Considerations on COM(2001)499 - Procedures for applying the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with their Member States, of the one side, and Croatia, of the other side and for applying the Interim Agreement with Croatia

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dossier COM(2001)499 - Procedures for applying the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with their Member States, of the one side, and Croatia, ...
document COM(2001)499 EN
date November 19, 2001
 
(1) The Council is in the process of concluding a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, of the other part, which was signed at Luxembourg on 29 October 2001 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Stabilisation and Association Agreement').

(2) Meanwhile the Council is also in the process of concluding an Interim Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Croatia(1) signed at Luxembourg on 29 October 2001 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Interim Agreement') which will provide for the early entry into force of the trade and trade-related provisions of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

(3) It is necessary to lay down the procedures for the application of certain provisions of these Agreements.

(4) These Agreements stipulate that certain products originating in the Republic of Croatia may be imported into the Community, within the limits of tariff quotas, at a reduced or zero rate of customs duty. It is therefore necessary to lay down provisions for the calculation of the reduced rates of customs duties.

(5) These Agreements already specify the products eligible for those tariff measures, the relevant volumes (and increases thereof), the applicable duties, periods of application and any eligibility criteria.

(6) Council or Commission Decisions amending the Combined Nomenclature and Taric codes do not entail any substantive changes.

(7) In the interest of simplicity and of timely publication of regulations implementing Community tariff quotas, provision should be made for the Commission, assisted by the Committee set up by Article 248a of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code(2), to adopt the regulations opening and providing for the administration of the tariff quotas for fishery products. The Commission should adopt, assisted by the Committee provided for in Article 42 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal(3), the regulations opening up and providing for the administration of the tariff quotas for 'baby-beef' products.

(8) Duties should be totally suspended where preferential treatment results in ad valorem duties of 1 % or less, or in specific duties of EUR 1 or less.

(9) This Regulation should be applied upon the entry into force or provisional application of the Interim Agreement and will remain in application upon the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

(10) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(4).