3.8.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 256/17 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 19 July 2004 establishing Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy (2004/585[EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (3)  Since Regional Advisory Councils are stakeholder-led organisations, they should adapt their structure to the specific characteristics of the fisheries and regions concerned. Nevertheless, a general framework is necessary for the establishment of the Regional Advisory Councils. Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal of the Commission, (4 In the interests of efficiency, it is necessary to limit the size of Regional Advisory Councils whilst ensuring that Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), they include all the interests affected by the Common Fisheries Policy and while recognising the primacy of fishing interests given the effects on them of Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and management decisions and policies. Social Committee (2), Whereas: (5) In order to ensure consistency on issues of common interest to more than one Regional Advisory Council, it is essential to establish links between the different Regional Advisory Councils. (1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (%) and in particular Articles 31 and 32 thereof, provides for new forms of participation by stakeholders in the Common Fisheries Policy through the establishment of Regional Advisory Councils. (2) A consistent approach to the establishment of Regional Advisory Councils requires that they correspond to management units based on biological criteria and that they are limited in number in order to offer meaningful advice and for practical reasons. (') Opinion delivered on 1 April 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () Opinion delivered on 26 February 2004 (not published in the Official Journal). () OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 1242/2004 (O] L 236, 7.7.2004, p. 1). In view of the tasks of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture renewed by Commission Decision 1999/478/EC (¥), which is composed of repre- sentatives of a wide range of European organisations and interests, the work of the Regional Advisory Councils should be coordinated with that of the said Committee, to which they should also send their reports. In order to ensure the effective establishment of the Regional Advisory Councils, it is essential that public funds contribute to their costs in the start-up phase and to interpretation and translation costs. () O] L 187, 20.7.1999, p. 70.