Considerations on COM(2010)54 - 2010/0036 (COD) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the EU's Stabilisation and Association process

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dossier COM(2010)54 - 2010/0036 (COD) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on amending Council Regulation (EC) ...
document COM(2010)54 EN
date December 13, 2011
 
table>(1)Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000 of 18 September 2000 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union’s Stabilisation and Association process (2) introduced exceptional trade measures which provide for unlimited duty free access to the Union market for almost all products originating in the countries and customs territories benefiting from the Stabilisation and Association process. As Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000 was substantially amended several times, in the interests of clarity and rationality it was codified by Council Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 (3).
(2)A Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the other part, was signed in Luxembourg on 16 June 2008. Pending the completion of the procedures necessary for its entry into force, an Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the other part (4), was signed and concluded (5) and entered into force on 1 July 2008.

(3)A Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part was signed in Luxembourg on 29 April 2008. Pending the completion of the procedures necessary for its entry into force, an Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part (6), was signed and concluded (7) and entered into force on 1 February 2010.

(4)The Stabilisation and Association Agreements and the Interim Agreements establish a contractual trade regime between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and between the European Union and Serbia. It is therefore necessary to amend Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 by removing Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia from the list of beneficiaries of the tariff concessions for the same products under the contractual trade regime and to adjust the global tariff quota volumes for specific products for which tariff quotas have been granted under the contractual trade regime. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia should, however, remain beneficiaries under Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 in so far as that Regulation provides for concessions which are more favourable than those under the bilateral agreements.

(5)Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 remains the main instrument governing trade relations with Kosovo (8). Kosovo’s continued access to the Union market is crucial for Kosovo’s economic recovery and for the whole region. At the same time, such access will not have negative consequences for the Union.

(6)For those reasons and given the fact that Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 ceased to apply on 31 December 2010, it is appropriate to extend the validity of Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 until 31 December 2015.

(7)In order to ensure the Union’s compliance with its international obligations, the preferential arrangements set out in this Regulation should be made conditional on the continuation or renewal of the existing waiver from World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations obtained by the Union.

(8)In order to protect the economic interests of operators, it is necessary to provide for transitional measures in respect of goods that are, at the date of application of this Regulation, in transit or in temporary storage in customs warehouses or in free zones.

(9)In order to adopt the provisions necessary for the application of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the necessary amendments and technical adjustments to Annexes I and II following amendments to the Combined Nomenclature codes and to the TARIC subdivisions, as well as the necessary adjustments following the granting of trade preferences under other arrangements between the Union and the countries and territories referred to in this Regulation. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.

(10)In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation with regard to the suspension of the entitlement to benefit from the preferential arrangements in the event of non-compliance, the issuing of authenticity certificates attesting that the goods originate in the country or territory concerned and correspond to the definition in this Regulation, and for the temporary suspension, in whole or in part, of the arrangements provided for in this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (9).

(11)In order not to disrupt trade, it is necessary for this Regulation to apply retroactively, as of 1 January 2011,