EU/USA agreement for scientific and technological cooperation: extension

PURPOSE: to extend the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Government of the United States of America.

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 for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America was signed in Washington, DC, on 5 December 1997 and entered into force on 14 October 1998.

The Agreement provides that the Agreement is concluded for an initial period of five years and may be extended thereafter, with possible amendments, for additional periods of five years, by mutual written agreement between the Parties.

The Council successively approved, on three occasions, in 2003, 2008 and 2013, the extension of the Agreement for additional periods of five years. The Agreement is due to expire on 14 October 2018.

The assessment carried out by the Commission services demonstrates that the Agreement provides an important framework for facilitating cooperation between the Union and the United States of America in common priority areas for science and technology, leading to mutual benefits. It is therefore in the Union’s interest to extend the Agreement for a new period of five years.

Both Parties have confirmed their intention to extend the Agreement for an additional period of five years without any amendments to the Agreement.

CONTENT: the Council draft seeks to approve, on behalf of the Union, the extension of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America for an additional period of five years.