L 97/6 Official Journal of the European Union 15.4.2003 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 670/2003 of 8 April 2003 laying down specific measures concerning the market in ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Articles 36 and 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (!), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (), Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Where 1 Committee (°), as: The operation and development of the common market in agricultural products should be accompanied by the establishment of a common agricultural policy to include in particular appropriate measures, which may take various forms depending on the product. The aim of the common agricultural policy is to achieve the objectives set out in Article 33 of the Treaty. This can be accomplished through the introduction of tools to improve monitoring of developments both on the internal market and in trade with third countries. The processing of certain agricultural raw materials into ethyl alcohol is closely linked with the economy of those raw materials. It can contribute in large measure to enhancing their value and may be of particular economic and social importance for the economy of certain regions of the Community or may be a signifi- cant source of income for the producers of the raw materials concerned. It also permits the disposal of products of unsatisfactory quality and short-term surpluses that may cause temporary problems in certain sectors. It is necessary to establish a framework of specific measures for ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin so that economic data can be collected and statistical informa- tion analysed for the purpose of monitoring the market; in so far as the market in ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin is linked to the market in ethyl alcohol in general, information also needs to be made available concerning the market in ethyl alcohol of non-agricultural origin. For the purpose of monitoring developments on the market in ethyl alcohol, Member States should send the Commission the information necessary to draw up a balance for that market. ) 0] C 180 E, 26.6.2001, S. 146. (*) Opinion delivered on 13 June 2002 (not yet published in the Offi- cial Journal). () O] C 260, 17.9.2001, p. 33. (6) (10) (11) The marketing of ethyl alcohol from agricultural alcohol-producing products which have been the subject of intervention measures or other specific measures is covered by special procedures under the regulations relating to those products in order to ensure adequate competition and to prevent any disturbance of the tradi- tional alcohol market. The introduction of specific measures for the Commu- nity in the sector of ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin requires the establishment of trade arrangements at the Community's external borders. Trade arrangements involving a system of import duties should, in principle, stabilise the Community market. Those trade arrange- ments should be based on the agreements concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotia- tions. In order to be able to monitor trade movements on a permanent basis, provision should be made for an import and export licence scheme with the lodging of a security to ensure that the transactions for which such licences are requested are actually carried out. These arrangements should also be extended to products in bulk form based on ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin imported under certain CN 2208 codes and presenting all the characteristics of ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, for the purposes of effective control of imports of such products. It is appropriate to confer on the Commission the power to open and administer tariff quotas resulting from inter- national agreements concluded in accordance with the Treaty or from other legislative acts of the Council. In addition to the system described above, and to the extent necessary for its proper working, provision should be made for regulating the use of inward proces- sing arrangements or, when the situation on the market so requires, prohibiting the use of such arrangements. The system of customs duties makes it possible to dispense with all other protective measures at the Community's external borders. However, the internal market and duty mechanism could, in exceptional circumstances, prove defective. In such cases, so as not to leave the Community market without defence against disturbances that might ensue, the Community should be able to take all necessary measures without delay. All such measures should comply with the obligations arising from the World Trade Organisation Agreements.