Brussels, 28/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - After the agreement reached end February at expert level (EUROPE of 10 February 2005), the Council of the EU on Monday adopted without debate a regulation setting up a system of tariff quotas (at zero duty) to enter into force in July on imports of sugar from the western Balkans into the EU. These quotas replace the free access regime enjoyed by Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro (including Kosovo) up to that date for their sugar exports to the Community market, under the association and stabilisation process between them and the EU.
The regulation lays down the following quotas: 1,000 tonnes for Albania, 12,000 for Bosnia-Herzegovina and 180,000 for Serbia and Montenegro (instead of 150,000 under the European Commission's initial proposal). It is worth noting that the Commission agreed to offer an extra 30,000 tonnes for Serbia and Montenegro in exchange for certain guarantees. This change in the import regime aims to bring in a “sustainable import regime” for sugar from the countries of the western Balkans, the Commission explains, adding that this quota regime takes particular account of the drop in prices resulting from the anticipated reform of the common market organisation (CMO) for sugar and of the possibility of some of these countries joining the EU.