25.9.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 300/43 COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 17 May 2004 on the signing of a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union (2004/656/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the 2003 Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 44(2), the last sentence of Article 47(2), and Articles 55, 57(2), 71, 80(2), 93, 94, 133 and 181a, in conjunction with Article 300(2), first subpar- agraph, first sentence, thereof, Having regard to the 2003 Treaty of Accession ('), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof, Having regard to the Act annexed to the 2003 Treaty of Accession, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (), On 8 December 2003, the Council authorised the Commission, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, to negotiate with the Republic of Armenia a Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union, and to provide for certain technical adjustments linked to institutional and legal developments within the European Union. () O] L 236, 23.9.2003. (2)  The Protocol has been negotiated between the Parties and should now be signed on behalf of the Community and its Member States subject to its conclusion, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The signing of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic, to the European Union is hereby approved on behalf of the Community, subject to the Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the said Protocol. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision. Atticle 2 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol subject to its conclusion. Done at Brussels, 17 May 2004. For the Council The President B. COWEN