9.3.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 62/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 501/2000 of 14 February 2000 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 Ukraine to the European Community for the period from 1 January 2000 to 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 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and Ukraine (') entered into force on 1 March 1998. (2)  The Parties have 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 Ukraine to the European Community for the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001. (3) It is consequently necessary to extend the Community implementing legislation introduced by Council Regula- tion (EC) No 1526/97 of 26 June 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 Ukraine to the Euro- pean Community (%), HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Regulation (EC) No 1526/97 shall continue to apply for the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001, in accord- ance with the provisions of Council Decision 2000/202/EC on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and Ukraine 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 Ukraine to the European Community for the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001. Article 2 Regulation (EC) No 1526/97 shall in consequence be amended as follows: (a) in article 1(1) and (2) the words ‘31 December 1999’ shall be replaced by the words ‘31 December 2001 (b) the Annex shall be replaced by the Annex to this Regula- tion. 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 49, 19.2.1998, p. 3. (3 See page 25 of this Official Journal. () O] L 210, 4.8.1997, p. 1 For the Council The President J. GAMA