2001/421/EC: Council Decision of 28 May 2001 concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community of an Exchange of Letters recording the common understanding reached on the accession of the Republic of Korea to the common understanding on the principles of international cooperation on research and development activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems between the European Community and the United States of America, Japan, Australia, Canada, Norway and Switzerland
Date: 2001-05-28
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: South Korea, exchange of information, industrial manufacturing, international cooperation, research and development, technological change

L 151/34

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

7.6.2001

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 28 May 2001

concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community of an Exchange of Letters
recording the common understanding reached on the accession of the Republic of Korea to the
common understanding on the principles of international cooperation on research and develop-
ment activities in the domain of
intelligent manufacturing systems between the European
Community and the United States of America, Japan, Australia, Canada, Norway and Switzerland

(2001/421/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 170, in conjunction with
the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2),
and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

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

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

International cooperation in the domain of intelligent
manufacturing systems will strengthen the scientific and
technological bases of the Community in industry and
will contribute to the competitiveness of Community
industry.

An Exchange of Letters was concluded between the
European Community and the United States of America,
Japan, Australia, Canada, Norway and Switzerland (2)
recording the common understanding on the principles
of international cooperation on research and develop-
ment activities in the domain of intelligent manufac-
turing systems (IMS) as set out in the attached IMS
Terms of Reference.

The IMS Terms of Reference make provisions in Chapter
IX for the admission of new participants.

The Republic of Korea has applied to become a member
of IMS according to Chapter IX of the IMS Terms of
Reference.

The Republic of Korea has complied with the IMS Terms
of Reference and the contributions of the Republic of
Korea in the framework of IMS have made it possible to

establish a positive profile of the region's participation
and the International
IMS Steering Committee has
recommended on 12 November 1999 that the Republic
of Korea should have representation on the International
IMS Steering Committee,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Exchange of Letters recording the common understanding
reached on the accession of the Republic of Korea to the
common understanding on the principles of
international
cooperation in research and development activities in the
domain of intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) between the
European Community and the United States of America, Japan,
Australia, Canada, Norway and Switzerland is hereby approved
on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Exchange of Letters is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate
the person(s) empowered to sign the Exchange of Letters in
order to bind the Community.

Done at Brussels, 28 May 2001.

For the Council

The President

T. ÖSTROS

(1) Opinion delivered 3 April 2001 (not yet published in the Official

Journal).

(2) OJ L 161, 18.6.1997, p. 2.