Article 1 
1. Without prejudice to the Community's powers, the Member States which are currently Contracting Parties to the Paris Convention shall ratify the Protocol amending the Paris Convention, or accede to it, in the interest of the European Community. Such ratification or accession shall be without prejudice to the position of Austria, Ireland and Luxembourg. 2. The text of the Protocol amending the Paris Convention is attached to this Decision. 3. For the purposes of this Decision, the term "Member State" shall mean all Member States with the exception of Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Luxembourg. Article 2 1. Member States which are Contracting Parties to the Paris Convention shall take the necessary steps to deposit simultaneously their instruments of ratification of the Protocol, or accession to it, with the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development within a reasonable time and, if possible, before 31 December 2006. 2. Member States which are Contracting Parties to the Paris Convention shall exchange information with the Commission within the Council before 1 July 2006 on the date on which they expect their parliamentary procedures required for ratification or accession to be completed. The date and arrangements for simultaneous deposit shall be determined on that basis. Article 3 When ratifying or acceding to the Protocol amending the Paris Convention, Member States shall inform the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in writing that ratification or accession has taken place in accordance with this Decision. Article 4 This Decision is addressed to the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community. Done at Brussels, 8 March 2004. For the Council The President D. Ahern (1) Assent of 26 February 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ L 12, 16.1.2001, p. 1. (3) OJ L 338, 23.12.2003, p. 32.
Article 2 
1. Member States which are Contracting Parties to the Paris Convention shall take the necessary steps to deposit simultaneously their instruments of ratification of the Protocol, or accession to it, with the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development within a reasonable time and, if possible, before 31 December 2006. 2. Member States which are Contracting Parties to the Paris Convention shall exchange information with the Commission within the Council before 1 July 2006 on the date on which they expect their parliamentary procedures required for ratification or accession to be completed. The date and arrangements for simultaneous deposit shall be determined on that basis. Article 3 When ratifying or acceding to the Protocol amending the Paris Convention, Member States shall inform the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in writing that ratification or accession has taken place in accordance with this Decision. Article 4 This Decision is addressed to the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community. Done at Brussels, 8 March 2004. For the Council The President D. Ahern (1) Assent of 26 February 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ L 12, 16.1.2001, p. 1. (3) OJ L 338, 23.12.2003, p. 32.
Article 3 
When ratifying or acceding to the Protocol amending the Paris Convention, Member States shall inform the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in writing that ratification or accession has taken place in accordance with this Decision. Article 4 This Decision is addressed to the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community. Done at Brussels, 8 March 2004. For the Council The President D. Ahern (1) Assent of 26 February 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ L 12, 16.1.2001, p. 1. (3) OJ L 338, 23.12.2003, p. 32.
Article 4 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community. Done at Brussels, 8 March 2004