Article 1 
The UN-ECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision as Annex A.
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to deposit the instrument of approval with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 25 of the Protocol.
Article 3 
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to deposit, on behalf of the Community, the Declaration of Competence set out in Annex B to this Decision, in accordance with Article 26(4) of the Protocol.
Article 4 
1. As regards matters falling within Community competence, the Commission is authorised to approve on behalf of the Community, amendments to the Annexes to the Protocol, pursuant to Article 20 thereof. 2. The Commission shall be assisted in carrying out this task by a special committee appointed by the Council. 3. The authorisation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be limited to those amendments that are consistent with, and do not entail any modification of, relevant Community legislation on the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register. 4. Whenever an amendment to the Annexes to the Protocol is not implemented in the relevant Community legislation within 12 months of the date of its circulation by the Depositary, the Commission shall, in writing, provide the Depositary with a notification of non-acceptance with respect to that amendment in accordance with Article 20(8) of the Protocol before the expiry of that 12-month period. Where the amendment is subsequently implemented, the Commission shall withdraw the notification without delay.
Article 5 
This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union .