THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113, in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 228(2) and Article 228(4) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas, on 25 September 1995, the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate with the Member States of the Organisation of American States, on behalf of the Community, agreements on the control of drugs precursors and chemical substances; whereas, in accordance with this authorisation, the Commission completed negotiations with Chile on 3 December 1997;

Whereas the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Chile on precursors and chemical substances frequently used for the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances should be approved;

Whereas it is appropriate that the Council should authorise the Commission, in consultation with a special committee appointed by the Council, to approve amendments on behalf of the Community where the Agreement provides for them to be adopted by the Joint Follow-up Group; whereas such authorisation must, however, be limited to the amendment of the Annexes to the Agreement in so far as such amendment concerns substances already covered by Community legislation on drugs precursors and chemical substances,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: