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I Acts whose publication is obligatory

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DIRECTIVE 2006/46/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 14 June 2006

amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC on the annual accounts of certain types of companies, 83/349/EEC on consolidated accounts, 86/635/EEC on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of banks and other financial institutions and 91/674/EEC on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 44(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (2),

Whereas:

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Amendments to Directive 78/660/EEC

Directive 78/660/EEC is hereby amended as follows:

Article 2

Amendments to Directive 83/349/EEC

Directive 83/349/EEC is hereby amended as follows:

Article 3

Amendment to Directive 86/635/EEC

The first sentence of Article 1(1) of Directive 86/635/EEC shall be replaced by the following:

‘Articles 2, 3, 4(1), (3) to (6), Articles 6, 7, 13, 14, 15(3) and (4), Articles 16 to 21, 29 to 35, 37 to 41, 42 first sentence, 42a to 42f, 45(1), 46(1) and (2), 46a, Articles 48 to 50, 50a, 50b, 50c, 51(1) and 51a, 56 to 59, 60a, 61 and 61a of Directive 78/660/EEC shall apply to the institutions mentioned in Article 2 of this Directive, except where this Directive provides otherwise.’

Article 4

Amendment to Directive 91/674/EEC

The first sentence of Article 1(1) of Directive 91/674/EEC shall be replaced by the following:

‘Articles 2, 3, 4(1), (3) to (6), Articles 6, 7, 13, 14, 15(3) and (4), Articles 16 to 21, 29 to 35, 37 to 41, 42, 42a to 42f, 43 (1), points 1 to 7b and 9 to 14, 45(1), 46(1) and (2), 46a, 48 to 50, 50a, 50b, 50c, 51(1), 51a, 56 to 59, 60a, 61 and 61a of Directive 78/660/EEC shall apply to the undertakings mentioned in Article 2 of this Directive, except where this Directive provides otherwise.’

Article 5

Transposition

1.   Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 5 September 2008 at the latest.

When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States.

2.   Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 6

Entry into force

This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 7

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Strasbourg, 14 June 2006.

For the European Parliament

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

For the Council

The President

H. WINKLER

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(1)OJ C 294, 25.11.2005, p. 4.

(2)  Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 December 2005 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 22 May 2006.

(3)OJ L 222, 14.8.1978, p. 11. Directive as last amended by Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 87).

(4)OJ L 193, 18.7.1983, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 2006/43/EC.

(5)OJ L 243, 11.9.2002, p. 1.

(6)OJ L 372, 31.12.1986, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 2003/51/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 178, 17.7.2003, p. 16).

(7)OJ L 374, 31.12.1991, p. 7. Directive as amended by Directive 2003/51/EC.

(8)OJ C 321, 31.12.2003, p. 1.

(9)OJ L 261, 13.10.2003, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 108/2006 (OJ L 24, 27.1.2006, p. 1).

(10)OJ L 243, 11.9.2002, p. 1.’

(11)OJ L 145, 30.4.2004, p. 1.

(12)OJ L 142, 30.4.2004, p. 12.’

(13)OJ L 145, 30.4.2004, p. 1.’

(14)OJ L 243, 11.9.2002, p. 1.’

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II Acts whose publication is not obligatory

Council

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COUNCIL DECISION

of 29 April 2004

on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

(2006/535/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 44(2), the last sentence of Article 47(2), and Articles 55, 57(2), 71, 80(2), 93, 94, 133 and 181a, in conjunction with Article 300(2) first subparagraph, first sentence, thereof,

Having regard to the 2003 Treaty of Accession, and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Having regard to the 2003 Act of Accession, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union, subject to possible conclusion at a later stage.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision (1).

Article 2

Pending its entry into force, the Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis from the date of accession.

Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 2004.

For the Council

The President

M. McDOWELL

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(1)  See page 10 of this Official Journal.

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PROTOCOL

to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,

THE CZECH REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,

THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,

THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN,

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,

IRELAND,

THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS,

THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA,

THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG,

THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY,

THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA,

THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,

THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND,

THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA,

THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,

THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,

hereinafter referred to as the ‘Member States’, represented by the Council of the European Union, and

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY,

hereinafter referred to as ‘the Communities’, represented by the Council of the European Union and the European Commission,

of the one part, and

THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

of the other part,

HAVING REGARD TO the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to the European Union on 1 May 2004,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia shall be Parties to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, signed in Brussels on 28 November 1994 (hereinafter the Agreement) and shall respectively adopt and take note, in the same manner as the other Member States, of the texts of the Agreement, the Joint Declarations, Exchanges of Letters, the Declaration by the Republic of Moldova annexed to the Final Act signed on the same date and the Protocol to the Agreement of 15 May 1997 that entered into force on 12 October 2000.

Article 2

To take account of recent institutional developments within the European Union, the Parties agree that, following expiry of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, existing provisions in the Agreement referring to the European Coal and Steel Community shall be deemed to refer to the European Community, which has taken over all rights and obligations contracted by the European Coal and Steel Community.

Article 3

This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Agreement.

Article 4

1.   This Protocol shall be approved by the Communities, by the Council of the European Union on behalf of the Member States and by the Republic of Moldova in accordance with their own procedures.

2.   The Parties shall notify each other of the accomplishment of the corresponding procedures referred to in the preceding paragraph. The instruments of approval shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

Article 5

1.   This Protocol shall enter into force on the same day as the 2003 Treaty of Accession, provided that all the instruments of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before that date.

2.   Where not all instruments of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before that date, this Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the first month following the date of deposit of the last instrument of approval.

3.   Where not all instruments of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before 1 May 2004, this Protocol shall apply provisionally with effect from 1 May 2004.

Article 6

The texts of the Agreement, the Final Act and all documents annexed to it, as well as the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 15 May 1997, are drawn up in the Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak and Slovene languages.

These texts are annexed (1) to this Protocol and are equally authentic with the texts in the other languages in which the Agreement, the Final Act and the documents annexed to it, as well as the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 15 May 1997, are drawn up.

