PURPOSE: to open tariff quotas for imports into Bulgaria and Romania of raw cane sugar for supply to refineries in the marketing years 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 508/2007 opening tariff quotas for imports into Bulgaria and Romania of raw cane sugar for supply to refineries in the marketing years 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.

BACKGROUND: this Regulation relates to the 2006 reform of the common organisation of the markets in the sugar sector, which amongst other provisions, fixes the traditional supply need for sugar that can be refined in the Community. Full-time refiners in Bulgaria and Romania rely to a large extent on imports of raw cane sugar from traditional suppliers in certain third countries, which the 2006 sugar reform could disrupt.

CONTENT: the purpose of this Regulation, therefore, is to allow for the supply of raw cane sugar for full time refiners in Bulgaria and Romania.

Specifically, the Regulation states:

For the marketing year 2006/2007 , tariff quotas for a total of 396 288 tonnes in white sugar equivalent for the import from any third country of raw cane sugar for refining (and falling within CN code 1701 11 10) will be opened at a duty of EUR 98 per tonne. Bulgaria will be entitled to a quantity totalling 149 061 tonnes and Romania will be entitled to a quantity totalling 247 227 tonnes. For each of the marketing years 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 , tariff quotas for a total of 528 384 tonnes in white sugar equivalent for the import from any third country of raw cane sugar for refining falling within CN code 1701 11 10 will be opened at a duty of EUR 98 per tonne. Bulgaria will be entitled to a quantity totalling 198 748 tonnes and Romania will be entitled to a quantity totalling 329 636 tonnes. Refiners in Bulgaria and Romania will need to apply for import licences.

In implementing this Regulation, the Commission will be assisted by the “Management Committee for Sugar”.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 18 May 2007.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF (Greens/EFA, DE) and made one amendment to the proposal for a regulation opening tariff quotas for imports into Bulgaria and Romania of raw cane sugar for supply to refineries in the marketing years 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. (For details of the amendment, please see the document dated 21/03/2007.)

The committee adopted the report by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF (Greens/EFA, DE) approving - under the consultation procedure - the proposed regulation opening tariff quotas for imports into Bulgaria and Romania of raw cane sugar for supply to refineries in the marketing years 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. It took the view that the possibility of importing sugar at preferential duties should apply for a clearly restricted period of time and therefore adopted an amendment stipulating that, from the marketing year 2009/2010, no tariff quotas should be allocated other than in relation to the ‘Everything But Arms’ initiative and preferential market access for ACP States.

PURPOSE: to open tariff quotas for imports into Bulgaria and Romania of raw cane sugar for supply to refineries in the marketing years 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

CONTENT: the full-time refiners in Bulgaria and Romania rely to a large extent on imports of raw cane sugar from traditional suppliers in certain third countries. In order to avoid disruption of the supply of raw cane sugar for full-time refiners in Bulgaria and Romania, it is considered necessary to open tariff quotas for imports of such sugar into those Member States from third countries for a period covering those marketing years for which traditional supply needs have been distributed among Member States.

The amount of the import duty applicable to imports under the tariff quotas opened by this Regulation should be fixed at a level which ensures fair competition in the Community sugar market, but which is not prohibitive for imports into Bulgaria and Romania. Taking into account that imports under these tariff quotas could be carried out from any third country, it is therefore proposed that:

For the marketing year 2006/2007, tariff quotas for a total of 396 288 tonnes in white sugar equivalent for the import from any third country of raw cane sugar for refining falling within CN code 1701 11 10 shall be opened at a duty of EUR 98 per tonne. The quantity to be imported shall be distributed as follows: Bulgaria: 149 061 tonnes and Romania: 247 227 tonnes. For each of the marketing years 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, tariff quotas for a total of 528 384 tonnes in white sugar equivalent for the import from any third country of raw cane sugar for refining falling within CN code 1701 11 10 shall be opened at a duty of EUR 98 per tonne. The quantities to be imported shall for each marketing year be distributed as follows: Bulgaria: 198 748 tonnes and Romania: 329 636 tonnes.

Import licences issued under the tariff quotas opened by this Regulation should be reserved for approved full-time refiners in Bulgaria and Romania and licences should be valid only for imports into Bulgaria and Romania.

For further details of the financial implications of this proposal, please refer to the financial statement.

PURPOSE: to open tariff quotas for imports into Bulgaria and Romania of raw cane sugar for supply to refineries in the marketing years 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

CONTENT: the full-time refiners in Bulgaria and Romania rely to a large extent on imports of raw cane sugar from traditional suppliers in certain third countries. In order to avoid disruption of the supply of raw cane sugar for full-time refiners in Bulgaria and Romania, it is considered necessary to open tariff quotas for imports of such sugar into those Member States from third countries for a period covering those marketing years for which traditional supply needs have been distributed among Member States.

The amount of the import duty applicable to imports under the tariff quotas opened by this Regulation should be fixed at a level which ensures fair competition in the Community sugar market, but which is not prohibitive for imports into Bulgaria and Romania. Taking into account that imports under these tariff quotas could be carried out from any third country, it is therefore proposed that:

For the marketing year 2006/2007, tariff quotas for a total of 396 288 tonnes in white sugar equivalent for the import from any third country of raw cane sugar for refining falling within CN code 1701 11 10 shall be opened at a duty of EUR 98 per tonne. The quantity to be imported shall be distributed as follows: Bulgaria: 149 061 tonnes and Romania: 247 227 tonnes. For each of the marketing years 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, tariff quotas for a total of 528 384 tonnes in white sugar equivalent for the import from any third country of raw cane sugar for refining falling within CN code 1701 11 10 shall be opened at a duty of EUR 98 per tonne. The quantities to be imported shall for each marketing year be distributed as follows: Bulgaria: 198 748 tonnes and Romania: 329 636 tonnes.

Import licences issued under the tariff quotas opened by this Regulation should be reserved for approved full-time refiners in Bulgaria and Romania and licences should be valid only for imports into Bulgaria and Romania.

For further details of the financial implications of this proposal, please refer to the financial statement.