(1)

The exceptional geographical situation of the Canary Islands in relation to the sources of supply of certain fishery products which are essential for domestic consumption entails additional costs for that sector. That natural handicap, recognised by Article 349 of the Treaty, resulting from the Canary Islands’ insularity, remoteness and outermost location can be remedied, inter alia, by temporarily suspending customs duties on imports of the products in question from third countries within autonomous Union tariff quotas of an appropriate volume.

(2)

Council Regulation (EC) No 645/2008 (1) opened and provided for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas on imports of certain fishery products into the Canary Islands for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.

(3)

In July 2010 and June 2012, the Spanish authorities submitted reports on the implementation of the measures referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 645/2008. The Commission has examined the impact of those measures on the basis of those reports.

(4)

The reports submitted by the Spanish authorities included information on the utilisation rate of the tariff quotas for the period from 2007 to 2011. That information showed that, on average, over that period, the tariff quota with order number 09.2997 was almost fully utilised, and that the tariff quota with order number 09.2651 was not exhausted.

(5)

Since the tariff quota with order number 09.2997 was almost fully utilised, and the non-exhaustion of the tariff quota with order number 09.2651 could be linked to temporary and exogenous factors, it is appropriate to set the volume of the tariff quotas at the same level.

(6)

The sharp decline in local demand for products covered by the tariff quota with order number 09.2651, due to the difficult economic conditions in the Canary Islands following the economic and financial crises, may explain the under-utilisation of that tariff quota.

(7)

In September 2012, Spain requested the extension of Union tariff quotas for imports of certain fishery products into the Canary Islands, in accordance with Article 349 of the Treaty.

(8)

Tariff quotas similar to those opened pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 645/2008 for certain fishery products are justified as they would cover the needs of the Canary Islands' domestic market, while ensuring that flows of reduced-duty imports into the Union remain predictable and clearly identifiable.

(9)

Therefore, with the aim of giving a long-term perspective to economic operators to reach a level of activity which stabilises the economic and social environment of the Canary Islands, it is appropriate to extend, for an additional period, the autonomous tariff quota regime of the Common Customs Tariff duties for the goods listed in the Annex to this Regulation.

(10)

In order to avoid undermining the integrity and the coherence of the internal market, measures should be taken to ensure that fishery products for which suspension is granted are intended solely for the Canary Islands’ domestic market.

(11)

Measures should be taken to ensure that the Commission is kept regularly informed of the volume of imports in question so that, if necessary, it can take steps to prevent any speculative movement or deflection of trade.

(12)

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission allowing the Commission to temporarily withdraw the suspension in the case of a deflection of trade. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2). The final decision on whether the suspension should be maintained or withdrawn definitely should, however, be made by the Council in accordance with Article 349 of the Treaty within the time period for which suspension is temporarily withdrawn pursuant to the Commission decision to temporarily withdraw the suspension.

(13)

The provisions to be adopted should ensure continuity with the measures set out in Regulation (EC) No 645/2008. Therefore, it is appropriate to apply the measures provided for in this Regulation from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020,