EC/Faroe Islands agreement: scientific and technological cooperation, Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013)

2009/0160(NLE) 09/03/2011

PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement between the EU and the Faroes on scientific and technological cooperation, associating the Faroe Islands to the Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013).

NON LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2011/218/EU on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Faeroe Islands on scientific and technological cooperation, associating the Faeroe Islands to the Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013).

BACKGROUND: the Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an Agreement with the Government of the Faeroe Islands on scientific and technological cooperation associating the Faeroe Islands to the Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013). The Agreement was signed by the representatives of the Parties on 3 June 2010 in Brussels, and was made provisionally applicable as from 1 January 2010, pending its conclusion at a later date.

The Agreement must now be concluded on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: this Decision approves the Agreement between the EU and the Government of the Faeroe Islands on scientific and technological cooperation associating the Faeroe Islands to the Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013) on behalf of the Union.

The Agreement shall respect the following principles:

mutual benefit,
reciprocal opportunities for access to each other’s programmes and activities relevant to the purpose of the agreement,
non-discrimination,
effective protection of intellectual property, and
equitable sharing of intellectual property rights.

The agreement will open to legal entities from the Faroe Islands the same participation and funding rights and obligations as legal entities established in the EU Member States.

In addition, cooperation may include regular discussions on the orientations and priorities for research policies and planning in the Faroes and the Union, as well as discussions on cooperation prospects and development, and visits and exchanges of research workers, engineers and technicians.

Modes of cooperation: the Agreement makes provision setting out the terms and conditions for legal entities in the Faroes to participate in the Framework Programme. Legal entities of the Faroes shall participate in indirect actions and in activities of the Joint Research Centre of the Framework Programme under the same conditions as those applicable to legal entities of Member States of the Union. Legal entities of the Union shall participate in the Faroes' research programmes and projects in themes equivalent to those of the Framework Programme under the same conditions as those applicable to legal entities of the Faroes.

Free movement and residence of research workers: the Parties will make every effort, within the framework of their applicable legislation, to facilitate the free movement and residence of research workers participating in the activities covered by the Agreement and to facilitate cross-border movement of goods intended for use in such activities. The Parties will ensure that no fiscal charge or levy shall be imposed upon the transferring of funds between the Union and the Faroes, when said funds are needed for the operation of activities covered by this Agreement.

Financing: the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Framework Programme shall be established on a yearly basis in proportion to, and in addition to, the amount available each year in the annual budget of the Union for commitment appropriations needed for the implementation, management and operation of the Framework Programme. The rules governing the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Framework Programme is set out in an Annex.

Institutional framework: the Agreement will help to structure and enhance the scientific and technological cooperation between the EC and the Faroes, through regular meetings of its Joint Committee, in which specific cooperation activities can be planned. Furthermore, it envisages the participation of representatives of the Faroe Islands as observers with no voting rights in the Seventh Framework Programme Committees and in the Board of Governors of the Joint Research Centre. A joint committee called the "EU-Faroes Research Committee" shall be established, whose functions shall include ensuring, evaluating and reviewing the implementation of this Agreement and examining any measure of a nature to improve and develop cooperation.

When the Union adopts a new multi-annual framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities, a new agreement may be renegotiated or renewed under mutually agreed conditions, at the request of either of the Parties.

Annexes: the Agreement includes several annexes which deal with, respectively:

terms and conditions for the participation of legal entities of Member States of the Union and of the Faroes;
principles on the allocation of intellectual property rights;
rules governing the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Framework Programme;
financial control of the Faroese participants in the Union programmes covered by this Agreement.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision will enter into force on 9 March 2011. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which both Parties have notified each other of the completion of their procedures for that purpose. It shall be provisionally applied as of 1 January 2010. This Agreement is concluded for the remaining duration of the Framework.

Final act