The Commission has decided to extend this year's textiles agreement with Russia until next April, and is adding a series of measures to open the European market to Russian exports of textiles and clothing. This involves rolling over an existing agreement which was due to expire at the end of 1996. Russia will therefore now enjoy quota-free access on 5 products - including skirts, dresses and tracksuits - and a 15% increase in quotas on all other products. This is an autonomous measure taken by the Commission with no counterpart required from the Russian side, although it is only a temporary arrangement and the Commission s ultimate objective remains to find a long-term agreement with Russia on the gradual elimination of all textiles quotas on Russian exports. Commission negotiators had originally hoped to conclude a new agreement before the end of this year but earlier discussions with the Russians left several issues unresolved. The resulting roll-over of the old agreement is intended to allow time for negotiations to continue until the terms of a longer lasting agreement can be finalised. The Commission very much hopes that the beginning of 1997 will see the conclusion of a new agreement with Russia which will include details of the elimination of all existing quotas on imports of Russian textiles and clothing over the next few years. The security that such an agreement will bring will benefit both Russian industry and EU importers. This temporary decision is intended as a first step towards further, and eventually complete, liberalisation. Total Russian exports of textiles and clothing to the EU in 1995 were 26,789 tonnes. The five quotas being eliminated represent 3,297 tonnes of textiles and clothing goods. In future, these goods will now be able to be imported freely into the EU. When calculated as an annual figure the 15% increase on remaining quotas will represent a total increase of 5,788 tonnes compared to 1996 quota limits. The EU presently maintains quotas on 34 different types of Russian textiles and clothing products. The 5 products to be removed from quota coverage in 1997 are skirts and dresses, tracksuits, certain types of yarns and fabrics as well as knitted clothing accessories. ***
