16.8.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 224/15 COUNCIL DECISION of 29 April 2004 on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (PCA) on 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 PCA and on adjustments to the PCA (2006/537[EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 44(2), the last sentence of Article 47(2), and Articles 55, 57(2), 71, 80(2), 93, 94, 133 and 181a, in conjunction with Article 300(2) first subparagraph, first sentence thereof, Having regard to the 2003 Treaty of Accession, and in particu- lar Article 2(3) thereof, Having regard to the 2003 Act of Accession, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1) On 8 December 2003, the Council authorised the Com- mission, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, to negotiate with Ukraine a Protocol to the Partner- ship and Cooperation Agreement to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Repub- lic 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, and to provide for certain technical adjustments linked to the institutional and legal developments within the European Union. (2)  Subject to its possible conclusion at a later date, the Protocol initialled on 30 March 2004 should be signed on behalf of the European Community and its Member States. (3)  The Protocol should be applied on a provisional basis as from the date of accession, pending completion of the rel- evant procedures for its formal conclusion, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, the Protocol to the Partner- ship and Cooperation Agreement between the European Com- munities and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part (PCA) on accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Hun- gary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slov- enia and the Slovak Republic to the PCA and on adjustments to the PCA, subject to possible conclusion at a later stage. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision (). Atticle 2 Pending its entry into force, the Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis from the date of accession. Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 2004. For the Council The President M. McDOWELL (1) See page 16 of this Official Journal.