Council Decision

of 24 September 2004

on the signature and provisional application of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

(2005/89/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 310 in conjunction with the second sentence of Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the 2003 Act of Accession [1], and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 10 February 2004, the Council authorised the Commission, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, to open negotiations with Egypt with a view to adjusting the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the new Member States to the EU.

(2) These negotiations have been concluded to the satisfaction of the Commission.

(3) The text of the Protocol negotiated with the Arab Republic of Egypt provides, in Article 12(2), for the provisional application of the Protocol before its entry into force.

(4) Subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, the Protocol should be signed on behalf of the Community and applied provisionally,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, and subject to its conclusion, the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The European Community and its Member States hereby agree to apply provisionally the terms of the Protocol, subject to its possible conclusion at a later date.

Done at Brussels, 24 September 2004.

For the Council

The President

L. J. Brinkhorst

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[1] OJ L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 33.