Article 1 
The Agreement between the European Community and the United States of America on intensifying and broadening the Agreement on customs cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters to include cooperation on container security and related matters (the Agreement) is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community. The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Community.
Article 3 
1. Member States may maintain or conclude arrangements with the United States of America in order to include Community ports in the Container Security Initiative. Any such arrangement shall make reference to the CMAA as expanded and comply with the latter, including minimum standards once they are adopted. The Commission and the Member States concerned may consult each other in order to ensure that such arrangements comply with the CMAA as expanded. 2. Before a Member State commences negotiations on arrangements with the United States of America relating to matters other than those referred to in paragraph 1 but covered by the CMAA as expanded, it shall notify the Commission and the other Member States and provide any relevant information with the notification. 3. Member States or the Commission may request, within eight working days of the receipt of the notification, consultations with the other Member States and the Commission. Such consultations shall take place within three weeks of the receipt of the notification. Where the matter is urgent, consultations shall take place without delay. 4. The Commission shall, no later than five days after the conclusion of the consultations, give its written opinion on the compatibility of the arrangements notified with the CMAA as expanded, including, where appropriate, the need to address the matter in the framework of that Agreement. 5. The consultations shall take place within the Committee established by Article 247 of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code ( 2 ) . 6. Member States shall transmit to the Commission and to the other Member States a copy of the arrangements referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, as well as any denunciation of, or amendments thereto.