Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

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

Whereas the Transatlantic Agenda identified as a priority item in EC-US relations, the conclusion of a drugs precursors agreement which would include a specific pre-shipment consultation mechanism;

Whereas the Commission, on the basis of this authorization and the provisions of the Transatlantic Agenda, completed negotiations with the United States of America on 11 April 1997;

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

Whereas the Agreement should be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: