9.8.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 206/21 COMMISSION DECISION of 5 August 2005 declaring operational the Regional Advisory Council for Pelagic stocks under the Common Fisheries Policy (2005/606/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 2004/585/EC of 19 July 2004 establishing Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy ('), and in particular Article 3(3) thereof, Having regard to the recommendation transmitted by the Neth- erlands on 19 May 2005 on behalf of Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom, Whereas: (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 Decision 2004/585/EC provide the framework for the establishment and operation of Regional Advisory Councils. (2)  Article 2 of Decision 2004/585/EC establishes a Regional Advisory Council to cover pelagic stocks (blue whiting, mackerel, horse mackerel, herring), in all International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) areas (%) excluding the Baltic Sea. (3) In accordance with Article 3(1) of Decision 2004/585(EC, representatives of the fisheries sector and other interests groups submitted a request concerning the () OJ L 256, 3.8.2004, p. 17. () OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59. () As defined in Council Regulation (EEC) No 3880/91 (O] L 365, 31.12.1991, p. 1). operation of that Regional Advisory Council to Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom. (4 As required by Article 3(2) of Decision 2004/585EC, the Member States concerned determined whether the appli- cation concerning the Regional Advisory Council for the Pelagic stocks was in conformity with the provisions laid down in that Decision. On 19 May 2005, the Member States concerned transmitted a recommendation on that Regional Advisory Council to the Commission. (5)  The Commission has evaluated the application by the interested parties and the recommendation in the light of Decision 2004/585/EC and the aims and principles of the Common Fisheries Policy, and considers that the Regional Advisory Council for the Pelagic stocks is ready to become operational, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Sole Article The Regional Advisory Council for pelagic stocks, established by Article 2(1)(f) of Decision 2004/585/EC, shall be operational as from 16 August 2005. Done at Brussels, 5 August 2005. For the Commission Joe BORG Member of the Commission