17.7.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L1931 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1439/2001 of 10 July 2001 on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros on fishing off the Comoros for the period from 28 February 2001 to 27 February 2004 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 in conjunction with Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Whereas: (1)  In accordance with the Agreement between the Euro- pean Economic Community and the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros on fishing off the Comoros (3), the two parties held negotiations to determine amend- ments or additions to be made to the Agreement at the end of the period of application of the Protocol attached to it. (2)  As a result of those negotiations, a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the above Agreement for the period from 28 February 2001 to 27 February 2004 was initialled on 13 December 2000. (3 It is in the Community's interest to approve that Protocol. (4)  The method of allocating the fishing opportunities among the Member States should be defined on the basis of the traditional allocation of fishing opportunities under the said Agreement, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the Euro- pean Economic Community and the Islamic Federal Republic (') Opinion delivered on 14 June 2001 (not yet published in the Offi- cial Journal). () O L 137, 2.6.1988, p. 19. of the Comoros on fishing off the Comoros for the period from 28 February 2001 to 27 February 2004 (hereinafter ‘the Protocol’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Regulation. () Article 2 The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol shall be allocated among the Member States as follows: (@) Tuna seiners: Spain: 18 wvessels France: 21 vessels Italy: 1 vessel (b) Surface longliners: Spain: 20 vessels Portugal: 5 vessels If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other Member State. Article 3 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the persons empowered to sign the Protocol in order to bind the Community. Article 4 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communi- ties. () See page 19 of this Official Journal.