11985I269

++++

Article 269

1 . Subject to paragraph 2 , the Portuguese Republic shall , from 1 March 1986 , eliminate the application of all quantitative restrictions and all measures having equivalent effect on imports of products referred to in Article 259 coming from the Community as at present constituted .

2 . ( a ) Until the end of the first stage , the Portuguese Republic may maintain quantitative restrictions on imports coming from the Community as at present constituted of the products referred to in Annex XXIII .

( b ) The quantitative restrictions referred to in ( a ) shall consist of annual quotas opened without discrimination between economic operators .

The initial quota in 1986 for each product , expressed as the case may be in terms of volume or in ECU , shall be fixed :

- either at 3 % of the average of Portuguese annual production during the last three years before accession for which statistics are available ,

- or at the average of Portuguese imports made over the last three years before accession for which statistics are available , where this criterion results in a greater volume or amount .

( c ) The minimum rate of progressive increase of the quotas shall be 15 % at the beginning of each year with respect to the quotas expressed in terms of value , and 10 % at the beginning of each year with respect to the quotas expressed in terms of volume .

The increase shall be added to each quota and the following increase shall be calculated on the basis of the total figure obtained .

( d ) Where imports into Portugal during two consecutive years are less than 90 % of the annual quota opened , Portugal shall abolish the quantitative restrictions in force .

( e ) For the period running from 1 March to 31 December 1986 the applicable quota shall be equal to the initial quota reduced by onesixth .