Article 7

This Protocol is drawn up in duplicate in the Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish and Moldovan languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

Hecho en Bruselas, el treinta de abril de dos mil cuatro.

V Bruselu dne třicátého dubna dva tisíce čtyři.

Udfærdiget i Bruxelles den tredivte april to tusind og fire.

Geschehen zu Brüssel am dreißigsten April zweitausendundvier.

Kahe tuhande neljanda aasta kolmekümnendal aprillil Brüsselis.

Έγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις τριάντα Απριλίου δύο χιλιάδες τέσσερα.

Done at Brussels on the thirtieth day of April in the year two thousand and four.

Fait à Bruxelles, le trente avril deux mille quatre.

Fatto a Bruxelles, addì trenta aprile duemilaquattro.

Briselē, divi tūkstoši ceturtā gada trīsdesmitajā aprīlī.

Priimta du tūkstančiai ketvirtų metų balandžio trisdešimtą dieną Briuselyje.

Kelt Brüsszelben, a kétezer-negyedik év április havának tizenharmadik napján.

Magħmul fi Brussel fit-tletin jum ta' April tas-sena elfejn u erbgħa.

Gedaan te Brussel, de dertigste april tweeduizendvier.

Sporządzono w Brukseli, dnia trzynastego kwietnia roku dwa tysiące czwartego.

Feito em Bruxelas, em trinta de Abril de dois mil e quatro.

V Bruseli tridsiateho apríla dvetisícštyri.

V Bruslju, dne tridesetega aprila leta dva tisoč štiri.

Tehty Brysselissä kolmantenakymmenentenä päivänä huhtikuuta vuonna kaksituhattaneljä.

Som skedde i Bryssel den trettionde april tjugohundrafyra.

Întocmit la Bruxelles în a treizecea zi a lunii aprilie în anul doua mii patru.

Por los Estados miembros

Za členské státy

For medlemsstaterne

Für die Mitgliedstaaten

Liikmesriikide nimel

Για τα κράτη μέλη

For the Member States

Pour les États membres

Per gli Stati membri

Dalībvalstu vārdā

Valstybių narių vardu

A tagállamok részéről

Għall-Istati Membri

Voor de lidstaten

W imieniu Państw Członkowskich

Pelos Estados-Membros

Za členské štáty

Za države članice

Jäsenvaltioiden puolesta

På medlemsstaternas vägnar

Pentru Statele Membre

Por las Comunidades Europeas

Za Evropská společenství

For De Europæiske Fællesskaber

Für die Europäischen Gemeinschaften

Euroopa ühenduste nimel

Για τις Ευρωπαϊκές Κοινότητες

For the European Communities

Pour les Communautés européennes

Per le Comunità europee

Eiropas Kopienu vārdā

Europos Bendrijų vardu

Az Európai Közösségek részéről

Għall-Komunitajiet Ewropej

Voor de Europese Gemeenschappen

W imieniu Wspólnot Europejskich

Pelas Comunidades Europeias

Za Európske spoločenstvá

Za Evropske skupnosti

Euroopan yhteisöjen puolesta

På Europeiska gemenskapernas vägnar

Pentru Comunitatile Europene

Por la República de Moldova

Za Moldavskou republiku

For Republikken Moldova

Für die Republik Moldau

Moldova Vabariigi nimel

Για τη Δημοκρατία της Μολδαβίας

For the Republic of Moldova

Pour la République de Moldova

Per la Repubblica di Moldova

Moldovas Republikas vārdā

Moldovos Respublikos vardu

Moldova részéről

Għar-Repubblika tal-Moldavja

Voor de Republiek Moldavië

W imieniu Republiki Mołdowy

Pela República da Moldávia

Za Moldavskú republiku

Za Republiko Moldavijo

Moldovan tasavallan puolesta

På Republiken Moldaviens vägnar

Pentru Republica Moldova

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(1)  The Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak and Slovenian versions of the Agreement shall be published in the special edition of the Official Journal at a later date.

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COUNCIL AND COMMISSION DECISION

of 21 February 2005

on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

(2006/536/EC, Euratom)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 44(2), the last sentence of Article 47(2), and Articles 55, 57(2), 71, 80(2), 93, 94, 133 and 181a, in conjunction with the second sentence of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3), thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 101 thereof,

Having regard to the 2003 Treaty of Accession, and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Having regard to the 2003 Act of Accession, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),

Having regard to the Council's approval pursuant to Article 101 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,

Whereas:

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community, the European Atomic Energy Community and the Member States.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision (2).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, give the notification provided for in Article 4 of the Protocol. The President of the Commission shall simultaneously give such notification on behalf of the European Atomic Energy Community.

Done at Brussels, 21 February 2005.

For the Council

The President

J. ASSELBORN

For the Commission

The President

J. M. BARROSO

----

(1)OJ C 174 E, 14.7.2005, p. 43.

(2)  See page 10 of this Official Journal.

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COUNCIL DECISION

of 29 April 2004

on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (PCA) on accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the PCA and on adjustments to the PCA

(2006/537/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 44(2), the last sentence of Article 47(2), and Articles 55, 57(2), 71, 80(2), 93, 94, 133 and 181a, in conjunction with Article 300(2) first subparagraph, first sentence thereof,

Having regard to the 2003 Treaty of Accession, and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Having regard to the 2003 Act of Accession, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (PCA) on accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the PCA and on adjustments to the PCA, subject to possible conclusion at a later stage.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision (1).

Article 2

Pending its entry into force, the Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis from the date of accession.

Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 2004.

For the Council

The President

M. McDOWELL

----

(1)  See page 16 of this Official Journal.

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PROTOCOL

to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (PCA), on accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the PCA and on adjustments to the PCA

THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,

THE CZECH REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,

THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,

THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN,

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,

IRELAND,

THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS,

THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA,

THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG,

THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY,

THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA,

THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,

THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND,

THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA,

THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,

THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,

hereinafter referred to as the ‘Member States’, represented by the Council of the European Union, and

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY,

hereinafter referred to as ‘the Communities’, represented by the Council of the European Union and the European Commission,

of the one part, and

UKRAINE

of the other part,

hereinafter referred to as ‘Parties’ for the purposes of this Protocol,

HAVING REGARD TO the provisions of the Treaty between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Member States of the European Union), and the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union, which was signed in Athens on 16 April 2003 and will enter into force on 1 May 2004,

CONSIDERING the new situation in relations between Ukraine and the European Union arising from the accession to the European Union of 10 new Member States, which opens opportunities and brings about challenges for the cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the desire of the Parties to ensure the attainment and implementation of the objectives and principles of the PCA,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic shall be Parties to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, signed in Luxembourg on 14 June 1994 and which entered into force on 1 March 1998 (hereinafter the Agreement) and shall respectively adopt and take note, in the same manner as other Member States of the Community, of the texts of the Agreement, and of the Joint Declarations, Declarations and Exchanges of Letters annexed to the Final Act signed on the same date and the Protocol to the Agreement of 10 April 1997 that entered into force on 12 October 2000.

Article 2

1.   To take account of recent institutional developments within the European Union, the Parties agree that following the expiry of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, existing provisions in the Agreement referring to the European Coal and Steel Community shall be deemed to refer to the European Community which has taken over all rights and obligations contracted by the European Coal and Steel Community.

2.   To take account of the institutional developments that have taken place in the international trading system of the GATT-WTO, the Parties agree that the existing references to the GATT throughout the text of the Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the GATT 1994, and the provision ‘Ukraine's accession to the GATT’ shall be understood as ‘Ukraine's accession to the WTO’.

3.   To take account of the development of the treaty base of the European Energy Charter, the Parties agree that existing references to the European Energy Charter throughout the text of the Agreement shall be considered to include references to the Energy Charter Treaty and to the Energy Charter Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects.

Article 3

This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Agreement.

Article 4

1.   This Protocol shall be approved by the Communities, by the Council of the European Union on behalf of the Member States and by Ukraine in accordance with their own procedures.

2.   The Parties shall notify each other of the completion of the corresponding procedures referred to in the preceding paragraph. The instruments of approval shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

Article 5

1.   This Protocol shall enter into force on the same day as the Treaty on Accession provided that all the instruments of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before that date.

2.   Where not all instruments of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before that date, this Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the first month following the date of the deposit of the last instrument of approval.

3.   Where not all instruments of approval of this Protocol have been deposited before 1 May 2004, this Protocol shall apply provisionally with effect from 1 May 2004.

Article 6

The texts of the Agreement, the Final Act and all documents annexed to it, as well as the Protocol to the Agreement of 10 April 1997, are drawn up in the Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak and Slovene languages.

They are annexed (1) to this Protocol and are equally authentic with the texts in the other languages in which the Agreement, the Final Act and the documents annexed to it, as well as the Protocol to the Agreement of 10 April 1997, are drawn up.

Article 7

This Protocol is drawn up in duplicate in the Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish and Ukrainian languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

Hecho en Dublín, el veintinueve de abril de dos mil cuatro.

V Dublinu dne dvacátého devátého dubna dva tisíce čtyři.

Udfærdiget i Dublin den niogtyvende april to tusind og fire.

Geschehen zu Dublin am neunundzwanzigsten April zweitausendundvier.

Kahe tuhande neljanda aasta aprillikuu kahekümne üheksandal päeval Dublinis.

Έγινε στο Δουβλίνο, στις είκοσι εννέα Απριλίου δύο χιλιάδες τέσσερα.

Done at Dublin on the twenty-ninth day of April in the year two thousand and four.

Fait à Dublin, le vingt-neuf avril deux mille quatre.

Fatto a Dublino, addì ventinove aprile duemilaquattro.

Dublinā, divi tūkstoši ceturtā gada divdesmit devītajā aprīlī.

Priimta du tūkstančiai ketvirtų metų balandžio dvidešimt devintą dieną Dubline.

Kelt Dublinban, a kétezer-negyedik év április havának huszonkilencedik napján.

Magħmul f' Dublin fid-disgħa u għoxrin jum ta' April tas-sena elfejn u erbgħa.

Gedaan te Dublin, de negenentwintigste april tweeduizendvier.

Sporządzono w Dublinie, dnia dwudziestego dziewiątego kwietnia roku dwa tysiące czwartego.

Feito em Dublim, em vinte e nove de Abril de dois mil e quatro.

V Dubline dvadsiatehodeviateho apríla dvetisícštyri.

V Dublinu, dne devetindvajsetega aprila leta dva tisoč štiri.

Tehty Dublinissa kahdentenakymmenentenäyhdeksäntenä päivänä huhtikuuta vuonna kaksituhattaneljä.

Som skedde i Dublin den tjugonionde april tjugohundrafyra.

Вчинено у Дубліні, двадцять дев'ятого квітня дві тисячі четвертого року.

Por los Estados miembros

Za členské státy

For medlemsstaterne

Für die Mitgliedstaaten

Liikmesriikide nimel

Για τα κράτη μέλη

For the Member States

Pour les États membres

Per gli Stati membri

Dalībvalstu vārdā

Valstybių narių vardu

A tagállamok részéről

Għall-Istati Membri

Voor de lidstaten

W imieniu Państw Członkowskich

Pelos Estados-Membros

Za členské štáty

Za države članice

Jäsenvaltioiden puolesta

På medlemsstaternas vägnar

За Держави-Чпени

Por las Comunidades Europeas

Za Evropská společenství

For De Europæiske Fællesskaber

Für die Europäischen Gemeinschaften

Euroopa ühenduste nimel

Για τις Ευρωπαϊκές Κοινότητες

For the European Communities

Pour les Communautés européennes

Per le Comunità europee

Eiropas Kopienu vārdā

Europos Bendrijų vardu

Az Európai Közösségek részéről

Għall-Komunitajiet Ewropej

Voor de Europese Gemeenschappen

W imieniu Wspólnot Europejskich

Pelas Comunidades Europeias

Za Európske spoločenstvá

Za Evropske skupnosti

Euroopan yhteisöjen puolesta

På Europeiska gemenskapernas vägnar

За Европейські Співтовариства

Por Ucrania

Za Ukrajinu

For Ukraine

Für die Ukraine

Ukraina nimel

Για την Ουκρανία

For Ukraine

Pour l'Ukraine

Per l'Ucraina

Ukrainas vārdā

Ukrainos vardu

Ukrajna részéről

Għall-Ukrajna

Voor Oekraïne

W imieniu Ukrainy

Pela Ucrânia

Za Ukrajinu

Za Ukrajino

Ukrainan puolesta

På Ukrainas vägnar

За Україну

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(1)  The Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak and Slovenian versions of the Agreement shall be published in the special edition of the Official Journal at a later date.

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COUNCIL AND COMMISSION DECISION

of 24 January 2006

on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (PCA), on accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the PCA and on adjustments to the PCA

(2006/538/EC, Euratom)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 44(2), the last sentence of Article 47(2), and Articles 55, 57(2), 71, 80(2), 93, 94, 133 and 181a, in conjunction with the second sentence of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3), thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 101 thereof,

Having regard to the 2003 Treaty of Accession, and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Having regard to the 2003 Act of Accession, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),

Having regard to the Council's approval pursuant to Article 101 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,

Whereas:

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (PCA), on accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the PCA and on adjustments to the PCA is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community, the European Atomic Energy Community and the Member States.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision (3).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, give the notification provided for in Article 4 of the Protocol. The President of the Commission shall simultaneously give such notification on behalf of the European Atomic Energy Community.

Done at Brussels, 24 January 2006.

For the Council

The President

K.-H. GRASSER

For the Commission

The President

J. M. BARROSO

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(1)OJ C 174 E, 14.7.2005, p. 45.

(2)  See page 15 of this Official Journal.

(3)  See page 16 of this Official Journal.

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COUNCIL DECISION

of 22 May 2006

on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community of the Convention for the Strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica

(2006/539/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the second subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the assent of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Antigua Convention is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community.

The text of the Convention is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the persons empowered to deposit the instrument of approval with the Government of the United States of America as Depositary of the Convention in Accordance with Article XXXVII thereof.

Article 3

On the entry into force of the Antigua Convention, Spain shall denounce the Convention establishing the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission.

Done at Brussels, 22 May 2006.

For the Council

The President

J. PRÖLL

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(1)  Assent of 27 April 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2)OJ L 189, 3.7.1998, p. 14.

(3)OJ L 15, 19.1.2005, p. 9.

(4)OJ L 155, 22.6.1999, p. 37.

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CONVENTION

for the strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica (Antigua Convention)

THE PARTIES TO THIS CONVENTION:

AWARE THAT, in accordance with the relevant provisions of international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982, all States have the duty to take such measures as may be necessary for the conservation and management of living marine resources, including highly migratory species, and to cooperate with other States in taking such measures;

RECALLING the sovereign rights of coastal States for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the living marine resources within areas under national jurisdiction as provided for in UNCLOS, and the right of all States for their nationals to engage in fishing on the high seas in accordance with UNCLOS;

REAFFIRMING their commitment to the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and Agenda 21, particularly Chapter 17, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992), and to the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation adopted by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002);

STRESSING THE NEED to implement the principles and standards of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries adopted by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in 1995, including the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, 1993, which forms an integral part of the Code, as well as the International Plans of Action adopted by FAO within the framework of the Code of Conduct;

TAKING NOTE that the 50th General Assembly of the United Nations, pursuant to resolution A/RES/50/24, adopted the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement);

CONSIDERING the importance of fishing for highly migratory fish stocks as a source of food, employment and economic benefits for the populations of the Parties and that conservation and management measures must address those needs and take into account the economic and social impacts of those measures;

TAKING into account the special circumstances and requirements of the developing countries of the region, particularly the coastal countries, in order to achieve the objective of the Convention;

RECOGNISING the significant efforts and the outstanding achievements of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, as well as the importance of its work in the tuna fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean;

DESIROUS TO benefit from the experiences derived from the implementation of the 1949 Convention;

REAFFIRMING that multilateral cooperation constitutes the most effective means for achieving the objectives of conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources;

COMMITTED to ensuring the long-term conservation and the sustainable use of fish stocks covered by this Convention;

CONVINCED THAT the aforementioned objectives and the strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission can best be achieved through bringing up to date the provisions of the 1949 Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica for the establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission;

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article I

Definitions

For the purposes of this Convention:

Article II

Objective

The objective of this Convention is to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of the fish stocks covered by this Convention, in accordance with the relevant rules of international law.

Article III

Area of application of the convention

The area of application of the Convention (the Convention area) comprises the area of the Pacific Ocean bounded by the coastline of North, Central, and South America and by the following lines:

PART II

CONSERVATION AND USE OF THE FISH STOCKS COVERED BY THE CONVENTION

Article IV

Application of the precautionary approach

1.   The members of the Commission, directly and through the Commission, shall apply the precautionary approach, as described in the relevant provisions of the Code of Conduct and/or the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement, for the conservation, management and sustainable use of fish stocks covered by this Convention.

2.   In particular, the members of the Commission shall be more cautious when information is uncertain, unreliable or inadequate. The absence of adequate scientific information shall not be used as a reason for postponing or failing to take conservation and management measures.

3.   Where the status of target stocks or non-target or associated or dependent species is of concern, the members of the Commission shall subject such stocks and species to enhanced monitoring in order to review their status and the efficacy of conservation and management measures. They shall revise those measures regularly in the light of new scientific information available.

Article V

Compatibility of conservation and management measures

1.   Nothing in this Convention shall prejudice or undermine the sovereignty or sovereign rights of coastal States related to the exploration and exploitation, conservation and management of the living marine resources within areas under their sovereignty or national jurisdiction as provided for in UNCLOS, or the right of all States for their nationals to engage in fishing on the high seas in accordance with UNCLOS.

2.   The conservation and management measures established for the high seas and those adopted for areas under national jurisdiction shall be compatible, in order to ensure the conservation and management of the fish stocks covered by this Convention.

PART III

THE INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION

Article VI

The Commission

1.   The members of the Commission agree to maintain, with all its assets and liabilities, and to strengthen the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission established by the 1949 Convention.

2.   The Commission shall be composed of sections consisting of from one (1) to four (4) Commissioners appointed by each member, who may be accompanied by such experts and advisers as that member may deem advisable.

3.   The Commission shall have legal personality and shall enjoy, in its relations with other international organisations and with its members, such legal capacity as may be necessary to perform its functions and achieve its objective, in accordance with international law. The immunities and privileges which the Commission and its officers shall enjoy shall be subject to an agreement between the Commission and the relevant member.

4.   The headquarters of the Commission shall remain at San Diego, California, United States of America.

Article VII

Functions of the Commission

1.   The Commission shall perform the following functions, giving priority to tunas and tuna-like species:

2.   The Commission shall maintain a staff qualified in matters pertaining to this Convention, including administrative, scientific and technical areas, under the supervision of the Director, and ensure that it shall include all personnel needed for the efficient and effective application of this Convention. The Commission should seek the most qualified staff available, and give due consideration to the importance of recruiting staff on an equitable basis to promote broad representation and participation of the members of the Commission.

3.   In considering guidance for the programme of work on scientific matters to be addressed by the scientific staff, the Commission shall consider, inter alia, the advice, recommendations, and reports of the Scientific Advisory Committee established pursuant to Article XI of this Convention.

Article VIII

Meetings of the Commission

1.   The ordinary meetings of the Commission shall take place at least once a year, in such location and on such date as the Commission agrees.

2.   The Commission may also hold extraordinary meetings when deemed necessary. These meetings shall be convened at the request of at least two of the members of the Commission, provided that a majority of the members support the request.

3.   The meetings of the Commission shall be held only when a quorum is present. Quorum is reached when two-thirds of the members of the Commission are present. This rule shall also apply to meetings of subsidiary bodies established under this Convention.

4.   The meetings shall be held in English and Spanish, and the documents of the Commission shall be produced in both these languages.

5.   Members shall elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman from, unless otherwise decided, different Parties to this Convention. Both officials shall be elected for a period of one (1) year and shall remain in office until their successors are elected.

Article IX

Decision making

1.   Unless provided otherwise, all decisions made by the Commission at meetings convened pursuant to Article VIII of this Convention shall be by consensus of members of the Commission present at the meeting in question.

2.   Decisions on adoption of amendments to this Convention and its annexes, as well as invitations to accede to the Convention pursuant to Article XXX(c) of this Convention, shall require consensus of all Parties. In such cases, the Chairman of the meeting shall ensure that all members of the Commission have the opportunity to express their views on the proposed decisions, which the Parties shall take into account in reaching the final decision.

3.   The consensus of all the members of the Commission shall be required for decisions on:

4.   With respect to decisions referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, if a Party or member of the Commission, as the case may be, is absent from the meeting in question and has not sent a notification in accordance with paragraph 6 of this Article, the Director shall notify such Party or member of the decision taken at the meeting. If, within thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Party or member of such notification, the Director has not received a response from such Party or member, that Party or member shall be deemed to have joined the consensus on the decision in question. If, within such 30-day period, such Party or member replies in writing that it cannot join the consensus on the decision in question, the decision shall have no effect, and the Commission shall seek to reach consensus at the earliest opportunity.

5.   When a Party or member of the Commission that was not present at a meeting notifies the Director, in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Article, that it cannot join the consensus on a decision taken at that meeting, that member shall not be able to oppose consensus on the same issue if it is not present at the next meeting of the Commission at which that issue is on the agenda.

6.   If a member of the Commission is not able to attend a meeting of the Commission due to extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances outside its control:

7.   The decisions adopted by the Commission pursuant to this Convention shall be binding for all members forty-five (45) days after their notification, unless otherwise specified in this Convention or agreed when a decision is taken.

Article X

Committee for the Review of Implementation of Measures Adopted by the Commission

1.   The Commission shall establish a Committee for the review of implementation of measures adopted by the Commission, which shall be composed of those representatives designated for this purpose by each member of the Commission, who may be accompanied by such experts and advisers as that member may deem advisable.

2.   The functions of the Committee shall be those established in Annex 3 of this Convention.

3.   In the exercise of its functions, the Committee may, where appropriate, and with the approval of the Commission, consult any other fisheries management, technical or scientific organisation with competence in the subject matter of such consultation and may seek such expert advice as may be required in each case.

4.   The Committee shall strive to adopt its reports and recommendations by consensus. If every effort to achieve consensus has failed, the reports shall so indicate, and shall reflect the majority and minority views. At the request of any member of the Committee, the views of that member on all or any part of the reports shall also be reflected.

5.   The Committee shall meet at least once a year, preferably on the occasion of the ordinary meeting of the Commission.

6.   The Committee may convene additional meetings at the request of at least two (2) of the members of the Commission, provided that a majority of the members support the request.

7.   The Committee shall exercise its functions in accordance with such rules of procedure, guidelines and directives as the Commission may adopt.

8.   In support of the work of the Committee, the staff of the Commission shall:

Article XI

Scientific Advisory Committee

1.   The Commission shall establish a Scientific Advisory Committee, which shall be composed of a representative designated by each member of the Commission, who shall have appropriate qualifications or relevant experience in the area of competence of the Committee, and who may be accompanied by such experts or advisers as that member may deem advisable.

2.   The Commission may invite to participate in the work of the Committee organisations or persons with recognised scientific experience in matters related to the work of the Commission.

3.   The functions of the Committee shall be those established in Annex 4 of this Convention.

4.   The Committee shall meet at least once a year, preferably prior to a meeting of the Commission.

5.   The Committee may convene additional meetings at the request of at least two (2) of the members of the Commission, provided that a majority of the members support the request.

