30.1.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L27/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 154/2004 of 26 January 2004 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters extending for the period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 the validity of the Protocol setting fishing opportunities and a finan- cial contribution as provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire on fishing off the coast of Cote d'Ivoire THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 37 in conjunction with Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (*), Whereas: (1) Under the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire on fishing off the coast of Cote d'Ivoire (3), before the period of validity of the Protocol annexed to the Agreement expires, the contracting parties are to negotiate in order to agree the content of the Protocol for the following period and any changes or additions to be made to the Annex. (2)  Pending negotiations on changes to be made to the existing Protocol approved by Regulation (EC) No 722/ 2001 (), the two parties have decided to extend its validity for one year by means of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters. (3) It is in the Community's interest to approve this exten- sion. (4)  The allocation of fishing opportunities to the Member States should be confirmed, (") Opinion delivered on 18 December 2003 (not yet published in Offi- cial Journal). () OJL 379, 31.12.1990, p. 3. () OJ L 102, 12.4.2001, p. 1. HAD ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Atrticle 1 The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters extending for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 the validity of the Protocol setting fishing opportunities and a financial contribution as provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire on fishing off the coast of Cote d'Ivoire is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community. The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is attached to this Regulation (*). Atticle 2 The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol shall be allo- cated to Member States as follows: (a) demersal fishing: Spain: 600 GRT per month (annual average); (b) tuna fishing: (i) tuna seiners — France: 18 vessels, — Spain: 21 vessels; (i) surface longliners — Spain: 15 vessels, — Portugal: 5 vessels; (ili) pole-and-line tuna vessels — France: 7 vessels, — Spain: 5 vessels. If licence applications from these Member States do not exhaust the fishing opportunities set by the Protocol, the Commission may consider licence applications from any other Member State. () OJ L 319, 4.12.2003, p. 19.