5.1.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L2/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 6/2000 of 17 December 1999 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and to imports of wine originating in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Slovenia 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) Council Regulation (EC) No 70/97 of 20 December 1996 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and to imports of wine originating in the Former Yugo- slav Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Slov- enia (') expires on 31 December 1999; These arrangements will eventually have to be replaced by provisions contained in future bilateral agreements and specific wine agreements to be negotiated with the countries in question; in the meantime the arrangements granted by Regulation (EC) No 70/97 should be main- tained; the amounts of the tariff ceilings for industrial products should be increased annually by 5% as provided for in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 70/ 97; Regulation (EC) No 70/97 has been amended several times and taking into account the modifications to the Combined Nomenclature and to the Taric subdivisions and other technical adjustments, it seems appropriate to renew the autonomous trade preferences within a completely new Regulation; it is unnecessary to include in the coverage of this Regulation products for which the Common Customs Tariff duty is free; In accordance with the European Union's Regional Approach, based on the conclusions of the Council of 29 April 1997, the development of bilateral relations between the European Union and the successor repub- lics of the former Yugoslavia, other than Slovenia, is subject to certain conditions; the renewal of auto- nomous trade preferences is linked to respect for funda- mental principles of democracy and human rights and (') OJ L 16, 18.1.1997. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2863/98 (O] L 358, 31.12.1998, p. 85). ) to the readiness of the countries concerned to allow the development of economic relations between themselves; it is, therefore, appropriate to monitor the compliance by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with these conditions; Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia continue to fulfil the relevant conditions; it is therefore appropriate to continue the inclusion of these countries in the regime of autonomous trade preferences; At the time of the extension of the autonomous trade preferences to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 29 April 1997, the Council issued a Declaration setting out its expectations in terms of democratisation, in partic- ular the full and speedy implementation of the ‘Gonza- lez’ recommendations; it also noted that in the absence of progress towards meeting these criteria, the decision granting autonomous trade preferences would be reviewed; no significant progress has been made with regard to the relevant conditions and in the light of events in Kosovo and in the region, it is still not appro- priate to include the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the autonomous trade regime, without prejudice to the possibility of including the Federal Republic of Yugo- slavia at a later stage should conditions so permit; These preferential concessions comprise exemption from customs duties and the abolition of quantitative restric- tions for industrial products, except for certain products subject to tariff ceilings, and special concessions for various agricultural products; The arrangements applicable to imports of textile prod- ucts originating in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia are governed by the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 of 7 March 1994 on common rules for imports of textile products from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agreements, protocols or other arrangements, or by other specific Community import rules (); () OJ L 67, 10.3.1994, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commis- sion Regulation (EC) No 1457/97 (O] L 199, 26.7.1997, p. 6).