Article 1 
The Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros on fishing off the Comoros for the period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2010 is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Regulation ( 3 ) .
Article 2 
The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol shall be allocated among the Member States as follows: (a) tuna seiners: Spain : 21 vessels, France : 18 vessels, Italy : 1 vessel; (b) surface longliners: Spain : 12 vessels, Portugal : 5 vessels. If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other Member State.
Article 3 
Member States whose vessels fish under this Protocol are obliged to notify the Commission of the quantities of each stock taken in the Comorian fishing zone in accordance with the arrangements laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 500/2001 ( 4 ) .
Article 4 
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the persons empowered to sign the Protocol in order to bind the Community.
Article 5 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .