EC/Russia agreement on cooperation in science and technology: renewal

PURPOSE: to renew the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Russia.

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 Russian Federation was signed in Brussels on 16 November 2000.

This Agreement stipulates that it shall be concluded for an initial period ending on 31 December 2002 and will be renewable by common agreement between the parties for additional periods of five years.

By its Decision 2009/313/EC of 30 March 2009, the Council concluded the renewal of the Agreement for a further period of five years.

Renewal of the Agreement for five more years would be in the interest of both Parties so as to maintain continuity in the scientific and technological relations between Russia and the European Union.

This is the aim of this proposal.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was undertaken. However, following a review of the Agreement, jointly conducted by independent experts from the EU and Russia, a set of recommendations was drawn up by the appointed expert groups. Both sides took note of the expert groups' recommendation to renew the Agreement in its current form for another five years at a meeting held on 15 February 2013 in Moscow.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 186 in conjunction with point (v) of Article 218(6)(a) of the treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: under this proposal, the renewal of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Russia, for an additional period of five years, is hereby approved on behalf of the European Union.

The content of the renewed Agreement is identical to that of the current Agreement, which expires on 20 February 2014.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the implementation of the Agreement calls for a financial envelope of EUR 550 000 from 2014 to 2019.