PURPOSE: to extend for 5 more years the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2009/306/EC concerning the extension and amendment of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a decision approving the extension of the EU/United States of America cooperation agreement on science and technology for a further period of five years.

Recall that by Decision 98/591/EC (see CNS/1998/0095 ), the Council approved the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the EC and the United States of America, which entered into force on 14 October 1998. The Agreement was renewed for a further five years by Decision 2004/756/EC (see CNS/2003/0223 ) with effect from 14 October 2003.

As this Agreement also expired on 13 October 2008, the parties agreed to renew the scientific and technological cooperation Agreement for a second time for a further five years.

The material content of the extended Agreement will be identical to the material content of the Agreement which expired on 13 October 2008, with the exception of a technical amendment consisting mainly in adding research on security and space to the list of sectors for cooperative activities, in line with the scope of the 7th Research Framework programme of the Community.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Agreement shall enter into force on the day on which the Contracting Parties notify each other that the procedures necessary to this end have been completed.

The European Parliament adopted by 385 votes to 9 with 7 abstentions, under the consultation procedure, a legislative resolution approving the proposal for a Council decision concerning the extension of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report drafted by Angelika NIEBLER (EPP-ED,) and approved the proposal for a Council decision concerning the extension of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America.

PURPOSE: to extend, for the additional period of 5 years, the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America was signed in Washington on 5 December, 1997 and entered into force on 14 October 1998 (see CNS/1998/0095 ). The Agreement was concluded for an initial period of 5 years. Subject to review by the Parties in the final year of each successive period, the Agreement may be extended with possible amendments, thereafter for additional periods of 5 years by mutual written agreement by the Parties. By Council Decision 2004/756/EC of 4 October, 2004 the Agreement was renewed for a further period of 5 years which became effective as from 14 October 2003. The Agreement is due to expire on 13 October, 2008 (see CNS/2003/0223 ).

As it is in the interest of the Community to extend this Agreement in order to continue to facilitate cooperation with the United States of America in common S&T priority areas leading to socio-economic benefits for both Parties, the Commission proposes to extend this Agreement for a period of 5 years from 2008.

The material content of the extended Agreement will be identical to the material content of the current Agreement, apart from amendments of a technical nature to update the scope of the agreement in line with the Seventh Community Research Framework Programme (FP7), consisting mainly in adding research on space, security and nanotechnologies to the list of sectors for cooperative activities.

PURPOSE: to extend, for the additional period of 5 years, the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America was signed in Washington on 5 December, 1997 and entered into force on 14 October 1998 (see CNS/1998/0095 ). The Agreement was concluded for an initial period of 5 years. Subject to review by the Parties in the final year of each successive period, the Agreement may be extended with possible amendments, thereafter for additional periods of 5 years by mutual written agreement by the Parties. By Council Decision 2004/756/EC of 4 October, 2004 the Agreement was renewed for a further period of 5 years which became effective as from 14 October 2003. The Agreement is due to expire on 13 October, 2008 (see CNS/2003/0223 ).

As it is in the interest of the Community to extend this Agreement in order to continue to facilitate cooperation with the United States of America in common S&T priority areas leading to socio-economic benefits for both Parties, the Commission proposes to extend this Agreement for a period of 5 years from 2008.

The material content of the extended Agreement will be identical to the material content of the current Agreement, apart from amendments of a technical nature to update the scope of the agreement in line with the Seventh Community Research Framework Programme (FP7), consisting mainly in adding research on space, security and nanotechnologies to the list of sectors for cooperative activities.