30. 5. 98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 157/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1097/98 of 25 May 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 laying down the trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 43 and 113 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Par- liament (3, Whereas Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 () laid down the trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products; Whereas following the entry into force of the agreements resulting from the Uruguay Round multilateral negoti- ations, the Community negotiated various agreements (hereinafter referred to as the ‘GATT agreements’); whereas several of those agreements concern agriculture, particularly the Agreement on Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement); whereas under the Agree- ment the Community no longer applies variable levies to imports of agricultural products or variable components; whereas as a result a number of provisions of Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 have to be adapted to this new situation to make their meaning clear; whereas other provisions are now no longer applicable; Whereas under certain preferential agreements reductions are granted on the agricultural components within the framework of the Community’s commercial policy; whereas these reductions are established with reference to the agricultural components applicable to non-preferen- tial trade; whereas these reduced amounts must therefore be converted into national currency at the same rate as applied for conversion of the non-reduced amounts; Whereas under certain preferential agreements conces- sions are granted within quota limits relating to both agri- () OJ C 105, 11. 4. 1996, p. 8. () O C 347, 25. 10. 1996, p. 464. () OJ L 318, 20. 12. 1993, p. 18. cultural and non-agricultural protection, or non-agricul- tural protection is subject to reductions as a consequence of such agreements; whereas it is essential that the man- agement of the non-agricultural part of protection should be subject to the same rules as for the agricultural part; Whereas, following the amendments made to the various Regulations on the common organisation of the markets in the agriculture sector by Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 (*), refunds for certain agricultural products exported in the form of goods not covered by Annex II to the Treaty may be granted only if they are in line with the commitments entered into by the Community pursuant to Article 228 of the Treaty; whereas the ar- rangements needed to ensure compliance with such com- mitments can be adopted under the procedure referred to in Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 3448/93; Whereas it is necessary therefore to amend Regulation (EC) No 3448/93, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 is hereby amended as follows: 1. in Article 1: (a) paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be replaced by the fol- lowing: ‘1. This Regulation determines the trade arrange- ments applicable to certain goods defined in Annex B. () OJ L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 105. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1161/97 (OJ L 169, 27. 6. 1997, p. 1).