EN Official Journal of the European Union L 63/21

COUNCIL AND COMMISSION DECISION

of 21 February 2005

on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 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

(2005/192/EC, Euratom)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 310 in conjunction with the second sentence of Article 300(2), first subparagraph, and the second 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 Treaty of Accession of 16 April 2003 and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the assent of the European Parliament,

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

Whereas:

(1) The Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 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, has been signed on behalf of the European Community and the Member States on 12 December 2004 in accordance with Council Decision 2004/896/EC (1).

(2) Pending its entry into force the Protocol has been applied on a provisional basis as from 1 May 2004.

(3) The Protocol should be concluded,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 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 (2) is annexed to this Decision.

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 15 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 José Manuel BARROSO

(1) OJ L 388, 29.12.2004, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 388, 29.12.2004, p. 6.