31.12.88 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 373/1 (Acis whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 4235/88 of 21 December 1988 amending Regulation (EEC) No 918/83 setting up a Community system of reliefs from THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 28 thereof. Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas international cooperation in the field of scientific research is rapidly expanding; whereas such contacts, which are of considerable importance to the world both now and in the future, should be encouraged; Whereas one form scientific cooperation takes is for research establishments based in a Member State to place their installations, often the result of considerable investment, at the disposal of researchers from other countries, including third countries; whereas this enables them to carry out joint research programmes in the context of cooperation agreements concluded between research establishments in various countries; whereas, in order to complete their work successfully, researchers require certain equipment which they import for long-term use in Community research establishments; Whereas, owing to the length of the periods for which the equipment is used, such imports do not qualify for the Community temporary import arrangements introduced by Regulation (EEC) No 3599/82 ('), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1620/85 (2); Whereas the research in question is of a non-commercial nature; whereas the equipment imported is not intended to improve the Community establishments’ own installations which serve as a framework for the abovementioned cooperation agreements; whereas the equipment imported remains the property of a natural or legal person resident in a third country; whereas the situations referred to are exceptional and not covered by ‘Articles 52 to 59 of (1) OJ No L 376, 31. 12. 1982, p. 1. (2) OJ No L 155, 14. 6. 1985, p. 54. Regulation (EEC) No 918/83 (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1315/88(%); whereas specific measures should therefore be introduced for granting relief from import duties, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The following Articles are hereby inserted in Regulation (EEC) No 918/83: Article 59a 1.  Equipment imported for non-commercial purposes by or on behalf of a scientific research establishment or organization based outside the Community shall be admitted free of import duties. 2. The relief shall be granted provided the equipment: (a) is intended for use by or with the agreement of the members or representatives of the establishments and organizations referred to in paragraph 1 in the context and within the limits of scientific cooperation agreements the purpose of which is to carry out international scientific research programmes in scientific research establishments based in the Community and approved for that purpose by the competent authorities of the Member States; (b) remains the property of a natural or legal person resident outside the Community during its stay in the customs territory of the Community. 3.  Within the meaning of this Regulation: — equipment is taken to mean instruments, apparatus, machines and their accessories including spare parts and tools specially designed for their maintenance, (®) OJ No L 105, 23. 4. 1983, p. 1. (*) OJ No L 123, 17. 5. 1988, p. 2.