EC/Ukraine Agreement on cooperation in science and technology: renewal of the Agreement

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

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 its Decision 2003/96/EC, the Council approved the conclusion of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine.

Point (b) of Article 12 of the Agreement provided that the Agreement would be concluded for an initial period ending on 31 December 2002 and would be renewable by common agreement between the Parties for additional periods of five years.

Based on the Council Decision 2011/182/EU of 9 March 2011, the Agreement was renewed for a further period of five years with a retroactive effect as of 8 November 2009 and is due to expire on 7 November 2014.

The renewal of the Agreement should now be approved on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is called upon to approve, on behalf of the EU, the renewal of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine for an additional period of 5 years.

The content of the renewed Agreement is identical to the current Agreement.