Article 1 
Member States are hereby authorised, for the parts falling under the exclusive competence of the Union, to ratify or accede to, as appropriate, the Protocol of 2010 in the interest of the Union, with the exception of the aspects related to judicial cooperation in civil matters, and subject to the conditions laid down in this Decision.
Article 2 
1. Member States shall endeavour to take the necessary steps to deposit the instruments of ratification of, or accession to, the Protocol of 2010 within a reasonable time and, if possible, by 6 May 2021. 2. Member States shall inform each other and the Council and the Commission in an appropriate manner when the system for the reporting of HNS contributing cargo becomes operational. 3. Member States shall seek to exchange best practices, in particular on the system for the reporting of HNS contributing cargo under the Protocol of 2010.
Article 3 
When ratifying or acceding to the Protocol of 2010, Member States shall inform the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization in writing that such ratification or accession has taken place in accordance with this Decision and Council Decision (EU) 2017/770 ( 4 ) .
Article 4 
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
Article 5 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States in accordance with the Treaties.