16.7. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 188/7 - — st et e amtim—n s i (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL 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 Euro- pean Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commis- sion (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), ' Whereas the first two action programmes of the European Communities on the environment () 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 ship- ping: whereas they specify that the task of protect- ing 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 (') OJ NoC 40, 15. 2. 1984, p. 5. () OJ No C 127, 14. 5. 1984, p. 120, () OJ No C 112, 20.12. 1973, p. | and OJ Neo C 139, 13.6. 1977, p. 1. () OJNoC46,17.2.1983,p. 1. on 7 February 1983, recognizes in particular the neced for a better policy of coordination on the envi- ronmental problems of the North Sea; Whereas by its Decision of 19 May 1981 the Council authorized the Commission to negotiate the acces- sion of the European Economic Community to the Agreement of 9 June 1969 for cooperation in deal- ing with pollution of the North Sea by oil; Whereas by virtue of Council Decision of 9 Septem- ber 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 Mem- ber States and without prejudice to the role hitherto played by them within the framework of the Agree- ment of 9 June 1969; whereas future Community acts are not hereby prejudiced; Whereas the Agreement of 13 September 1983 pro- vides 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,