Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 in conjunction with Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament^f1,

Whereas:

In accordance with the terms of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Islamic Federal Republic of The Comoros on fishing off The Comoros^f2, the Contracting Parties are to enter into negotiations, before the period of validity of the Protocol to the Agreement expires, to determine by mutual agreement the contents of the Protocol for the period that follows and, where applicable, the amendments or additions to be made to the Annex thereto.

Pending negotiations on amendments to the Protocol, the two Contracting Parties have decided to extend the period of validity of the current Protocol approved by Council Regulation (EC) No 1439/2001^f3, from 28 February 2004 to 31 December 2004 by means of an agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters.

It is in the Community’s interest to approve that extension.

The allocation of the fishing opportunities among the Member States under the extended Protocol should be confirmed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: