19.2.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 49/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DECISION No 280/2004/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 February 2004 concerning a mechanism for monitoring Community greenhouse gas emissions and for imple- menting the Kyoto Protocol THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ('), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (3), Whereas: (1) Council Decision 93/389/EEC of 24 June 1993 for a monitoring mechanism of Community CO, and other greenhouse gas emissions (°) established a mechanism for monitoring anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and evaluating progress towards meeting commitments in respect of these emissions. In order to take into account developments on the international level and on the grounds of clarity, it is appropriate for that Decision to be replaced. (2)  The ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was approved by Council Decision 94/69/EC (%), is to achieve stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level which prevents dangerous anthro- pogenic interference with the climate system. () O] C 234, 30.9.2003, p. 51. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 21 October 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 26 January 2004. () OJ L 167, 9.7.1993, p. 31. Decision as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 18822003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ'L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1). () OJ L 33,7.2.1994, p. 11. (3)  The UNFCCC commits the Community and its Member States to develop, periodically update, publish and report to the Conference of the Parties national inventories of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer (hereinafter greenhouse gases), using comparable methodologies agreed upon by the Conference of the Parties. (4)  There is a need for thorough monitoring and regular assessment of Community greenhouse gas emissions. The measures taken by the Community and its Member States in the field of climate change policy also need to be analysed in good time. (5)  Accurate reporting under this Decision at an early stage would allow early determination of emissions levels pursuant to Council Decision 2002/358/EC of 25 April 2002 concerning the approval, on behalf of the Euro- pean Community, of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the joint fulfilment of commitments thereunder (°), and thereby enable early establishment of eligibility to parti- cipate in the Kyoto Protocol's flexible mechanisms. (6)  The UNFCCC commits all Parties to formulate, imple- ment, publish and regularly update national, and where appropriate, regional programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change by addressing anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all green- house gases. (7)  The Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC was approved by Decision 2002/358/EC. Article 3(2) of the Kyoto Protocol requires Parties to the Protocol included in Annex I to the UNFCCC to have made demonstrable progress in achieving their commitments under the Protocol by 2005. () OJ L 130, 15.5.2002, p. 1.