Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 70/97 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and to imports of wine originating in the Republic of Slovenia
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 09. 04. 1997 C()M(97) 144 final 97/01 IS (ACC) Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (HÇ) amending Regulation (EC) No 70/97 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and to imports of wine originating in the Republic of Slovenia (presented by the Commission) Explanatory Memorandum 1. Following the denunciation of the Cooperation Agreement between the Community and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 25 November 1991, the Council decided, on 2 December 1991, to apply selective measures for the parties to the conflict in Former Yugoslavia that would help bring about peace. 2. These autonomous measures maintain the trade concessions accorded in the 1980 EEC-Yugoslavia Cooperation Agreement. They consist essentially of duty-free access and the elimination of quantitative restrictions for the bulk of industrial products and specific measures (duty-free access, tariff quotas) for various agricultural products. 3. The trade measures enjoyed by the Republics of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia were not extended to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). Since the signing of the Europe Agreement and the Interim Agreement's entry into force on 1 January, only imports of wine from Slovenia are eligible for the autonomous arrangements this year. 4. The FRY's commitment to carrying out democratic reforms and its current economic difficulties are considered to warrant the extension of the import arrangements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 70/97 of 20 December 1996 to that country. 5. The proposed Regulation extends the autonomous preferences to the FRY. Council Regulation (EC) No. of. amending Regulation (EC) No 70/97 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and to imports of wine originating in the Republic of Slovenia THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas Council Regulation (EC) No 70/97 of 20 December 1996 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and to imports of wine originating in the Republic of Slovenia1 does not apply to imports into the Community of products originating in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; Whereas these arrangements should be extended to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in view of its stated commitment to carry out democratic reforms and its current economic difficulties, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. 2. 3. 4. In the title and Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 70/97 ", the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" is inserted after "Croatia". In Article 8(2) "11 725 tonnes" is replaced by "21 700 tonnes". In the last column of Annex D ", the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" is inserted after "Croatia". In Annex G a new row "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 9 975 tonnes (carcass weight)" is inserted after "Croatia". Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 1 OJ No L 16, 18. 1. 1997, p. l. For the Council The President ISSN 0254-1475 COM(97) 144 final DOCUMENTS EN 11 02 03 Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-136-EN-C ISBN 92-78-18033-5 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg h-