19.9.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 263/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) - COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 25 July 1991 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Economic Community (91/482/ EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 136 thereof, : Having regard to the Internal Agreement on the financing and administration of Community aid signed in Brussels on 16 July 1990 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Internal Agreement’), Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (*), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Whereas the provisions applicable to the association of the overseas countries and territories (hereinafter referred to as ‘the OCT’) with the European Economic Community must be laid down for a further period; whereas these provisions apply to the territories for which the French Republic has responsibility, the countries and territories for which the United Kingdom has responsibility, the countries for which the Kingdom of the Netherlands has responsibility and, in part, to Greenland; ’ (*) OJ No C 95, 11. 4. 1991, p. 1. (*) O] No C 183, 15. 7. 1991. Whereas these provisions form part of the European Economic Community’s efforts to contribute towards international cooperation and to the solution of inter- national problems of an economic, social and cultural nature, in conformity with the aspirations of the inter- national community towards a new, more just and more balanced international economic order; whereas these efforts led in particular to the signing of the fourth ACP-EEC Convention in Lomé on 15 December 1989, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Convention’; whereas, in view of the many similarities between the OCT and many of the ACP States, and while respecting their differing status, the provisions for the OCT should be adopted for the same period as for the ACP States; Whereas the Community market has long been open to products originating in the OCT and in the ACP States; whereas, having regard to the special relationship between the Community and the OCT, based on the provisions of the Treaty and in particular on Part Four thereof, the said provisions should be improved by affording the OCT a greater degree of flexibility with regard to the rules of origin for products originating in the OCT by adopting new provisions for certain products not originating in the OCT; - Whereas the OCT’s development requirements and the promotion of their industrial development on the other hand justify their retaining the possibility of levying customs duties and imposing quantitative restrictions and adopting, by way of derogation, legislation to assist the local population and local activities with a view to promoting or maintaining local employment;