52001PC0523

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EC) No 47/1999 on the arrangements for imports of certain textile products originating in Taiwan

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Regulation (EC) 47/1999 on the arrangement for imports of the textile products originating in Taiwan provides in article 4 modalities authorising imports in excess of the quantitative limits applied for these products. According to these provisions the transfer of unused quantities maybe allowed from specified quantitative restrictions to others and within precise limits.

In this effect, it has become apparent that disparities between different language versions of part of that article may lead to uncertainty as to its interpretation.

The present draft Regulation proposes to amend article 4 of Regulation 47/1999 in order to dissipate any risk of misinterpretation.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EC) No 47/1999 on the arrangements for imports of certain textile products originating in Taiwan

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 47/1999 of 22 December 1998 on the arrangement for imports of certain textile products originating in Taiwan [1], as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1556/1999 [2], defines the conditions under which the Community may authorise the transfer of unused quantities from one quantitative limit to another.

[1] OJ L 12, 16.1.1999, p.1.

[2] OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p.1.

(2) It has become apparent that disparities between different language versions of part of that article may lead to uncertainty as to its interpretation.

(3) In the interest of clarity, that provision should be reformulated.

(4) Regulation (EC) No 47/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 47/1999, the second indent of the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:

"- between categories 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Group I: 4% of the quantitative limit to which the transfer is made,"

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President