6.   The Director shall serve as Chairman of the Committee or may delegate the exercise of this function subject to the approval of the Commission.

7.   The Committee shall strive to adopt its reports and recommendations by consensus. If every effort to achieve consensus has failed, the reports shall so indicate, and shall reflect the majority and minority views. At the request of any member of the Committee, the views of that member on all or any part of the reports shall also be reflected.

Article XII

Administration

1.   The Commission shall appoint, in accordance with the adopted rules of procedure and taking into account any criteria established therein, a Director, whose competence in the field of this Convention is established and generally recognised, in particular in its scientific, technical and administrative aspects, and who shall be responsible to the Commission and may be removed by the Commission at its discretion. The term of the Director shall be for four years, and he may be reappointed as many times as the Commission decides.

2.   The functions of the Director shall be:

3.   In fulfilling their functions, the Director and the staff of the Commission shall not act in any manner that could be incompatible with their status or with the objective and provisions of this Convention, nor shall they have any financial interests in activities such as investigation and research, exploration, exploitation, processing and marketing of the fish stocks covered by this Convention. Likewise, they shall also maintain as confidential, while they are employed by the Commission and thereafter, any confidential information they obtained or to which they had access during their employment.

Article XIII

Scientific staff

The scientific staff shall operate under the supervision of the Director, and of the Coordinator of Scientific Research if appointed in accordance with Article XII(2)(d) and (e) of this Convention, and shall have the following functions, giving priority to tunas and tuna-like species:

Article XIV

Budget

1.   The Commission shall adopt each year its budget for the following year, in accordance with Article IX(3) of this Convention. In determining the size of the budget, the Commission shall give due consideration to the principle of cost effectiveness.

2.   The Director shall submit to the Commission for consideration a detailed draft annual budget that shall identify the disbursements to be made from contributions referred to in Article XV(1) and those referred to in Article XV(3), of this Convention.

3.   The Commission shall maintain separate accounts for the activities carried out under this Convention and under the AIDCP. The services to be provided to the AIDCP and the corresponding estimated costs shall be specified in the Commission's budget. The Director shall provide to the Meeting of the Parties to the AIDCP for its approval, and prior to the year in which the services are to be provided, estimates of services and their costs corresponding to the tasks to be carried out pursuant to that Agreement.

4.   The accounts of the Commission shall be subjected to an annual independent financial audit.

Article XV

Contributions

1.   The amount of the contribution of each member of the Commission to the budget shall be determined in accordance with the scheme which the Commission shall adopt, and amend, as required, in accordance with Article IX(3) of this Convention. The scheme adopted by the Commission shall be transparent and equitable for all members and shall be set out in the financial regulations of the Commission.

2.   The contributions agreed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall enable the operation of the Commission and cover in a timely manner the annual budget adopted in accordance with Article XIV(1) of this Convention.

3.   The Commission shall establish a fund to receive voluntary contributions for research on and conservation of the fish stocks covered by this Convention and, as appropriate, associated or dependent species, and for the conservation of the marine environment.

4.   Notwithstanding the provisions of Article IX of this Convention, unless the Commission decides otherwise, if a member of the Commission is in arrears in the payment of its contributions by an amount equal to or greater than the total of the contributions due from it for the preceding twenty-four (24) months, that member shall not have the right to participate in decision-making in the Commission until it has fulfilled its obligations pursuant to this Article.

5.   Each member of the Commission shall meet its own expenses arising from attendance at meetings of the Commission and of its subsidiary bodies.

Article XVI

Transparency

1.   The Commission shall promote transparency in the implementation of this Convention in its decision-making processes and other activities, inter alia, through:

2.   Representatives of non-Parties, relevant intergovernmental organisations, and non-governmental organisations, including environmental organisations with recognised experience in matters pertaining to the Commission and the tuna industry of any of the members of the Commission operating in the Convention area, particularly the tuna fishing fleet, shall be afforded the opportunity to take part in the meetings of the Commission and of its subsidiary organs, as observers or otherwise, as appropriate, in accordance with the principles and criteria established in Annex 2 of this Convention as well as others that the Commission may adopt. Such participants shall have timely access to relevant information, subject to the rules of procedure and of confidentiality on access to such information that the Commission may adopt.

PART IV

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION

Article XVII

Rights of States

No provision of this Convention may be interpreted in such a way as to prejudice or undermine the sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction exercised by any State in accordance with international law, as well as its position or views with regard to matters relating to the law of the sea.

Article XVIII

Implementation, compliance and enforcement by Parties

1.   Each Party shall take the measures necessary to ensure the implementation of and compliance with this Convention and any conservation and management measures adopted pursuant thereto, including the adoption of the necessary laws and regulations.

2.   Each Party shall provide to the Commission all the information that may be required for the fulfillment of the objective of this Convention, including statistical and biological information and information concerning its fishing activities in the Convention area, and shall provide to the Commission information regarding actions taken to implement the measures adopted in accordance with this Convention, whenever required by the Commission and as appropriate, subject to the provisions of Article XXII of this Convention and in accordance with the rules of procedure to be developed and adopted by the Commission.

3.   Each Party shall promptly, through the Director, inform the Committee for the review of implementation of measures adopted by the Commission established pursuant to the provisions of Article X of this Convention of:

4.   Each Party shall:

5.   Each Party shall take measures to ensure that vessels operating in waters under its national jurisdiction comply with this Convention and the measures adopted pursuant thereto.

6.   Each Party, where it has reasonable grounds to believe that a vessel flying the flag of another State has engaged in any activity that undermines the effectiveness of conservation and management measures adopted for the Convention area, shall draw this to the attention of the flag State concerned and may, as appropriate, draw the matter to the attention of the Commission. The Party in question shall provide the flag State with full supporting evidence and may provide the Commission with a summary of such evidence. The Commission shall not circulate such information until such time as the flag State has had an opportunity to comment, within a reasonable time, on the allegation and evidence submitted for its consideration, or to object, as the case may be.

7.   Each Party, at the request of the Commission or of any other Party, when provided with relevant information that a vessel under its jurisdiction has carried out activities which contravene the measures adopted pursuant to this Convention, shall carry out a thorough investigation, and if appropriate proceed in accordance with its national legislation and inform, as soon as possible, the Commission and, if applicable, the other Party, of the results of its investigations and the actions taken.

8.   Each Party shall apply, in accordance with its national laws and in a manner consistent with international law, sanctions of sufficient gravity as to be effective in securing compliance with the provisions of this Convention and of measures adopted pursuant thereto and to deprive offenders of the benefits accruing from their illegal activities, including, as appropriate, refusal, suspension or withdrawal of the authorisation to fish.

9.   The Parties whose coasts border the Convention area or whose vessels fish for fish stocks covered by this Convention or in whose territory the catch is landed and processed shall cooperate with a view to ensuring compliance with this Convention and with a view to ensuring the application of the conservation and management measures adopted by the Commission, including through the adoption of cooperative measures and schemes, as appropriate.

10.   If the Commission determines that vessels fishing in the Convention area have engaged in activities which undermine the effectiveness of or otherwise violate the conservation and management measures adopted by the Commission, the Parties may take action, following the recommendations adopted by the Commission and in accordance with this Convention and international law, to deter such vessels from such activities until such time as appropriate action is taken by the flag State to ensure that such vessels do not continue those activities.

Article XIX

Implementation, compliance and enforcement by fishing entities

Article XVIII of this Convention applies, mutatis mutandis, to fishing entities that are members of the Commission.

Article XX

Duties of flag States

1.   Each Party shall, in accordance with international law, take such measures as may be necessary to ensure that vessels flying its flag comply with the provisions of this Convention and the conservation and management measures adopted pursuant thereto, and that such vessels do not engage in any activity which undermines the effectiveness of such measures.

2.   No Party shall allow any vessel entitled to fly its flag to be used for fishing for fish stocks covered by this Convention unless it has been authorised to do so by the appropriate authority or authorities of that Party. A Party shall authorise the use of vessels flying its flag for fishing in the Convention area only where it is able to exercise effectively its responsibilities in respect of such vessels under this Convention.

3.   In addition to its obligations under paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, each Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to ensure that vessels flying its flag do not fish in areas under the sovereignty or national jurisdiction of any other State in the Convention area without the corresponding license, permit or authorisation issued by the competent authorities of that State.

Article XXI

Duties of fishing entities

Article XX of this Convention applies, mutatis mutandis, to fishing entities that are members of the Commission.

PART V

CONFIDENTIALITY

Article XXII

Confidentiality

1.   The Commission shall establish rules of confidentiality for all bodies and individuals given access to information pursuant to this Convention.

2.   Notwithstanding any confidentiality rules which may be adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, any persons with access to such confidential information may disclose such information in connection with legal or administrative proceedings, if requested by the competent authority concerned.

PART VI

COOPERATION

Article XXIII

Cooperation and assistance

1.   The Commission shall seek to adopt measures relating to technical assistance, technology transfer, training and other forms of cooperation, to assist developing countries that are members of the Commission to fulfill their obligations under this Convention, as well as to enhance their ability to develop fisheries under their respective national jurisdictions and to participate in high seas fisheries on a sustainable basis.

2.   The members of the Commission shall facilitate and promote such cooperation, especially financial and technical, and the transfer of technology, as may be necessary for the effective implementation of paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article XXIV

Cooperation with other organisations or arrangements

1.   The Commission shall cooperate with subregional, regional, and global fishery organisations and arrangements and, as appropriate, shall establish relevant institutional arrangements such as consultative committees, in agreement with such organisations or arrangements, with the goal of promoting the achievement of the objective of this Convention, obtaining the best available scientific information, and avoiding duplication with respect to their work.

2.   The Commission, in agreement with the relevant organisations or arrangements, shall adopt the rules of operation for the institutional arrangements established in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article.

3.   Where the Convention area overlaps with an area under regulation by another fisheries management organisation, the Commission shall cooperate with such other organisation in order to ensure that the objective of this Convention is reached. To this end, through consultations or other arrangements, the Commission shall strive to agree with the other organisation on the relevant measures to be taken, such as ensuring the harmonisation and compatibility of the conservation and management measures adopted by the Commission and the other organisation, or deciding that the Commission or the other organisation, as appropriate, avoid taking measures in respect of species in that area which are regulated by the other.

4.   The provisions of paragraph 3 of this Article shall be applied, as appropriate, to the case of fish stocks that migrate through areas under the purview of the Commission and of another organisation or organisations or arrangements.

PART VII

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

Article XXV

Settlement of disputes

1.   The members of the Commission shall cooperate in order to prevent disputes. Any member may consult with one or more members about any dispute related to the interpretation or application of the provisions of this Convention to reach a solution satisfactory to all as quickly as possible.

2.   If a dispute is not settled through such consultation within a reasonable period, the members in question shall consult among themselves as soon as possible in order to settle the dispute through any peaceful means they may agree upon, in accordance with international law.

3.   In cases when two or more members of the Commission agree that they have a dispute of a technical nature, and they are unable to resolve the dispute among themselves, they may refer the dispute, by mutual consent, to a non-binding ad hoc expert panel constituted within the framework of the Commission in accordance with the procedures adopted for this purpose by the Commission. The panel shall confer with the members concerned and shall endeavor to resolve the dispute expeditiously without recourse to binding procedures for the settlement of disputes.

PART VIII

NON-MEMBERS

Article XXVI

Non-members

1.   The Commission and its members shall encourage all States and regional economic integration organisations referred to in Article XXVII of this Convention and, as appropriate, fishing entities referred to in Article XXVIII of this Convention that are not members of the Commission to become members or to adopt laws and regulations consistent with this Convention.

2.   The members of the Commission shall exchange information among themselves, either directly or through the Commission, with respect to activities of vessels of non-members that undermine the effectiveness of this Convention.

3.   The Commission and its members shall cooperate, consistent with this Convention and international law, to jointly deter vessels of non-members from carrying out activities that undermine the effectiveness of this Convention. To this end, the members shall, inter alia, call to the attention of non-members such activities by their vessels.

PART IX

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article XXVII

Signature

1.   This Convention shall be open for signature at Washington from 14 November 2003 until 31 December 2004 by:

2.   In relation to the regional economic integration organisations referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, no member State of such organisations may sign this Convention unless it represents a territory which lies outside the territorial scope of the treaty establishing the organisation and provided that such member State's participation be limited to representing only the interests of that territory.

Article XXVIII

Fishing entities

1.   Any fishing entity whose vessels have fished for fish stocks covered by this Convention at any time during the four years preceding the adoption of this Convention may express its firm commitment to abide by the terms of this Convention and comply with any conservation and management measures adopted pursuant thereto, by:

2.   The commitment expressed pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article shall be effective from the date referred to in Article XXXI(1), of this Convention, or on the date of the written communication referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, whichever is later.

3.   Any fishing entity referred to above may express its firm commitment to abide by the terms of this Convention as it may be amended pursuant to Article XXXIV or Article XXXV of this Convention by providing a written communication to this effect to the Depositary in accordance with the resolution referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

4.   The commitment expressed pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article shall be effective from the dates referred to in Article XXXIV(3), and Article XXXV(4) of this Convention, or on the date of the written communication referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, whichever is later.

Article XXIX

Ratification, acceptance or approval

This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the signatories in accordance with their domestic laws and procedures.

Article XXX

Accession

This Convention shall remain open to accession by any State or regional economic integration organisation:

Article XXXI

Entry into force

1.   This Convention shall enter into force fifteen (15) months after the deposit with the Depositary of the seventh instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession of the Parties to the 1949 Convention that were Parties to that Convention on the date this Convention was opened for signature.

2.   After the date of entry into force of this Convention, with respect to each State or regional economic integration organisation that meets the requirements of Article XXVII or Article XXX, this Convention shall enter into force for said State or regional economic integration organisation on the thirtieth (30th) day following the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession.

3.   Upon entry into force of this Convention, this Convention shall prevail, as between Parties to this Convention and the 1949 Convention, over the 1949 Convention.

4.   Upon the entry into force of this Convention, conservation and management measures and other arrangements adopted by the Commission under the 1949 Convention shall remain in force until such time as they expire, are terminated by a decision of the Commission, or are replaced by other measures or arrangements adopted pursuant to this Convention.

5.   Upon entry into force of this Convention, a Party to the 1949 Convention that has not yet consented to be bound by this Convention shall be deemed to remain a member of the Commission unless such Party elects not to remain a member of the Commission by so notifying the Depositary in writing prior to the entry into force of this Convention.

6.   Upon entry into force of this Convention for all Parties to the 1949 Convention, the 1949 Convention shall be considered as terminated in accordance with the relevant rules of international law as reflected in Article 59 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

Article XXXII

Provisional application

1.   In accordance with its laws and regulations, a State or regional economic integration organisation that meets the requirements of Article XXVII or Article XXX of this Convention may apply this Convention provisionally by so notifying the Depositary in writing. Such provisional application shall commence on the later of the date of entry into force of this Convention and the date of receipt of such notification by the Depositary.

2.   Provisional application of this Convention by a State or regional economic integration organisation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall terminate upon entry into force of this Convention for that State or regional economic integration organisation, or upon notification to the Depositary by that State or regional economic integration organisation of its intention to terminate its provisional application of this Convention.

Article XXXIII

Reservations

No reservations may be made to this Convention.

Article XXXIV

Amendments

1.   Any member of the Commission may propose an amendment to the Convention by providing to the Director the text of a proposed amendment at least sixty (60) days in advance of a meeting of the Commission. The Director shall provide a copy of this text to all other members promptly.

2.   Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted in accordance with Article IX(2) of this Convention.

3.   Amendments to this Convention shall enter into force ninety (90) days after all Parties to the Convention at the time the amendments were approved have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, or approval of such amendments with the Depositary.

4.   States or regional economic integration organisations that become Parties to this Convention after the entry into force of amendments to the Convention or its annexes shall be considered to be Party to the Convention as amended.

Article XXXV

Annexes

1.   The Annexes to this Convention form an integral part thereof and, unless expressly provided otherwise, a reference to this Convention includes a reference to the Annexes thereto.

2.   Any member of the Commission may propose an amendment to an Annex to the Convention by providing to the Director the text of a proposed amendment at least sixty (60) days in advance of a meeting of the Commission. The Director shall provide a copy of this text to all other members promptly.

3.   Amendments to the Annexes shall be adopted in accordance with Article IX(2) of this Convention.

4.   Unless otherwise agreed, amendments to an Annex shall enter into force for all members of the Commission ninety (90) days after their adoption pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article.

Article XXXVI

Withdrawal

1.   Any Party may withdraw at any time after twelve (12) months from the date on which this Convention entered into force with respect to that Party by giving written notice of withdrawal to the Depositary. The Depositary shall inform the other Parties of the withdrawal within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice. The withdrawal shall become effective six (6) months after receipt of such notice by the Depositary.

2.   This article applies, mutatis mutandis, to any fishing entity with respect to its commitment under Article XXVIII of this Convention.

Article XXXVII

Depositary

The original texts of this Convention shall be deposited with the Government of the United States of America, which shall send certified copies thereof to the signatories and the Parties thereto, and to the Secretary General of the United Nations for registration and publication, pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, having been duly authorised by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.

DONE at Washington, on this 14th day of November 2003, in English, Spanish and French, all three texts being equally authentic.

ANNEX 1

Guidelines and criteria for the establishment of records of vessels

ANNEX 2

Principles and criteria for the participation of observers at meetings of the Commission

ANNEX 3

Committee for the Review of Implementation of Measures Adopted by the Commission

The functions of the Committee for the Review of Implementation of Measures Adopted by the Commission established under Article X of this Convention shall be the following:

ANNEX 4

Scientific Advisory Committee

The functions of the Scientific Advisory Committee established under Article XI of this Convention shall be the following:

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