18.4.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 96/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 793/2000 of 14 February 2000 on administering the double-checking system without quantitative limit in respect of the export of certain steel products covered by the EC and ECSC Treaties from the Russian Federation to the European Community for the period between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2001 (extension of the double-checking system) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1)  The Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation estab- lishing a partnership between the European Communi- ties and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part (), entered into force on 1 December 1997. (2)  The Parties decided by an Exchange of Letters to extend the double-checking system without quantitative limits in respect of the export of certain steel products covered by the EC and ECSC Treaties from the Russian Federa- tion to the European Community for the period between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2001. (3) It is consequently necessary to extend the Community implementing legislation introduced by Council Regula- tion (EC) No 2135/97 of 24 July 1997 on administering the double-checking system without quantitative limits in respect of the export of certain steel products covered by the EC and ECSC Treaties from the Russian Federa- tion to the European Community (), HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Regulation (EC) No 2135/97 shall continue to apply for the period between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2001, in accordance with the provisions of Council Decision 2000/ 294[EC of 14 February 2000 on the conclusion of an Agree- ment in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Russian Federation extending the double-checking system without quantitative limits in respect of the export of certain steel products covered by the EC and ECSC Treaties from the Russian Federation to the European Community for the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001 (3). Article 2 Regulation (EC) No 2135/97 shall, in consequence, be amended as follows: 1. In Article 1(1) and (2) the phrase ‘to 31 December 1999’ shall be replaced by ‘to 31 December 2001". 2. The Annex shall be replaced by the Annex attached hereto. Article 3 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publica- tion in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall apply with effect from 1 January 2000. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 14 February 2000. () O] L 327, 28.11.1997, p. 3. () O] L 300, 411.1997, p. 1. For the Council The President J. GAMA (’) See page 44 of this Official Journal.