52016PC0629

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 3.10.2016

COM(2016) 629 final

2016/0306(NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of the Republic of Croatia in the course of its accession to the European Union

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

With the accession of the Republic of Croatia, the European Union enlarged its customs union. Consequently, the European Union was required under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules (Article XXIV:6 of the GATT 1994) to enter into negotiations with WTO Members having negotiating rights related to the tariff schedule of Croatia in order to eventually agree on a compensatory adjustment. Such adjustment is due if the adoption of the EU’s external tariff regime results in an increase in tariff beyond the level for which the acceding country has bound itself at the WTO.

On 15 July 2013, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations under Article XXIV:6 of the GATT 1994. The Commission has negotiated with the Members of the WTO holding negotiating rights with respect to the withdrawal of specific concessions in relation to the withdrawal of the schedule of the Republic of Croatia in the course of its accession to the European Union.

Negotiations with the Federative Republic of Brazil resulted in a draft Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters that was initialled on 12 July 2016 in Geneva (the Agreement). Consequently, the European Commission proposes to the Council to authorise the signature of the Agreement.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

The proposal is consistent with EU practice followed in previous EU enlargements.

•Consistency with other Union policies

The proposal follows EU practice which is consistent with the EU external action, industrial and agricultural policies.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjuction with Article 218(5) of the TFEU for the signature of international agreements.

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

The proposal falls under exclusive competence of the Union, Article 3(1)(e) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The subsidiarity principle therefore does not apply.

•Proportionality

The Federative Republic of Brazil was affected by the withdrawal of Croatia's concessions. The compensatory adjustments do not exceed Brazil's rights in this respect. The proposal complies with the proportionality treatment.

•Choice of the instrument

A Decision of the Council authorising the signature of the Agreement is required under Article 218(5) TFEU.

3.STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS

•Stakeholder consultations

The Council (Trade Policy Committee) has been regularly consulted on the content and advancement of the negotiations. The European Parliament (INTA Committee) has been informed.

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

See Financial Statement.

5.OTHER ELEMENTS

•Implementation plans

The Commission proposes to the Council that the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters with the Federative Republic of Brazil be signed on behalf of the Union. In parallel, a separate proposal on the conclusion of this Agreement is also being submitted to the Council.

The results of the Agreement are as follows:

Add 4 766 tonnes to the country allocated (Brazil) EU tariff rate quota 'Cut of fowls of the species gallus domesticus, frozen', tariff item numbers 0207.14.10, 0207.14.50 and 0207.14.70, maintaining the present in quota rate of 0%.

Add 610 tonnes to the country allocated (Brazil) EU tariff rate quota ' Cut of turkey, frozen', tariff item numbers 0207.27.10, 0207.27.20 and 0207.27.80, maintaining the present in quota rate of 0%.

Add 36 000 tonnes under the erga omnes part of the EU tariff rate quota 'Raw cane sugar, for refining', tariff item 1701.13.10 and 1701.14.10, maintaining the present in quota rate of €98 per tonne.

Add 78 000 tonnes to the allocation for Brazil under the EU tariff rate quota 'Raw cane sugar, for refining', tariff item 1701.13.10 and 1701.14.10, maintaining the present in quota rate of €98 per tonne.

As regards the volume of 78 000 tonnes allocated to Brazil under the EU tariff rate quota 'Raw cane sugar, for refining', tariff item 1701.13.10 and 1701.14.10, notwithstanding the bound in quota rate of €98 per tonne, the EU shall autonomously apply:

–during the first six years during which this volume is available, an in quota rate of no more than €11 per tonne, and

–in the seventh year during which this volume is available, an in quota rate of no more than €54 per tonne.

The Commission will adopt implementing Regulations to expand and manage the relevant quotas, pursuant to Article 187(a) of the Single Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1308/2013).

These implementation measures are being prepared in parallel to this proposal.

