25.11.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 350/1 II (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 11 October 2004 concerning the conclusion of the Protocol to the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, of the other part, to take into account the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, 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 (2004/778/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Repub- lic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Hun- gary, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Repub- nity, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with the first lic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2), and the Union, first subparagraph of Article 300(3), thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, (3)  The Protocol was initialled on 16 April 2004. It should be approved on behalf of the Community. Whereas: HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: (1) On 29 September 2003 the Council authorised the Com- mission, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, to negotiate with the Republic of Croatia a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement to take Article 1 account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Repub- lic 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 Repub- The Protocol to the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, 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 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 European Community. lic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union, (2)  Pending the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Asso- ciation Agreement, it has become necessary to also adapt the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, of the other part ('), to take () OJ L 330,14.12.2001, p. 3. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.