2.3.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 64/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 377/2004 of 19 February 2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 63(3)(b) and Article 66 thereof, Having regard to the initiative of the Hellenic Republic (), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, Whereas: 1 The plan for the management of the external borders of the Member States of the European Union, agreed by the Council at its meeting of 13 June 2002 envisages the setting up of networks of immigration liaison officers posted in third countries. In the conclusions of its meeting of 21 and 22 June 2002 the Seville European Council called for the crea- tion of a network of immigration liaison officers of the Member States before the end of 2002. At its meeting of 28 and 29 November 2002 the Council adopted conclusions on the improvement of the Immigration Liaison Officers Network, taking note of the report of the Presidency, showing that a network of liaison officers is in place in most of the countries surveyed in the report, but noting also that there was a need to further strengthen this network. The Thessaloniki European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 emphasised the need for acceleration of work on adopting the appropriate legal instrument formally establishing the Immigration Liaison Officers (ILO's) network in third countries, at the earliest possible date and before the end of 2003. The European Council also referred to the importance of the information to be provided by the ILO's network in developing an evalua- tion mechanism to monitor relations with third coun- tries which do not cooperate with the European Union in combating illegal immigration. Following the Thessaloniki European Council, it is neces- sary to formalise the existence and functioning of such a network — drawing on experiences gained in the opera- tion of running projects, including the Belgian-led () OJ C 140, 14.6.2003, p. 12. 0J ) 0J Western Balkans ILO network — through a legally binding act, setting out the obligation to establish forms of cooperation among immigration liaison officers of the Member States, the objectives of such cooperation, the functions and appropriate qualifications of such liaison officers, as well as their responsibilities vis-a-vis the host country and the sending Member State. It is also desirable to formalise the way in which the relevant institutions of the Community are informed of the activities of the immigration officers liaison network so as to allow them to take or propose such measures as may be necessary to improve further the overall manage- ment of the controls on persons at the external borders of the Member States. Taking into account Council Decision 2003/170/JHA of 27 February 2003 on the common use of liaison officers posted abroad by the law enforcement agencies of the Member States (2). As regards Iceland and Norway, this Regulation consti- tutes a development of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those States with the implementation, application and develop- ment of the Schengen acquis (°), which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, points A and E of Council Decision 1999/437[EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of that Agreement (). In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on Euro- pean Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Given that this Regulation builds upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of Title IV of Part Three of the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, Denmark shall, in accordance with Article 5 of the said Protocol, decide within a period of six months after the Council has adopted this Regulation whether it will implement it in its national law. L 67,12.3.2003, p. 27. L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36. L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.