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:

Under the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on fishing off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire^f2, before the expiry of the Protocol annexed to the Agreement the contracting parties are to negotiate in order to agree the content of the Protocol for the following period and any changes or additions to be made to the Annex.

The two parties negotiated a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution between 9 and 13 November 2003 in Abidjan. This Protocol for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2007 was initialled on 3 March 2004 in Brussels.

The allocation of the fishing opportunities among the Member States and their obligation to report catches should be confirmed.

That Protocol should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: