COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/788

of 9 June 2020

on the renewal of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine

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 2003/96/EC (2), the Council approved the conclusion of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine (3) (‘the Agreement’). The Agreement was signed in Copenhagen on 4 July 2002 and entered into force on 11 February 2003.

(2) 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.

(3) On the basis of Council Decisions 2003/737/EC (4), 2011/182/EU (5) and (EU) 2015/344 (6), the Agreement was renewed for three additional periods of five years each time, with retroactive effect as of 8 November 2009 and 8 November 2014 for the last two renewals. The Agreement expired on 7 November 2019.

(4) Ukraine is an important actor in science, technology and innovation in the neighbourhood of the Union. In order to continue facilitating cooperation in common science and technology priority areas, both parties consider that the renewal of the Agreement would be in their mutual interest.

(5) Both parties have confirmed their intention to renew the Agreement for an additional period of five years. The content of the renewed Agreement should remain identical to the content of the Agreement. For the purpose of ensuring continuity of the Agreement, the renewal should have retroactive effect as of 8 November 2019.

(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 on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine for an additional period of five years is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. The renewal of the Agreement shall have retroactive effect as of 8 November 2019.

Article 2 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered, acting on behalf of the Union and in accordance with point (a) of Article 12 of the Agreement, to notify Ukraine that the Union has completed its internal procedures necessary for the renewal 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 of 13 May 2020 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2) Council Decision 2003/96/EC of 6 February 2003 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and Ukraine (OJ L 36, 12.2.2003, p. 31).

(3) OJ L 36, 12.2.2003, p. 32.

(4) Council Decision 2003/737/EC of 22 September 2003 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement renewing the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine (OJ L 267, 17.10.2003, p. 24).

(5) Council Decision 2011/182/EU of 9 March 2011 concerning the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and Ukraine (OJ L 79, 25.3.2011, p. 3).

(6) Council Decision (EU) 2015/344 of 17 February 2015 concerning the renewal of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine (OJ L 60, 4.3.2015, p. 37).