91/598/EEC: Council Decision of 18 November 1991 concerning the conclusion of the Convention on the International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe

COUNCIL DECISION  of 18 November 1991  concerning the conclusion of the Convention on the International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe  (91/598/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 130s thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Having regard to the Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council of 19 October 1987 on the continuation and implementation of a European Community policy and action programme on  the environment (1987-1992) (4), and the fourth action programme of the European Communities on the environment, annexed to the said Resolution, hereafter called 'Fourth Action Programme',
Whereas the Fourth Action Programme, in continuation of the earlier Action Programmes, lists amongst its main areas of activity, monitoring and control with a view to improving water quality and reducing pollution;
Whereas the Fourth Action Programme calls for active participation by the Community and its Member States in international action for the protection of the environment and attaches, in this framework, particular importance to bilateral liaisons with  third countries;
Whereas the Convention on the International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe, signed in Magdeburg on 8 October 1990, provides in particular for the establishment of an international commission to prevent the pollution of the Elbe and its  drainage area, as far as covered by this Convention;
Whereas the existing Community legislation on water pollution currently applies to the Elbe and its tributaries where they run through the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany;
Whereas it appears necessary for the Community to approve the Convention in order to attain one of the objectives of the Community as regards the preservation, protection and improvement of the quality of the environment, as provided for in the Single  European Act;
Whereas the said Convention was signed on behalf of the Community on 8 October 1990,