L 351/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 28.12.2002 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2348/2002 of 9 December 2002 on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out, for the period from 1 June 2002 to 31 May 2005, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Sio Tomé and Principe on fishing off the coast of Sdo Tomé and Principe THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, 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 European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Sdo Tomé and Principe on fishing off the coast of Sdo Tomé (3), the Community and the Democratic Republic Sdo Tomé have held nego- tiations with a view to determining the amendments or additions to be made to the Agreement at the end of the period of application of the Protocol. (2)  As a result of these negotiations, a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the above Agreement for the period from 1 June 2002 to 31 May 2005 was initialled on 14 February 2002. (3) It is in the Community's interest to approve the said Protocol. (4)  The allocation of the fishing opportunities among the Member States should be defined as well as their obliga- tions to notify the catches, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The Protocol setting out, for the period from 1 June 2002 to 31 May 2005, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Sio Tomé and Principe on fishing off the coast of Sio Tomé and Principe is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. () OJ C 262 E, 29.10.2002. () OJ L 54,25.2.1984, p. 2. The text of the Protocol is attached hereto. Atticle 2 The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol shall be allo- cated among the Member States as follows: — freezer tuna seiners: France: 18 Spain: 18 — pole-and-line tuna vessels: Portugal: 2 — surface longliners: Spain: 20 Portugal: 5 — experimental deep-water ~ Spain: 2 vessels under fishing targeting crab (1 ~ 250 GRT June 2002 to 31 May 2003 only) Portugal: 1 vessel under 250 GRT If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities fixed by the Protocol, the Commis- sion may take into consideration licence applications from any other Member State. Atticle 3 The Member States whose vessels fish under this Protocol shall notify the Commission of the quantities of each stock caught in the Sdo Tomé and Principe fishing zone in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 500/2001 (). Atrticle 4 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the persons empowered to sign the Protocol in order to bind the Community. Atrticle 5 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. () OJ L 73, 15.3.2001, p. 8.