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

PURPOSE: to renew the Agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and Ukraine.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council may adopt the act only if the European Parliament has given its consent.

CONTENT: the Council's draft concerns the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the renewal of the Agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and Ukraine for an additional period of five years with effect from 8 November 2019.

It is recalled that the Agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and Ukraine provided that the Agreement would be concluded for an initial period expiring on 31 December 2002 and would be renewable by common agreement between the Parties for additional periods of five years. The Agreement has been renewed for three additional five-year periods, with retroactive effect to 8 November 2009 and 8 November 2014 for the last two renewals, respectively. The agreement expired on 7 November 2019.

Ukraine is an important actor in science, technology and innovation in the Union's neighbourhood. This Council Decision should enable both parties to strengthen cooperation and develop a more strategic partnership by increasing the scale and scope of existing cooperation, addressing global challenges and promoting reciprocal access to programmes and funding.

As both Parties have confirmed their intention to renew the Agreement for a further period of five years, it is proposed that the content of the renewed Agreement should be identical to the content of the Agreement.

In order to ensure the continuity of the Agreement, the renewal should have retroactive effect to 8 November 2019.