21.2.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 46/23 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 28 January 2008 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement on maritime transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, of the other part (2008/143[EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2) thereof in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of 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 (1), Whereas: () On 12 February 1998 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for an Agreement on maritime transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, of the other part (hereinafter the Agreement), and laid down negotiating directives for this purpose. (2)  These negotiations have been successful and the Agreement was initialled by the Commission on 12 December 2001. (3)  The Agreement was signed in Brussels on 6 December 2002, subject to its subsequent conclusion. (") Opinion delivered on 2 September 2003 (O] C 76 E, 25.3.2004, p. 102). (4) A Protocol amending the Agreement to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union was signed in Beijing on 5 September 2005. (5)  In accordance with Article 6(2) of the 2005 Act of Accession, Bulgaria and Romania are to accede to the Agreement by way of a protocol between the Council and the People’s Republic of China. (6)  The necessary constitutional and institutional procedures have been completed and the Agreement should therefore be approved, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The Agreement on maritime transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, of the other part, is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of the Agreement (%) is attached to this Decision. (2) See page 25 of this Official Journal.