L 232/12 Official Journal of the European Union 30.8.2008 COMMISSION DECISION of 29 August 2008 declaring operational the Regional Advisory Council for Mediterranean Sea under the Common Fisheries Policy (2008/695EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 2004/585/EC of 19 July 2004 establishing Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy (*), and in particular Article 3(3) thereof, Having regard to the recommendation transmitted by Italy on 16 May 2008 on behalf of Spain, France, Greece, Malta, Slovenia and Cyprus, Whereas: (1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (?) and Decision 2004/585[EC provide the framework for the establishment and operation of Regional Advisory Councils. (2)  Article 2 of Decision 2004/585/EC establishes a Regional Advisory Council to cover the Mediterranean Sea. (3) In accordance with Article 3(1) of Decision 2004/585[EC, representatives of the fisheries sector and other interests groups submitted a request concerning the operation of that Regional Advisory Council to Greece, Spain, France, Cyprus, Malta, and Slovenia. (4)  As required by Article 3(2) of Decision 2004/585/EC, the Member States concerned determined whether the appli- cation concerning the Regional Advisory Council for the Mediterranean Sea was in conformity with the provisions laid down in that Decision. On 16 May 2008, the Member States concerned transmitted a recommendation on that Regional Advisory Council to the Commission. (5)  The Commission has evaluated the application by the interested parties and the recommendation in the light of Decision 2004/585/EC and the aims and principles of the Common Fisheries Policy, and considers that the Regional Advisory Council for the Mediterranean Sea is ready to become operational, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Sole Article The Regional Advisory Council for the Mediterranean Sea, established by Article 2(1)(b) of Decision 2004/585/EC, shall be operational as from 15 September 2008. Done at Brussels, 29 August 2008. For the Commission Joe BORG Member of the Commission () O] L 256, 3.8.2004, p. 17. Decision as amended by Decision 2007/409[EC (O] L 155, 15.6.2007, p. 68). () OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 865/2007 (O] L 192, 24.7.2007, p. 1).