24. 9. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 239/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2604/93 of 21 September 1993 opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for- cut flowers and flower buds, fresh, originating in Cyprus, Israel, Jordan or Morocco (1993 to 1994) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas the Additional Protocols to the Agreements between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco ('), the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (?) and the State of Israel (*) and the Protocol laying down the conditions and procedures for the implementa- tion of the second stage of the Agreement establishing an association between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cyprus and adapting certain provi- sions thereof (¥) provide in their respective Articles that fresh cut flowers and flower buds, falling within the CN codes indicated in Article 1 and originating in the abovementioned countries, may be imported into the Community at reduced rates of customs duty within the limits of annual Community tariff quotas of 300, 50, 17000 and 50 tonnes respectively; whereas, however, Atticle 18 of the Protocol with Cyprus provides that the volume of the tariff quota for that country must be increased by 5 % per year from the entry into force of the Protocol ; Whereas the volumes of the tariff quotas relating to other countries concerned must be increased in equal tranches of 3%, by virtue of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1764/92 of 29 June 1992 amending the arrangements for the import into the Community of certain agricultural products originating in Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia (); Whereas roses with large or small flowers and carnations of the unifloral or multifloral types are covered by the quotas only subject to the conditions established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 4088/87 of 21 December 1987 fixing conditions for the application of preferential customs duties on imports of certain flowers originating in Cyprus, Israel and Jordan (%) ; whereas the application () OJ No L 224, 13. 8. 1988, p. 18. () OJ No L 297, 21. 10. 1987, p. 19. () OJ No L 327, 30. 11. 1988, p. 36. () OJ No L 393, 31. 12. 1987, p. 2. () O No L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 9. () OJ No L 382, 31. 12. 1987, p. 22. of this Regulation was extended, by Regulation (EEC) No 3551/88 (), to the same products when originating in Morocco ; whereas the abovementioned preferential tariff advantages are applicable only to those importations respecting certain price conditions ; Whereas the Community quotas in question should be opened for the period 1 November 1993 until 31 October 1994 ; Whereas all Community importers should be ensured equal and continuous access to the said quotas and the duty rates laid down for the quotas should be applied consistently to all imports of the products in question into all Member States until the quotas are exhausted ; Whereas the decision for the opening, in the execution of its international obligations, of tariff quotas should be taken by the Community ; whereas, to ensure the effici- ency of a common administration of these quotas, there is no reasonable obstacle to authorizing the Member States " to draw from the quota-volumes the necessary quantities corresponding to actual imports ; whereas, however, this method of administration requires close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission and the latter must in particular be able to monitor the rate at which the quotas are used up and inform the Member States accordingly ; Whereas, since the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are united within and jointly represented by the Benelux Economic Union, any operation concerning the adminis- tration of these quotas may be carried out by any one of its members, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 1. From 1 November 1993 to 31 October 1994, the customs duties applicable to imports into the Community of the products listed below originating in Morocco, Jordan, Israel or Cyprus shall be suspended at the levels and within the limits of the Community tariff quotas shown below : () OJ No L 311, 17. 11. 1988, p. 1.