Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 of 20 February 2006 on the common organisation of the market in the sugar sector^f1, and in particular Article 40(2)(d) thereof,

Whereas:

Article 39(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 952/2006 of 29 June 2006 on the management of the internal sugar market and the quota regime^f2, and in particular Article 40(2)(d) thereof,

Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and Sweden have intervention stocks of sugar. In order to respond to market needs, it is appropriate to make these stocks available on the internal market.

To take account of the situation on the Community market, provision should be made for the Commission to fix a minimum selling price for each partial invitation to tender.

The intervention agencies of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and Sweden should communicate the tenders to the Commission. The tenderers should remain anonymous.

The second paragraph of Article 59 of Regulation (EC) No 952/2006 provides that Commission Regulation (EC) No 1262/2001 of 27 June 2001 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 as regards the buying in and sale of sugar by intervention agencies^f3 continues to apply to sugar accepted into intervention before 10 February 2006. However, for the resale of intervention sugar, this distinction is unnecessary and its implementation would create administrative difficulties for the Member States. It is therefore appropriate to exclude the application of Regulation (EC) No 1262/2001 to the resale of intervention sugar.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: