title: Council Regulation (EC) No 194/1999 of 25 January 1999 imposing definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of hardboard originating in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia and definitively collecting the provisional duties imposed

eurovoc_concepts:
Central and Eastern Europe
anti-dumping duty
building slab
import
originating product

text: L 22/16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 1. 1999 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 194/1999 of 25 January 1999 imposing definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of hardboard originating in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia and definitively collecting the provisional duties imposed THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, — Industria de Fibras de Madeira, Portugal, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries the European not members Community (1), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof, of Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commis- sion after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Provisional measures Provisional anti-dumping measures were imposed in the present proceeding on 6 August 1998 by Regulation (EC) No 1742/98 (2) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Provisional Regulation'). Undertakings were offered and accepted from the cooperating exporting producers in all the countries concerned except Russia. 2. Subsequent procedure Following the imposition of the provisional meas- importers and ures, certain exporting producers, concerned Community users of submitted comments in writing. Those parties who so requested were granted an opportunity to be heard. the product (1) (2) (3) Since the publication of the Provisional Regulation, investigations were carried out at the premises of the following companies which are users of the product concerned in the manufacture of doors: (5) — Svedex BV, Netherlands, — Swedoor, a division of Nobia Nordisk Byggin- teri(cid:148)r AB, Sweden (two production plants), — Righini SA, France, — Huet SA, France, — Theuma Deurenindustrie NV, Belgium. A non-complainant producer of eucalyptus hard- board was also visited, namely: (1) OJ L 56, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 905/98 (OJ L 128, 30. 4. 1998, p. 18). (2) OJ L 218, 6. 8. 1998, p. 16. as was the following unrelated importer of hard- board: — Firma Christian Kr(cid:148)ger GmbH & Co. KG, Germany. B. PRODUCT UNDER CONSIDERATION AND LIKE PRODUCT 1. Product under consideration (4) The product under consideration in this anti- dumping proceeding is hardboard. Hardboard is defined as fibreboard of wood or other ligneous materials, whether or not bonded with resins or and with a density other organic substances exceeding 0. 8 g/cm3, currently classifiable under CN codes ex 4411 11 00 and ex 4411 19 00. Hardboard is exclusively obtained from a ‘wet (as opposed to dry-process production process' fibreboards as described below) and normally has a density of 800 to 1050 kg/m3 and is made in thick- nesses between 1,8 to 6,0 mm. Hardboard is typically used in the manufacture of furniture, in the construction and automotive industries, for door skins and for packaging, espe- cially fruit and vegetable packaging. 2. ‘Thin' dry-process fibreboards the provisional anti- After the imposition of dumping measures, a number of importers and users continued to argue for an extension to the product scope of the proceeding. In particular, they argued that the so-called thin forms (less than 6 mm thickness) of dry-process fibreboards such as medium- and high-density fibreboard (thin MDF and HDF) and hardboard have essentially the same end uses, and therefore together form a single product. It was therefore alleged that the scope of the analysis of dumping, injury and Community interest should also include all these products. (6) On the basis of the information submitted up to the provisional stage, a preliminary assessment of the extent to which the end uses of hardboard and thin dry-process fibreboards overlap was made. 29. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 22/17 Based on the information submitted since the Provisional Regulation a definitive assessment has been made and it has become clear that, theoret- ically, such overlap is substantial and that only for some market segments are the two products not at all interchangeable. (7) However, similarity of end uses does not alone like product. The determine the question of conclusions of the provisional investigation that hardboard and thin dry-process fibreboards were not a single product were based on differences of physical and chemical characteristics of the two products. Further issues involved has allowed the following refinements of the analysis: investigation of the — it is confirmed that the thin HDF variant of dry-process fibreboards can be produced in densities comparable to or higher than the density of hardboard. With its density defined as being above 800 kg/m3, it is thin HDF which can be considered the closest to hardboard, — however, the average prices for thin HDF were higher than those for thin MDF (10 to 15 % on average) and for most hardboard of equivalent board thicknesses under 6 mm, so that over the period investigated it was mainly thin MDF (density lower than 800 kg/m3) which competed on the market with hardboard over a large part of its final uses, particularly in the furniture sector, in part of the packaging sector, in the picture-frames sector and in a part of the doors sector, fibreboards — it was also pointed out that new, zero-emission, thin dry-process fibreboards are in production, i. e. thin dry-process fibreboards containing no formaldehyde. This development allows thin dry-process to compete in the market of food packaging from which it has hitherto been excluded because of its formalde- these zero-emission hyde content. However, products are a very recent innovation, and, although it is conceivable that thin dry-process fibreboards could in the future be used in the area of food packaging, their higher price would probably preclude this at the present time. As these developments sub- sequent to the investigation period, they could not be investigated, relate to periods (8) (9) (10) rather, the two products; — the fact that thin dry-process fibreboards and hardboard share a number of end uses does not imply that the market considers them as a single product. Indeed, most operators in the sectors involved have confirmed that, in prac- tice, they do not use the different board types indiscriminately because of the different phys- ical characteristics and technical performances of they choose between them according to which best suits their technical requirements. As an example, thin MDF has an advantage when it has to be laminated, due to its more porous and matte surface. Moreover, structure is smooth and not layered like hardboard, and it does not have the tendency to split when submitted to tension. As a consequence, thin MDF is generally preferred to hardboard for the manufacture of laminated doors and furniture elements. On the other hand, hardboard gener- ally has a distinct advantage in those uses where density and/or suppleness of the panel are required, such as in lacquered and pre-painted is doors or automobile parts, or where it thought that the resins contained in thin dry- process fibreboards would have, as explained above, a possible impact on health, such as in fruit and vegetable packaging. internal its In conclusion, the definitive analysis confirms the provisional findings that hardboard and thin dry- process fibreboards, although they are theoretically interchangeable for many end uses, are not, in practice, a single product because of the differences in their physical and chemical characteristics. Nevertheless, although thin dry-process fibreboards do not form a single product with hardboard, it was claimed that the extent of the overlap in their end-uses has the analysis of the causes of any injury suffered by the Community industry. This issue is addressed below under causation. implications important for 3. Plywood and chipboard Submissions were received clarifying the arguments presented at the provisional stage of the investiga- tion that plywood and chipboard panels were also interchangeable with hardboard in many of their applications. However, for the same reasons as were outlined for thin dry-process fibreboards above, theoretical similarity of end uses does not alone product. determine question single the of L 22/18 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 1. 1999 Since the physical and chemical characteristics of hardboard are different to chipboard and plywood panels, it cannot be considered to be a single product with them. The provisional findings are therefore confirmed. From these visits, the following became clear: (a) The technical properties and uses of eucalyptus hardboard 4. Like product (11) The further investigation confirmed that there were no differences in the basic characteristics and uses of the hardboard imported into the Community from the countries concerned and the hardboard produced by the Community industry and sold on the Community market. The same is true with regard to hardboard produced and sold on the domestic markets of Brazil, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland (the last mentioned served also as an analogue country for imports from Russia). It was therefore concluded that both the hardboard produced and sold by the Community industry on the Community market and the hard- board produced and sold on the domestic markets of Brazil, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland were, within the meaning of Article 1(4) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Basic Regulation'), alike to the hardboard imported into the Community from the seven countries subject to investigation. (12) However, the Brazilian exporting producers, as well as a number of users of hardboard, in particular manufacturers of doorskins, repeated their claims made at the provisional stage that Brazilian euca- lyptus hardboard is not a like product with the product produced by the Community industry and should be excluded from the scope of the investiga- tion. (13) Among the exporting producers concerned by this investigation, only the Brazilian exporting produ- cers supply hardboard made from eucalyptus to the Community market. There are also two producers of eucalyptus hardboard in the Community, both situated in the Iberian peninsula, which did not participate in the complaint which led to the initia- tion of this proceeding. (14) These claims in respect of eucalyptus hardboard have been extensively investigated. Following the imposition of provisional measures, a number of door manufacturers across the Community were visited. non-complainant Community producer of eucalyptus hardboard in Portugal was visited. These visits were aimed at clarifying the issues concerning the inclusion of Brazilian hardboard within the scope of this proceeding. addition, one In Brazilian technical exporting submissions were received (15) Numerous from the producers, Community door manufacturers, and the complai- nant concerning the properties of eucalyptus hard- board. The exporting producers and door manufac- turers argue that eucalyptus hardboard has certain unique properties which set it apart from any other hardboard types, whether made from softwood or hardwood tree species other than eucalyptus. They claim further that no viable alternative product is produced by the Community industry. The door manufacturers in particular emphasise that the Community industry produces no eucalyptus hard- board for doorskins; indeed they point out that the only Community-based producer of eucalyptus hardboard which does make doorskin-quality boards, and is based in Portugal, is not one of the complainants. (16) It was found that hardboard made from eucalyptus wood has a number of technical characteristics which make it particularly well-suited for doorskins for high quality, finished doors. First, its especially fibres give the finished hardboard a very short regular appearance, high density and stronger tensile properties than non-eucalyptus hardboard. Second, the eucalyptus tree has hardly any bark, a factor which ensures that blemishes in the pressed board are minimal. (17) However, it should be borne in mind that the eucalyptus tree is not the only species to have short fibres. The complainants have submitted that there are 40 other species of tree growing in Western Europe which have fibres of about the same length as eucalyptus, and in some cases even shorter. (18) It should also be noted that the high quality required by the door manufacturers is not limited to the type of wood of which the hardboard is made. Some of the characteristics required, such as a constant and reliable thickness of the board they use, a high density, a good resistance to high temperatures (doors are assembled at above 100 (cid:190)C) and humidity and the absence of surface defects are not necessarily linked to eucalyptus, but can also be obtained with other woods, with a strictly controlled production process. It can also be added that, as far as the suitability for lacquering is it was found that some hardboards concerned, made with wood other than eucalyptus can be lacquered with acceptable results, depending on the technique and the quantity of painting material 29. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 22/19 (19) (20) (21) used. The advantage of eucalyptus and in general of hardwood hardboard is mainly in the smaller quan- tities of paint needed to achieve a smooth result. Furthermore, the analysis of the door manufactur- ers’ activities also confirmed that for unfinished doors, which are primed or pre-painted in white but which require finishing by the final customer, doorskins made with different types of wood are used. It was also found that some door producers used Community-produced hardboard, not made with eucalyptus wood, to make lacquered doors. It was also found that during the investigation period, eucalyptus hardboard was also used for certain applications in the furniture, roofing and automobile industries and, as far as offcuts of hard- board sheets are concerned, for fruit and vegetable containers. (b) Conclusion on eucalyptus hardboard as a like product The examination of the interested parties’ submis- sions confirms that the exceptional properties of eucalyptus hardboard do not technically rule out its use in those areas in which other hardboards are also used; indeed, the fact that it is not widely used outside the doorskin sector is simply a reflection of the relatively higher price at which this product is sold on the market, in comparison with other hard- wood and softwood hardboards. therefore, Although, the eucalyptus hardboard produced and exported by Brazilian exporting producers has certain special characteristics, these are not sufficient to lead to the conclusion that it is not a product alike to the hardboard produced by the Community industry with which it shares the same basic physical characteristics and uses within the meaning of Article 1(4) of the Basic Regulation. C. DUMPING 1. Specific issues raised with regard to the establishment of dumping for each of the countries concerned The dumping margins expressed as a percentage of the cif the Community border established for the Bulgarian exporting producers remain unchanged, i. e. : import price at — Fazerles AD: — Lessoplast AD: 7,1 % 7,2 % — non-cooperating exporting producers: 7,2 %. (c) ESTONIA (24) The Estonian exporting producer made no comments following disclosure and the publication of the Provisional Regulation. The dumping margins expressed as a percentage of the Community border the cif established for the Estonian exporting producers remain unchanged, i. e. : import price at — AS Repo Vabrikud: 6,0 % — non-cooperating exporting producers: 6,0 %. (d) LATVIA G e n e r a l (i) Product classification (25) some of the classification of Following the adoption of provisional measures, the Latvian exporting producer requested a revision the company of product codes into product control numbers. The claim was based on the grounds some company product codes, which were originally incorrectly reported by the company as referring to standard products, should be considered as cut-to- size products. that This request has been granted, as the company product codes in question did indeed not cover standard dimensions. (a) BRAZIL N o r m a l v a l u e (22) In view of the findings on causation in recitals 53 to 56, it is not considered necessary to set out any findings in respect of dumping of imports of the product concerned from Brazil. (b) BULGARIA (23) The Bulgarian exporting producers made no comments following disclosure and the publication of the Provisional Regulation. (i) Profit margin in constructed normal values The Latvian exporting producer claimed that when constructing normal values, the profit earned on sales in the ordinary course of trade should be expressed as a percentage of the total domestic turnover of the like product of the company — including the turnover of non-profitable sales — instead of the turnover of the sales in the ordinary course of trade only. The approach adopted by the Commission in the Provisional Regulation inflates, L 22/20 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 1. 1999 according to the producer, the profit margin. The Latvian producer furthermore asserted that there was a discrepancy between the methods used by the Commission to calculate, on the one hand, the profit margins by excluding non-profitable transac- tions as well as the dumping amounts by excluding negative dumping and, on the other hand, the calculation of the dumping margins expressed as a percentage of the total cif value. This claim had to be rejected. The methods used by the Commission to construct normal values and to determine which sales had been made in the ordinary course of trade are described in recitals 29 and 31 of the Provisional Regulation and are in conformity with the rules set out in Articles 2(4) and (6) of the Basic Regulation. In particular, it should be added that: first, Article 2(6) of the Basic Regulation clearly specifies that ‘the amounts (. ) for profits shall be based on actual data pertaining to production and sales in the ordinary course of trade, of the like product. '; second, the aim is to establish a profit margin that could normally be attained for sales of a given product on the domestic market; third, Article 2(4) of the Basic Regulation provides as to when loss-making sales of a given product may be treated as being in the ordinary course of trade, i. e. if the quantity sold with a loss is below 20 % of the total quantity sold of that product. In that case, only the total turnover of a product including loss-making transactions is the basis of the profit margin calculation. C o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n n o r m a l e x p o r t p r i c e v a l u e a n d (27) (i) Allowance for currency conversion The Latvian exporting producer had claimed an allowance for currency conversion based on a comparison of the amount in lats the company would have obtained using the exchange rate applicable at the time of the conclusion of the respective contracts with their customers and the amount actually obtained. This claim is based on the assumption that the date of contract is the date of sale. In the Provisional Regulation, the Commis- sion had rejected this claim on the basis that the contracts submitted did not reflect the material terms of sale and that the date of invoice more appropriately established these terms. rate variations by amending export prices. There- fore, it is confirmed that such contracts do not more appropriately establish the material terms of sale as compared to invoices, in particular with regard to the price. The claim could not, therefore, be accepted. (ii) Interest rates used for credit purposes (26) With regard to the credit cost allowance, the Latvian exporting producer claims that the deposit rate instead of the credit rate should be used on the grounds company having sufficient liquidity, its credit costs are limited to the interest earnings not perceived on its bank deposit account. that, the Following the practice consistently applied by the Community institutions, it was not found appro- priate to base the calculation of the credit cost allowance on the deposit rate on the grounds that these constitute opportunity costs as compared to actual costs. it is noted that In this context the interests customers would have to pay in case of payment delays, as stated in the contracts submitted to the Commission, suggest that the company determined such interests on the basis of credit rates rather than deposit rates. (iii) Depreciation of the machinery of the related domestic producer The Latvian exporting producer claims that the depreciation of the related domestic producer should have been calculated on the basis of a ten-year depreciation period instead of a five-year depreciation period. the machinery of Pursuant to Article 2(5) of the Basic Regulation, this claim could not be accepted as the amount used is in line with the amount declared in the audited financial statements of the year 1997 and the application of the 20 % depreciation amount per year seems therefore to reasonably reflect the depreciation costs associated with the production of the product under consideration. D u m p i n g (28) On the basis of the above, the following modified dumping margins expressed as a percentage of the cif import price at the Community border have been established for Latvian exporting producers: The exporting producer reintroduced this claim, adding that contracts could be amended. This confirms that the company could react to exchange — AS ‘Bolder(cid:131)ja': 4,7 % — non-cooperating exporting producers: 4,7 %. 29. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 22/21 (e) LITHUANIA (29) The Lithuanian exporting producer made no comments following disclosure and the publication of the Provisional Regulation. The dumping margins expressed as a percentage of the cif the Community border established for Lithuanian exporting producers remain unchanged, i. e. : import price at — JSC Grigiskes: 11,4 % — non-cooperating exporting producers: 11,4 %. As stated in recital 27 of the Provisional Regula- tion, it was established that only hardboard panels with the same characteristics and the same quality are directly comparable. This is so because the quality of the hardboard determines to a substantial degree its price and the suitability for certain uses. Therefore, and since this low quality hardboard was not exported to the Community, the request made by the company could not be accepted. (iv) Cost of production (f) POLAND N o r m a l v a l u e (i) Profit margin in constructed normal values (30) The Polish exporting producers made the same the Latvian exporting producer with claim as respect to the calculation of the profit margin when constructing normal value (see recital 25). This request has been rejected for the reasons given in recital 25. (ii) Allocation of selling, general and administra- tive costs (31) One Polish exporting producer claimed that the turnover-based allocation method which the Commission has used to allocate selling, general and administrative expenses relating to domestic sales should be revised and instead the method normally applied by the company and used in its questionnaire response should be utilised. This method was based on sales volumes in tonnes to which conversion factors (i. e. the factors used to convert tonnes into m2) relating to the thickness of a given hardboard type were applied. The request was examined and it was concluded that the allocation method used in the question- naire response is in line with the normal cost accounting practice of the company. Consequently, the allocation method for selling, general and administrative expenses has been changed in line with the request of the company. (iii) Exclusion of specific transactions (32) One Polish exporting producer questioned the methodology employed by the Commission to determine normal value by excluding transactions low quality hardboard. According to this of company, the exclusion of these transactions causes the artificial overstatement of sales profitability and consequently affects their dumping margin. to this producer’s (33) One Polish exporting producer proposed a different way of calculating the costs of cutting standard-size hardboard into cut-to-size boards as compared questionnaire response. This new cost allocation also took into account the thickness of the panels cut and not only the number of square metres cut. This claim was the cutting machines can cut simultaneously up to 100 mm of panels. Therefore, it was claimed, in one cutting operation the company was able to cut a substan- tially different number of square metres depending on the thickness of the panels cut. Consequently, the claim was accepted. justified on the grounds that C o m p a r i s o n o f n o r m a l v a l u e a n d e x p o r t p r i c e (i) Start-up costs (34) One Polish exporting producer referred to in recital 65 of the Provisional Regulation disagreed with the Commission rejection of the start-up cost adjust- ment to its worked hardboard operations. However, as no new evidence was submitted by this producer, the findings set out in recital 65 of the Provisional Regulation are confirmed. D u m p i n g (35) One Polish exporting producer has put into ques- tion the methodology used by the Commission of calculating a single dumping margin for all hard- board product instead of calculating a different dumping margin for raw hardboard and for worked hardboard. types This claim could not be accepted. It is the constant practice of the Community institutions, in accord- ance with the provisions of Articles 1 and 2 of the Basic Regulation, to establish a dumping margin for the product under consideration as a whole and not per category, type or model of the product concerned. The reason is that for a product like L 22/22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 1. 1999 hardboard, which exists in a wide variety of types, the implementation of anti-dumping measures, in particular anti-dumping duties, on a per type basis is from a customs point of view impractical. D. INJURY 1. Consumption (38) The provisional findings are confirmed. (36) On the basis of the above, the following modified dumping margins expressed as a percentage of the cif import price at the Community border duty unpaid have been established for Polish exporting producers: (39) — Ekopłyta SA: 20,6 % — Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych SA w Krosnie Odrzanskim: — Czarna Woda Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych: — Alpex Karlino SA: — Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych SA, Przemysl: — Koniecpolskie Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych SA: 11,0 % 34,8 % 22,4 % 9,1 % 11,4 % — non-cooperating exporting producers: 34,8 %. the Provisional Regulation, With regard to Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, it was found that the overall level of cooperation was high. As mentioned in recital 35 of it was therefore considered appropriate to set the dumping margin for the non-cooperating companies in the countries with high cooperation at the level of the highest or the sole dumping margin established for a co- operating company in the country in question. (g) RUSSIA (37) No Russian exporting any comments following disclosure and the publication of the Provisional Regulation. producer made Normal value for Russia was calculated on the basis of the weighted average of the normal values estab- lished for cooperating Polish companies. The dumping margin for Russia has been recalcu- lated taking into account in the normal values established for the Polish companies as described in recitals 30 to 33. the changes 2. Dumped imports (a) Cumulation The Brazilian exporting producers reiterated the claim that imports into the Community from Brazil should not be cumulated with imports from the other countries concerned in the proceeding. They argued that hardboard produced in Brazil and exported to the Community does not compete with imports countries concerned in that: originating in the other than the level — the level of its export prices is higher, on found for the other average, countries concerned, as shown by the lower provisional undercutting margin found at the provisional stage, — the volume and market imports showed, during the period under examination, a divergent trend from that of the other countries concerned, share of — it is sold to different customers, mainly produ- cers of lacquered doors. (40) An examination of these claims resulted in the following findings. Almost all the imports from Brazil were destined for particular end uses especially the manufacture of lacquered doors, a sector where high prices are obtained and to which the other countries concerned do not sell. In fact, the users of Brazilian hardboard considered imports from these other sources as being wholly unsuitable for their needs, on both technical and economic grounds. The above findings on end use are supported by Brazilian price levels, which are substantially above those of other imports from the other countries concerned. Furthermore, Brazilian import volumes are falling while others are rising. (41) In the light of the above, it is not unreasonable in this case to conclude that a cumulative assessment of the imports from Brazil with the effects of imports from other sources under investigation would be inappropriate. The effects of imports from Brazil were therefore examined separately. (b) Volume and price development of the dumped imports (42) The provisional findings are confirmed. On this basis, a new single dumping margin expressed as a percentage of the cif import price at the Community border, duty unpaid, of 30,6 % has been established for the Russian exporting produ- cers. However, in the light of the decision to analyse the effects of imports from Brazil separately from the effects of imports from the other countries, the analysis of import volumes and price trends is as follows: 29. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 22/23 Imports from Brazil 1993 1994 1995 1996 Investigation period Quantity (t) Indexed 62 193 61 605 69 783 58 514 54 890 100 99 112 94 88 Value (thousand ecus) 18 117 17 724 20 767 16 772 15 715 Indexed Market share in % Indexed Price per tonne Indexed 100 6,3 100 291 100 98 5,4 86 288 99 115 6,0 95 298 102 93 5,2 82 287 98 87 4,6 73 286 98 (43) Import volumes and market share show a significant decrease between 1995 and the investigation period, while prices remained relatively stable throughout the period examined. Imports from other countries concerned 1993 1994 1995 1996 Investigation period Quantity (t) Indexed 171 890 192 165 253 041 209 727 222 103 100 112 147 122 129 Value (thousand ecus) 28 707 33 919 49 103 43 461 49 112 Indexed Market share in % Indexed Price per tonne Indexed 100 17,4 100 167 100 118 16,9 97 177 106 171 21,7 125 194 116 151 18,5 107 207 124 171 18,7 108 221 132 Import volumes and market shares substantially increased between 1993 and 1995, fell back in 1996, and increased again in the investigation period. Imports, both in absolute value and in terms of market share were higher in the investiga- tion period than at the beginning of the period examined. Although prices rose significantly over the period considered for the analysis of injury, imports from all these countries were still substantially undercut- ting the Community industry’s prices in the inves- tigation period. (c) Price comparison (44) Following the disclosure of the provisional find- ings, comments were made by the Brazilian exporting producers relating to the methodology used for the calculation of price undercutting. that the Brazilian the price differential It was pointed out between and export Community industry’s prices was mainly due to a small part of the transactions during the investiga- tion period, accounting for less than 1 % of the Community production. prices for the purpose of One of the Brazilian exporting producers requested that the comparison, where applicable, the price paid by the first independent customer in the Community to its related importer be used, as such a price was at the same level of the Community industry. trade as prices of L 22/24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 1. 1999 (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) the margins it was requested that Furthermore, found be expressed as a percentage of the total value of in the investigation period, including those omitted from the comparison where no matching models had been sold by the Community producers. imports The latter request was not accepted. It is standard practice of the Community institutions to use only the cif value of the imports during the investigation period for which an actual price-undercutting analysis has been performed and, consequently, for which matching Community-made product types existed when determining the margins found. control product the both exporting producers numbers Furthermore, provided and by Community producers were carefully examined and revised where necessary to ensure a fair comparison. The comparison was then made at the same level of trade between the ex works prices of the Community producers and either cif export prices, Community frontier duty paid, when the sale was made directly by the exporting producers to an independent customer, or the ex warehouse resale prices of the related importer to the first independent customer. calculated by The undercutting margin was weighting the type-by-type average undercutting the dumped imports rates by the quantities of times the matching Community-produced products. average prices the of The same criteria were applied to the price comparisons for the other countries concerned. The export transactions used for the comparison represented at least 74 % of total exports for each country concerned. The revised calculations confirmed the existence of price undercutting for all countries except Brazil, for which no price undercutting was found. The new levels of price undercutting are shown in the table below: Summary of the undercutting margins Country Weighted average undercutting on a direct product type-to-type comparison Brazil Bulgaria Estonia Latvia Lithuania — 44 % 65 % 48 % 45 % Country Weighted average undercutting on a direct product type-to-type comparison Poland Russia 53 % 65 % 3. Situation of the Community industry (50) The provisional findings are confirmed. 4. Conclusion on injury (51) The Polish and Latvian exporting producers ques- tioned the provisional conclusions on injury on the grounds that the developments of some injury factors, such as production, market share and sales turnover of the Community industry were not suffi- ciently negative to show the existence of material injury. These contentions were examined, but could not be accepted. The overall analysis at the Community level of all indicators relating to the situation of the Community industry, in particular in the light of the substantial deterioration of its sales prices and of its increasing financial losses, confirms the ex- istence of injury. (52) Therefore the provisional findings on injury are confirmed. E. CAUSATION OF INJURY 1. Effect of the dumped imports from Brazil (53) The Brazilian exporting producers claimed that imports originating in Brazil could not have caused injury for the following reasons: — the quantities imported from Brazil decreased by 20 % between 1995 and the investigation period, — the Brazilian product does not compete with Community production since it sold to specialised users, namely manufacturers of lacquered doors, table mats and the automotive industry which need Brazilian eucalyptus hard- board for their particular quality requirements, and cannot replace it, in spite of its higher prices, with other hardboard types, is — Brazilian exports the do Community industry’s sales, particularly in the abovementioned specialised sectors. undercut not 29. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 22/25 (54) As to the first claim, the decrease in the quantities imported does not preclude that injury has been caused in the investigation period by those imports; indeed, the imports were still substantial and well above the de minimis limit as provided in Article 5(7) of the Basic Regulation. (57) (55) As to the other claims, it was found that: — around 68 % of the imports from Brazil during the investigation period were destined for in the Community, of lacquered production, doors. The Community lacquered door industry has stringent quality requirements for which Brazilian eucalyptus hardboard is particularly well-suited. However, as pointed out at recital 18, the high quality required by the door manu- facturers is not strictly linked to the species of wood used, in this case eucalyptus. Brazilian hardboard is well-suited to lacquered door manufacture, not only because it is made with eucalyptus wood, but also because the Brazilian producers carry out very severe quality controls on their exports to the Community, lacquered doors; — in the investigation period only very small quantities of hardboard produced by the Community industry were used for the manu- facture of the demand was almost completely satisfied by eucalyptus hard- board either imported from Brazil or supplied by the Portuguese non-complainant producer. The door manufacturers explained their choice on the grounds of the high quality guaranteed by those suppliers, — the above argument on the special end uses is supported by the fact that there is no undercut- ting by Brazilian exports destined for the manufacture of door skins; in fact their prices are significantly above those of the Community industry, — the evidence, therefore, does not support the Community producers’ claim that market prices were depressed by Brazilian exports, and that it is price depression which prevents them from producing doorskins of a quality equal to that of the Brazilian product and suitable for the production of lacquered doors, — as to the imports from Brazil not sold to the lacquered did not segment, undercut, on average, the prices of Community production. doors they (56) to the foregoing leads The conclusion that Brazilian exports were not a cause of material injury to the Community industry, and that, as a consequence, the proceeding with respect to Brazil should be terminated without measures. 2. Effect of the dumped imports from the other countries subject to investigation The volume of imports from the other countries subject to investigation increased by 29 % between 1993 and the investigation period. Although their prices increased, on average, by 32 % over the same period, they still undercut substantially the prices of the Community industry in the investiga- tion period. As a result of this undercutting, which the Community ranged from 44 % to 67 %, industry experienced a 16 % fall in its selling prices and a serious deterioration of its financial situation. The provisional findings that the dumped imports from Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia the caused material Community industry are therefore confirmed. injury to 3. Effect of imports from other third coun- tries (58) Although certain exporting producers in the coun- tries concerned reiterated claims that injury had been caused by the increase of imports from other third countries, no new information was made available in this respect which could alter the provisional findings. The provisional findings are therefore confirmed. 4. Competition from non-complainant Community producers Some of the exporting producers concerned drew attention to the fact that, although not undercut- ting the Community industry’s prices in the inves- tigation period, non-complainant Community producers had been undercutting, on average, the Community industry’s prices from 1993 to 1995, and that this may have been, in those years, a cause of injury. It should be noted that, although lower than those the Community industry, non-complainant of producers’ prices were substantially higher than the average prices of from the countries imports concerned with the exception of Brazil: the average price of these imports was ECU 167 per tonne in 1993, while the average unit price for non-com- plainant producers was ECU 1,02 per m2, cor- responding to more than ECU 300 per tonne. is In the light of considered unlikely that the pricing of non- complainant producers was a source of injury to the these price relationships, it (59) (60) (61) L 22/26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 1. 1999 Community industry; in any event, such pricing effect was considered insufficient to break the causal link between the dumped imports from the six countries and the injury suffered. 5. Effect of dry-process fibreboards (62) After the imposition of provisional measures, various exporting producers again argued that the injury suffered by the Community industry was not caused by the dumped imports, but by the competition from the thin dry-process fibreboards. (63) (64) The investigation has shown that thin dry-process fibreboard could be used in most areas where hard- board is employed. Nevertheless, despite the strong in growth in the dry-process fibreboard market recent years, as shown by the growth in consump- tion for hardboard, this has not occurred at the expense of the hardboard sector. the size of Various interested parties have submitted estimates of the thin dry-process fibreboards sector. On the basis of statistics provided by the European MDF industry, the volume of production of thin dry-process fibreboards is estimated at between 500 000 and 600 000 m3 in 1997, with an increase of around 50 % between 1993 and 1997. Separate statistics on imports of thin dry-process fibreboards are not available, but imports of dry- process fibreboards of all thicknesses were reported to be minor until 1997. (65) However, at the provisional stage it was shown that, since consumption of hardboard increased by 20 % between 1993 and the investigation period (it should be recalled that consumption was around 1,2 million tonnes in the investigation period, despite the rise of the thin dry-process fibreboards sector), it was unlikely that the increase in the demand of thin dry-process fibreboards was a major cause of injury. The injury to the Community industry did not consist of a loss in sales volumes, which might indicate that a substitution had occurred. Injury was mainly shown by financial losses, due to a strong downward pressure on prices exerted by the dumped imports. (66) Indeed, the data available show that the average price of thin dry-process fibreboards was above that of Community-produced hardboard of equivalent thickness for all of the period 1993 to 1996. Only during the investigation period is there some in- dication that one type of thin dry-process fibre- board, namely thin MDF, may have reached the price level of Community-produced hardboard in parts of the Community. So even in this scenario, hardboard imported from the countries concerned during the investigation period was sold at signi- ficantly lower prices as outlined in recital 49. (67) Given the interchangeability between all types of wood-based products, thin dry-process fibreboards have established a presence on all markets for the hardboard including wood-based panels, market. However, increase in the the general demand for wood panels, and of fibreboards in particular, has allowed the demand for hardboard to grow in spite of the presence of the competing products. (68) No new information has been made available which changes the provisional finding that, despite the growth in demand for thin dry-process fibre- boards, the dumped imports of hardboard from the countries subject to investigation, with the excep- tion of Brazil, in isolation caused material injury to the Community industry, in terms of price depres- sion and financial losses. 6. Conclusion on causation (69) In the light of the foregoing, the provisional find- ings on causation are confirmed, with the excep- tion of those relating to imports from Brazil. F. COMMUNITY INTEREST 1. The definitive investigation (70) Following the imposition of provisional measures, the analysis of the impact of anti-dumping meas- ures on the various sectors involved in the investi- gation continued. Users of hardboard were visited, as indicated in recital 3, as well as a non-com- plainant Community producer of eucalyptus hard- board. 2. Impact on the Community industry (71) Subsequent to the imposition of provisional meas- ures, several arguments were presented on the likely impact of any definitive measures on the Community industry. arguments These between hardboard and thin dry-process boards, as follows. concerned the relationship fibre- 29. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 22/27 (a) Arguments presented by interested parties (72) It was claimed by certain interested parties that the Community industry could not benefit from any anti-dumping measures as a result of the substitut- ability between thin dry-process fibreboards and hardboard. (75) As explained in recitals 5 to 9, hardboard and dry- process fibreboards are theoretically interchange- able in many end uses, but their different physical characteristics imply that each has its specific advantages and disadvantages for any particular end use. price intention the of hardboard In support of this view, it was alleged that the price level of thin dry-process fibreboards has reached the level of hardboard of equivalent thickness. According to these claims, the imposition of anti- of dumping measures, with increasing in the the Community, would have the effect of raising its price above that of competing thin dry-process fibreboards. Where the two products are inter- changeable, the effect of the anti-dumping meas- ures would be that customers will choose to use thin dry-process fibreboards instead of hardboard. In other words, the anti-dumping measures would merely serve to reduce the consumption of hard- board by encouraging a switch to the consumption of thin dry-process fibreboards. (73) It was also claimed that thin dry-process fibre- boards are a product in rising demand, with an increasing investment in production capacity and with the potential to replace hardboard in most end uses if a change in relative prices occurs. (b) The size of the thin dry-process fibreboards sector (74) As mentioned in recital 64, production of thin dry-process fibreboards was between 500 000 and 600 000 m3 in 1997, with a growth of around 50 % between 1993 and 1997. However, the plants specialised in the production of these thin boards (that is, those equipped with the so-called calander press) are currently operating at near-full capacity, and most of the new investments in the sector of dry-process fibreboards relate to plants which are best employed in the production of ‘middle' thick- nesses, that is, between 6 and 30 mm, which are outside the scope of this investigation. In the short run, therefore, an increase in output of thin dry-process fibreboards is unlikely. (c) The competition between hardboard and thin dry-process fibreboards (76) (77) (78) The exporting producers claimed that if there is a sufficient change in the relative prices of the two competing products, the extra costs incurred by any technical problems associated with switching to the use of thin dry-process fibreboards can be over- come if the price advantage in comparison with hardboard becomes large enough. The Community industry claimed, however, that the substitution of hardboard with dry-process fibreboards has already taken place in those end uses where they have a technical advantage, and that at present the competitive situation on the market has found an equilibrium, which is not going to be substantially altered by the proposed anti-dumping measures. Since consumption of hardboard continued to rise by 20 % over the period examined, the data suggest that hardboard has been able to compete effectively with thin dry- lending weight to the argu- process fibreboards, ments submitted by the Community industry. Continual technical progress in the manufacture of thin dry-process fibreboards, however, makes it difficult to assess the degree to which thin dry- process fibreboards might be used in fields hitherto dominated by hardboard in the future. the period examined, but as Thin dry-process fibreboards have been priced above hardboard of equivalent thickness for most of technological progress has brought about cost reductions, their the prices have declined steadily throughout period, levels of the Community-produced hardboard of equivalent thickness by 1997. reaching approximately It is unclear whether this trend decrease in the price of thin dry-process fibreboards, as technolo- gical progress leads to continued cost-reductions, is set to continue into the near future. The com- plainant states that further substantial reductions in the prices of thin dry-process fibreboards in the Community are not to be expected. The product is, it is claimed, now beyond the phase of rapid growth experienced in the last few years, which led are costs, to declining unit and the mills L 22/28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 1. 