THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,
Whereas:
(1)
Council Regulation (EC) No 1506/98 has been substantially amended. In the interests of clarity and rationality, that Regulation should be codified.
(2)
Under the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Economic Community and Turkey (‘the Agreement’) concessions were granted to that country in respect of certain agricultural products.
(3)
Decision No 1/98 of the EC-Turkey Association Council provides for the improvement and consolidation of trade preferences relating to the import into the Union of agricultural products originating in Turkey and establishes a series of preferential concessions for Union exports of meat and live animals to Turkey.
(4)
Turkey has since 1996 been applying a ban on the import of live animals of the bovine species (CN code 0102) and restrictions on the import of beef (CN codes 0201-0202). Those measures, being quantitative restrictions, are incompatible with the Agreement and prevent the Union from benefiting from the concessions granted to it under Decision No 1/98. Despite talks intended to achieve a negotiated solution with Turkey to the problem, the quantitative restrictions are still in place.
(5)
As a result of those measures, exports to Turkey of the products in question originating in the Union are blocked. In order to protect the Union's commercial interests, the situation should be counterbalanced by means of equivalent measures. The concessions set out in Annex I to this Regulation should therefore be suspended.
(6)
In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council,
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