Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 41 thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 of 13 February 1993 on the common organisation of the market in bananas^f1,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1892/2004^f2 adopted the transitional measures needed to facilitate the transition from the arrangements in force in the new Member States prior to accession to the import arrangements in force under the common organisation of the markets in the banana sector for the year 2005. In order to ensure market supply, in particular in the new Member States, that Regulation fixed an additional quantity on a transitional basis for the purpose of issuing import licences. This additional quantity must be managed using the mechanisms and instruments put in place by Commission Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 of 7 May 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 as regards the arrangements for importing bananas into the Community^f3.

Articles 14(1) and (2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 provide that indicative quantities and individual ceilings may be fixed for the purposes of issuing import licences for each of the first three quarters of the year.

For the purpose of fixing those indicative quantities and individual ceilings, it is appropriate to apply the same percentages as those fixed for the management of A/B and C tariff quotas in Commission Regulation (EC) No 329/2005^f4 so as to ensure adequate supplies and the continuation of trade flows between the production and marketing sectors.

In view of the fact that this Regulation must apply before the start of the period for the submission of licence applications for the second quarter of 2005, provision should be made for this Regulation to enter into force immediately.

This Regulation must apply to operators established in the Community and being registered in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1892/2004.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: