Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of an Agreement aimed at renewing the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the Government of the Russian Federation
Date: 2003-02-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Russia, cooperation agreement (EU), renewal of an agreement, scientific cooperation

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 27.2.2003
COM(2003) 95 final

2003/0041 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

concerning the conclusion of an Agreement aimed at renewing the Agreement on
cooperation in science and technology between the European Community
and the Government of the Russian Federation

(presented by the Commission)

1.

2.

3.

4.

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

By its Decision of 16 November 2000, the Council approved the  conclusion  of  the
Agreement  on  cooperation  in  science  and  technology  between  the  European
Community  and  the  Government  of  the  Russian  Federation  (hereinafter  "Russia")1.
The Agreement entered into force on 10 May 2001.

Article  12(b)  of  the  Agreement  provides  as  follows:  "This  Agreement  shall  be
concluded for an initial period ending on 31 December 2002 and will be renewable
by common agreement between the parties for additional periods of five years".

It  was  confirmed  at  the  EU-Russia  Summit  on  29  May  2002  that  the  current
Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the EC and Russia has
laid solid foundations for long-term cooperation in this area. The Summit stressed the
importance  of  the  Action  Plan  drawn  up,  structuring  the  dialogue  between  the
European  Community  and  Russia  in  the  field  of  science  and  technology.
Implementing  this  Plan  will  contribute  towards  the  creation  of  integrated  scientific
networks  and  the  development  of  joint  research  projects  and,  consequently,  will
promote cooperation between the European Community and Russia in the context of
the European Research Area.

By  note  verbale  dated  19  September  2002,  The  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  of  the
Russian Federation requested the renewal of the abovementioned Agreement for five
more  years.  The  Russian  Government  wants  above  all  a  rapid  renewal,  without
changing  the  text  of  the  current  Agreement,  so  as  to  maintain  continuity  in  the
scientific and technological relations between Russia and the European Community.
Rapid renewal would be in the interest of both parties.

Since  the  material  content  of  the  Agreement  which  recently  expired  would  remain
unchanged,  following  the  normal  procedures  for  negotiating  this  renewal  (Article
300(1)  of  the  EC  Treaty)  would  serve  no  useful  purpose.  In  addition,  given  the
resulting  advantages,  for  both  parties,  of  rapid  renewal,  a  one-step  procedure  is
suggested (a single procedure and a single act concerning signature and conclusion).

In the light of the above considerations, the Commission requests the Council:

–  to  approve,  on  behalf  of  the  Community,  after  consulting  the  European
Parliament, the conclusion of an Agreement aimed at renewing the Agreement on
cooperation  in  science  and  technology  between  the  European  Community  and
Government of the Russian Federation;

–  to  authorise  the  President  of  the  Council  to  designate  the  person  empowered  to
sign the Agreement in order to express the consent of the Community to be bound
thereby.

1

OJ No L 299, 28.11.2000, p.14.

2

                                                
2003/0041 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

concerning the conclusion of an Agreement aimed at renewing the Agreement on
cooperation in science and technology between the European Community
and the Government of the Russian Federation

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission2,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament3,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

2

3

4

By  its  Decision  of  16  November  20004,  the  Council  approved  the  conclusion  of  the
Agreement  on  cooperation  in  science  and  technology  between  the  European
Community and the Government of the Russian Federation (hereinafter "Russia").;

Article  12(b)  of  the  Agreement  provides  as  follows:  "This  Agreement  shall  be
concluded for an initial period ending on 31 December 2002 and will be renewable by
common agreement between the parties for additional periods of five years";

By  note  verbale  dated  19  September  2002,  The  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  of  the
Russian Federation requested the renewal of the abovementioned Agreement for five
more years; the Parties to the Agreement consider that rapid renewal of this Agreement
would be in their mutual interest;

The material content of the renewed Agreement will be identical to the material content
of the Agreement which recently expired;

The  Agreement  aimed  at  renewing  the  Agreement  on  cooperation  in  science  and
technology  between  the  European  Community  and  the  Government  of  the  Russian
Federation should be approved on behalf of the Community;

OJ No C.

OJ No L 299, 28.11.2000, p.14.

