L 72/18 Official Journal of the European Union 18.3.2005 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 21 February 2005 on the signing and the provisional application of an agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Belarus amending the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Belarus on trade in textile products (2005/228/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with Article 300, paragraph 2, first sentence thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (), The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Community an agreement to extend for one year the existing Agreement and protocols on trade in textile products with the Republic of Belarus, with quantitative limits adjusted to take into account annual growth rates and Belarussian demand for some categories. This agreement should be applied on a provisional basis as of 1 January 2005, pending the completion of procedures required for its conclusion, subject to the reciprocal provisional application by the Republic of Belarus. (2)  The Agreement should be signed, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign on behalf of the Community the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Belarus amending the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Belarus on trade in textile products, subject to its conclusion. Atrticle 2 Subject to reciprocity (1), the Agreement shall be applied on a provisional basis, pending the conclusion of the procedures for its formal conclusion, from 1 January 2005. The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision. Atticle 3 1. If Belarus fails to fulfil its obligations under paragraph 2.5 of the 1999 Agreement (), the quota for 2005 shall be reduced to the levels applicable in 2004. 2. The decision to implement paragraph 1 shall be taken in accordance with the procedures referred to in Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 of 12 October 1993 on common rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries (3). Atrticle 4 This Decision shall take effect the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Dorne at Brussels, 21 February 2005. For the Council The President J. ASSELBORN (') The date from which provisional application will become effective will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, C series. () O] L 336, 29.12.1999, p. 27. () OJ L 275, 8.11.1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 2200/2004 (O] L 374, 22.12.2004, p. 1).