EC/Brazil Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation: renewal

PURPOSE: to renew the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and Brazil.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology (S&T) between the European Community and Brazil entered into force on 7 August 2007. It provides that the Agreement shall initially be valid for a period of five years and may be renewed by agreement between the Parties after evaluation during the penultimate year of each subsequent renewal period.

The Commission considers that it is in the interest of the European Union to renew this Agreement in order to continue to facilitate cooperation with Brazil in common S&T priority areas leading to benefits for both Parties.

Both Parties confirmed their intention to renew the Agreement at the fifth meeting of the EU-Brazil Joint Steering Committee, held in Brasilia on 22 November 2011.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment has been undertaken.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 186 in conjunction with point (v) of Article 218(6) (a) TFEU.

CONTENT: with this proposed Decision, it is provided that the Union approves, following the European Parliament’s consent, the renewal for an additional period of five years of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and Brazil.

The material content of the renewed Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement which expires on 6 August 2012. The only amendments concern the replacement of the term “European Community” by the term “European Union” as a consequence of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.

The proposed Decision should allow both Brazil and the European Union to enhance the cooperation and develop a more strategic partnership by increasing the scale and the scope of existing cooperation addressing key societal challenges, promoting reciprocal access to programmes and funding increasing regional cooperation where appropriate.

Principles of the Agreement: the Agreement is based on:

• the principles of mutual benefit,
• reciprocal access to programmes and activities of the other party in connection with the subject of the agreement,
• non-discrimination,
• effective protection of intellectual property,
• equitable sharing of intellectual property rights.

The renewal of the Agreement will allow for increased scientific knowledge leading to market access opportunities.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the estimated impact on expenditure in commitment appropriations is EUR 0.660 millions for the period 2012-2017.