COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2445/97 of 8 December 1997 fixing, for the 1998 fishing year, the guide prices for the fishery products listed in Annex I (A), (D) and (E) of Regulation (EEC) No 3759/92

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3759/92 of 17 December 1992 on the common organization of the market in fishery and aquaculture products (1), and in particular Article 9 (3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas Article 9 (1) and (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3759/92 provides that a guide price shall be fixed for each of the products listed in Annex I (A), (D) and (E) of the said Regulation at a level which will help to stabilize market prices and avoid the formation of surpluses in the Community; whereas that level must also help support producers' income and at the same time take account of consumers' interest;

Whereas the guide price shall be based on the average of prices as defined in Article 9 (2) of that Regulation and on an assessment of production and demand prospects;

Whereas the application of these criteria involves for the 1998 fishing year, an increase for certain products and the stabilization or decrease of prices for others compared with prices applicable during the current fishing year,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The guide prices for the fishing year from 1 January to 31 December 1998 for the products listed in Annex I (A), (D) and (E) to Regulation (EEC) No 3759/92 and the commercial specifications to which they relate are fixed in the Annex hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1998.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 December 1997.

For the Council

The President

J. POOS

(1) OJ L 388, 31. 12. 1992, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 3318/94 (OJ L 350, 31. 12. 1994, p. 15).

ANNEX

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