(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)

Decision (EC) No 1/97 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 29 April 1997 on the arrangements applicable to certain processed agricultural products (2) establishes, in order to encourage the development of trade in accordance with the objectives of the Customs Union, an annual quota in terms of value in respect of certain pasta products imported into the Community from Turkey. This quota should be opened for 2006 and the years thereafter. The admission to its benefit should be subject to the A.TR. movement certificate provided for in Decision No 1/2001 of the EC-Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee of 28 March 2001 amending Decision No 1/96 laying down detailed rules for the application of Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council (3).

(2)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (4), lays down rules for the management of tariff quotas. It is appropriate to provide that the tariff quotas opened by this Regulation are to be managed in accordance with those rules.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for horizontal questions concerning trade in processed agricultural products not listed in Annex I,

(1)

The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Iceland, of the other part, on Protocol 2 to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Iceland, approved by Decision 1999/492/EC, provides for an annual tariff quota for imports from Iceland of sugar confectionery products and chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa. It is necessary to open that quota for 2006.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (3), lays down rules for the management of tariff quotas. It is appropriate to provide that the tariff quota opened by this Regulation is to be managed in accordance with those rules.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for horizontal questions concerning trade in processed agricultural products not listed in Annex I,

(1)

Protocol 2 to the bilateral Free Trade Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway (3), and Protocol 3 to the EEA Agreement (4), determine the trade arrangements for certain agricultural and processed agricultural products between the Contracting Parties.

(2)

Protocol 3 to the EEA Agreement, as amended by Decision 138/2004 of the EEA Joint Committee (5), provides for a zero duty applying to certain waters containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured, classified under CN code 2202 10 00 and certain other non-alcoholic beverages containing sugar, classified under CN code ex 2202 90 10.

(3)

The zero duty for the waters and other beverages in question has been temporarily suspended for Norway by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway on Protocol 2 to the bilateral free trade Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway (6), hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, approved by Decision 2004/859/EC. According to point IV of the Agreed Minutes of the Agreement, duty free imports of goods of the CN codes 2202 10 00 and ex 2202 90 10 originating in Norway are to be permitted only within the limits of a duty free quota while a duty is to be paid for imports outside the quota allocation.

(4)

It is necessary to open the tariff quota for the year 2006 for the soft drinks in question. According to statistics provided to the Commission, the annual quota for 2005 for the products in question opened by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2185/2004 (7) has been exhausted on 31 October 2005. Pursuant to Point IV of the Agreed Minutes of the Agreement the tariff quota for 2006 should therefore be increased by 10 %.

(5)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (8), lays down rules for the management of tariff quotas. It is appropriate to provide that the tariff quota opened by this Regulation is to be managed in accordance with those rules.

(6)

To ensure an appropriate management of the tariff quota in the interest of operators, the benefit of the exoneration of the duties within the quota should be made temporarily conditional upon the presentation to the Community customs authorities of a certificate issued by the Norwegian authorities.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for horizontal questions concerning trade in processed products not listed in Annex I,

(1)

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning Protocol 2 to the bilateral Free Trade Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway provides in point III for annual tariff quotas for imports of certain goods originating in Norway. It is necessary to open these quotas for 2006.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Common Customs Code (3), lays down rules for the management of tariff quotas. It is appropriate to provide that the tariff quotas opened by this Regulation are to be managed in accordance with those rules.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for horizontal questions concerning trade in processed agricultural products not listed in Annex I,

(1)

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Norway, of the other part, on Protocol 2 to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway, approved by Decision 96/753/EC, provides for an annual tariff quota for imports originating in Norway of chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa. It is necessary to open that quota for 2006.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (3), lays down rules for the management of tariff quotas. It is appropriate to provide that the tariff quota opened by this Regulation is to be managed in accordance with those rules.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for horizontal questions concerning trade in processed products not listed in Annex I,

(1)

Council Regulation (EC) No 2270/2004 of 22 December 2004 fixing for 2005 and 2006 the fishing opportunities for Community fishing vessels for certain deep sea stocks in waters where catch limitation are required (3), lays down quotas for 2005 and 2006.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2005.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing for that stock and its retention on board, transhipment and landing,

(1)

Council Regulation (EC) No 2270/2004 of 22 December 2004 fixing for 2005 and 2006 the fishing opportunities for Community fishing vessels for certain deep sea stocks in waters where catch limitation are required (3), lays down quotas for 2005 and 2006.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2005.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing for that stock and its retention on board, transhipment and landing,

(1)

Decision 90/424/EEC provides for the possibility of financial participation by the Community towards the programmes of Member States aimed at the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases and for checks aimed at the prevention of zoonoses.

(2)

Commission Decision 2004/695/EC of 14 October 2004 on the lists of programmes for the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases and of checks aimed at the prevention of zoonoses qualifying for a financial contribution from the Community in 2005 (2), sets out the proposed rate and maximum amount of the Community’s financial contribution for each programme submitted by the Member States.

