31.7.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 202/19 COUNCIL DECISION of 25 June 2002 on the conclusion of an Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania, of the other part, on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (PECA) (2002/609/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2), the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) and Article 300(4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1)  The Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania of the other part (!), entered into force on 20 February 1998. (2)  Article 76(2) of the Europe Agreement provides that cooperation in the fields of standardisation and conformity assessment shall seek to achieve the conclusion of agreements on mutual recognition. (3)  Article 115(2) of the Europe Agreement provides that the Association Council may delegate to the Association Committee any of its powers. (4) Article 2 of Decision 98/150/EC, ECSC, Euratom of the Council and the Commission of 19 December 1997 on the conclusion of the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania of the other part (%), provides for the Community decision-making procedures and for the presentation of the Community position in the Association Council and in the Association Committee. (5)  Article 14 of Decision No 1/98 of the Association Council between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lithuania, of the other part, of 23 February 1998 on its rules of procedure (}) provides that the Association Committee may set up further subcommittees or groups to assist in carrying out its duties. () OJ L 51, 20.2.1998, p. 3. () OJ L 51, 20.2.1998, p. 1. () OJ L 73,12.3.1998, p. 31. (6)  The Protocol to the Europe Agreement, on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products, was signed on behalf of the Community in Brussels on 21 May 2002 and should be approved. (7)  Certain tasks for implementation have been conferred to the Association Council and, in particular, the power to amend the Annexes to the Protocol. (8)  The appropriate internal procedures should be established to ensure the proper functioning of the Protocol. (9) It is necessary to empower the Commission to make certain technical amendments to this Protocol and to take certain decisions for its implementation, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The Protocol to the Europe Agreement, on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Protocol), as well as the declaration annexed to the Final Act thereto, are hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of the Protocol, and of the declaration annexed to the Final Act thereto, is attached to this Decision. Article 2 The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Community, transmit the diplomatic note provided for in Article 17 of the Protocol (%) (% The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities by the General Secretariat of the Council.