1999 approaching full capacity utilisation, with a cost structure which is similar to that of hardboard. Therefore, the price of thin dry-process fibreboards is expected to remain, if definitive anti-dumping measures are imposed, on the same level as the price of Community-produced hardboard. (79) On the other hand, the continuous-line and calander-press production processes which are used to manufacture thin dry-process fibreboards are said, by the dry-processed fibreboard industry, to be more efficient than the multi-daylight presses used in the production of hardboard. In particular, the levels of waste and offcuts from these MDF produc- tion processes are allegedly far lower than with multi-daylight presses, whilst the speed of manu- facture is greater. Thus, it is claimed that the prices of Community-produced thin dry-process fibre- boards can continue their declining trend. The same prediction is made by some of the interested parties concerning the price trend of imports of from outside the fibreboards thin dry-process Community. These developments have implications for the use of hardboard in those sectors where its end uses overlap with those of dry-process fibreboards, such as in the furniture industry. If prices of dry-process fibreboards continue to decline after the imposition of definitive anti-dumping measures, it is possible that a switch in consumption away from hardboard in favour of thin dry-process fibreboards could follow in those market segments where dry-process fibreboards are interchangeable with hardboard. (d) Conclusion on the impact of measures on the Community industry (80) In view of the above analysis, it was found that the measures proposed will most likely have a benefi- cial impact on the situation of the Community industry. In case anti-dumping measures are not imposed, the dumped imports will continue under- cutting substantially the Community industry’s prices. Given the financial difficulties highlighted by the injury analysis, the continuation of the busi- ness activity of the Community industry would be seriously threatened and a large part of Community production of hardboard, which guarantees at present the coverage of a wide range of customers’ demands, would be put at risk, forcing users to choose among less than optimal alternatives, such as the dumped imports and other wood panel prod- ucts. It should also be borne in mind that, although it is possible that some of the benefits of anti-dumping measures may accrue to industries other than the hardboard industry, it is highly unlikely that the Community industry would have sought protection against unfair trade had it not expected benefits from measures. The effectiveness of the measures, however, may be reduced depending on the future price relationship between hardboard and the dry-process fibreboards, and a review under Article 11(3) of the Basic Regu- lation may be justified should developments in this context warrant such a review. 3. Impact on upstream industries (81) As no further representations were received, the provisional findings are confirmed. 4. Impact on importers (82) In the absence of further representations, the provi- sional findings are confirmed. 5. Impact on users (83) All the users cooperating during the investigation were manufacturers of doors using only hardboard imported from Brazil. It was found that imports from Brazil have not caused injury to the Community industry and that no measures should be adopted in respect of that country. The impact on other users is expected to be minor, given the rates of duty proposed and the small share of hardboard in the cost of production of most of such users. 6. Conclusion on Community interest (84) In the light of the foregoing, it is concluded that there is no reason to consider that the imposition of definitive anti-dumping measures on imports of hardboard originating in the countries for whom definitive measures are to be adopted would be against the overall interest of the Community. G. MEASURES PROPOSED 1. Termination of the proceeding in respect of Brazil (85) Based on the conclusions of the definitive investi- gation, the proceeding concerning imports origin- terminated by Commission ating in Brazil is 29. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 22/29 anti-dumping duty Decision 1999/71/EC (1) without the imposition of measures. The amounts secured by way of a provi- sional therefore be released. The undertakings provisionally accepted from the two exporting producers in Brazil will automatically lapse in accordance with Article 8(6) of the Basic Regulation. shall 2. Definitive measures (a) Injury elimination level (86) The injury elimination level was calculated using the same methodology as described in the Provi- sional Regulation at recital 113 with a level of trade adjustment to reflect sales made via traders. (87) An injury margin was established for each of the exporting producers concerned as a result of these comparisons and this margin was expressed as a percentage of the cif value of their exports to the Community for product types for which there were Community-made matches. (b) Form and level of the definitive measures (88) Based on the above conclusions on dumping, injury, causal link and Community interest, it was considered what form and level of anti-dumping measures would have to be taken in order to remove the trade-distorting effects of injurious dumping and to restore effective competitive conditions on the Community market. Definitive measures should take the form of ad valorem duties, which are deemed appropriate to remove the injury caused by the dumped imports. In accordance with Article 9(4) of the Basic Regula- tion, as the injury margin was lower than the dumping margin found for one of the cooperating Polish exporting producers, the definitive anti- dumping duty for that company is set at the level of the former. For all other exporting producers, the injury margins are higher than the cor- responding dumping margins and measures are Country Company Bulgaria Fazerles AD All other companies Estonia Latvia All companies All companies Lithuania All companies (1) See page 71 of this Official Journal. therefore based on the latter margins. The same applies for the residual duties. (c) Undertakings (89) It will be recalled from recital 115 et seq. of the Provisional Regulation that undertakings had been offered by the cooperating exporting producers in Brazil, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, and provisionally accepted by the Commis- sion. These undertakings, with the exception of those the offered by the Brazilian companies, reflect definitive findings of the investigation with respect to the minimum prices provided therein and have been by Commission accepted Decision 1999/71/EC. definitively 3. Collection of the provisional duties (90) In the light of the seriousness of the injury suffered by the Community industry, it is considered neces- sary that the amounts secured by way of the provi- sional anti-dumping duty under the Provisional Regulation should be definitively collected to the extent of the amount of the definitive duties levied, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. A definitive anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of hardboard, defined as wet-processed fibre- board of wood or other ligneous materials, whether or not bonded with resins or other organic substances and with a falling under CN codes density exceeding 0,8 g/cm3, (TARIC codes: ex 4411 11 00 4411 11 00 * 10 in originating Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia. ex 4411 19 00 4411 19 00 * 10) and and The rate of the definitive anti-dumping duty applic- 2. able to the net free-at-Community frontier price to the products manufactured by the companies listed below shall be as follows: Rate of duty (%) TARIC additional code 7,1 7,2 6,0 4,7 11,4 8 461 8 900 — — — L 22/30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 1. 1999 Country Company Poland Alpex-Karlino SA Ekopłyta SA Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych SA, Przemysl Koniecpolskie Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych SA, Prze- mysl Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych SA w Krosnie Odrzan- skim All other companies Russia All companies Rate of duty (%) TARIC additional code 22,4 7,0 9,1 11,4 11,0 34,8 30,6 8 479 8 480 8 481 8 494 8 495 8 900 — Article 2 1. Notwithstanding Article 1, the definitive duty shall not apply to imports of hardboard produced and directly exported and invoiced to an importing company in the Community by the companies listed in paragraph 3, provided that the conditions of paragraph 2 are met. 2. When the declaration for release for free circulation is presented, exemption from the duty shall be conditional upon presentation to the competent Member State’s customs services of a valid undertaking invoice issued by one of the companies listed in paragraph 3. The undertaking invoice, the essential elements of which are listed in the Annex, shall conform to the requirements for such invoices set out in the undertaking accepted by Commission Decision 1999/71/EC. Imports accompanied by an undertaking invoice shall be declared under the following 3. TARIC additional codes: Country Company TARIC additional code Bulgaria Estonia Latvia Lithuania Poland Fazerles AD Lessoplast AD AS Repo Vabrikud AS ‘Bolder(cid:131)ja' JSC Grigiskes Alpex-Karlino SA Czarna Woda Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych Ekopłyta SA Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych SA, Przemysl Koniecpolskie Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych SA Zakłady Płyt Pils´niowych SA w Krosnie Odrzanskim Article 3 8 496 8 497 8 498 8 499 8 510 8 511 8 600 8 513 8 545 8 546 8 547 1. The amount provisionally secured by the Provisional Regulation with respect to imports originating in the countries mentioned in Article 1 shall be definitively collected to the extent of the amount of the definitive duties levied. The amounts provisionally secured by the Provisional Regulation with respect to 2. imports originating in Brazil shall be released. 29. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 22/31 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Article 4 This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 25 January 1999. For the Council The President J. FISCHER L 22/32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 1. 1999 ANNEX Elements to be indicated in the undertaking invoice referred to in Article 2(2) 1. The product reporting code (as established in the undertaking offered by the producing exporter in question). 2. The exact description of the goods, including: — the company product code (CPC); whether the hardboard is unworked or worked; the thickness and the precise measures of the panel, indicating in brackets whether it has standard measures (STA) or cut-to-size ones (CTS), — CN code, — the TARIC additional code under which the goods on the invoice may be customs cleared at Community borders (as specified in the Regulation), — quantity (to be given in m2). 3. The description of the terms of the sale, including: — price per square metre (1), — the applicable payment terms, — the applicable delivery terms, — total discounts and rebates. 4. Name of the importer to which the invoice is issued directly by the Company. 5. The name of the official of the Company that has issued the undertaking invoice and the following signed declaration: ‘I, the undersigned, certify that the sale for direct export to the European Community of the goods covered by this invoice is being made within the scope and under the terms of the undertaking offered by the Company, and accepted by the European Commission through Decision 1999/71/EC (2). I declare that the information provided in this invoice is complete and correct. ' (1) For undertaking invoices issued by the Latvian exporting producer AS ‘Bolder(cid:131)ja', in the case of sales via sales agents established in the Community, the price per m2 may appear on an additional invoice issued by the agent instead of on the undertaking invoice issued by AS ‘Bolder(cid:131)ja'. In that event, the undertaking invoice should also mention the name of the agent. (2) See page 71 of this Official Journal


title: POSIÇÃO COMUM (CE) N.o 15/1999 adoptada pelo Conselho em 25 de Janeiro de 1999 tendo em vista a adopção do Regulamento (CE) n.o .../1999 do Conselho, de ..., que estabelece os requisitos para a execução das acções de cooperação para o desenvolvimento que contribuem para o objectivo geral de desenvolvimento e consolidação da democracia e do Estado de direito, bem como para o objectivo do respeito dos direitos do Homem e das liberdades fundamentais

eurovoc_concepts:
cooperation policy
democracy
fundamental rights
human rights
international cooperation
rule of law

formats: html pdf print

text: 1. 3. 1999 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias C 58/17 POSIC¸ A˜ O COMUM (CE) N. (cid:30) 15/1999 adoptada pelo Conselho em 25 de Janeiro de 1999 tendo em vista a adopc¸a˜ o do Regulamento (CE) n. (cid:30) …/1999 do Conselho, de …, que estabelece os requisitos para a execuc¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es de cooperac¸a˜ o para o desenvolvimento que contribuem para o objectivo geral de desenvolvimento e consolidac¸a˜ o da democracia e do Estado de direito, bem como para o objectivo do respeito dos direitos do Homem e das liberdades fundamentais (1999/C 58/02) O CONSELHO DA UNIA˜ O EUROPEIA, Tendo em conta o Tratado que institui a Comunidade Europeia e, nomeadamente, o seu artigo 130. (cid:30)W, Tendo em conta a proposta da Comissa˜ o (1) Deliberando nos termos do artigo 189. (cid:30)C do Tra- tado (2) (1) Considerando que e´ conveniente estabelecer as regras de execuc¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es de cooperac¸a˜ o para o desenvolvimento que contribuem para o objectivo geral de desenvolvimento e consolida- c¸a˜ o da democracia e do Estado de direito, bem como para o objectivo do respeito dos direitos do Homem e das liberdades fundamentais; (2) Considerando que, em simultaˆ neo com o pre- sente regulamento, o Conselho adoptou o Regu- lamento (CE) n. (cid:30) …/1999, de …, que estabelece as regras de execuc¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es da Comuni- dade, diversas das acc¸o˜ es de cooperac¸a˜ o para o desenvolvimento, que, no aˆ mbito da pol(cid:237)tica comunita´ ria de cooperac¸a˜ o, contribuem para o objectivo geral de desenvolvimento e consolida- c¸a˜ o da democracia e do Estado de direito, bem como para o objectivo do respeito dos direitos do Homem e das liberdades fundamentais em pa(cid:237)ses terceiros (3); (3) Considerando que a pol(cid:237)tica da Comunidade no aˆ mbito da cooperac¸a˜ o para o desenvolvimento contribui para o objectivo geral de desenvolvi- mento e consolidac¸a˜ o da democracia e do Estado de direito, bem como para o objectivo do res- peito dos direitos do Homem e das liberdades fundamentais; JO C 282 de 18. 9. 1997, p. 14. (1) (2) Parecer do Parlamento Europeu de … (ainda na˜ o publi- cado no Jornal Oficial, posic¸a˜ o comum do Conselho de 25 de Janeiro de 1999 e decisa˜ o do Parlamento Europeu … (ainda na˜ o publicada no Jornal Oficial). JO L … (3) fundamentais (4) Considerando que o n. (cid:30) 2 do artigo F do Tratado da Unia˜ o Europeia dispo˜ e que a Unia˜ o Europeia respeitara´ os direitos tal como garantidos pela Convenc¸a˜ o Europeia de Salva- guarda dos Direitos do Homem e das Liberdades Fundamentais, assinada em Roma em 4 de Novembro de 1950, e tal como resultam das tra- dic¸o˜ es constitucionais comuns aos Estados-Mem- bros, enquanto princ(cid:237)pios gerais do direito comu- nita´ rio; (5) Considerando que a acc¸a˜ o da Comunidade em mate´ria de promoc¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem e dos princ(cid:237)pios democra´ ticos se inscreve no res- peito dos princ(cid:237)pios da universalidade e da indi- visibilidade dos direitos do Homem, que cons- tituem a pedra angular do sistema internacional de protecc¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem; (6) Considerando que a acc¸a˜ o da Comunidade em mate´ria de promoc¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem e dos princ(cid:237)pios democra´ ticos se inspira nos princ(cid:237)- pios gerais consagrados pela Declarac¸a˜ o Univer- sal dos Direitos do Homem, pelo Pacto Interna- cional sobre os Direitos Civis e Pol(cid:237)ticos e pelo Pacto Internacional sobre os Direitos Econ(cid:243)mi- cos, Sociais e Culturais; (7) Considerando que a Comunidade reconhece a interdependeˆncia do Homem; que os progressos alcanc¸ados no desen- volvimento econ(cid:243)mico e social e na realizac¸a˜ o pra´ tica dos direitos civis e pol(cid:237)ticos se devem apoiar mutuamente; direitos todos de os (8) Considerando que se deve considerar que o res- peito do direito humanita´ rio internacional e´ parte integrante dos direitos do Homem na acep- c¸a˜ o do presente regulamento; recordando igual- mente a Convenc¸a˜ o de Genebra de 1949 e o seu protocolo adicional de 1977, a Convenc¸a˜ o de Genebra de 1951, relativa ao estatuto dos refu- giados, e a Convenc¸a˜ o de 1948, relativa a` pre- venc¸a˜ o e a` repressa˜ o do crime de genoc(cid:237)dio, bem como outras normas de direito internacional con- vencional ou consuetudina´ rio; C 58/18 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias 1. 3. 1999 (9) Considerando que a Resoluc¸a˜ o sobre os Direitos do Homem, a Democracia e o Desenvolvimento, adoptada em 28 de Novembro de 1991 pelo Conselho e pelos Estados-Membros reunidos no Conselho, define orientac¸o˜ es, procedimentos e linhas de acc¸a˜ o concretas destinadas a promover, em paralelo com os direitos econ(cid:243)micos e sociais, as liberdades c(cid:237)vicas e pol(cid:237)ticas, atrave´s de um regime pol(cid:237)tico representativo baseado no respeito dos direitos do Homem; (10) Considerando que a acc¸a˜ o da Comunidade em mate´ria de promoc¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem e dos princ(cid:237)pios democra´ ticos decorre de uma abordagem positiva e construtiva nos termos da qual se consideram os direitos do Homem e os princ(cid:237)pios democra´ ticos como uma questa˜ o de interesse comum para a Comunidade e os seus parceiros, bem como um elemento do dia´ logo que podera´ conduzir a iniciativas de promoc¸a˜ o do respeito efectivo desses direitos e princ(cid:237)pios; (11) Considerando que essa abordagem positiva se devera´ traduzir na execuc¸a˜ o de acc¸o˜ es de apoio aos processos de democratizac¸a˜ o, de reforc¸o do Estado de direito e de desenvolvimento de uma sociedade civil pluralista e democra´ tica, bem como na aplicac¸a˜ o de medidas de confianc¸a des- tinadas nomeadamente a prevenir os conflitos, apoiar os esforc¸os de paz e lutar contra a impu- nidade; (12) Considerando que os instrumentos financeiros utilizados para apoiar as acc¸o˜ es positivas nestes dom(cid:237)nios em favor de cada pa(cid:237)s devera˜ o ser utili- zados em sintonia com os programas geogra´ ficos e integrados nos outros instrumentos de desen- volvimento, a fim de aumentar ao ma´ ximo o seu impacto e a sua efica´ cia; (13) Considerando que e´ igualmente necessa´ rio garan- tir que essas acc¸o˜ es sejam coerentes com a pol(cid:237)- tica externa da Unia˜ o Europeia, incluindo a pol(cid:237)- tica externa e de seguranc¸a comum; (14) Considerando que essas acc¸o˜ es devera˜ o, designa- damente, incidir sobre as pessoas sujeitas a dis- criminac¸o˜ es, pobres ou desfavorecidas, crianc¸as, mulheres, refugiados, migrantes, minorias, pes- soas deslocadas, populac¸o˜ es aut(cid:243)ctones, prisio- neiros e v(cid:237)timas de tortura; (15) Considerando que o apoio comunita´ rio a` demo- cratizac¸a˜ o ao respeito dos princ(cid:237)pios do Estado de direito no aˆ mbito de um regime pol(cid:237)tico que respeite as liberdades fundamentais do indiv(cid:237)duo contribui para a realizac¸a˜ o dos objectivos inscri- tos nos acordos celebrados pela Comunidade com os seus parceiros, que fazem do respeito dos direitos do Homem e dos princ(cid:237)pios democra´ ti- cos um elemento essencial das relac¸o˜ es entre as partes; (16) Considerando que a qualidade, o impacto e a continuidade das acc¸o˜ es devera˜ o ser salvaguarda- dos, em particular prevendo a possibilidade de lanc¸amento de programas plurianuais de promo- c¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem e dos princ(cid:237)pios democra´ ticos que sejam preparados em concerta- c¸a˜ o com as autoridades do pa(cid:237)s em causa, num esp(cid:237)rito de parceria, tendo em conta as necessida- des espec(cid:237)ficas do pa(cid:237)s; (17) Considerando que uma acc¸a˜ o eficaz e coerente exige que as caracter(cid:237)sticas pr(cid:243)prias da acc¸a˜ o a favor dos direitos do homem e dos princ(cid:237)pios democra´ ticos se traduzam no estabelecimento de procedimentos flex(cid:237)veis, transparentes e ra´ pidos para a tomada de deciso˜ es relativas ao financia- mento das acc¸o˜ es e projectos neste dom(cid:237)nio; (18) Considerando que a Comunidade deve ser capaz de responder rapidamente a situac¸o˜ es de emer- geˆncia ou de especial importaˆ ncia, a fim de refor- c¸ar a credibilidade e a efica´ cia do seu empenho na promoc¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem e dos prin- c(cid:237)pios democra´ ticos em pa(cid:237)ses em que se verifi- quem essas situac¸o˜ es; (19) Considerando que, sobretudo no que se refere aos procedimentos de concessa˜ o de subvenc¸o˜ es e de avaliac¸a˜ o de projectos, e´ conveniente atender a` especificidade dos beneficia´ rios do apoio comu- nita´ rio nesse dom(cid:237)nio, nomeadamente ao cara´ c- ter na˜ o lucrativo das suas actividades, aos riscos suportados pelos seus membros que, em muitos casos, sa˜ o volunta´ rios, ao ambiente por vezes hostil em que actuam e a` sua escassa margem de manobra em termos de fundos pr(cid:243)prios; (20) Considerando que o desenvolvimento da socie- dade civil se deve concretizar, nomeadamente pela emergeˆncia e organizac¸a˜ o de novos interve- nientes e que, a esse t(cid:237)tulo, a Comunidade podera´ ser levada a conceder, nos pa(cid:237)ses terceiros beneficia´ rios, apoios financeiros a parceiros que na˜ o possam provar uma experieˆncia anterior neste dom(cid:237)nio; 1. 3. 1999 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias C 58/19 (21) Considerando que as deciso˜ es relativas a` conces- sa˜ o de apoio financeiro a projectos de promoc¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem e dos princ(cid:237)pios demo- cra´ ticos devera˜ o ser tomadas imparcialmente, sem discriminac¸o˜ es de cara´ cter racial, religioso, cultural, social ou e´tnico entre os organismos beneficia´ rios do apoio comunita´ rio e as pessoas ou grupos a que se destinam os projectos apoia- dos, e na˜ o devera˜ o pautar-se por considerac¸o˜ es de natureza pol(cid:237)tica; (22) Considerando que devera˜ o ser fixadas regras de execuc¸a˜ o e gesta˜ o da ajuda da Comunidade a` promoc¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem e dos princ(cid:237)- pios democra´ ticos financiada pelo orc¸amento geral das Comunidades Europeias; (23) Considerando que o presente regulamento inclui um montante de refereˆncia financeira, na acep- c¸a˜ o do ponto 2 da Declarac¸a˜ o do Parlamento Europeu, do Conselho e da Comissa˜ o de 6 de Marc¸o de 1995 (1), para toda a durac¸a˜ o do pro- grama, sem que isso interfira com competeˆncias da autoridade orc¸amental definidas no Tratado, ADOPTOU O PRESENTE REGULAMENTO: CAP(cid:221)TULO I Objectivos Artigo 1. (cid:30) O presente regulamento tem por objecto estabelecer as regras de execuc¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es da Comunidade que, no aˆ mbito da sua pol(cid:237)tica de cooperac¸a˜ o para o desenvol- vimento, contribuem para o objectivo geral de desen- volvimento e consolidac¸a˜ o da democracia e do Estado de direito, bem como para o objectivo do respeito dos direitos do Homem e das liberdades fundamentais. As acc¸o˜ es a que se refere o presente regulamento sera˜ o executadas no territ(cid:243)rio de pa(cid:237)ses em desenvolvimento ou relacionar-se-a˜ o com situac¸o˜ es que se verificam em pa(cid:237)ses em desenvolvimento. (1) JO C 102 de 4. 4. 1996, p. 4. Artigo 2. (cid:30) Dentro dos limites do artigo 1. (cid:30) e em coereˆncia com o conjunto da pol(cid:237)tica externa da Unia˜ o Europeia, a Comunidade Europeia prestara´ apoio te´cnico e finan- ceiro a acc¸o˜ es que tenham como objecto, nomeada- mente: 1. A promoc¸a˜ o e defesa dos direitos do Homem e das liberdades fundamentais, tal como proclamados na Declarac¸a˜ o Universal dos Direitos do Homem e em outros relativos ao desenvolvimento e a` consolidac¸a˜ o da democracia e do Estado de direito, e designadamente: internacionais instrumentos a) A promoc¸a˜ o e a protecc¸a˜ o dos direitos civis e pol(cid:237)ticos; b) A promoc¸a˜ o e a protecc¸a˜ o dos direitos econ(cid:243)- micos, sociais e culturais; c) A promoc¸a˜ o e a protecc¸a˜ o dos direitos funda- mentais das pessoas sujeitas a discriminac¸o˜ es, pobres ou desfavorecidas, o que contribuira´ para a reduc¸a˜ o da pobreza e da exclusa˜ o social; d) O apoio a minorias, grupos e´tnicos e popula- c¸o˜ es aut(cid:243)ctones; e) O apoio a` s instituic¸o˜ es locais, nacionais, regio- nais ou internacionais, incluindo as organiza- c¸o˜ es na˜ o governamentais ONG, que desenvol- vam actividades relacionadas com a protecc¸a˜ o, promoc¸a˜ o ou defesa dos direitos do Homem; f) O apoio aos centros de reabilitac¸a˜ o de v(cid:237)timas da tortura e a` s organizac¸o˜ es que prestem ajuda concreta a` s v(cid:237)timas de violac¸o˜ es dos direitos do Homem ou que contribuam para a melhoria das condic¸o˜ es em zonas onde as pessoas se encontrem privadas de liberdade, a fim de impedir a tortura ou os maus tratos; g) O apoio a` educac¸a˜ o, formac¸a˜ o e sensibilizac¸a˜ o no dom(cid:237)nio dos direitos do Homem; h) O apoio a` s acc¸o˜ es de observac¸a˜ o no dom(cid:237)nio dos direitos do Homem, incluindo a formac¸a˜ o dos observadores; i) A promoc¸a˜ o da igualdade de oportunidades e de pra´ ticas na˜ o discriminat(cid:243)rias, incluindo medidas de combate ao racismo e a` xenofobia; C 58/20 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias 1. 3. 1999 j) A promoc¸a˜ o e protecc¸a˜ o das liberdades funda- mentais tal como referidas no Pacto Internacio- nal sobre os Direitos Civis e Pol(cid:237)ticos, nomea- damente a liberdade de opinia˜ o, de expressa˜ o e de conscieˆncia, bem como o direito a` utilizac¸a˜ o da sua l(cid:237)ngua. g) O apoio aos esforc¸os nacionais de delimitac¸a˜ o das responsabilidades civis e militares e a sensi- bilizac¸a˜ o e formac¸a˜ o dos funciona´ rios civis e militares em mate´ria de respeito dos direitos do Homem; 2. O apoio aos processos de democratizac¸a˜ o, designa- damente: a) A promoc¸a˜ o e o reforc¸o do Estado de direito, nomeadamente o apoio a` independeˆncia e ao reforc¸o do poder judicia´ rio e o apoio a um sis- tema penitencia´ rio que a pessoa humana; o apoio a` s reformas constitucionais e legislativas; o apoio a` s iniciativas em prol da abolic¸a˜ o da pena de morte; respeite b) A promoc¸a˜ o da separac¸a˜ o de poderes, nomea- damente dos poderes judicial e legislativo em relac¸a˜ o ao poder executivo, e o apoio a` s refor- mas institucionais; c) A promoc¸a˜ o do pluralismo, tanto a n(cid:237)vel pol(cid:237)- tico como da sociedade civil, atrave´s do reforc¸o das instituic¸o˜ es necessa´ rias para assegurar o incluindo as cara´ cter pluralista da sociedade, ONG, bem como da promoc¸a˜ o da independeˆn- cia e da responsabilidade dos meios de comuni- cac¸a˜ o social e do apoio a` liberdade de imprensa e ao respeito da liberdade sindical e do direito de reunia˜ o; d) A promoc¸a˜ o da boa gesta˜ o dos assuntos pu´ bli- cos, nomeadamente atrave´s do apoio a` trans- pareˆncia da administrac¸a˜ o e a` prevenc¸a˜ o e luta contra a corrupc¸a˜ o; e) A promoc¸a˜ o da participac¸a˜ o das populac¸o˜ es nos processos de tomada de deciso˜ es, tanto a n(cid:237)vel nacional como regional e local, e, em especial, a promoc¸a˜ o de uma participac¸a˜ o equi- librada dos homens e das mulheres na socie- dade civil, na vida econ(cid:243)mica e na actividade pol(cid:237)tica; f) O apoio aos processos eleitorais, nomeada- mente atrave´s do apoio a` s comisso˜ es eleitorais independentes, da concessa˜ o de assisteˆncia material, te´cnica e jur(cid:237)dica a` preparac¸a˜ o das eleic¸o˜ es, incluindo os recenseamentos eleitorais, de medidas de promoc¸a˜ o da participac¸a˜ o de grupos espec(cid:237)ficos, nomeadamente das mulhe- res, nos processos eleitorais, assim como da for- mac¸a˜ o de observadores; 3. O apoio a` s acc¸o˜ es de promoc¸a˜ o do respeito dos direitos do Homem e de democratizac¸a˜ o, contri- buindo para a prevenc¸a˜ o de conflitos e o trata- mento das suas consequeˆncias, em estreita ligac¸a˜ o com as instaˆ ncias competentes na mate´ria, designa- damente: a) O apoio a` criac¸a˜ o de estruturas, nomeadamente o estabelecimento de sistemas locais de alerta ra´ pido; b) O apoio a medidas destinadas a equilibrar as oportunidades e a sanar as disparidades exis- tentes entre diferentes grupos de identidade; c) O apoio a medidas que facilitem a conciliac¸a˜ o pac(cid:237)fica dos interesses de grupo, incluindo o apoio a medidas de confianc¸a relativas aos direitos do Homem e a` democratizac¸a˜ o, a fim de prevenir conflitos e a restaurar a paz civil; d) A promoc¸a˜ o do direito humanita´ rio internacio- nal e da sua observaˆ ncia por todas as partes envolvidas num conflito; e) O apoio a` s organizac¸o˜ es internacionais, regio- nais ou locais, incluindo as ONG, que interveˆm na prevenc¸a˜ o e resoluc¸a˜ o de conflitos e no tra- tamento das suas consequeˆncias, incluindo o apoio a` criac¸a˜ o de tribunais penais internacio- nais ad hoc e a` instaurac¸a˜ o de uma jurisdic¸a˜ o penal internacional permanente, bem como em mate´ria de apoio e assisteˆncia a` s v(cid:237)timas de vio- lac¸o˜ es dos direitos do Homem. Artigo 3. (cid:30) Para o efeito, o apoio comunita´ rio pode incluir, entre os seus meios de acc¸a˜ o, o financiamento de: 1. Acc¸o˜ es de sensibilizac¸a˜ o, informac¸a˜ o e formac¸a˜ o dos agentes envolvidos, bem como da opinia˜ o pu´ blica; 1. 3. 1999 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias C 58/21 2. Acc¸o˜ es necessa´ rias a` identificac¸a˜ o e preparac¸a˜ o de projectos, designadamente: a) Os estudos de identificac¸a˜ o e viabilidade; b) O intercaˆ mbio de conhecimentos te´cnicos e de experieˆncias entre organismos europeus e orga- nismos de pa(cid:237)ses terceiros; c) As despesas decorrentes dos concursos, nomea- damente as relativas a` avaliac¸a˜ o das propostas e a` preparac¸a˜ o da documentac¸a˜ o dos projectos; d) O financiamento de estudos de cara´ cter geral relativos a` acc¸a˜ o comunita´ ria nos dom(cid:237)nios a que se refere o presente regulamento; 3. Execuc¸a˜ o de projectos referentes: a) A` assisteˆncia te´cnica e ao pessoal expatriado ou local, a fim de contribuir para a realizac¸a˜ o dos projectos; b) A` aquisic¸a˜ o e/ou fornecimento de produtos ou materiais estritamente necessa´ rios a` execuc¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es, incluindo, em circunstaˆ ncias excep- cionais e quando devidamente justificado, a compra ou o arrendamento de instalac¸o˜ es; As acc¸o˜ es 2. financiadas pela Comunidade ao abrigo do presente regulamento sa˜ o executadas pela Comissa˜ o, quer a pedido dos parceiros referidos no n. (cid:30) 1 quer por iniciativa pr(cid:243)pria. Artigo 5. (cid:30) A ajuda da Comunidade esta´ aberta aos parceiros refe- ridos no n. (cid:30) 1 do artigo 4. (cid:30) do presente regulamento, que tenham a sua sede principal num pa(cid:237)s terceiro beneficia´ rio da ajuda da Comunidade ao abrigo do presente regulamento ou num Estado-Membro da Comunidade. A referida sede deve constituir o centro efectivo de tomada de todas as deciso˜ es relativas a` s acc¸o˜ es financiadas ao abrigo do presente regulamento. A t(cid:237)tulo excepcional, essa sede pode situar-se noutro pa(cid:237)s terceiro. Artigo 6. (cid:30) Sem preju(cid:237)zo do contexto institucional e pol(cid:237)tico em que os parceiros referidos no n. (cid:30) 1 do artigo 4. (cid:30) do presente regulamento desenvolvem as suas actividades, sera˜ o nomeadamente tidos em considerac¸a˜ o os seguin- tes elementos, para determinar se um organismo pode beneficiar de financiamento comunita´ rio: c) Se for caso disso, a` s medidas destinadas a real- c¸ar o cara´ cter comunita´ rio das acc¸o˜ es; a) O seu empenho em defender, respeitar e promover sem discriminac¸a˜ o os direitos do Homem e os prin- c(cid:237)pios democra´ ticos; 4. Acc¸o˜ es de acompanhamento, auditoria e avaliac¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es comunita´ rias; b) A sua experieˆncia no dom(cid:237)nio da promoc¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem e dos princ(cid:237)pios democra´ ticos; 5. Actividades de explicac¸a˜ o, a` opinia˜ o pu´ blica dos pa(cid:237)ses em causa, dos objectivos e resultados dessas acc¸o˜ es, bem como das func¸o˜ es de assisteˆncia admi- nistrativa e te´cnica em proveito mu´ tuo da Comis- sa˜ o e do beneficia´ rio. CAP(cid:221)TULO II Regras de execuc¸a˜ o da ajuda Artigo 4. (cid:30) 1. Os parceiros que podem obter um apoio finan- ceiro ao abrigo do presente regulamento sa˜ o as organi- zac¸o˜ es regionais e internacionais, as organizac¸o˜ es na˜ o governamentais, as administrac¸o˜ es e ageˆncias pu´ blicas nacionais, regionais e locais, as organizac¸o˜ es de base comunita´ ria e os institutos e operadores pu´ blicos ou privados. c) A sua capacidade de gesta˜ o administrativa e finan- ceira; d) A sua capacidade te´cnica e log(cid:237)stica em relac¸a˜ o a` acc¸a˜ o prevista; e) Se for caso disso, os resultados das acc¸o˜ es anterior- mente realizadas e, sobretudo, das que tenham beneficiado de financiamento comunita´ rio; f) A sua capacidade para desenvolver a cooperac¸a˜ o com outros intervenientes da sociedade civil nos pa(cid:237)ses terceiros em causa e para encaminhar a responsa´ veis ajuda para as organizac¸o˜ es perante a sociedade civil. locais Artigo 7. (cid:30) 1. S(cid:243) sera´ concedida ajuda aos parceiros referidos no n. (cid:30) 1 do artigo 4. (cid:30) se estes se comprometerem a res- C 58/22 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias 1. 3. 1999 peitar as condic¸o˜ es de concessa˜ o e de execuc¸a˜ o da ajuda fixadas pela Comissa˜ o e a que os parceiros se obrigaram por contrato. c) A promoc¸a˜ o de uma abordagem coerente em mate´- ria de ajuda humanita´ ria e, sempre que poss(cid:237)vel, a integrac¸a˜ o da protecc¸a˜ o dos direitos do Homem na ajuda humanita´ ria. 2. Qualquer acc¸a˜ o que beneficie da ajuda comunita´ - ria sera´ executada segundo os objectivos definidos na decisa˜ o de financiamento da Comissa˜ o. 3. O financiamento comunita´ rio ao abrigo do pre- sente regulamento assume a forma de ajudas na˜ o reembolsa´ veis. 4. Quando as acc¸o˜ es financiadas ao abrigo do pre- sente regulamento estejam sujeitas a convenc¸o˜ es de financiamento entre a Comunidade e os pa(cid:237)ses benefi- cia´ rios, essas convenc¸o˜ es estipulara˜ o que o pagamento de impostos, direitos e encargos na˜ o sera´ financiado pela Comunidade. Artigo 8. (cid:30) 1. A participac¸a˜ o nos concursos e contratos esta´ aberta, em igualdade de condic¸o˜ es, a todas as pessoas singulares e colectivas do pa(cid:237)s beneficia´ rio e dos Esta- dos-Membros, podendo ser tornada extensiva a outros pa(cid:237)ses em desenvolvimento e, em casos excepcionais devidamente justificados, a outros pa(cid:237)ses terceiros. 