5.3.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 60/1 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 199/2008 of 25 February 2008 concerning the establishment of a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (2), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Whereas: Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (%) provides for regular assessments by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (here- inafter referred to as the STECF) of the management of living aquatic resources, including biological, economic, environmental, social and technical considerations. (!) Opinion of 13 November 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () O C 10, 15.1.2008, p. 53. (®) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 865/2007 (O] L 192, 24.7.2007, p. 1). @) The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the Agreement relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks both emphasise the need to develop research and data collection with a view to improving scientific knowledge of the sector. In line with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (hereinafter referred to as the CFP) on the conser- vation, management and exploitation of living aquatic resources in non-Community waters, the Community must take part in the efforts undertaken to conserve fisheries resources, notably in accordance with the provisions adopted in Fisheries Partnership Agreements or by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. On 23 January 2003, the Council adopted conclusions concerning the Commission’s Communication to the Council and the European Parliament setting out a ‘Community Action Plan to integrate environmental protection requirements into the CFP’ with guiding prin- ciples, management measures and a work programme, to move towards an ecosystem approach to fisheries management. On 13 October 2003, the Council adopted conclusions concerning the Commission’s Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on the improvement of scientific and technical advice for Community fisheries management, describing the Community’s needs for scientific advice, setting out the mechanisms for providing advice, identifying the areas where system needs to be strengthened and suggesting possible solutions over the short to medium and long term.