http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/eur/2004/2279

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2279/2004

of 30 December 2004

amending Council Regulation (EC) No 747/2001 as regards the Community tariff quotas and reference quantities for certain agricultural products originating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 747/2001 of 9 April 2001 providing for the management of Community tariff quotas and of reference quantities for products eligible for preferences by virtue of agreements with certain Mediterranean countries and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1981/94 and (EC) No 934/951, and in particular Article 5(1)(b) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

By its Decision of 22 December 20042, the Council has concluded an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures and the replacement of the Protocols 1 and 2 to the EC-Palestinian Authority Interim Association Agreement. That new Agreement applies from 1 January 2005.

(2)

The new Protocol No 1 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of agricultural products originating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip hereinafter ‘the new Protocol No 1’, provides for new tariff concessions and changes to the existing concessions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 747/2001, some of which fall within Community tariff quotas and reference quantities.

(3)

To implement the tariff concessions provided for in the new Protocol No 1, it is necessary to amend Regulation (EC) No 747/2001.

(4)

For the purpose of calculating tariff quotas and reference quantities for the first year of application, it should be provided that, where the period for the quota or reference quantity starts before the date from which the new Agreement applies, the tariff quota volume and reference quantity are to be reduced in proportion to that part of the period which has already elapsed before that date.

(5)

In order to facilitate the management of certain existing tariff quotas and reference quantities provided for in Regulation (EC) No 747/2001, the quantities imported within the framework of those quotas and reference quantities should be taken into account for charging on the measures opened in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 747/2001, as amended by this Regulation.

(6)

In accordance with the new Protocol No 1, the tariff quota volumes for certain products should be increased twice.

(7)

Since the provisions provided for in this Regulation should apply from the date of application of the new Agreement, it is appropriate for this Regulation to enter into force as soon as possible.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: