The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Sofia SAKORAFA (GUE/NGL, EL) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt setting out the terms and conditions for Egypt’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.

As stated in the explanatory memorandum accompanying the recommendation, in July 2017 the European Parliament adopted the new Partnership on Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). This is the first ever Public-to-Public Partnership under Article 185 TFEU to target a specific geographical area, the Mediterranean Basin, including the participation of neighbouring EU countries.

PRIMA will be launched on 1 January 2018 for a period of ten years with the aim of developing and adopting innovative and integrated solutions for the sustainable management of water provision and agro-food systems in the Mediterranean area.

This partnership is, so far, the most ambitious Euro-Mediterranean research and innovation initiative in this field. It represents one of the few attempts by the EU science diplomacy that could also help to resolve the issue of forced displacement of Mediterranean residents and thus address some of the root causes of migration.

19 countries are jointly undertaking PRIMA: 11 Member States, three associated countries to Horizon 2020 and five third countries with which the international agreements for scientific and technological cooperation need to be concluded.

In this context, the rapporteur welcomed the Commission proposal on the agreements already concluded with Algeria, Jordan and Lebanon following the adoption of PRIMA.

PURPOSE: to allow Egypt to participate in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

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: in accordance with Decision (EU) 2017/1324, Egypt is to become a Participating State in PRIMA subject to the conclusion of an international agreement for scientific and technological cooperation with the Union setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of Egypt in PRIMA.

Egypt expressed its wish to join PRIMA as a Participating State and on an equal footing with the Member States and third countries associated to Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) participating in PRIMA.

The Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Egypt laying down the terms and conditions for Egypt's participation in PRIMA was signed subject to its conclusion at a later date. The Agreement must now be approved.

CONTENT: the draft Council Decision seeks the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Union and Egypt setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of Egypt in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

For further details on the objectives and content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the Commission's initial legislative proposal dated 11.8.2017.

PURPOSE: to allow Egypt to participate in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

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: Decision (EU) 2017/1324 of the European Parliament and of the Council provides for the participation of the Union in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

The strategic objective of PRIMA is to build research and innovation capacities and to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for agro-food systems in order to make them sustainable, as well as for an integrated water supply and management in the Mediterranean area.

PRIMA will be jointly undertaken by a number of Member States and third countries with a high level of commitment to scientific, management and financial integration and under the same terms and conditions. 

Egypt expressed its wish to join PRIMA as a Participating State and pledged to commit a financial contribution of EUR 33 million to the initiative.

The negotiations started on 26 June 2017 and were successfully completed on 27 July 2017, when the text of the draft Agreement was initialled by representatives from each of the future Parties.

In order to ensure that Egypt participates in PRIMA on an equal footing with Member States and third countries associated to Horizon 2020, an International Agreement with the Union is required to extend the scope of the legal regime established by Decision (EU) 2017/1324 to Egypt.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council conclude the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and Egypt setting out the terms and conditions for participation of Egypt in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

The present initiative will allow Egypt to become a Participating State in PRIMA, and thus engaged on an equal footing with Member States and third countries associated to Horizon 2020. Egyptian legal entities would be automatically eligible to apply for EU funding in projects funded from the EU budget.

In order to ensure the protection of Union financial interests, particularly the powers of the Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office, the Court of Auditors and the PRIMA Implementation Structure (PRIMA-IS) to carry out audits and investigations, the Agreement and obliges the Parties to provide all necessary assistance to ensure their implementation and agree on detailed arrangements for assistance.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the impact on expenditure is estimated at EUR 82 800 for the period 2018-2020.

PURPOSE: to allow Egypt to participate in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

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: Decision (EU) 2017/1324 of the European Parliament and of the Council provides for the participation of the Union in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

The strategic objective of PRIMA is to build research and innovation capacities and to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for agro-food systems in order to make them sustainable, as well as for an integrated water supply and management in the Mediterranean area.

PRIMA will be jointly undertaken by a number of Member States and third countries with a high level of commitment to scientific, management and financial integration and under the same terms and conditions. 

Egypt expressed its wish to join PRIMA as a Participating State and pledged to commit a financial contribution of EUR 33 million to the initiative.

The negotiations started on 26 June 2017 and were successfully completed on 27 July 2017, when the text of the draft Agreement was initialled by representatives from each of the future Parties.

In order to ensure that Egypt participates in PRIMA on an equal footing with Member States and third countries associated to Horizon 2020, an International Agreement with the Union is required to extend the scope of the legal regime established by Decision (EU) 2017/1324 to Egypt.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council conclude the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and Egypt setting out the terms and conditions for participation of Egypt in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

The present initiative will allow Egypt to become a Participating State in PRIMA, and thus engaged on an equal footing with Member States and third countries associated to Horizon 2020. Egyptian legal entities would be automatically eligible to apply for EU funding in projects funded from the EU budget.

In order to ensure the protection of Union financial interests, particularly the powers of the Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office, the Court of Auditors and the PRIMA Implementation Structure (PRIMA-IS) to carry out audits and investigations, the Agreement and obliges the Parties to provide all necessary assistance to ensure their implementation and agree on detailed arrangements for assistance.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the impact on expenditure is estimated at EUR 82 800 for the period 2018-2020.