21.6.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 154/53 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1066/2003 of 20 June 2003 opening a standing invitation to tender for the export of sorghum held by the French intervention agency THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in cereals (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1666/ 2000 (3, and in particular Article 5 thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1630/2000 (%), lays down the procedure and conditions for the disposal of cereals held by intervention agencies. (2)  Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3002/92 (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 770/96 (9, lays down common detailed rules for verifying the use and/or desti- nation of products from intervention. (3)  Given the current market situation, a standing invitation to tender should be opened for the export of 6 575 tonnes of sorghum held by the French intervention agency. (4)  Special rules must be laid down to ensure that the opera- tions are properly carried out and monitored. To that end, securities should be lodged to ensure that the goals of the operation are achieved without excessive cost to the operators. Derogations should accordingly be made to certain rules, in particular those laid down in Regula- tion (EEC) No 2131/93. (5)  Where removal of the sorghum is delayed by more than five days or the release of one of the securities required is delayed for reasons imputable to the intervention agency, the Member State concerned should pay compensation. (6)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The French intervention agency shall issue a standing invitation to tender for the export of sorghum held by it in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93, save as otherwise provided in this Regulation. () OJL 181, 1.7.1992, p. 21. () OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 1. () OJ L 191, 31.7.1993, p. 76. () OJ L 187, 26.7.2000, p. 24. () OJ L 301,17.10.1992, p. 17. () OJ L 104, 27.4.1996, p. 13. Atticle 2 1.  The invitation to tender shall cover a maximum of 6 575 tonnes of sorghum for export to third countries. 2. The quantity of sorghum referred to in paragraph 1 shall be stored in the regions listed in Annex L Atticle 3 1. No export refund or tax or monthly increase shall be granted on exports carried out under this Regulation. 2. Article 8(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 shall not apply. 3. Notwithstanding the third paragraph of Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93, the price to be paid for the export shall be that quoted in the tender, with no monthly increase. Atrticle 4 1. Export licences shall be valid from their date of issue within the meaning of Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/ 93 until the end of the fourth month thereafter. 2. Tenders submitted in response to the invitation to tender opened by this Regulation may not be accompanied by export licence applications submitted under Article 49 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 (). Atrticle 5 1. Notwithstanding Article 7(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93, the time limit for submission of tenders under the first partial invitation to tender shall be 9.00 (Brussels time) on 3 July 2003. 2. The time limit for submission of tenders under subse- quent partial invitations to tender shall be 9.00 (Brussels time) each Thursday thereafter. 3. The last partial invitation to tender shall expire at 9.00 (Brussels time) on 27 May 2004. 4. Tenders shall be lodged with the French intervention agency. () OJ L 152, 24.6.2000, p. 1.