THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas the Community and its Member States, at an extraordinary ministerial meeting held in the framework of European Political Cooperation in Brussels on 27 August 1991, confirmed their decision to establish diplomatic relations with the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Baltic republics’) and emphasized their commitment to offer support for these States' economic and political development; whereas the provisions of the Agreement between the Community and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on trade in textile products, concluded on 3 June 1991, is therefore no longer applicable to textile products originating in these three countries;

Whereas, in accordance with the Council Mandate of 23 September 1991, concerning the negotiation of an Agreement on trade and cooperation between the Community and Albania, the Community also expects to finalize an Agreement on trade in textile products with that country;

Whereas, pending the conclusion of bilateral agreements on trade in textile products with Albania and the Baltic republics, provision should be made for prior Community surveillance of imports of certain such products, including those subject to economic outward processing operations; whereas, in this case, release for free circulation of the products in question should be subject to presentation of a standardized import document; whereas this document must be issued by the authorities of the Member States within a certain time limit following a declaration or simple request of the importer; whereas this import document may be used only pending a change in the import arrangements;

Whereas the system of prior surveillance provided for by this Regulation does not affect the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1765/82 of 30 June 1982 on common rules for imports from State-trading countries nor of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3420/83 of 14 November 1983 on import arrangements for products originating in State-trading countries, not liberalized at Community level;

Whereas determination of the origin of textile products imported from these countries under these arrangements and the origin control procedures must comply with the relevant Community rules in force;

Whereas it is in the Community's interest to ensure the fullest possible exchange of information between the Member States and the Commission on the results of Community surveillance,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: