The European Parliament adopted by 570 votes to 38, with 69 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft 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.

Parliament gave its consent to the extension of the Agreement.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted, following the simplified procedure, the report by Amalia SARTORI (EPP, IT) in which it recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the extension of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America.

The renewal of this Agreement seeks to enhance further bilateral relations in the fields of science and technology.

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

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: by Decision 98/591/EC, the Council approved the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States.

Article 12(b) of the Agreement provides that the Agreement is concluded for an initial period of five years and may be extended, with possible amendments, thereafter for additional periods of five years by mutual written agreement between the Parties.

By Council Decision 2009/306/EC, the Agreement was extended for a further period of five years.

The extension of the Agreement should therefore be approved on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: this proposed Decision seeks to invite the Council to approve, on behalf of the Union, the extension, for an additional period of five years, of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the United States.

For further details of the provisions of the Agreement and its impact on the Union’s budget, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 25/10/2013.

PURPOSE: to extend the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the United States of America.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: 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.

Article 12(b) of the Agreement provides that this Agreement may be extended with possible amendments, thereafter for additional period of five years by mutual written agreement by the Parties.

By Council Decision 2009/306/EC of 30 March 2009, the Agreement was extended for a further period of five years. The Agreement is due to expire on 14 October 2013.

Extension of the Agreement would be in the interest of both Parties so as to maintain continuity in the scientific and technological relations between the US and the European Union leading to socio-economic benefits for both Parties.

It is now necessary to extend this Agreement.

CONTENT: under this present proposal, it is provided to invite the Council to approve the extension of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America for an additional period of five years.

The material content of the extended Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement.

At a later stage, however, the intellectual property rights annex may be reviewed following a request from the United States. The USA is preparing an official note identifying all the areas which they would like to negotiate. Such negotiations will require the Council to adopt a decision authorising the opening of negotiations upon the Commission's recommendation.

In the meantime, the current draft Agreement shall remain applicable.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the financial impact of the Agreement would cover the period 2013-2018 and includes a financial envelope estimated at EUR 875 000 from the EU budget (mainly appropriations from the DG Research).

PURPOSE: to extend the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the United States of America.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: 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.

Article 12(b) of the Agreement provides that this Agreement may be extended with possible amendments, thereafter for additional period of five years by mutual written agreement by the Parties.

By Council Decision 2009/306/EC of 30 March 2009, the Agreement was extended for a further period of five years. The Agreement is due to expire on 14 October 2013.

Extension of the Agreement would be in the interest of both Parties so as to maintain continuity in the scientific and technological relations between the US and the European Union leading to socio-economic benefits for both Parties.

It is now necessary to extend this Agreement.

CONTENT: under this present proposal, it is provided to invite the Council to approve the extension of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America for an additional period of five years.

The material content of the extended Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement.

At a later stage, however, the intellectual property rights annex may be reviewed following a request from the United States. The USA is preparing an official note identifying all the areas which they would like to negotiate. Such negotiations will require the Council to adopt a decision authorising the opening of negotiations upon the Commission's recommendation.

In the meantime, the current draft Agreement shall remain applicable.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the financial impact of the Agreement would cover the period 2013-2018 and includes a financial envelope estimated at EUR 875 000 from the EU budget (mainly appropriations from the DG Research).

PURPOSE: to extend the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the United States of America.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: 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.

Article 12(b) of the Agreement provides that this Agreement may be extended with possible amendments, thereafter for additional period of five years by mutual written agreement by the Parties.

By Council Decision 2009/306/EC of 30 March 2009, the Agreement was extended for a further period of five years. The Agreement is due to expire on 14 October 2013.

Extension of the Agreement would be in the interest of both Parties so as to maintain continuity in the scientific and technological relations between the US and the European Union leading to socio-economic benefits for both Parties.

It is now necessary to extend this Agreement.

CONTENT: under this present proposal, it is provided to invite the Council to approve the extension of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America for an additional period of five years.

The material content of the extended Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement.

At a later stage, however, the intellectual property rights annex may be reviewed following a request from the United States. The USA is preparing an official note identifying all the areas which they would like to negotiate. Such negotiations will require the Council to adopt a decision authorising the opening of negotiations upon the Commission's recommendation.

In the meantime, the current draft Agreement shall remain applicable.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the financial impact of the Agreement would cover the period 2013-2018 and includes a financial envelope estimated at EUR 875 000 from the EU budget (mainly appropriations from the DG Research).

PURPOSE: to extend the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the United States of America.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: 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.

Article 12(b) of the Agreement provides that this Agreement may be extended with possible amendments, thereafter for additional period of five years by mutual written agreement by the Parties.

By Council Decision 2009/306/EC of 30 March 2009, the Agreement was extended for a further period of five years. The Agreement is due to expire on 14 October 2013.

Extension of the Agreement would be in the interest of both Parties so as to maintain continuity in the scientific and technological relations between the US and the European Union leading to socio-economic benefits for both Parties.

It is now necessary to extend this Agreement.

CONTENT: under this present proposal, it is provided to invite the Council to approve the extension of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America for an additional period of five years.

The material content of the extended Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement.

At a later stage, however, the intellectual property rights annex may be reviewed following a request from the United States. The USA is preparing an official note identifying all the areas which they would like to negotiate. Such negotiations will require the Council to adopt a decision authorising the opening of negotiations upon the Commission's recommendation.

In the meantime, the current draft Agreement shall remain applicable.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the financial impact of the Agreement would cover the period 2013-2018 and includes a financial envelope estimated at EUR 875 000 from the EU budget (mainly appropriations from the DG Research).