Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 26 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

On 20 December 1996 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products^f1. Community demand for the products in question should be met under the most favourable conditions. New Community tariff quotas should therefore be opened at reduced or zero rates of duty for appropriate volumes and certain existing tariff quotas should be extended, while avoiding any disturbance to the markets for these products.

Since the quota amount for certain Community tariff quotas is insufficient to meet the needs of Community industry for the current quota period, these tariff quotas should be increased with effect from 1 January 2005.

It is no longer in the Community interest to continue to grant Community tariff quotas in 2005 for certain products on which duties were suspended in 2004. These products should therefore be removed from the table in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2505/96.

In view of the many changes to be made, the full text of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 should be replaced in the interests of clarity.

Having regard to the economic importance of this Regulation, it is necessary to rely upon the grounds of urgency provided for in point I.3 of the Protocol annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaties establishing the European Communities on the role of national parliaments in the European Union.

Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: