Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 2003/286/EC of 8 April 2003 on the conclusion of a Protocol adjusting the trade aspects of the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Bulgaria, of the other part, to take account of the outcome of negotiations between the parties on new mutual agricultural concessions^f1, and in particular Article 3(2) thereof,

Whereas:

In accordance with Decision 2003/286/EC, the Community has undertaken to establish for each marketing year import tariff quotas at a zero rate of duty for wheat, meslin, wheat gluten and maize originating in the Republic of Bulgaria.

In the light of the experience gained in applying Commission Regulation (EC) No 958/2003^f2, certain provisions of that Regulation should be clarified and simplified.

In order to ensure that the actual quantities being requested by individual traders may be verified, it is necessary to specify that traders must submit only one import licence application per period concerned, and to provide for a penalty in the event of a failure to meet this requirement.

Regulation (EC) No 958/2003 should therefore be amended accordingly.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: