23.12. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities L 351/17 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2599/97 of 18 December 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2262/84 laying down special measures in respect of olive oil THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and, in particular, Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (%), Whereas, in accordance with Article 1 (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 2262/84 (%), the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, is to adopt before 1 January 1998 the method for financing actual expenditure of agencies as from the 1998/99 marketing year; Whereas work customarily entrusted to the agencies must be carried out during the 1998/99 marketing year, whereas, as a result, provision should be made for a Community contribution to the agencies’ expenditure for that period in order to ensure they can operate effectively and in accordance with the rules within the framework of the administrative autonomy provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 2262/84, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The last two subparagraphs of Article 1 (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 2262/84 are hereby replaced by the following: ‘50 % of the agencies’ actual expenditure for the 1998/99 marketing year shall be covered by the general budget of the European Communities. Before 1 October 1998, the Commission shall consider the need to maintain the Community contri- bution to the agencies’ expenditure and, where appro- priate, shall present a proposal to the Council. In accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 43 (2) of the Treaty, the Council shall decide before 1 January 1999 on any financing of the expen- diture in question. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 18 December 1997. () OJ C 343, 13. 11. 1997, p. 16. ' (?) Opinion delivered on 17 December 1997 (not yet published in the Official Journal). ) () OJ L 208, 3.8. 1984, p. 11. Regulation as last amended by Re- gulation (EC) No 533/97 (OJ L 83, 25. 3. 1997, p. 1). For the Council The President F. BODEN