Council Regulation (EC) No 154/2004 of 26 January 2004 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters extending for the period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 the validity of the Protocol setting fishing opportunities and a financial contribution as provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire on fishing off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire

Council Regulation (EC) No 154/2004
of 26 January 2004
on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters extending for the period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 the validity of the Protocol setting fishing opportunities and a financial contribution as provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire on fishing off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 in conjunction with Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(1),
Whereas:
(1) Under the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire on fishing off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire(2), before the period of validity of the Protocol annexed to the Agreement expires, the contracting parties are to negotiate in order to agree the content of the Protocol for the following period and any changes or additions to be made to the Annex.
(2) Pending negotiations on changes to be made to the existing Protocol approved by Regulation (EC) No 722/2001(3), the two parties have decided to extend its validity for one year by means of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters.
(3) It is in the Community's interest to approve this extension.
(4) The allocation of fishing opportunities to the Member States should be confirmed,