L 262/44 Official Journal of the European Union 22.9.2006 COUNCIL DECISION of 24 July 2006 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women And Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime concerning the provisions of the Protocol, in so far as the provisions of this Protocol fall within the scope of Articles 179 and 181a of the Treaty establishing the European Community (2006/618EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Articles 179 and 181a, in conjunc- tion with the first subparagraph of Article 300(2), and first sub- paragraph of Article 300(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ('), Whereas: (1) The elements of the Protocol which are subject to Com- munity competence were negotiated by the Commission, with the approval of the Council, on behalf of the Com- munity. (2)  The Council instructed the Commission to negotiate the accession of the Community to the international agree- ment in question. (3)  Negotiations were successfully concluded and the resulting instrument was signed by the Community on 12 December 2000 in accordance with Council Decision 2001/87[EC of 8 December 2000 (%). (4)  Some Member States are parties to the Protocol while the ratification process is under way in other Member States. (5)  The conclusion of the Convention was approved on behalf of the Community by Council Decision 2004/579/EC of 29 April 2004 (°) which is a condition for the Community to become a Party to the Protocol, pursuant to Article 37(2) of the Convention. (6)  The other conditions permitting the Community to deposit the instrument of approval provided for in Article 36(3) of the Convention and Article 16(3) of the Protocol have been fulfilled. (7)  In so far as the provisions of the Protocol fall within the scope of Articles 179 and 181a of the Treaty, the conclusion of the Protocol should be approved on behalf of the Community. (8)  In so far as the provisions of the Protocol fall within the scope of Part III, Title IV of the Treaty, the conclusion of the Protocol on behalf of the Community should be () Not yet Publisher in the Official Journal. () OJ L'30, 1.2.2001, p. 44. () OJ L 261, 6.8.2004, p. 69. approved by means of a separate decision of the Council (*). (9)  The Community should, when depositing the instrument of approval, also deposit a declaration on the extent of the Community’s competence with respect to matters governed by the Protocol under Article 16(3) of the Traf- ficking Protocol, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against transnational organised crime, as set out in Annex [, is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community. The Community’s instrument of formal confirmation shall comprise a declaration of competence according to Article 16(3) of the Protocol as set out in Annex II. Atticle 2 This Decision shall apply in so far as the provisions of the Protocol fall within the scope of Articles 179 and 181a of the Treaty. Article 3 The President of the Council is authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit the instrument of formal confir- mation in order to bind the Community. This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 24 July 2006. For the Council The President K. RAJAMAKI (*) See page 51 of this Official Journal.