2. Os fornecimentos sera˜ o origina´ rios dos Estados- -Membros ou do pa(cid:237)s beneficia´ rio ou de outros pa(cid:237)ses em desenvolvimento, podendo, em casos excepcionais devidamente justificados, ser origina´ rios de outros pa(cid:237)- ses. CAP(cid:221)TULO III Procedimentos de execuc¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es Artigo 10. (cid:30) O montante de refereˆncia financeira para a execuc¸a˜ o do presente regulamento durante o per(cid:237)odo de 1999 a 2004 e´ de 260 milho˜ es de euros. As dotac¸o˜ es anuais sa˜ o autorizadas pela autoridade orc¸amental, dentro do limite das perspectivas financei- ras. Artigo 11. (cid:30) A Comissa˜ o e´ incumbida da programac¸a˜ o, instruc¸a˜ o, decisa˜ o, gesta˜ o, acompanhamento e avaliac¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es a que se refere o presente regulamento de acordo com os procedimentos orc¸amentais e outros em vigor. A Comissa˜ o fixara´ as condic¸o˜ es de afecta- c¸a˜ o, mobilizac¸a˜ o e execuc¸a˜ o das ajudas a que se refere o presente regulamento. Artigo 12. (cid:30) Artigo 9. (cid:30) Sa˜ o adoptados pela Comissa˜ o nos termos do n. (cid:30) 2 1. do artigo 13. (cid:30): 1. A Comissa˜ o pode tomar todas as medidas de coordenac¸a˜ o necessa´ rias, em estreita cooperac¸a˜ o com os Estados-Membros, a fim de realizar os objectivos de coereˆncia e complementaridade e a fim de garantir uma efica´ cia ma´ xima do conjunto das acc¸o˜ es. Em todo o caso, para efeitos do disposto no 2. nu´ mero anterior, a Comissa˜ o incentivara´ : a) A instituic¸a˜ o de um sistema de intercaˆ mbio e ana´ - lise sistema´ tica de informac¸o˜ es sobre as acc¸o˜ es financiadas e sobre as acc¸o˜ es cujo financiamento esteja previsto pela Comunidade e pelos Estados- -Membros; b) Uma coordenac¸a˜ o no local de execuc¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es, atrave´s de reunio˜ es regulares de intercaˆ mbio de informac¸o˜ es entre os representantes da Comissa˜ o e dos Estados-Membros no pa(cid:237)s beneficia´ rio; — as deciso˜ es relativas a` s acc¸o˜ es cujo financiamento ao abrigo do presente regulamento ultrapasse 1 milha˜ o de euros por acc¸a˜ o, bem como qualquer alterac¸a˜ o dessas acc¸o˜ es que implique um montante adicional superior a 20 % do montante inicial- mente aprovado para a acc¸a˜ o em causa, — os programas destinados a facultar um quadro coe- rente de acc¸a˜ o num pa(cid:237)s ou numa regia˜ o determi- nada ou sobre um tema espec(cid:237)fico em que as neces- sidades constatadas sejam de natureza a perdurar, nomeadamente devido a` sua amplitude e complexi- dade. 2. A Comissa˜ o informara´ o comite´ previsto no artigo 13. (cid:30) das deciso˜ es de financiamento que tencione adoptar relativamente aos projectos e programas de valor inferior a 1 milha˜ o de euros. Esta informac¸a˜ o sera´ prestada pelo menos uma semana antes da adop- c¸a˜ o da decisa˜ o. 1. 3. 1999 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias C 58/23 Artigo 13. (cid:30) 1. A Comissa˜ o e´ assistida pelo Comite´ dos Direitos do Homem e da Democracia, a seguir designado «co- mite´», composto por representantes dos Estados-Mem- bros e presidido pelo representante da Comissa˜ o. 2. Quando seja feita refereˆncia ao processo definido no presente artigo, o representante da Comissa˜ o sub- metera´ ao comite´ um projecto das medidas a tomar. O comite´ emitira´ o seu parecer sobre esse projecto num prazo que o presidente pode fixar em func¸a˜ o da urgeˆn- cia da questa˜ o. O parecer sera´ emitido por maioria, nos termos previstos no n. (cid:30) 2 do artigo 148. (cid:30) do Tra- tado para a adopc¸a˜ o das deciso˜ es que o Conselho e´ chamado a tomar sob proposta da Comissa˜ o. Nas votac¸o˜ es realizadas no comite´, os votos dos represen- tantes dos Estados-Membros esta˜ o sujeitos a` pondera- c¸a˜ o definida no artigo atra´ s referido. O presidente na˜ o participa na votac¸a˜ o. A Comissa˜ o adoptara´ as medidas projectadas desde que sejam conformes com o parecer do comite´. Se as medidas projectadas na˜ o forem conformes com o parecer do comite´, ou na auseˆncia de parecer, a Comissa˜ o submetera´ sem demora ao Conselho uma proposta relativa a` s medidas a tomar. O Conselho deliberara´ por maioria qualificada. Se o Conselho na˜ o tiver deliberado no termo de um prazo de treˆs meses a contar da data em que a pro- posta lhe foi submetida, a Comissa˜ o adoptara´ as medi- das propostas. Artigo 14. (cid:30) A Comissa˜ o pode financiar intervenc¸o˜ es de emer- 1. geˆncia ate´ um montante de 2 milho˜ es de euros. Consi- deram-se intervenc¸o˜ es de emergeˆncia as acc¸o˜ es referen- tes a necessidades imediatas e na˜ o previs(cid:237)veis relacio- nadas interrupc¸a˜ o abrupta do processo democra´ tico ou a emergeˆncia de uma situac¸a˜ o de crise ou de perigo excepcional e iminente que afecte o con- junto ou uma parte da populac¸a˜ o de um pa(cid:237)s, cons- tituindo uma ameac¸a grave para a salvaguarda dos direitos e liberdades fundamentais dos indiv(cid:237)duos. com a 2. Para as acc¸o˜ es que preencham essas condic¸o˜ es, a Comissa˜ o adoptara´ a sua decisa˜ o ap(cid:243)s consulta dos Estados-Membros pela forma mais eficaz, dispondo os Estados-Membros de um prazo de cinco dias u´ teis para apresentar eventuais objecc¸o˜ es. Em caso de objec- c¸o˜ es, o comite´ previsto no artigo 13. (cid:30) analisara´ a ques- ta˜ o na sua reunia˜ o seguinte. 3. Na reunia˜ o seguinte do comite´ previsto no artigo 13. (cid:30), a Comissa˜ o informa´ -lo-a´ das intervenc¸o˜ es de emergeˆncia financiadas ao abrigo das presentes dis- posic¸o˜ es. Artigo 15. (cid:30) O comite´ pode analisar qualquer questa˜ o geral ou espec(cid:237)fica relativa a` ajuda comunita´ ria neste dom(cid:237)nio e deve igualmente desempenhar um papel u´ til como ins- trumento de melhoria da coereˆncia das acc¸o˜ es da Unia˜ o Europeia em mate´ria de direitos humanos e de democratizac¸a˜ o em relac¸a˜ o a pa(cid:237)ses terceiros. Uma vez por ano, o comite´ procedera´ a` ana´ lise da programac¸a˜ o prevista para o exerc(cid:237)cio seguinte ou a uma troca de opinio˜ es sobre as orientac¸o˜ es gerais das acc¸o˜ es a reali- zar no ano seguinte ao abrigo do presente regula- mento. Artigo 16. (cid:30) 1. A Comissa˜ o procedera´ regularmente a` avaliac¸a˜ o das acc¸o˜ es financiadas pela Comunidade ao abrigo do presente regulamento, a fim de verificar se os objecti- vos previstos nessas acc¸o˜ es foram atingidos, bem como de fornecer orientac¸o˜ es para aumentar a efica´ cia das acc¸o˜ es futuras. A Comissa˜ o apresentara´ ao comite´ um resumo das avaliac¸o˜ es realizadas que podera˜ o, se for caso disso, ser por ele analisadas. Os relat(cid:243)rios de ava- liac¸a˜ o sera˜ o facultados aos Estados-Membros que o solicitem. 2. A pedido e com a participac¸a˜ o dos Estados- -Membros, a Comissa˜ o pode proceder igualmente a` avaliac¸a˜ o dos resultados das acc¸o˜ es e dos programas da Comunidade a que se refere o presente regula- mento. Artigo 17. (cid:30) Todos os contratos ou convenc¸o˜ es de financiamento celebrados ao abrigo do presente regulamento estipula- ra˜ o, designadamente, que a Comissa˜ o e o Tribunal de Contas podera˜ o proceder a controlos no terreno e na sede dos parceiros referidos no n. (cid:30) 1 do artigo 4. (cid:30), segundo as regras habituais definidas pela Comissa˜ o no aˆ mbito das disposic¸o˜ es em vigor, nomeadamente as do Regulamento Financeiro aplica´ vel ao orc¸amento geral das Comunidades Europeias. Artigo 18. (cid:30) 1. O mais tardar no prazo de um meˆs a contar da sua decisa˜ o, a Comissa˜ o informara´ os Estados-Mem- C 58/24 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias 1. 3. 1999 bros das acc¸o˜ es e projectos aprovados, indicando os respectivos montantes, a sua natureza, o pa(cid:237)s benefi- cia´ rio e os parceiros envolvidos. 2. Ap(cid:243)s cada exerc(cid:237)cio orc¸amental, a Comissa˜ o apresentara´ ao Parlamento Europeu e ao Conselho um relat(cid:243)rio anual com um resumo das acc¸o˜ es financiadas durante esse exerc(cid:237)cio. Esse resumo incluira´ nomeadamente informac¸o˜ es rela- tivas aos parceiros com os quais tenham sido executa- das as acc¸o˜ es a que se refere o artigo 1. (cid:30) O relat(cid:243)rio incluira´ igualmente uma s(cid:237)ntese das avalia- c¸o˜ es externas efectuadas e, se for caso disso, propora´ acc¸o˜ es espec(cid:237)ficas. Artigo 19. (cid:30) Treˆs anos ap(cid:243)s a entrada em vigor do presente regula- mento, a Comissa˜ o apresentara´ ao Parlamento Euro- peu e ao Conselho uma avaliac¸a˜ o global das acc¸o˜ es financiadas pela Comunidade no aˆ mbito do presente regulamento, eventualmente acompanhada de propos- tas adequadas relativas ao futuro do presente regula- mento. Artigo 20. (cid:30) O presente regulamento entra em vigor no terceiro dia seguinte ao da sua publicac¸a˜ o no Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias. E´ aplica´ vel ate´ 31 de Dezembro de 2004. O presente regulamento e obrigatorio em todos os seus elementos e directamente aplicavel em todos os Estados-Membros. Feito em … Pelo Conselho O Presidente 1. 3. 1999 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias C 58/25 NOTA JUSTIFICATIVA DO CONSELHO I. INTRODUC¸ A˜ O 1. Por carta datada de 20 de Agosto de 1997, a Comissa˜ o enviou ao Conselho uma proposta (1) de regulamento relativo ao desenvolvimento e a` consolidac¸a˜ o da demo- cracia e do Estado de direito, bem como ao respeito dos direitos do Homem e das liberdades fundamentais. 2. Em 16 de Julho de 1998, o Coreper decidiu que, em termos jur(cid:237)dicos, seria mais correcto adoptar dois regulamentos separados, um baseado no artigo 130. (cid:30)W do Tratado CE e relativo a` s actividades relacionadas com os pa(cid:237)ses em desenvolvi- mento, e outro sobre as actividades relacionadas com pa(cid:237)ses terceiros, baseado no artigo 235. (cid:30) do Tratado. 3. Em 17 de Dezembro de 1998, o Parlamento Europeu emitiu parecer (2), em pri- meira leitura, sobre a proposta baseada no artigo 130. (cid:30)W do Tratado. 4. Em 25 de Janeiro de 1999, o Conselho adoptou a sua posic¸a˜ o comum nos termos do artigo 189. (cid:30)C do Tratado. II. OBJECTIVO DA PROPOSTA A proposta tem por objectivo criar uma base jur(cid:237)dica para a utilizac¸a˜ o das dotac¸o˜ es inscritas no orc¸amento da Comissa˜ o com vista ao financiamento de operac¸o˜ es que contribuam para o objectivo geral de desenvolvimento e consolidac¸a˜ o da democracia e do Estado de direito, bem como para o objectivo do respeito dos direitos do Homem e das liberdades fundamentais. III. ANA´ LISE DA POSIC¸ A˜ O COMUM A posic¸a˜ o comum integra — na totalidade ou em parte, por vezes com algumas adap- tac¸o˜ es — um nu´ mero considera´ vel de alterac¸o˜ es propostas pelo Parlamento Europeu no seu parecer (alterac¸o˜ es 7, 11, 13, 15, 22, 24, 27, 29, 34 e 38). No entanto, o Conselho na˜ o p(cid:244)de adoptar uma se´rie de alterac¸o˜ es relacionadas com aspectos institucionais, como por exemplo os procedimentos de comitologia e de infor- mac¸a˜ o, ou com aspectos orc¸amentais (por exemplo, a alterac¸a˜ o 22 que sugere a supressa˜ o do montante de refereˆncia financeira), nem p(cid:244)de concordar com a alterac¸a˜ o 36 que preveˆ uma durac¸a˜ o ilimitada; com efeito, todos estes aspectos cons- tituem elementos de um compromisso global e reflectem, ale´m disso, deciso˜ es ja´ adop- tadas pelo Conselho no passado no que se refere a outros regulamentos no dom(cid:237)nio da cooperac¸a˜ o para o desenvolvimento. Do mesmo modo, o Conselho na˜ o reteve as alterac¸o˜ es 1 a 4 e a alterac¸a˜ o 9, que intro- duziriam o conceito de boa governac¸a˜ o no t(cid:237)tulo, nalguns considerandos e no articu- lado, ja´ que a definic¸a˜ o exacta do t(cid:237)tulo e do aˆ mbito de aplicac¸a˜ o do regulamento resultou tambe´m de dif(cid:237)ceis negociac¸o˜ es. (1) Ainda na˜ o publicada no Jornal Oficial. (2) Ainda na˜ o publicado no Jornal Oficial