Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 747/2001 of 9 April 2001 providing for the management of Community tariff quotas and of reference quantities for products eligible for preferences by virtue of agreements with certain Mediterranean countries and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1981/94 and (EC) No 934/95^f1 and in particular Article 5(1)(b) thereof,

Whereas:

In 2008 an Agreement was concluded in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the State of Israel concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures on agricultural products, processed agricultural products and fish and fishery products, the replacement of Protocols 1 and 2 and their annexes and amendments to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, which was approved by Council Decision 2009/855/EC^f2.

The Agreement provides for new tariff quotas for agricultural and processed agricultural products originating in Israel and changes to the existing tariff quotas laid down for such products in Regulation (EC) No 747/2001. In addition, it no longer provides for any tariff concessions granted within reference quantities.

To implement the provisions on the new tariff quotas, the changes to the existing tariff quotas and the ending of reference quantities, Regulation (EC) No 747/2001 should be amended accordingly.

For the purpose of calculating the tariff quotas for the first year of application, provision should be made, in accordance with the Agreement, for the volumes of the tariff quotas for which the quota period starts before the date of entry into force of the Agreement to be reduced by the proportion of that period which has elapsed before that date.

Since the Agreement enters into force on 1 January 2010, this Regulation should apply from that date.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: