Article 1 
The Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products is approved on behalf of the Union ( 5 ) .
Article 2 
The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in Article 31 of the Agreement ( 6 ) .
Article 3 
The Commission shall represent the Union within the Joint Implementation Committee set up under Article 19 of the Agreement. The Member States may participate in meetings of the Joint Implementation Committee as members of the Union delegation.
Article 4 
For the purpose of amending the annexes to the Agreement in accordance with Article 26 of the Agreement, the Commission is authorised, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 ( 7 ) , to approve any such amendments on behalf of the Union.
Article 5 
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.