24.1.2003 Official Journal of the European Communities L 20/23 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 10 January 2003 amending Council Decision 2001/131/EC concluding the consultation procedure with Haiti under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (2003/53/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, imple- mented in advance by Decision No 1/2000 of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers (!), and in particular Article 96 thereof, Having regard to the Internal Agreement on measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, as provisionally applied by Decision of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States on 18 September 2000, and in particular Article 3 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1) On the basis of Council Decision 2001/131/EC of 29 January 2001 concluding the consultation procedure with Haiti under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (%), the provision of financial aid to Haiti is partially suspended as ‘appropriate measures’ pursuant to Article 96(2)(c) of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement. (2)  The Decision expires on 31 December 2002 and requires a review of the measures before this date. (3)  Democratic principles are still not upheld in Haiti. However, actions to support democratisation, the strengthening of the rule of law and the electoral process deserve to be supported, and in particular in support of the mission with which the Organisation of American () OJ L 195, 1.8.2000, p. 46. OJ L 48, 17.2.2001, p. 31. Decision as amended by Decision 2002/ 131[EC (O] L 47, 19.2.2002, p. 34). States (OAS) was entrusted by its Resolutions No 806 and No 822. Actions to strengthen civil society and the private sector, to fight poverty and those of direct benefit to the Haitian people should be further imple- mented, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Atrticle 1 Decision 2001/131/EC is amended as follows: 1. In the second and third paragraphs of Article 3, the date ‘31 December 2002’ shall be replaced by ‘31 December 2003". 2. The Annex shall be replaced by the text appearing in the Annex to this Decision. Article 2 This Decision shall take effect from the day of its adoption. This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Done at Brussels, 10 January 2003. For the Council The President G. PAPANDREOU