(3)

Commission Decision 2004/840/EC of 30 November 2004 approving programmes for the eradiction and monitoring of certain animal diseases and of checks aimed at the prevention of zoonoses presented by the Member States for the year 2005 and fixing the level of the Community’s financial contribution (3), sets out the maximum amount of the Community’s financial contribution for each programme submitted by the Member States.

(4)

The Commission has analysed the reports forwarded by the Member States on the expenditures of those programmes. The results of that analysis show that certain Member States will not utilise their full allocation for 2005 while others will spend in excess of the allocated amount.

(5)

The Community’s financial contribution to certain of those programmes therefore needs to be adjusted. It is appropriate to reallocate funding from programmes of Member States, which are not using their full allocation to those that are exceeding it. The reallocation should be based on the most recent information on the expenditure actually incurred by the concerned Member States.

(6)

Decisions 2004/695/EC and 2004/840/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

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.

in Article 3(2) ‘EUR 400 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 900 000’;

2.

in Article 5(2) ‘EUR 900 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 0’;

3.

in Article 6(2) ‘EUR 1 500 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 675 000’;

4.

in Article 7(2) ‘EUR 200 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 300 000’;

5.

in Article 8(2) ‘EUR 400 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 500 000’;

6.

in Article 9(2) ‘EUR 100 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 105 000’;

7.

in Article 11(2) ‘EUR 5 000 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 5 850 000’;

8.

in Article 12(2) ‘EUR 5 000 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 3 600 000’;

9.

in Article 13(2) ‘EUR 3 000 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 2 875 000’;

10.

in Article 14(2) ‘EUR 800 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 100 000’;

11.

in Article 15(2) ‘EUR 1 800 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 1 740 000’;

12.

in Article 16(2) ‘EUR 5 000 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 4 415 000’;

13.

in Article 19(2) ‘EUR 4 000 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 4 600 000’;

14.

in Article 20(2) ‘EUR 2 500 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 2 725 000’;

15.

in Article 21(2) ‘EUR 700 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 770 000’;

16.

in Article 22(2) ‘EUR 250 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 300 000’;

17.

in Article 24(2) ‘EUR 250 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 350 000’;

18.

in Article 27(2) ‘EUR 200 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 330 000’;

19.

in Article 28(2) ‘EUR 175 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 150 000’;

20.

in Article 30(2) ‘EUR 6 500 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 6 340 000’;

21.

in Article 31(2) ‘EUR 300 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 500 000’;

22.

in Article 32(2) ‘EUR 4 500 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 4 470 000’;

23.

in Article 33(2) ‘EUR 1 700 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 1 900 000’;

24.

in Article 34(2) ‘EUR 25 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 875 000’;

25.

in Article 35(2) ‘EUR 50 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 95 000’;

26.

in Article 36(2) ‘EUR 400 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 675 000’;

27.

in Article 37(2) ‘EUR 70 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 117 000’;

28.

in Article 38(2) ‘EUR 400 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 455 000’;

29.

in Article 40(2) ‘EUR 600 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 310 000’;

30.

in Article 41(2) ‘EUR 50 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 0’;

31.

in Article 42(2) ‘EUR 600 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 170 000’;

32.

in Article 43(2) ‘EUR 350 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 370 000’;

33.

in Article 44(2) ‘EUR 100 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 25 000’;

34.

in Article 45(2) ‘EUR 200 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 375 000’;

35.

in Article 46(2) ‘EUR 15 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 23 000’;

36.

in Article 47(2) ‘EUR 100 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 140 000’;

37.

in Article 48(2) ‘EUR 800 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 1 075 000’;

38.

in Article 49(2) ‘EUR 150 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 485 000’;

39.

in Article 50(2) ‘EUR 100 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 40 000’;

40.

in Article 51(2) ‘EUR 10 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 100 000’;

41.

in Article 52(2) ‘EUR 200 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 290 000’;

42.

in Article 53(2) ‘EUR 300 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 370 000’;

43.

in Article 54(2) ‘EUR 250 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 370 000’;

44.

in Article 55(2) ‘EUR 50 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 115 000’;

45.

in Article 57(2) ‘EUR 25 000’ is replaced by ‘EUR 50 000’.

(1)

On 31 October 2005, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1636 (2005), (UNSCR 1636 (2005)) acknowledging the report of the UN International Investigation Commission chaired by Mr Detlev Mehlis on the 14 February 2005 terrorist bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, that killed 23 people, including former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, and caused injury to dozens of people (the Investigation Commission).

(2)

UNSCR 1636 (2005) imposes measures to prevent the entry into or transit through Member States’ territories of, and the freezing of funds and economic resources of, persons registered by the Committee of the Security Council established by paragraph 3(b) of UNSCR 1636 (2005) (the Committee) as suspected of involvement in the planning, sponsoring, organising or perpetrating of the terrorist bombing.