2016/0306 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)On 15 July 2013 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with certain other Members of the World Trade Organization under Article XXIV:6 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 ('GATT 1994') , in the course of the accession to the Union of the Republic of Croatia.

(2)Negotiations were conducted by the Commission in accordance with the negotiating directives adopted by the Council.

(3)Those negotiations have been concluded and an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of the Republic of Croatia in the course of its accession to the Union was initialled on 12 July 2016.

(4)The Agreement should be signed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing on behalf of the Union of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of the Republic of Croatia in the course of its accession to the European Union is authorised, subject to the conclusion of that Agreement 1 .

Article 2

The President of the Council is authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Union.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

FINANCIAL STATEMENT
				DATE:
1.	BUDGET HEADING: Chapter 12 – Custom duties and other duties
2.	TITLE: Proposal for a Council Decision on the signing of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of the Republic of Croatia in the course of its accession to the European Union
3.	LEGAL BASIS: Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 207 and 218.
4.	AIMS: To authorise the signature of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil.
5.	FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS	CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR 2016 (EUR million)	FOLLOWING FINANCIAL YEAR 2017 (EUR million)		FINANCIAL YEAR 2018 (EUR million)
5.0	EXPENDITURE - CHARGED TO THE EU BUDGET (REFUNDS/INTERVENTIONS) - NATIONAL AUTHORITIES - OTHER	-	-		-
5.1	REVENUE - OWN RESOURCES OF THE EU (LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES) - NATIONAL	4,4	4,4		4,4
		2016	2017		2018
5.0.1	ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE
5.1.1	ESTIMATED REVENUE	4,4	4,4		4,4
5.2	METHOD OF CALCULATION: volumes multiplied by the in-quota rate duty
6.0	CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?					NO
6.1	CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?					NO
6.2	WILL A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET BE NECESSARY?					NO
6.3	WILL APPROPRIATIONS NEED TO BE ENTERED IN FUTURE BUDGETS?					NO
OBSERVATIONS:

(1) The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 3.10.2016

COM(2016) 629 final

ANNEX

to the

Proposal for a Council Decision

AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of the Republic of Croatia in the course of its accession to the European Union

A. Letter from the European Union

Sir/Madam,

Following negotiations under Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT) relating to the modification of the Schedule of the Republic of Croatia in the course of its accession to the European Union, I have the honour to propose the following:

The European Union shall incorporate in its schedule, for the customs territory of the EU 28, the concessions contained in the schedule of the EU 27 with the following modifications:

Add 610 tonnes to the country allocated (Brazil) EU tariff rate quota ' Cut of turkey, frozen', tariff item numbers 0207.27.10, 0207.27.20 and 0207.27.80, maintaining the present in quota rate of 0%.

–during the first six years during which this volume is available, an in quota rate of no more than €11 per tonne, and

–in the seventh year during which this volume is available, an in quota rate of no more than €54 per tonne.

The European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil shall notify each other of the completion of their internal procedures for the entry into force of the agreement. The agreement shall enter into force 14 days after the date of receipt of the latest notification.

I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the above. I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to your Government, this letter and your confirmation shall together constitute an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil.

Please accept, Sir/Madam, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the European Union

B. Letter from the Federative Republic of Brazil

Sir/Madam,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of …………., which reads as follows:

“Following negotiations under Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT) relating to the modification of the Schedule of the Republic of Croatia in the course of its accession to the European Union, I have the honour to propose the following:

The European Union shall incorporate in its schedule, for the customs territory of the EU 28, the concessions contained in the schedule of the EU 27 with the following modifications:

Add 610 tonnes to the country allocated (Brazil) EU tariff rate quota ' Cut of turkey, frozen', tariff item numbers 0207.27.10, 0207.27.20 and 0207.27.80, maintaining the present in quota rate of 0%.

–during the first six years during which this volume is available, an in quota rate of no more than €11 per tonne, and

–in the seventh year during which this volume is available, an in quota rate of no more than €54 per tonne.

Please accept, Sir/Madam, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Federative Republic of Brazil

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