21.5.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 128/1 | (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 768/2005 of 26 April 2005 establishing a Community Fisheries Control Agency and amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (4) Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Whereas: (6) (1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the common fisheries policy () requires Member States to ensure effective control, inspection and enforcement of the rules of the common fisheries policy and to cooperate with each other and with third countries to this end. 7) (2)  To fulfil these obligations it is necessary for the Member States to coordinate their control and inspection activities within their land territory and in Community and inter- national waters in accordance with international law and, in particular, the obligations of the Community in the framework of regional fisheries organisations and under (8) agreements with third countries. (3) No inspection scheme can be cost effective without providing for inspections on land. It is for that reason 9 that land territory should be covered by joint deployment plans. (*) Opinion of 23 February 2005 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () O] L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59. Such cooperation, through the operational coordination of control and inspection activities, should contribute to the sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources as well as ensuring a level playing field for the fishing industry involved in this exploitation thus reducing distortions in competition. Effective fisheries control and inspection is considered as essential to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Without prejudice to the responsibilities of Member States that arise from Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002, there is need for a technical and administrative Community body to organise cooperation and coordi- nation between Member States regarding fisheries control and inspection. To this end, it is appropriate within the Community’s existing institutional structure, and taking account of the repartition of competences between the Commission and the Member States, to establish a Community Fisheries Control Agency (the Agency’). For the achievement of the purposes for which the Agency is established, its tasks need to be defined. In particular, it is necessary for the Agency, at the request of the Commission, to be able to assist the Community and the Member States in their relations with third countries andfor regional fisheries organisations and to cooperate with their competent authorities within the framework of the international obligations of the Community.