L 346/18 Official Journal of the European Union 29.12.2005 II (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 20 December 2005 amending Decision 2001/264/EC adopting the Council’s security regulations (2005/952/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (4 It is therefore necessary to insert specific common minimum  standards in that regard in Decision 2001/264/EC. Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 207(3) thereof, (5 These common minimum standards should also be complied with by Member States, for measures to be Having regard to Council Decision 2004/338/EC, Euratom of taken, in accordance with nati.onal a.rrangem.e.nts, where 22 March 2004 adopting the Council’s Rules of Procedure (), they entrust by contract tasks involving, entailing and/or and in particular Article 24 thereof, containing EU classified information to external entities referred to in Article 2(2) of Decision 2001/264/EC. Whereas: (6)  These common minimum standards should apply without prejudice to relevant acts, in particular Directive 2004/18/EC (%), Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 () and its implementing rules and the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), (1) Article 2(1) of Decision 2001/264/EC (?) states that the Secretary-General[High Representative is to take appro- priate measures to ensure that, when handling EU clas- sified information, the Council’s security regulations are respected within the General Secretariat of the Council (GSQ), and, inter alia, by GSC external contractors. HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: (2)  Article 2(2) of Decision 2001/264/EC states that Member Article 1 States are to take appropriate measures, in accordance with national arrangements, to ensure that, when EU classified information is handled, the Council’s security regulations are respected within their services and premises, inter alia, by Member States’ external contractors. The following sentence shall be added to Part I(8) of the Annex to Decision 2001/264/EC: ‘Such minimum standards shall also include minimum standards to be applied when the GSC entrusts by contract tasks involving, entailing and/or containing EU classified information to industrial or other entities: these common minimum standards are contained in Section XIII of Part I’ (3)  Decision 2001/264/EC does not at present include elements on how its basic principles and minimum standards should apply where the GSC entrusts to external entities, by contract, tasks involving, entailing andfor containing EU classified information (}) Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and () O] L 106, 15.4.2004, p. 22. Decision as amended by Decision public service contracts (O] L 134, 30.4.2004, p. 114). 2004/701/EC, Euratom (OJ L 319, 20.10.2004, p. 15). (*) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 () OJ L 101, 11.4.2001, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the 2005/571/EC (OJ L 193, 23.7.2005, p. 31). European Communities (O] L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1).