European Union decision to withdraw Delegated Regulation of 8 July 2016 amending Annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 15282007 with regard to Kenya
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/1076 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 applying the arrangements for products originating in certain states which are part of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States provided for in agreements establishing, or leading to the establishment of, Economic Partnership Agreements1, and in particular Article 2(3)(b) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The list of beneficiary countries for duty-free and quota-free imports into the Union is established by Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/1076.
(2) Kenya had not taken the necessary steps towards ratification of its interim Economic Partnership Agreement concluded in 2007 and consequently, in accordance with Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1528/20072, and in particular point (b) thereof, ceased to be covered by the market access arrangement permitted under Regulation (EC) No 1528/2007, as from 1 October 2014. This removal resulted from Regulation (EU) No 527/20133.
(3) Kenya, the Union and its Member States concluded negotiations on a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on 16 October 2014. Kenya, therefore, met the condition of Article 2(2) of the Regulation and was consequently, through Regulation (EU) No 1387/20144, added to Annex I to the Market Access Regulation as from 25 December 2014.
(4) The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1076 to amend Annex I to that Regulation so as to remove a region or state from that Annex. In particular, that applies where the ratification of an agreement which has permitted a region or state to be included in Annex I has not taken place within a reasonable period of time so that the entry into force of the agreement is unduly delayed.
