PURPOSE: the conclusion of the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Bulgaria, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council and Commission Decision 2005/430/EC, Euratom.

CONTENT: The Council adopted a Decision on the conclusion of an Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and Bulgaria to take account of the accession of ten new Member States to the European Union in May 2004.

The European Parliament gave its assent to the report by Elmar BROK (PPE-ED, Germany) on the conclusion of the Additional Protocol to 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 accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

The European Parliament gave its assent to the report by Elmar BROK (PPE-ED, Germany) on the conclusion of the Additional Protocol to 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 accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

The committee adopted the report by its chairman, Elmar BROK (PPE-ED, DE), recommending that Parliament give its assent to the conclusion of the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement with Bulgaria.

PURPOSE : to conclude an additional Protocol between the EU and Bulgaria regarding the Europe Agreements to take account of the accession of the new EU Member States.

PROPOSED ACT : Council and Commission Decision.

CONTENT : in February 1995 the Europe Agreement between the EU on the one part and the Republic of Bulgaria on the other came into force. The Treaty of Accession, which allows for the accession of ten new EU Member States, entered into force in May 2004. With the accession of new Member States it has now become necessary to provide an Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement binding the EU and Bulgaria. Consultations on the Protocol have taken account of the mutual interests of both the Community and Bulgaria. The implementation of the Protocol will take place in accordance with procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission. The text of the Decision is attached in an Annex. In addition to the annex the following specifics are outlined:

- The order numbers as attributed to the tariff quotas in the Annex to the Decision may be changed by the Commission in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 4(2). Tariff quotas with an order number above 09.5100 shall be administered by the Commission in accordance with provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation 2913/92/EEC establishing the Community Customs Code.

- Quantities of goods subject to tariff quotas and released for free circulation as from 1 July 2004 under the concessions provided for in Annex A(b) of the Protocol approved under Decision 2003/286/EC shall be fully counted against the quantities provided for in the fourth column in Annex A(b) to the Additional Protocol attached to the Decision, except for quantities for which import licences were issued before 1 July 2004.

- The Commission shall be assisted by the Management Committee for Sugar as set up by Article 42 of Council Regulation 1260/2001/EC on the common organisation of the market in the sugar sector or, where appropriate, by the committee set up by the relevant provisions of the other Regulations on the common organisation of agricultural markets.

PURPOSE : to conclude an additional Protocol between the EU and Bulgaria regarding the Europe Agreements to take account of the accession of the new EU Member States.

PROPOSED ACT : Council and Commission Decision.

CONTENT : in February 1995 the Europe Agreement between the EU on the one part and the Republic of Bulgaria on the other came into force. The Treaty of Accession, which allows for the accession of ten new EU Member States, entered into force in May 2004. With the accession of new Member States it has now become necessary to provide an Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement binding the EU and Bulgaria. Consultations on the Protocol have taken account of the mutual interests of both the Community and Bulgaria. The implementation of the Protocol will take place in accordance with procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission. The text of the Decision is attached in an Annex. In addition to the annex the following specifics are outlined:

- The order numbers as attributed to the tariff quotas in the Annex to the Decision may be changed by the Commission in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 4(2). Tariff quotas with an order number above 09.5100 shall be administered by the Commission in accordance with provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation 2913/92/EEC establishing the Community Customs Code.

- Quantities of goods subject to tariff quotas and released for free circulation as from 1 July 2004 under the concessions provided for in Annex A(b) of the Protocol approved under Decision 2003/286/EC shall be fully counted against the quantities provided for in the fourth column in Annex A(b) to the Additional Protocol attached to the Decision, except for quantities for which import licences were issued before 1 July 2004.

- The Commission shall be assisted by the Management Committee for Sugar as set up by Article 42 of Council Regulation 1260/2001/EC on the common organisation of the market in the sugar sector or, where appropriate, by the committee set up by the relevant provisions of the other Regulations on the common organisation of agricultural markets.