COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/789

of 9 June 2020

on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 186, in conjunction with Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1) By Decision 2002/648/EC (2), the Council approved the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (3). This Agreement was signed in New Delhi on 23 November 2001 and entered into force on 14 October 2002. By Decision 2009/501/EC (4), the Council approved the conclusion of an Agreement renewing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (5), which renewed and slightly modified the Agreement signed in 2001. It was signed in New Delhi on 30 November 2007 and entered into force on 17 May 2010. This Agreement together with the Agreement signed in 2001 are referred to as ‘the Agreement’.

(2) In accordance with point (b) of Article 11 of the Agreement, the Agreement was concluded for a period of five years and can be renewed by mutual agreement between the parties after evaluation during the last year of the five-year period.

(3) By Decision (EU) 2015/1788 (6) the Council approved the renewal of the Agreement for an additional period of five years. The Agreement is due to expire on 17 May 2020.

(4) The evaluation carried out by Commission services demonstrates that the Agreement provides an important framework for facilitating cooperation between the Union and India in common science and technology priority areas leading to mutual benefits for the parties. It is therefore in the Union’s interest to renew the Agreement for an additional period of five years.

(5) Both parties have confirmed their intention to renew the Agreement for an additional period of five years without any amendment to the Agreement.

(6) The renewal of the Agreement should therefore be approved on behalf of the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The renewal of the Agreement for an additional period of five years is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

Article 2 The President of the Council shall designate the person(s) empowered to notify the Government of the Republic of India, on behalf of the Union, that the Union has completed its internal procedures necessary for the renewal of the Agreement in accordance with point (a) of Article 11 of the Agreement.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 9 June 2020. For the Council The President A. METELKO-ZGOMBIĆ

(1) Consent given on 13 May 2020.

(2) Council Decision 2002/648/EC of 25 June 2002 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 213, 9.8.2002, p. 29).

(3) OJ L 213, 9.8.2002, p. 30.

(4) Council Decision 2009/501/EC of 19 January 2009 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement renewing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 171, 1.7.2009, p. 17).

(5) OJ L 171, 1.7.2009, p. 19.

(6) Council Decision (EU) 2015/1788 of 1 October 2015 concerning the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 260, 7.10.2015, p. 18).