(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)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2377/1999 (2) lays down the marketing standard for asparagus. The Annex to this Regulation, in its part concerning minimum requirements of quality, stipulates that the shoots may have been washed but not soaked.

(2)

It is common practice in the sector to put white asparagus shoots into iced water before packing in order to avoid them becoming pink.

(3)

Therefore, in order to take this practice into account, the provision concerning minimum requirement as to unsuitable washing should be amended.

(4)

Regulation (EC) No 2377/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,

(1)

Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 introduces storage arrangements for unprocessed dried grapes and unprocessed dried figs during the final two months of the marketing years of those products. The arrangements consist of a system for approving the storage agencies and paying them storage aid and financial compensation. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1622/1999 (2) establishes the conditions which the storage agencies must meet in order to be approved, in particular as regards the steps they must take to ensure that the products are stored properly.

(2)

The second indent of the second subparagraph of Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1622/1999 establishes transitional measures for unprocessed dried figs applying until the end of the 2003/04 marketing year.

(3)

Weather conditions during part of the 2004/05 marketing year were poor and fruit was unable to develop satisfactorily. As a result, some producers chose to harvest their fruit at a size slightly smaller than the standard but meeting the other quality conditions required for human consumption. In order to prevent those quantities being diverted to the production of fig paste, which would mean a substantial financial loss, it is necessary to extend the abovementioned transitional measures and provide for an additional minimum size for the 2004/05 marketing year.

(4)

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1622/1999 provides for the products held by storage agencies to be sold by tender procedure. The intended use for unprocessed dried figs is a specific industrial use to be specified in the tender notice by the competent authority. In view of the lack of economic interest engendered by that approach no tenders were submitted so the competent authorities should be given the opportunity to expand the range of possible uses of the products to be sold from storage by adding direct animal feed and use in composting and biodegrading processes.

(5)

It is necessary to establish the physical and documentary check procedures for these new uses both at the time of entry into storage and at the time of removal.

(6)

Regulation (EC) No 1622/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Products Processed from Fruit and Vegetables,

1.

In Article 2, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

(*1)   OJ L 187, 20.7.1999, p. 27.’ "

2.

Article 4 is amended as follows:

3.

Article 10 is amended as follows:

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 618/2005 (3) fixed the indicative quantities for the issue of B system export licences.

(2)

The definitive rate of refund for tomatoes, oranges, lemons and apples covered by licences applied for under system B between 14 May 2005 to 30 June 2005, should be fixed at the indicative rate, and the percentage of licences to be issued for the quantities applied for should be laid down,

(1)

Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1081/1999 provides for the quantities reserved for traditional importers under the two tariff quotas to be allocated in proportion to their imports during the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2005.

(2)

Allocation of the quantities available to operators covered by Article 2(3) of that Regulation under the two tariff quotas is to be in proportion to the quantities applied for within the meaning of Article 2(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1081/1999, under order No 09.0003. Since the quantities applied for exceed those available, a fixed percentage reduction should be set,

(1)

The export refunds on white sugar and raw sugar exported in the natural state were fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1013/2005 (2).

(2)

Since the data currently available to the Commission are different to the data at the time Regulation (EC) No 1013/2005 was adopted, those refunds should be adjusted,

(1)

Article 93 of the Europe Agreement establishes that the Parties shall cooperate with the aim of achieving full compatibility of the systems of consumer protection in Romania and the Community. To this end, cooperation shall comprise, amongst other things and within existing possibilities, the exchange of information and access to Community databases.

(2)

Article 12(4) of Directive 2001/95/EC establishes that access to RAPEX shall be open to applicant countries, within the framework of agreements between the Community and those countries, according to arrangements defined in these agreements. Any such agreements shall be based on reciprocity and include provisions on confidentiality corresponding to those applicable in the Community.

(3)

Annex II of Directive 2001/95/EC establishes the procedures for the application of RAPEX and Guidelines for notification.

(4)

The Commission has adopted guidelines for the management of RAPEX, as required by point 8 of Annex II of Directive 2001/95/EC, on 29 April 2004 (2).

(5)

Romania has actively participated, from its start in May 1999, in TRAPEX (Transitional system for rapid exchange of information), system that mirrors the activities of RAPEX for the applicant countries,

(1)

Under Article 4 of Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP, Major General A. David LEAKEY was appointed EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(2)

The EU Operation Commander has recommended the appointment of Major General Gian Marco CHIARINI as the new EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(3)

On 1 June 2005, the EU Military Committee supported the nomination.

(4)

Pursuant to Article 6 of Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee (PSC) to take further decisions on the appointment of the EU Force Commander.

(5)

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.

(6)

The Copenhagen European Council adopted on 12 and 13 December 2002 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,

(1)

Regarding the two procedures for attesting the conformity of a product under Article 13(3) of Directive 89/106/EEC, the Commission is required to select the least onerous possible procedure consistent with safety. This means that it is necessary to decide whether, for a given product or family of products, the existence of a factory production control system under the responsibility of the manufacturer is a necessary and sufficient condition for an attestation of conformity, or whether, for reasons related to compliance with the criteria mentioned in Article 13(4) of Directive 89/106/EEC, the intervention of an approved certification body is required.

(2)

Article 13(4) of Directive 89/106/EEC requires that the procedure thus determined must be indicated in the mandates and in the technical specifications. It is therefore desirable to define the concept of products or family of products as used in the mandates and in the technical specifications.

(3)

The two procedures provided for in Article 13(3) of Directive 89/106/EEC are described in detail in Annex III to that Directive. It is necessary therefore to specify clearly the methods by which the two procedures shall be implemented, by reference to Annex III, for each product or family of products, since Annex III gives preference to certain systems.

(4)

The procedure referred to in Article 13(3)(a) of Directive 89/106/EEC corresponds to the systems set out in the first possibility, without continuous surveillance, and the second and third possibilities of point (ii) of Section 2 of Annex III to Directive 89/106/EEC. The procedure referred to in Article 13(3)(b) corresponds to the systems set out in point (i) of Section 2 of Annex III, and in the first possibility, with continuous surveillance, of point (ii) of Section 2 of Annex III.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Construction,