(3)

On 7 November 2005, the Council adopted its conclusions on Syria and Lebanon. The Council deplored the clear indication that Syria had not cooperated fully with the investigating team and called upon Syria to cooperate unconditionally with the investigators.

(4)

Action by the Community is needed in order to implement certain measures,

(1)

The European Union, as part of the Quartet, is committed to assisting and facilitating the implementation of the Roadmap, which lays out reciprocal steps by the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority in the political, security, economic, humanitarian, and institution-building fields, that will result in the emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours.

(2)

Following Israel’s unilateral disengagement from Gaza, the Government of Israel is no longer present at the Rafah Crossing Point and the terminal is closed apart from exceptional cases.

(3)

The European Council of 17 and 18 June 2004 reaffirmed the readiness of the EU to support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order, and in particular, in improving its civil police and law enforcement capacity.

(4)

The Council of 7 November 2005 reiterated the EU’s support for the work of the Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, and welcomed his recent report to members of the Quartet. The Council also noted his letter of 2 November 2005 in which he requested on behalf of the parties that the EU consider playing a Third Party monitoring role at the Rafah Crossing Point on the Gaza-Egypt border. The Council noted the EU’s willingness in principle to provide assistance with the operation of crossings at Gaza’s border on the basis of an agreement between the parties.

(5)

The opening of the Rafah Crossing Point has economic, security and humanitarian implications.

(6)

The EU has identified as a priority the building up of a Palestinian customs administration in EC-Palestinian cooperation. The Community has provided assistance to the Palestinian border management and has an established tripartite dialogue on customs issues with the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority is engaged in developing detailed plans for border security procedures with the support of the USA and Israel.

(7)

On 24 October 2005 the Palestinian Prime Minister sent a letter to the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy in which he requested the EC’s assistance in such areas as capacity building of Palestinian personnel at the Rafah crossing point, the development and installation of needed systems and equipment, and providing advice and support of Palestinian officials on duty at the Rafah Crossing Point.

(8)

On 15 November 2005 the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority concluded an Agreement on Movement and Access at border crossing points with Gaza, which, inter alia, indicated the role of the EU as a third party regarding the operation of the relevant crossing points.

(9)

In letters of invitation, on 20 November 2005 and on 23 November 2005 respectively, the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel invited the EU to establish a European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah).

(10)

The European Union mission will be complementary and will bring added value to current international efforts, as well as develop synergies with ongoing European Community and Member States efforts. The mission will seek coherence and coordination with the capacity-building actions of the Community, notably in the domain of customs administration.

(11)

The mission will be set in the wider context of the EU and of the international community’s effort to support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order, and in particular, in improving its civil police and law enforcement capacity.

(12)

Appropriate liaison with the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories, referred to as the European Union Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUPOL COPPS) (1), should be ensured.

(13)

The mission will implement its mandate in the context of a situation which poses a threat to law and order, the security and safety of individuals, and to the stability of the area and which could harm the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy as set out in Article 11 of the Treaty.

(14)

Security is a prime and continuing concern and appropriate arrangements to ensure security should be adopted.

(15)

In conformity with the guidelines of the European Council meeting in Nice on 7 to 9 December 2000, this Joint Action should determine the role of the Secretary-General/High Representative, in accordance with Articles 18 and 26 of the Treaty.

(16)

Article 14(1) of the Treaty calls for the indication of a financial reference amount for the whole period of implementation of the Joint Action. The indication of amounts to be financed by the Community budget illustrates the will of the political authority and is subject to the availability of commitment appropriations during the respective budget year,

(a)

actively monitor, verify and evaluate the Palestinian Authority’s performance with regard to the implementation of the Framework, Security and Customs Agreements concluded between the Parties on the operation of the Rafah terminal;

(b)

contribute, through mentoring, to building up the Palestinian capacity in all aspects of border management at Rafah;

(c)

contribute to the liaison between the Palestinian, Israeli and Egyptian authorities in all aspects regarding the management of the Rafah Crossing Point.

(a)

Head of Mission, assisted by an advisory staff;

(b)

Monitoring and Operations Department;

(c)

Administration Services Department.

(1)

On 23 February 2004, the Council adopted Common Position 2004/179/CFSP.

(2)

On 26 August 2004, the Council adopted Common Position 2004/622/CFSP in order to extend the scope of the restrictive measures imposed by Common Position 2004/179/CFSP to persons responsible for the design and implementation of the intimidation and closure campaign against Latin-script Moldovan schools in the Transnistrian region.

(3)

On 21 February 2005, the Council adopted Common Position 2005/147/CFSP (2) extending and amending Common Position 2004/179/CFSP.

(4)

Annex II to Common Position 2004/179/CFSP should be amended in recognition of the improvements in the situation of Latin-script schools in some areas of the Transnistrian region,