29.12.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 345/1 | (Legislative acts) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 1386/2011 of 19 December 2011 temporarily suspending autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products into the Canary Islands THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 349 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Common Customs Tariff duties for a number of products in accordance with Article 349 of the Treaty. The justifi- cation of their request was that in view of the remoteness of those islands, the economic operators suffer severe economic and commercial disadvantages which have negative effects on demographic trends, employment and social and economic developments. After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national (3)  The Canary Islands industrial sector, together with Parliaments, construction, has been severely affected by the recent economic crisis. The slump in building depressed all the auxiliary industry that depends on it. Unfavourable Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (), financial conditions had a serious impact on many areas of business. In addition, the sharp rise in unemployment ) . ) in Spain aggravated the slump in domestic demand, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and including demand for industrial products. Social Committee (2), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, (4)  Unemployment in the Canary Islands has been consistently exceeding the national average for Spain for the last 10 years and, since 2009, the Canary Acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, Islands have recorded the highest level throughout the country (Eurostat: Regional statistics — Unemployment rate, by NUTS 2 regions, 1999-2009). Moreover, more Whereas: than half of the industrial production of the Canary Islands is consumed there, which is particularly serious (1) According to Council Regulation (EC) No 704/2002 of since demand there has been hit harder. 25 March 2002 temporarily suspending autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products and opening and providing for the (5)  Therefore, with the aim of giving a long-term perspective administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas to investors and enabling economic operators to reach a on imports of certain fishery products into the Canary level of industrial and commercial activities which Islands (), the Common Customs Tariff duty suspension stabilises the economic and social environment on the for certain capital goods for commercial or industrial use Canary Islands, it is appropriate to prolong in full the is to expire on 31 December 2011. suspension of the Common Customs Tariff duties for certain goods as detailed in Annex Il and Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 704/2002 for a period of 10 years. 20 In September 2010, the government of Spain requested on behalf of the government of the Canary Islands, the prolongation of the suspension of the autonomous (6)  In addition, in the same context the Spanish authorities (") Opinion of 15 November 2011 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) Opinion of 22 September 2011 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ L 111, 26.4.2002, p. 1. have requested the suspension of the Common Customs Tariff duties for three new products falling within CN codes 390210, 390311 and 3906 10. This request was accepted as these suspensions would strengthen the economy of the Canary Islands.