Europese Commissie stelt quota bananenimport voor nieuwe EU-lidstaten (en)

Today, the European Commission presented transitional measures for banana imports into the ten new Member States to the Management Committee for Bananas. The Regulation would fix an additional quantity of bananas of 300 000 tonnes to supply the market of new Member States for the period May-December 2004. This additional quantity would be fixed on a transitional basis, and should in no way prejudge the outcome of the negotiations in the context of the Article XXIV (6) GATT in which the European Union is to engage in the coming weeks. This additional quantity would provide the new Member States with a sufficient supply of bananas. The Regulation also defines the necessary transitional measures for managing the additional quantity as of 1 May 2004 in the enlarged EU.

Background

In view of accession of ten new Member States on 1 May 2004, appropriate arrangements have to be made to ensure sufficient supply of bananas to consumers in the new Member States. To this end, the current import volumes for bananas have to be increased for an EU of 25. For the new additional quantities, the current licensing mechanisms will apply. These transitional measures are without prejudice to the decision taken by the Council to move to a tariff-only import system no later than 1 January 2006.

The EU will fully respect its obligations and commitments. It will safeguard the interests of EU producers. The preferential access for producers from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will be maintained and all WTO commitments entirely honoured.

How does the existing system work?

The existing regime provides a transition to a tariff-only system no later than 2006. During this transitional phase, bananas are imported into the European Union through import licenses distributed on the basis of past trade. The current import licence arrangements are largely managed on the basis of historical references (83 % of the quantities of the quotas go to "traditional importers"). However, to ensure that non-traditional operators can pursue trade in bananas, 17 % of the quantities are reserved for operators who do not have a suitable historic reference.

Since 1 January 2002 the following three tariff quotas apply:

Quota A 2,200,000 tonnes at a tariff of € 75/t (0 for ACP bananas)

Quota B 453,000 tonnes at a tariff of € 75/t (0 for ACP bananas)

Quota C 750,000 tonnes at a tariff of € 0/t (reserved to ACP bananas)

Quotas A and B are open to bananas from any origin, the C quota is reserved for ACP countries. Banana imports outside the quotas are subject to a customs duty of € 680/t. However, ACP countries benefit from a tariff preference of € 300/t.