EU/USA agreement for scientific and technological cooperation: extension

PURPOSE: to renew the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community 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: a first bilateral 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. Since then, the Agreement was extended four times, i.e. in 2003, in 2008, in 2013 and in 2018 for an additional period of 5 years each time. The current Agreement is due to expire on 14 October 2023.

CONTENT: the purpose of the draft Council Decision is to approve, on behalf of the Union, the renewal 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.

The assessment carried out by the Commission 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 an additional period of five years.

The exchange of letters between the Parties, dated 7 November 2022 and 13 December 2022, confirmed their interest in extending the Agreement for an additional period of five years.