AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS between the European Community and Turkey on the adjustment of the regime for imports into the Community of tomato concentrate originating in Turkey

A. Letter from the Community

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the consultations between the Turkish authorities and the European Commission on the regime for imports into the Community of tomato concentrate originating in Turkey.

Those consultations were held in the context of the agricultural negotiations provided for in the EC-Turkey Association Council Resolution of 6 March 1995. The parties agreed that it is not possible for the new general agreement to enter into force in 1997. In order to avoid serious disturbance of the Community market in tomato concentrate and pending the entry into force of the general agreement, an agreement has been reached for the entry into force of the new regime for the products concerned to be brought forward.

Notwithstanding Decision No 1/80 of the Association Council, it has been agreed that:

(a) a tariff quota exempt from customs duty of 15 000 tonnes of tomato concentrate falling within CN codes 2002 90 31, 2002 90 39, 2002 90 91 and 2002 90 99 originating in Turkey shall be opened for the period 1 September to 31 December 1997.

However, the total annual quantity for 1997 for importation into the Community of tomato concentrate originating in Turkey and qualifying for exemption from customs duty may not exceed 30 000 tonnes. If the quantity imported free of customs duty during the first part of 1997 proves to be greater than 15 000 tonnes, the Community reserves the right to adjust the quota of 15 000 tonnes provided for accordingly;

(b) a tariff quota exempt from customs duty of 15 000 tonnes of tomato concentrate falling within CN codes 2002 90 31, 2002 90 39, 2002 90 91 and 2002 90 99 originating in Turkey shall be opened, from 1998 onwards, for the period 1 January to 30 June of each year;

(c) a tariff quota exempt from customs duty of 15 000 tonnes of tomato concentrate falling within CN codes 2002 90 31, 2002 90 39, 2002 90 91 and 2002 90 99 originating in Turkey shall be opened, from 1998 onwards, for the period 1 July to 31 December of each year;

(d) the above quantities shall refer to a dry matter content of 28/30 % by weight. Quantities imported with a different content shall be corrected by means of the coefficients listed in the Annex.

This Agreement shall replace, as regards tomato concentrate, paragraph 3 of the Exchange of Letters of 20 January 1981 between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Turkey relating to Article 3 (3) of Decision No 1/80 of the Association Council and the Exchange of Letters of 26 November 1981 concerning the implementation of paragraph 3 of the previous Exchange of Letters.

It shall enter into force on the date on which it is signed by both parties. It shall apply from 1 September 1997.

I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the contents of this letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Council of the European Union

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B. Letter from Turkey

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date which reads as follows:

'I have the honour to refer to the consultations between the Turkish authorities and the European Commission on the regime for imports into the Community of tomato concentrate originating in Turkey.

Those consultations were held in the context of the agricultural negotiations provided for in the EC-Turkey Association Council Resolution of 6 March 1995. The parties agreed that it is not possible for the new general agreement to enter into force in 1997. In order to avoid serious disturbance of the Community market in tomato concentrate and pending the entry into force of the general agreement, an agreement has been reached for the entry into force of the new regime for the products concerned to be brought forward.

Notwithstanding Decision No 1/80 of the Association Council, it has been agreed that:

(a) a tariff quota exempt from customs duty of 15 000 tonnes of tomato concentrate falling within CN codes 2002 90 31, 2002 90 39, 2002 90 91 and 2002 90 99 originating in Turkey shall be opened for the period 1 September to 31 December 1997.

However, the total annual quantity for 1997 for importation into the Community of tomato concentrate originating in Turkey and qualifying for exemption from customs duty may not exceed 30 000 tonnes. If the quantity imported free of customs duty during the first part of 1997 proves to be greater than 15 000 tonnes, the Community reserves the right to adjust the quota of 15 000 tonnes provided for accordingly;

(b) a tariff quota exempt from customs duty of 15 000 tonnes of tomato concentrate falling within CN codes 2002 90 31, 2002 90 39, 2002 90 91 and 2002 90 99 originating in Turkey shall be opened, from 1998 onwards, for the period 1 January to 30 June of each year;

(c) a tariff quota exempt from customs duty of 15 000 tonnes of tomato concentrate falling within CN codes 2002 90 31, 2002 90 39, 2002 90 91 and 2002 90 99 originating in Turkey shall be opened, from 1998 onwards, for the period 1 July to 31 December of each year;

(d) the above quantities shall refer to a dry matter content of 28-30 % by weight. Quantities imported with a different content shall be corrected by means of the coefficients listed in the Annex.

This Agreement shall replace, as regards tomato concentrate, paragraph 3 of the Exchange of Letters of 20 January 1981 between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Turkey relating to Article 3 (3) of Decision No 1/80 of the Association Council and the Exchange of Letters of 26 November 1981 concerning the implementation of paragraph 3 of the previous Exchange of Letters.

It shall enter into force on the date on which it is signed by both parties. It shall apply from 1 September 1997.

I should be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the contents of this letter.

ANNEX

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I have the honour to confirm that my Government is in agreement with the contents of your letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Government of Turkey

Hecho en Bruselas, el cuatro de agosto de mil novecientos noventa y siete.

Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den fjerde august nitten hundrede og syvoghalvfems.

Geschehen zu Brüssel am vierten August neunzehnhundertsiebenundneunzig.

¸ãéíå óôéò ÂñõîÝëëåò, óôéò ôÝóóåñéò Áõãïýóôïõ ÷ßëéá åííéáêüóéá åíåíÞíôá åðôÜ.

Done at Brussels on the fourth day of August in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven.

Fait à Bruxelles, le quatre août mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-sept.

Fatto a Bruxelles, addì quattro agosto millenovecentonovantasette.

Gedaan te Brussel, de vierde augustus negentienhonderd zevenennegentig.

Feito em Bruxelas, em quatro de Agosto de mil novecentos e noventa e sete.

Tehty Brysselissä neljäntenä päivänä elokuuta vuonna tuhatyhdeksänsataayhdeksänkymmentäseitsemän.

Som skedde i Bryssel den fjärde augusti nittonhundranittiosju.

Por la Comunidad Europea

For Det Europæiske Fællesskab

Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft

Ãéá ôçí ÅõñùðáúêÞ Êïéíüôçôá

For the European Community

Pour la Communauté européenne

Per la Comunità europea

Voor de Europese Gemeenschap

Pela Comunidade Europeia

Euroopan yhteisön puolesta

På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar

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Por el Gobierno de Turquía

På vegne af den tyrkiske regering

Für die Regierung der Türkei

Ãéá ôçí êõâÝñíçóç ôçò Ôïõñêßáò

For the Government of Turkey

Pour le gouvernement de la Turquie

Per il governo della Turchia

Voor de Regering van Turkije

Pelo Governo da Turquia

Turkin hallituksen puolesta

På den turkiska regeringens vägnar

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