98/686/EC: Council Decision of 23 March 1998 on the conclusion by the European Community of the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution on further reductions of sulphur emissions
L 326/34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 12. 98 COUNCIL DECISION of 23 March 1998 on the conclusion by the European Community of the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution on further reductions of sulphur emissions (98/686/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision. Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in conjunction with the first sentence of Article 228(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 228(3) thereof, in particular Article 130s(1), Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard Parliament (2), to the opinion of the European Whereas the Community signed, on 14 June 1994, the Protocol long-rate transboundary air pollution on further reductions of sulphur emissions (hereinafter ‘the Protocol’); the 1979 Convention on to Whereas the Protocol seeks to establish ceilings for sulphur emissions for all contracting parties to the Convention; the measures envisaged Whereas the Protocol contribute to achieving objectives of the Community policy on the environment; in The following Declaration shall be deposited with the instruments of approval: ‘The European Community states that the ceiling for emissions and the weighted average percentage of the European Community ought not to exceed the sum of the obligations of the Member States of the European Union which have ratified the Protocol, while stressing that all its Member States must reduce their in accordance with the emission SO2 emissions ceilings set in Annex II to the Protocol and in line with the relevant Community legislation. ’ Article 2 the person empowered The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the instruments of approval and the Declaration referred to in Article 1 with the Secretary General of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 14 of the Protocol. to deposit the Community and the Member States Whereas cooperate, respective competences, with third countries and the competent international organisations; framework of their the in Article 3 Whereas, approve the Protocol, in consequence, the Community should This Decision will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Protocol to the 1979 Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution on further reductions of sulphur emissions, signed on 14 June 1994, is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. Done at Brussels, 23 March 1998. For the Council The President M. MEACHER (1) OJ C 190, 21. 6. 1997, p. 13. (2) OJ C 14, 19. 1. 1998