Article 1 
The signing on behalf of the Union and its Member States of the Protocol to the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Central America, on the other, to take account of the accession of Croatia to the European Union, is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol ( 2 ) .
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol on behalf of the Union and its Member States.
Article 3 
The Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis in accordance with Article 12(3) thereof ( 3 ) , pending the completion of the procedures necessary for its entry into force.
Article 4 
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.