Article 1 
The signing of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the extension of 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 28 February 2004 to 31 December 2004 is hereby approved on behalf of the Community, subject to the Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the said Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters. The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is attached to this Decision.
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the persons empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on behalf of the Community subject to its conclusion.
Article 3 
The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters shall be provisionally applied by the Community from 28 February 2004.
Article 4 
The fishing opportunities set out in Article 1 of the Protocol shall be allocated among the Member States as follows: (a) tuna seiners: Spain : 18 vessels France : 21 vessels Italy : 1 vessel; (b) surface longliners: Spain : 20 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 5 
The Member States whose vessels fish under this Agreement shall be required to notify the Commission of the quantities of each stock caught in the Comorian fishing zone in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 500/2001 ( 3 ) of 14 March 2001 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 on the monitoring of catches taken by Community fishing vessels in third country waters and on the high seas.