Council Regulation (EU) 2023/2880 of 19 December 2023 amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 opening and providing for the management of autonomous tariff quotas of the Union for certain agricultural and industrial products

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 31 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) In order to ensure a sufficient and uninterrupted supply of certain agricultural and industrial products which are produced in insufficient quantities in the Union and thereby avoid any disturbances on the market for those products, autonomous tariff quotas of the Union (‘quotas’) were opened by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 (1). Within those quotas, products can be imported into the Union at reduced or zero duty rates.

(2) As it is in the Union’s interest to ensure an adequate supply of a certain industrial product, and having regard to the fact that an identical, equivalent or substitute product is not produced in sufficient quantities within the Union, it is necessary to open a new quota with order number 09.2558 at zero duty rate for an appropriate quantity of that product.

(3) As is it in the Union’s interest to ensure an adequate supply of certain industrial products the volumes of quotas with order numbers 09.2828 and 09.2855 should be increased.

(4) As the Union production capacity for certain industrial products has been increased the volumes of quotas with order numbers 09.2561, 09.2575, 09.2583, 09.2682, 09.2742 and 09.2857 should be decreased.

(5) For the quota with order number 09.2562 the quota period should be extended and the quota volume should be adapted on a yearly basis, as the quota was opened for a period of 6 months only and it is still in the Union's interest to maintain it.

(6) As it is no longer in the Union's interest to maintain the quota with order number 09.2681, that quota should be closed with effect from 1 January 2024.

(7) Taking into account the amendments to be made and for the sake of clarity, the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 should be replaced.

(8) Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9) In order to avoid any interruption in the application of the quota scheme and to comply with the guidelines set out in the communication from the Commission of 13 December 2011 concerning autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas, the changes provided for in this Regulation regarding the quotas for the products concerned should apply from 1 January 2024. This Regulation should therefore enter into force as a matter of urgency,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Annex to Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2024.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 19 December 2023.

For the Council The President T. RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ

(1) Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 of 20 December 2021 opening and providing for the management of autonomous tariff quotas of the Union for certain agricultural and industrial products, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1388/2013 (OJ L 458, 22.12.2021, p. 33).