Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof, in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 228 (2), and Article 228 (4) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal of the Commission,

Whereas, on 25 September 1995, the Council authorized the Commission to negotiate, on behalf of the Community, agreements on the control of precursors and chemical substances with the Member States of the Organization of American States;

Whereas the Commission, on the basis of this authorization, completed negotiations with the United Mexican States on 25 October 1996;

Whereas it is appropriate that the Council authorize the Commission, in consultation with a special committee appointed by the Council, to approve modifications on behalf of the Community where the Agreement provides for them to be adopted by the Joint Follow-up Group; whereas, such authorization must be limited to the modification of the Annexes of the Agreement in so far as it concerns substances already covered by the Community legislation on precursors and chemical substances,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: