L 120/50 Official Journal of the European Union 24.4.2004 COMMISSION DECISION of 23 April 2004 on the advisory groups dealing with matters covered by the common agricultural policy (2004/391/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, Whereas: (1)  The Commission should seek the views of socio- economic sectors and consumers on matters arising in connection with the operation of the various common organisations of the market and other areas covered by the common agricultural policy and by the policy of rural development. 2)  All the economic sectors directly involved in the opera- tion of the market organisations and affected by agri- cultural policy decisions, as well as consumers, should have an opportunity to participate in drafting the opinions requested by the Commission. (3)  Relevant socio-economic federations and consumer groups in the Member States have set up organisations at Community level, which are thus in a position to represent those concerned in all the Member States. (4)  An advisory structure dealing with agricultural issues exists since 1962. Following the reform of the common agricultural policy in 1999 and 2003, and in the light of the enlargement of the European Union in 2004, it is necessary to review that structure. Commission Decision 98/235/EC of 11 March 1998 on the advisory groups dealing with matters covered by the common agri- cultural policy (') should therefore be repealed and replaced by a new Decision. (5)  In order to avoid confusion with the wording used in Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (}) for the advisory committees, it is appropriate not to use the term ‘committees’ for designating the bodies to be set up by this Decision, () OJ L 88, 24.3.1998, p. 59. () OJ L 184,17.7.1999, p. 23. DECIDES: Atrticle 1 1. The following groups are set up under the auspices of the Commission: (a) the advisory groups listed in Annex I; (b) the working groups as provided for in Article 4 (1). 2. The advisory groups may be consulted by the Commis- sion on all matters relating to the common agricultural policy and to the policy of rural development and its implementation, and in particular the common organisations of the market and the measures which the Commission is called on to take in that context. Atticle 2 1. The groups provided for in Article 1 shall represent the following socio-economic interest groups under the conditions provided for in Article 3: — agricultural producers and agricultural cooperatives, — agricultural and food-manufacturing industries, — agricultural products and foodstuffs trade, — farm workers and workers in the food industry, consumers and environmentalists. In specific cases, other interest groups may be represented. 2. The composition of the advisory groups in terms of number of seats allocated to each socio-economic interest group is set out in Annex I Atticle 3 1.  The Commission shall invite the socio-economic organi- sations established at Community level and listed in the Commission's register of interest groups (hereinafter referred to as ‘the socio-economic organisations’) to designate experts. The socio-economic organisations must be those that are most representative of the interests specified in Article 2(1), including the social partners, and their activities must be connected with the common agricultural policy and rural development.