25.3.2015 Official Journal of the European Union L79/1 (Legislative acts) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2015/496 of 17 March 2015 amending Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 as regards the deposit of the historical archives of the institutions at the European University Institute in Florence THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 352 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national Parliaments, Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament, Acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, Whereas: (1) In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community ('), the historical archives of the Union are preserved and are made available to the public wherever possible after the expiry of a period of 30 years. (2)  The obligation to establish historical archives and make them available to the public wherever possible is applicable to each of the institutions referred to in Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 (the institutions’) under the conditions set out therein. (3)  Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 provides that each institution may hold its historical archives in whatever place it considers most appropriate. (4) In 1984, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission decided to deposit their historical archives at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence where they are made available to the public. A contract between the European Communities, represented by the Commission, and the EUI was signed for this purpose on 17 December 1984 (‘the deposit contract). (5)  The European Economic and Social Committee and the European Court of Auditors have since agreed to adhere to the terms of the deposit contract. The European Investment Bank deposits its historical archives at the EUI under a separate Convention with the EUI which was signed on 1 July 2005 and under the Rules on historical archives which were adopted by the Bank’s Management Committee on 7 October 2005 (3). (6)  The Italian government has made suitable premises available on a permanent basis and free of charge to the EUI to ensure that the deposited archives are preserved and protected in accordance with recognised international standards and to provide the possibility for on-site consultation. () OJL43,15.2.1983,p. 1. () 0JC€289,22.11.2005, p. 12.