Article 1 
The position to be adopted on behalf of the Union at the 98th session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee shall be to agree to the adoption of the following amendments: (a) the amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-1/23, as laid down in Annex 1 to IMO document MSC 97/WP.5, subject to the modifications proposed in IMO documents MSC 97/3/5 and MSC 97/3/4; (b) the amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-2/9.4.1.3, as laid down in Annex 13 to IMO document MSC 97/22/Add.1; (c) the amendments to the HSC Codes, as laid down in Annexes 15 and 16 to IMO document MSC 97/22/Add.1; (d) the amendments to the LSA Code and to the Annex to Resolution MSC.81(70), as laid down in Annex 17 to IMO document MSC 97/22/Add.1 and in Annex 1 to IMO document MSC 98/3/1.
Article 2 
The position to be adopted on behalf of the Union at the 71st session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee shall be to agree to the adoption of the amendments to Appendix V to MARPOL Annex VI, as laid down in Annex 7 to IMO document MEPC 70/18/Add.1.
Article 3 
1. The positions to be adopted on behalf of the Union as set out in Articles 1 and 2 shall be expressed by the Member States, which are members of the IMO, acting jointly in the interests of the Union. 2. Minor changes to the positions referred to in Articles 1 and 2 may be agreed upon without further decision of the Council.
Article 4 
Member States are hereby authorised to give their consent to be bound, in the interests of the Union, by the amendments referred to in Articles 1 and 2, to the extent that those amendments fall under the exclusive competence of the Union.
Article 5 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.