(1)

Article 14(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 of 7 May 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 as regards the arrangements for importing bananas into the Community (2) provides that an indicative quantity expressed as the same percentage of available quantities from each of the tariff quotas A, B and C provided for in Article 18(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 may be fixed for the purposes of issuing import licences for each of the first three quarters of the year.

(2)

The data concerning, firstly, the quantities of bananas marketed in the Community in 2004, and in particular the actual imports, especially during the first quarter, and secondly, the supply and consumption prospects on the Community market during the same first quarter for 2005, result in indicative quantities being fixed for tariff quotas A and B and C so as to ensure adequate supplies for the whole of the Community, and the continuation of trade flows between the production and marketing sectors.

(3)

On the basis of the same data, in accordance with Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 896/2001, the maximum quantity for which each operator may submit licence applications for the first quarter of 2005 should be fixed.

(4)

In view of the fact that this Regulation must apply before the start of the period for the submission of licence applications for the first quarter of 2005, provision should be made for this Regulation to enter into force immediately.

(5)

This Regulation must apply to operators established in the Community as constituted on 30 April 2004 since Commission Regulation (EC) No 1892/2004 (3) adopted transitional measures for imports of bananas into the Community by reason of the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Bananas,

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27 % of the quantities available for traditional operators and non-traditional operators established in the Community as constituted on 30 April 2004 under tariff quotas A/B,

—

27 % of the quantities available for traditional operators and non-traditional operators established in the Community as constituted on 30 April 2004 under tariff quota C.

(a)

27 % of the reference quantity established and notified in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 for the traditional operators established in the Community as constituted on 30 April 2004 under tariff quotas A/B;

(b)

27 % of the quantity established and notified, in accordance with Article 9(3) of Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 for the non-traditional operators established in the Community as constituted on 30 April 2004 under tariff quotas A/B;

(c)

27 % of the reference quantity established and notified in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 for the traditional operators established in the Community as constituted on 30 April 2004 under tariff quota C;

(d)

27 % of the quantity established and notified, in accordance with Article 9(3) of Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 for the non-traditional operators established in the Community as constituted on 30 April 2004 under tariff quota C.

(1)

Examination of the supply balance shows that exportable amounts of rice are currently held by producers. This situation could affect the normal development of producer prices during the 2004/2005 marketing year.

(2)

In order to rectify this situation, it is appropriate to make use of export refunds in respect of zones which may be supplied by the Community. The special situation of the rice market makes it necessary to limit the quantities of rice benefiting from refunds, and therefore to fix the amount of the export refund by tendering procedure.

(3)

It should be stated that Commission Regulation (EEC) No 584/75 of 6 March 1975 laying down detailed rules for the application of the system of tendering for export refunds on rice (2) applies to this tendering procedure.

(4)

For the sake of sound management of the markets, the tendering procedure should be limited to certain zones listed in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2145/92 (3).

(5)

Under Article 14 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2808/98 of 22 December 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of the agrimonetary system for the euro in agriculture (4), amounts quoted in tenders submitted in response to invitations to tender organised under an instrument forming part of the common agricultural policy must be expressed in euro. Article 5(1) of that Regulation provides that in such cases the operative event for the agricultural exchange rate is the final day for the submission of tenders. Paragraphs 3 and 4 of that Article specify the operative events applicable to advances and securities.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,

(1)

Examination of the supply balance shows that exportable amounts of rice are currently held by producers. This situation could affect the normal development of producer prices during the 2004/2005 marketing year.

(2)

In order to remedy this situation, it is appropriate to grant export refunds in respect of zones which may be supplied by the Community. The special situation of the rice market makes it necessary to limit the quantities of rice benefiting from refunds, and therefore to fix the amount of the export refund by tendering procedure.

(3)

It should be stated that Commission Regulation (EEC) No 584/75 of 6 March 1975 laying down detailed rules for the application of the system of tendering for export refunds on rice (2) applies to this tendering procedure.

(4)

For the sake of sound management of the markets, the tendering procedure should be limited to certain zones listed in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2145/92 (3).

(5)

Under Article 14 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2808/98 of 22 December 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of the agrimonetary system for the euro in agriculture (4), amounts quoted in tenders submitted in response to invitations to tender organised under an instrument forming part of the common agricultural policy must be expressed in euro. Article 5(1) of that Regulation provides that in such cases the operative event for the agricultural exchange rate is the final day for the submission of tenders. Paragraphs 3 and 4 of that Article specify the operative events applicable to advances and securities.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,

(1)

Examination of the supply balance in Réunion indicates that rice is in short supply. In view of the rice available on the Community market, Réunion should be able to be supplied with rice from the Community market by granting a subsidy for consignments of rice intended for consumption there. Because of Réunion's particular circumstances, it is appropriate to limit the quantities to be sent and thus fix the amount of the subsidy by tendering procedure.

(2)

It should be stated that Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2692/89 of 6 September 1989 laying down detailed rules for exports of rice to Réunion (2) applies to this tendering procedure.

(3)

Under Article 14 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2808/98 of 22 December 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of the agrimonetary system for the euro in agriculture (3), amounts quoted in tenders submitted in response to invitations to tender organised under an instrument forming part of the common agricultural policy must be expressed in euro.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,

(1)

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 lists the persons, groups and entities covered by the freezing of funds and economic resources under that Regulation.

(2)

On 22 November 2004, the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council decided to amend the list of persons, groups and entities to whom the freezing of funds and economic resources should apply. Annex I should therefore be amended accordingly.

(3)

In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective, this Regulation must enter into force immediately,

(1)

The intervention agencies are, pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2571/97 of 15 December 1997 on the sale of butter at reduced prices and the granting of aid for cream, butter and concentrated butter for use in the manufacture of pastry products, ice-cream and other foodstuffs (2), to sell by invitation to tender certain quantities of butter from intervention stocks that they hold and to grant aid for cream, butter and concentrated butter. Article 18 of that Regulation stipulates that in the light of the tenders received in response to each individual invitation to tender a minimum selling price shall be fixed for butter and maximum aid shall be fixed for cream, butter and concentrated butter. It is further stipulated that the price or aid may vary according to the intended use of the butter, its fat content and the incorporation procedure, and that a decision may also be taken to make no award in response to the tenders submitted. The amount(s) of the processing securities must be fixed accordingly.

(2)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

(1)

The intervention agencies are, pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2571/97 of 15 December 1997 on the sale of butter at reduced prices and the granting of aid for cream, butter and concentrated butter for use in the manufacture of pastry products, ice cream and other foodstuffs (2), to sell by invitation to tender certain quantities of butter of intervention stocks that they hold and to grant aid for cream, butter and concentrated butter. Article 18 of that Regulation stipulates that in the light of the tenders received in response to each individual invitation to tender a minimum selling price shall be fixed for butter and maximum aid shall be fixed for cream, butter and concentrated butter. It is further stipulated that the price or aid may vary according to the intended use of the butter, its fat content and the incorporation procedure, and that a decision may also be taken to make no award in response to the tenders submitted. The amount(s) of the processing securities must be fixed accordingly.

(2)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

(1)

Pursuant to Article 26 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2799/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards the grant of aid for skimmed milk and skimmed-milk powder intended for animal feed and the sale of such skimmed-milk powder (2), intervention agencies have put up for sale by standing invitation to tender certain quantities of skimmed-milk powder held by them.

(2)

According to Article 30 of the said Regulation, in the light of the tenders received in response to each individual invitation to tender a minimum selling price shall be fixed or a decision shall be taken to make no award. The amount of the processing security shall also be fixed taking account of the difference between the market price of skimmed-milk powder and the minimum selling price.

(3)

In the light of the tenders received, the minimum selling price should be fixed at the level specified below and the processing security determined accordingly.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

(1)

In accordance with Commission Regulation (EEC) No 429/90 of 20 February 1990 on the granting by invitation to tender of an aid for concentrated butter intended for direct consumption in the Community (2), the intervention agencies are opening a standing invitation to tender for the granting of aid for concentrated butter. Article 6 of that Regulation provides that in the light of the tenders received in response to each special invitation to tender, a maximum amount of aid is to be fixed for concentrated butter with a minimum fat content of 96 % or a decision is to be taken to make no award; the end-use security must be fixed accordingly.

(2)

In the light of the tenders received, the maximum aid should be fixed at the level specified below and the end-use security determined accordingly.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

(1)

Pursuant to Article 21 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999 of 16 December 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in butter and cream (2), intervention agencies have put up for sale by standing invitation to tender certain quantities of butter held by them.

(2)

In the light of the tenders received in response to each individual invitation to tender a minimum selling price shall be fixed or a decision shall be taken to make no award, in accordance with Article 24a of Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999.

(3)

In the light of the tenders received, a minimum selling price should be fixed.

(4)

The Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,

(1)

Pursuant to Article 21 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 214/2001 of 12 January 2001 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in skimmed milk (2), intervention agencies have put up for sale by standing invitation to tender certain quantities of skimmed-milk powder held by them.

(2)

In the light of the tenders received in response to each individual invitation to tender a minimum selling price shall be fixed or a decision shall be taken to make no award, in accordance with Article 24a of Regulation (EC) No 214/2001.

(3)

In the light of the tenders received, a minimum selling price should be fixed.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

(1)

On 9 July 2004 the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1551 (2004) welcoming 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.

(2)

On 22 November 2004 the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1575 (2004), inter alia authorising the Member States, acting through or in cooperation with the EU, to establish for an initial planned period of 12 months a multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR) as a legal successor to SFOR under unified command and control, which will fulfil its missions in relation to the implementation of Annex 1-A and Annex 2 of the Peace Agreement in cooperation with the NATO HQ presence in accordance with the arrangements agreed between NATO and the EU as communicated to the Security Council, which recognise that EUFOR will have the main peace stabilisation role under the military aspects of the Peace Agreement, and recognising that the Peace Agreement and the provisions of its previous relevant resolutions shall apply to and in respect of both EUFOR and the NATO presence as they have applied to and in respect of SFOR and that therefore references in the Peace Agreement, in particular in Annex 1-A and its appendices, and relevant resolutions to IFOR and/or SFOR, NATO and the NAC shall henceforth be read as applying, as appropriate, to the NATO presence, EUFOR, the European Union and the Political and Security Committee and Council of the European Union respectively.

(3)

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 financing of the operation.

(4)

On 12 and 13 December 2002 the Copenhagen European Council adopted a Declaration stating that the ‘Berlin plus’ arrangements and the implementation thereof will apply only to those EU Member States which are also either NATO members or parties to the ‘Partnership for Peace’, and which have consequently concluded bilateral security agreements with NATO,