(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the standard values for imports from third countries, in respect of the products and periods stipulated in the Annex thereto.

(2)

In compliance with the above criteria, the standard import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the Annex to this Regulation,

(1)

The representative prices and additional duties applicable to imports of white sugar, raw sugar and certain syrups for the 2004/2005 marketing year are fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1210/2004 (3). These prices and duties have last been amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1262/2004 (4).

(2)

The data currently available to the Commission indicate that the said amounts should be changed in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1423/95,

(1)

Commission Decision 92/452/EEC of 30 July 1992 establishing lists of embryo collection teams and embryo production teams approved in third countries for export of bovine embryos to the Community (2), provides that Member States are only to import embryos from third countries where they have been collected, processed and stored by embryo collection teams listed in that Decision.

(2)

The United States of America has requested that amendments be made to the list as regards entries for that country.

(3)

The United States of America has provided guarantees regarding compliance with the appropriate rules set out in Directive 89/556/EEC and the embryo collection teams concerned have been officially approved for exports to the Community by the veterinary services of that country.

(4)

Decision 92/452/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

(1)

On 11 March 2002 the Council adopted Joint Action 2002/211/CFSP appointing Lord Ashdown as the EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1) and Joint Action 2002/210/CFSP establishing the European Union Police Mission in order to ensure the follow-on to the United Nations International Police Task Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as from 1 January 2003 (2).

(2)

On 17 to 18 June 2004 the European Council adopted the European Security Strategy: Comprehensive Policy for Bosnia and Herzegovina, inter alia calling for explicit links to the EU Special Representative (EUSR) as far as CFSP/ESDP instruments in Bosnia and Herzegovina are concerned in order to allow the EUSR to assist the Secretary-General/High Representative and the Political and Security Committee (PSC) in ensuring maximum coherence of the EU effort.

(3)

On 12 July 2004 the Council adopted Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP on the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (3) which designates a specific role of the EUSR. His mandate should be modified accordingly and Joint Action 2002/211/CFSP should be repealed.

(4)

The EUSR will implement his mandate in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could harm the objectives of the CFSP as set out in Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union.

(5)

On 17 November 2003 the Council adopted Guidelines on the appointment, mandate and financing for EUSRs,

(a)

offer the EU's advice and facilitation in the political process;

(b)

promote overall EU political coordination in BiH without prejudice to Community competence;

(c)

provide local political advice to the EUFOR Commander, including with respect to the Integrated Police Unit style capability, on which he may draw, in agreement with the EUFOR Commander, without prejudice to the chain of command;

(d)

contribute to reinforcement of internal EU coordination and coherence in BiH, including through briefings to EU Heads of Mission and through participation in, or representation at, their regular meetings, through chairing a coordination group composed of all EU actors present in the field with a view to coordinating the implementation aspects of the EU's action, and through providing guidance to them on relations with the BiH authorities;

(e)

ensure consistency and coherence towards the public, without prejudice to Community competence. The EUSR spokesperson will be the main EU point of contact for BiH media on CFSP/ESDP issues;

(f)

maintain an overview over the whole range of activities in the field of the Rule of Law and in this context provide advice to the Secretary-General/High Representative and the Commission as necessary;

(g)

as part of his wider responsibilities, have authority to give direction, as necessary, to the Head of Mission/Police Commissioner of the European Union Police Mission;

(h)

as far as Community activities and activities under Title VI of the TEU, including Europol, are concerned, provide advice, as appropriate, and take part in the required local coordination;

(i)

with a view to coherence and possible synergies, continue to be consulted on priorities for Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation.

(1)

The European Council has announced the readiness of the European Union for an ESDP mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), including a military component.

(2)

The General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in BiH foresees, inter alia, arrangements for establishing a multinational military implementation force.

(3)

The Council adopted on 12 July 2004 Joint Action 2004/569/CFSP (1) on the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU Special Representative (EUSR) in BiH will promote overall EU political coordination in BiH.

(4)

The Council adopted on 11 March 2002 Joint Action 2002/210/CFSP (2) on the European Union Police Mission (EUPM), to build and strengthen local policing capacity, especially at State level and in the fight against organised crime.

(5)

On 26 April 2004 the Council approved the general concept for an ESDP mission in BiH, including a military component.

(6)

On 17 to 18 June 2004 the European Council adopted a comprehensive policy towards BiH.

(7)

The NATO Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government in Istanbul on 28 to 29 June 2004 decided to conclude NATO's SFOR operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the end of 2004.

(8)

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1551 (2004), adopted on 9 July 2004, welcomed the European Union's intention to launch an EU mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a military component, from December 2004, under the terms set out in the letter of 29 June 2004 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland and President of the Council of the European Union to the Presidency of the Security Council. The United Nations Security Council further decided that the status of forces agreements currently contained in Appendix B to Annex 1.A of the Peace Agreement shall apply provisionally in respect to the proposed EU mission and its forces, including from the point of their build-up in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in anticipation of the concurrence of the parties to those agreements to that effect.

(9)

The Council has agreed that the EU military operation should provide deterrence, continued compliance with the responsibility to fulfil the role specified in Annexes 1.A and 2 of the GFAP in BiH and contribute to the safe and secure environment, in line with its mandate, required to achieve core tasks in the Office of the High Representative's Mission Implementation Plan and the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP).

(10)

The operation should reinforce the EU's comprehensive approach towards BiH, and support BiH's progress towards EU integration by its own efforts, with the objective of the signing of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement as a medium-term objective.

(11)

The EU military operation should have full authority, exercised through its force commander, in order to fulfil the role specified in Annexes 1.A and 2 of the GFAP in BiH to monitor implementation of military aspects of the GFAP, and to assess and address non-compliance by the Parties.

(12)

In addition to contacts already established in relation to EU's activities in BiH, the European Union should maintain close consultations with the BiH authorities, in particular with the Minister of Defence, regarding the conduct of the EU military operation.

(13)

Consultations with NATO will proceed in accordance with the relevant provisions laid down in the 17 March 2003 Exchange of Letters between the Secretary-General/High Representative (SG/HR) and NATO Secretary-General. In a subsequent Exchange of Letters on 30 June and 8 July 2004 respectively, the North Atlantic Council has agreed to make available DSACEUR as EU Operation Commander and has agreed that the EU Operation Headquarters should be located at SHAPE.

(14)

The Political and Security Committee (PSC) should exercise political control of and provide strategic direction to the EU military operation in BiH and take the relevant decisions in accordance with Article 25, third paragraph of the Treaty on European Union.

(15)

In conformity with the guidelines of the European Council meeting at Nice on 7 to 9 December 2000, this Joint Action should determine the role of the SG/HR in accordance with Articles 18 and 26 of the Treaty on European Union in the implementation of measures falling within the political control and strategic direction exercised by the PSC, in accordance with Article 25 of the Treaty on European Union.

(16)

Third States should participate in the EU military operation in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the European Council.

(17)

In accordance with Article 28(3) of the Treaty on European Union, the operational expenditure arising from this Joint Action, having military or defence implications, should be charged to the Member States in accordance with Council Decision 2004/197/CFSP of 23 February 2004 establishing a mechanism to administer the financing of the common costs of European Union operations having military or defence implications (3) (hereafter referred to as ‘ATHENA’).

(18)

Article 14(1) of the Treaty on European Union calls for the indication in joint actions of the means to be made available to the Union. The financial reference amount for the common costs of the EU military operation constitutes the best current estimate and is without prejudice to the final figures that shall be included in a budget to be approved in accordance with the principles laid down in ATHENA.

(19)

In conformity with Article 6 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark does not participate in the elaboration and implementation of decisions and actions of the European Union which have defence implications. Denmark does not participate in the implementation of this Joint Action and therefore does not participate in the financing of the operation,