THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),
Whereas there is a need for international regulation of the management and conservation of highly migratory species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas;
Whereas to that end an International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas was signed on 14 May 1966 and entered into force on 21 March 1969;
Whereas on 10 July 1984, at the end of a Conference of Plenipotentiaries, the States Parties to the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas signed a Final Act to which is annexed a Protocol amending the Convention so as to enable the Community to accede thereto;
Whereas the Protocol must be approved, ratified or accepted by all the Contracting Parties to the Convention;
Whereas the Protocol will enter into force on the 30th day following the deposit of the last instrument of approval, ratification or acceptance with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations;
Whereas the Community must accede to the Convention in order to be a Contracting Party thereto from the entry into force of the Protocol,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: