COUNCIL DECISION

of 28 June 1984

concerning the conclusion of the Agreement for cooperation in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances

(84/358/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES.

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),

Whereas the first two action programmes of the European Communities on the environment(3) emphasize the importance for the Community of dealing with pollution of the seas in general and make provision

inter alia

for Community measures to deal with pollution caused by transport and shipping; whereas they specify that the task of protecting sea water constitutes a matter of priority with a view to maintaining vital ecological balances;

Whereas the third Community action programme on the environment(4), of which the Council of the European Communities and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, approved the general guidelines on 7 February 1983, recognizes in particular the need for a better policy of coordination on the environmental problems of the North Sea;

Whereas by its Decision of 19 May 1981 the Council authorized the Commission to negotiate the accession of the European Economic Community to the Agreement of 9 June 1969 for cooperation in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil;

Whereas by virtue of Council Decision of 9 September 1983 the Agreement for cooperation in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances, was signed on 13 September 1983;

Whereas it is necessary for the Community to approve that Agreement in order to take part in the information exchange and common research and thus achieve the above objectives, alongside Member States and without prejudice to the role hitherto played by them within the framework of the Agreement of 9 June 1969; whereas future Community acts are not hereby prejudiced;

Whereas the Agreement of 13 September 1983 provides for exchange of information, common research and cooperation at sea, which of their nature do not constitute common rules which might be affected by agreements which the Member States might wish to conclude within this area.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement for cooperation in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances is hereby approved on behalf of the European Economic Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall deposit the instrument as provided for in Article 18 of the Agreement.

Done at Luxembourg, 28 June 1984.

For the Council

The President

H. BOUCHARDEAU

(1)

OJ No C 40, 15. 2. 1984, p. 5

(2)

OJ No C 127, 14. 5. 1984, p. 120

(3)

OJ No C 112, 20. 12. 1973, p. 1

and

OJ No C 139, 13. 6. 1977, p. 1

(4)

OJ No C 46, 17. 2. 1983, p. 1

AGREEMENT

for cooperation in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances