Article 1 
The accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. The text of the Convention is attached to this Decision.
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit, on behalf of the Union, the instrument of accession provided for in Article XXI (1) of the Convention, in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Convention. At the time of deposit of the instrument of accession, the designated person shall deposit the declaration set out in the Annex to this Decision, in accordance with Article XXI (3) of the Convention.
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption ( 4 ) .