21.10.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 276/3

(1)

Article 3(1) of Protocol No 1 to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part (3), opens a tariff quota at a zero rate of duty for imports of untreated olive oil falling within CN codes 1509 10 10 and 1509 10 90, wholly obtained in Tunisia and transported direct from that country to the Community.

(2)

To take account of the accession to the European Union of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic, Article 3(1) of the Protocol approved by Decision 2005/720/EC provided for an annual quantity of 700 tonnes to be added to that quota as from 1 May 2004.

(3)

Article 9 of the Protocol approved by Decision 2005/720/EC lays down a distinct method for increasing the tariff quota for 2004, calculated as a prorata of the basic volumes.

(4)

In the light of the experience acquired in managing import tariff quotas using a system of import licences, notifications by Member States to the Commission should be modernised.

(5)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 312/2001 (4) should be amended accordingly.

(6)

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

1.

Article 1(1) is replaced by the following:

‘1.   From 1 January each year, the quota of 56 700 tonnes of untreated olive oil falling within CN codes 1509 10 10 and 1509 10 90 wholly obtained in Tunisia and transported direct from that country to the Community, which is provided for in Article 3 of Protocol 1 to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, may be imported at a zero rate of duty. The import licences shall be issued up to the quota limit laid down for each year.’

2.

The following Article 1a is inserted:

‘Article 1a

The tariff quota provided for 2005 shall be increased by the amount of 467 tonnes calculated for 2004 under Article 9 of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.’

3.

The following subparagraph is added to Article 4(3):

‘The notifications referred to in the first subparagraph shall be sent electronically, using the form made available to Member States by the Commission.’