Agreement in the form of an Exchange of letters amending the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines
28. 3. 98 ‹ EN ‹ Official Journal of the European Communities L 96/3 AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS amending the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines A. Letter from the Community Brussels, 19 March 1998 Sir, I have the honour to refer to the Agreement of 29 November 1993 between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines and to the negotiations which have taken place between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria with a view to adapting the said Agreement following the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the Euro- pean Union, and to the consultations on extending the Agreement beyond 31 December 1997. I hereby confirm that the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria have agreed on the following: I. Table 1 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table: ‘QUANTITIES OF WINE ORIGINATING IN THE COMMUNITY AND QUALIFYING FOR TARIFF REDUCTIONS Bulgarian customs tariff code ex 2204 21 ex 2204 29 ex 2204 10 Description 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Quantity in hectolitres Wine of fresh grapes 42 000 46 200 50 400 54 600 58 800 63 000 Quality sparkling wine whether or not produced in specified regions, in containers holding not more than 2 litres 1 000 1 100 1 200 1 300 1 400 1 500’ II. Table 2 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table: ‘QUANTITIES OF WINE ORIGINATING IN BULGARIA AND QUALIFYING FOR TARIFF REDUCTIONS CN code Description 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Quantity in hectolitres ex 2204 21 Quality wine, including quality wine with a desig- nation of origin 214 000 247 000 280 400 313 600 346 800 401 230 ex 2204 29 Quality wine, including quality wine with a desig- nation of origin, and wine obtained from grapes of the “Gamza” vine variety designated and presented under that name or under the synonym “Kadarka” 118 000 118 000 118 000 118 000 118 000 128 000 ex 2204 10 Quality sparkling wine, in containers holding no more than 2 litres 1 000 1 100 1 200 1 300 1 400 1 600’ L 96/4 ‹ EN ‹ Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 3. 98 III. Point 3(a) of the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following: ‘in the case of duties applied by Bulgaria to imports of wine originating in the Community: — in 1993: 90 % of the basic duty, — in 1994: 80 % of the basic duty, — in 1995 and subsequent years: 70 % of the basic duty but not exceeding 28 % ad valorem;’. This Exchange of Letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their respective procedures. This Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 1998 and remain in force for an initial period ending on 31 December 1998. During the first half of 1998, consultations shall take place to determine whether and under what conditions it should be extended. I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the contents of this letter. Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration. On behalf of the Council of the European Union 28. 3. 98 ‹ EN ‹ Official Journal of the European Communities L 96/5 B. Letter from Bulgaria Brussels, 19 March 1998 Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today’s date which reads as follows: ‘I have the honour to refer to the Agreement of 29 November 1993 between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria on the reciprocal establishment of tariff quotas for certain wines and to the negotiations which have taken place between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria with a view to adapting the said Agreement fol- lowing the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union, and to the consultations on extending the Agreement beyond 31 December 1997. I hereby confirm that the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria have agreed on the following: I. Table 1 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table: “QUANTITIES OF WINE ORIGINATING IN THE COMMUNITY AND QUALIFYING FOR TARIFF REDUCTIONS Bulgarian customs tariff code ex 2204 21 ex 2204 29 ex 2204 10 Description 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Quantity in hectolitres Wine of fresh grapes 42 000 46 200 50 400 54 600 58 800 63 000 Quality sparkling wine whether or not produced in containers holding not in specified regions, more than 2 litres 1 000 1 100 1 200 1 300 1 400 1 500” II. Table 2 in the Annex to the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following table: “QUANTITIES OF WINE ORIGINATING IN BULGARIA AND QUALIFYING FOR TARIFF REDUCTIONS CN code Description 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Quantity in hectolitres ex 2204 21 Quality wine, including quality wine with a desig- nation of origin 214 000 247 000 280 400 313 600 346 800 401 230 ex 2204 29 Quality wine, including quality wine with a desig- nation of origin, and wine obtained from grapes of the “Gamza” vine variety designated and presented under that name or under the synonym “Kadarka” 118 000 118 000 118 000 118 000 118 000 128 000 ex 2204 10 Quality sparkling wine, in containers holding no more than 2 litres 1 000 1 100 1 200 1 300 1 400 1 600” L 96/6 ‹ EN ‹ Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 3. 98 III. Point 3(a) of the said Agreement shall be replaced by the following: “in the case of duties applied by Bulgaria to imports of wine originating in the Com- munity: — in 1993: 90 % of the basic duty, — in 1994: 80 % of the basic duty, — in 1995 and subsequent years: 70 % of the basic duty but not exceeding 28 % ad valorem;”. This Exchange of Letters shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their respective procedures. This Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 1998 and remain in force for an initial period ending on 31 December 1998. During the first half of 1998, consultations shall take place to determine whether and under what conditions it should be extended. I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the contents of this letter. ’ I have the honour to confirm that my Government is in agreement with the contents of your letter. Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration. For the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria