19. 12. 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 305/23 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2914/95 of 18 December 1995 introducing prior Community surveillance of imports of certain iron and steel products covered by the ECSC and EC Treaties originating in certain third countries THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 of 22 December 1994 on common rules for imports and repealing Regulation (EC) No 518/94 ("), and in particular Atticle 11 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 519/94 of 7 March 1994 on common rules for imports from certain third countries and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 1765/82, (EEC) No 1766/82 and (EEC) No 3420/83 (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 839/95 (*), and in particular Article 9 thereof, Having regard to the Committees set up under the Regu- lations referred to above, Whereas by Commission recommendation No 3118/94/ ECSC(*), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 393/95 (), imports in to the Community of certain iron and steel products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community were subject to a priori Community surveillance ; Whereas in accordance with the provisions of Regulations (EC) No 3285/94 and (EC) No 519/94 products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community are subject to the common rules for imports and it is therefore necessary that the arrangements for Community surveillance measures in respect of ECSC products be adopted in accordance with the provisions of those Regulations ; Whereas the Community industry producing similar or competing products, represented in all Member States, has pointed out that its situation is forecast to deteriorate in 1996, as the following trends in the economic indicators show : — in 1995, production of crude steel in the Community is expected to be 3,0 % above the 152 million tonnes () OJ No L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 53. ) OJ No L 67, 10. 3. 1994, p. 89. () OJ No L 85, 19. 4. 1995, p. 9. () OJ No L 330, 21. 12. 1994, p. 6. () OJ No L 43, 25. 2. 1995, p. 23. produced in 1994, but this rate of annual growth conceals a slowing down of activity in the second semester of 1995. Initial estimates for 1996 suggest that growth in production will continue to be slow, — imports into the Community from all third countries are expected to rise by an average of 30-35 % in 1995 compared to 11,6 million tonnes in 1994, and to increase by a further 10 % in 1996, — Community exports are estimated to decrease by 15-20 % in 1995 compared with 28,0 million tonnes in 1994, and to fall by a further 6 % in 1996, — the prices at which certain ECSC products have been imported into the Community are generally substanti- ally below those of Community products, — there are similar trends in relation to certain steel products covered by the EC Treaty. In the case of steel tubes and butt-welding fittings, Community produc- tion is expected to rise by 2 % in 1995 compared to 11,3 million tonnes in 1994, and to fall by 3 % in 1996 ; exports are expected to fall by 5 % in 1995 compared to 5,3 million tonnes in 1994, and to fall by a further 3 % in 1996 ; imports in 1995 are expected to increase by 25 % in 1995 compared to 4,4 million tonnes in 1994 (imports from certain third countries increasing in 1995 by between 36 % and 370 %) and, according to initial estimates, will rise by a further 10 % in 1996 ; prices of products from certain coun- tries are 30-50 % below those of Community produ- cers ; Whereas, therefore, the trend in imports of certain ECSC and EC products originating in third countries covered by this Regulation threatens to cause injury to Community producers and the interests of the Community require that imports of these products should be subject to prior Community surveillance in order to provide statistical information permitting rapid analysis of import trends ; Whereas the completion of the internal market requires that the formalities to be accomplished by Community importers be identical wherever the goods may be cleared ; Whereas release for free circulation of the products covered by this Regulation should be made subject to presentation of a surveillance document meeting uniform criteria ;