Council Decision

of 22 November 2004

on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 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

(2004/896/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 the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of 16 April 2003 and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Act annexed to the Treaty of Accession and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 29 September 2003 the Council authorised the Commission, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, to negotiate with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement 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.

(2) These negotiations have been successfully accomplished and, subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, the Protocol should be signed on behalf of the European Community and its Member States.

(3) The Community-related parts of the Protocol should be applied on a provisional basis as from the date of accession pending the completion of the relevant procedures for its formal conclusion,

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, the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 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, subject to its conclusion.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

Pending the Protocol's entry into force, the Community-related parts thereof shall be applied on a provisional basis from 1 May 2004.

Done at Brussels, 22 november 2004.

For the Council

The President

B. R. Bot

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