(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)

Pursuant to Article 63(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, to the extent necessary to enable the products listed in Article 1(2)(a) and (b) of that Regulation to be exported on the basis of the prices for those products on the world market and within the limits of the Agreements concluded in accordance with Article 300 of the Treaty, the difference between those prices and the prices in the Community may be covered by an export refund.

(2)

Under Article 64(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, the amounts and destinations for refunds are to be fixed periodically taking account of the existing situation and likely trends with regard to the prices and availability of the products concerned on the Community market and the world market prices for those products.

(3)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2805/95 (2) should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4)

The Management Committee for Wine has not delivered an opinion within the time-limit set by its Chairman,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1317/2005 (2) opens an invitation to tender setting the indicative refund rates and indicative quantities for system A3 export licences, which may be issued, other than those tendered for as part of food aid.

(2)

In the light of the tenders submitted, the maximum refund rates and the percentages of quantities to be awarded for tenders quoting those maximum rates should be set.

(3)

In the case of tomatoes, oranges, lemons, table grapes and apples, the maximum rate necessary to award licences for the indicative quantity up to the quantities tendered for is not more than one-and-a-half times the indicative refund rate,

(1)

Article 3 of Regulation No 136/66/EEC provides that, where prices within the Community are higher than world market prices, the difference between these prices may be covered by a refund when olive oil is exported to third countries.

(2)

The detailed rules for fixing and granting export refunds on olive oil are contained in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 616/72 (2).

(3)

Article 3(3) of Regulation No 136/66/EEC provides that the refund must be the same for the whole Community.

(4)

In accordance with Article 3(4) of Regulation No 136/66/EEC, the refund for olive oil must be fixed in the light of the existing situation and outlook in relation to olive oil prices and availability on the Community market and olive oil prices on the world market. However, where the world market situation is such that the most favourable olive oil prices cannot be determined, account may be taken of the price of the main competing vegetable oils on the world market and the difference recorded between that price and the price of olive oil during a representative period. The amount of the refund may not exceed the difference between the price of olive oil in the Community and that on the world market, adjusted, where appropriate, to take account of export costs for the products on the world market.

(5)

In accordance with Article 3(3) third indent, point (b) of Regulation No 136/66/EEC, it may be decided that the refund shall be fixed by tender. The tendering procedure should cover the amount of the refund and may be limited to certain countries of destination, quantities, qualities and presentations.

(6)

The second indent of Article 3(3) of Regulation No 136/66/EEC provides that the refund on olive oil may be varied according to destination where the world market situation or the specific requirements of certain markets make this necessary.

(7)

The refund must be fixed at least once every month. It may, if necessary, be altered in the intervening period.

(8)

It follows from applying these detailed rules to the present situation on the market in olive oil and in particular to olive oil prices within the Community and on the markets of third countries that the refund should be as set out in the Annex hereto.

(9)

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