be fixed for the countries of the western Balkans. 4  In line with Articles 32 and 33 of Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006, export refunds may be set to cover the competitive gap between Community and third countries” exports. Community exports to certain close destinations and to third countries granting Community products a preferential import treatment are currently in a particular favourable competitive position. Therefore, refunds for exports to those destinations should be abolished. (5)  In view of the specific nature of the operation, appro- priate provisions should be laid down with regard to export licences issued in connection with the standing invitation to tender, in particular as regards the deadline for the issue of the licences, their period of () O] L 58, 28.2.2006, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 247/2007 (O] L 69, 9.3.2007, p. 3). validity, the amount of the security and the quantity for which the obligation to export resulting from the licence is met. However, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products () and Commission Regulation (EEC) No 120/89 of 19 January 1989 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the export levies and charges on agricultural products (%) must continue to apply. (6)  The provisions of this Regulation replace, as regards the partial invitations to tender as from August 2007, those of Commission Regulation (EC) No 958/2006 of 28 June 2006 on a standing invitation to tender to determine refunds on exports of white sugar for the 2006/2007 marketing year (¥). For the sake of transparency and legal clarity, therefore, that Regulation should be repealed with effect from 1 August 2007. (7)  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 1. A standing invitation to tender shall be opened in order to determine export refunds on white sugar covered by CN code 1701 99 10 for all destinations excluding Andorra, Gibraltar, Ceuta, Melilla, the Holy See (Vatican City State), Liechtenstein, Communes of Livigno and Campione dTtalia, Heligoland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, the areas of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia (°), Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. During the period of validity of this standing invi- tation, partial invitations to tender shall be issued. 2. The standing invitation to tender shall be open until 25 September 2008. (®» OJ L 152, 24.6.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 1913/2006 (O] L 365, 21.12.2006, p. 52). () OJ L 16, 20.1.1989, p. 19. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 1847/2006 (O] L 355, 15.12.2006, p. 21). () OJ L 175, 29.6.2006, p. 49. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 203/2007 (O] L 61, 28.2.2007, p. 2). () Including Kosovo, under the auspices of the United Nations, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999.