3

                                                
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement aimed at renewing the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology
between  the  European  Community  and  the  Government  of  the  Russian  Federation  for  an
additional period of five years is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to sign
the Agreement in order to express the consent of the Community to be bound thereby.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

4

AGREEMENT
RENEWING THE AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (hereinafter "the Community"), of the one part,

And

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, of the other part,

hereinafter referred as the "Parties",

CONSIDERING  the  importance  of  science  and  technology  for  their  economic  and
social development;

that 

the  Community  and 

the  Russian  Federation  are  pursuing
RECOGNISING 
research  and  technological  activities  in  a  number  of  areas  of  common  interest,  and  that
participation 
in  each  other's  research  and  development  activities  on  a  basis  of
reciprocity will provide mutual benefits;

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the
European  Community  and  the  Government  of  the  Russian  Federation,  which  was  signed  in
Brussels on 16 November 2000 and expired on 31 December 2002;

DESIRING  to  pursue  their  cooperation  in  science  and  technology  in  the  formal  framework
established by the Agreement,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community
and  the  Government  of  the  Russian  Federation,  which  was  signed  in  Brussels  on  16
November  2000  and  expired  on  31  December  2002,  is  hereby  renewed  for  an  additional
period of five years.

Article 2

This  Agreement  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  date  on  which  the  Parties  have  notified  each
other in writing that their respective internal procedures necessary for its entry into force have
been completed.

Article 3

This  Agreement  is  drawn  up  in  duplicate  in  the  Danish,  Dutch,  English,  Finnish,
French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish languages, each of
these texts being equally authentic.

For the European Community

For the Government of the Russian Federation

5

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s): RTD

Activit(y/ies):International scientific and technological cooperation

TITLE  OF  ACTION:  PROPOSAL  FOR  A  COUNCIL  DECISION  CONCERNING  THE  CONCLUSION  OF  AN
AGREEMENT  AIMED  AT  RENEWING  THE  AGREEMENT  ON  COOPERATION  IN  SCIENCE  AND
TECHNOLOGY  BETWEEN  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITY  AND  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  THE
RUSSIAN FEDERATION

1.

BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

1.1.

Budget lines concerned

The  costs  incurred  in  monitoring  and  implementing  the  Agreement  will  be  charged  to  the
specific  budget  headings  of  the  programmes  within  the  Community’s  RTD  Framework
Programme (Chapter B6-6013).

2.

OVERALL FIGURES

2.1.

Method of calculating the total annual cost of the action (estimate)

a.

Preparatory activities, review of the cooperation: meetings of the Joint Community-
Russia Committee, exchange of information, visits of officials and experts to Russia

50 000 €

b.

Scientific and technical workshops/meetings

60 000 €

TOTAL : 110 000 €/year

3.

BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

Type of expenditure

New

EFTA
contribution

Contribution
from
applicant
Countries

Heading in
financial
perspectives

Non-comp

Diff

No

Yes

Yes

No 3

4.

LEGAL BASIS

–  With  legal  basis.  -  [Multiannual  programme  -  Co-decision  (with  principal  financial

reference)].

4.1.

Titles and references

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

6

–  Decision  No  1513/2002/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  of  27  June  2002
concerning  the  Sixth  Framework  Programme  of  the  European  Community  for  research,
technological  development  and  demonstration  activities,  contributing  to  the  creation  of  the
European Research Area and to innovation (2002-2006).

5.

DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

5.1.

Need for Community intervention

implementation  of 

Community budget intervention is indispensable because the planned  cooperation comes under
the 
the  budgetary  section:
participation  by  Russia  in  certain  specific  programmes  and  administrative  expenditure  on  the
European  side  (missions  by  Community  officials,  organisation  of  seminars  in  the  Community
and in Russia).

the  Framework  Programmes, 

including 

5.1.1. Objectives pursued

The essential objective is to stimulate RTD cooperation between the European Community and
Russia in the areas covered by the Framework Programmes.

–  The Agreement is designed to enable the Community and Russia to profit, on the basis of the
principle  of  mutual  benefit,  from  the  scientific  and  technical  progress  achieved  under  their
respective  research  programmes,  by  means  of  participation  by  the  Russian  scientific
community  and  industrial  sector  in  Community  research  projects  and  independent,  non-
subsidised participation by bodies established in the Community in Russian projects.

–  The  beneficiaries  in  the  EC  and  Russia  will  be  the  scientific  community,  the  private  sector

and the general public, thanks to the direct and indirect effects of cooperation.

5.1.2. Duration

The Agreement will be renewed for an additional period of five years and will be renewable by
common agreement for further periods of five years.

5.2.

Actions envisaged and budget intervention arrangements

5.2.1.

Type of expenditure

100% grant (missions to Russia by Commission officials and experts; organisation of workshops,
seminars and meetings in the European Community and in Russia).

6.

6.1.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Administrative  and  technical  operating  expenditure  included  in  Part  B  (for  the
whole programming period)

6.1.1.

Expenditure on the management of the Decision (estimate)

Indicative breakdown, amounts (expressed in millions of euros)

7

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Commitments

Payments

0.11

0.11

0.11

0.11

0.11

0.11

0.11

0.11

0.11

0.11

7.

FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

7.1.

Follow-up arrangements

The  activities  in  the  context  of  the  Cooperation  Agreement  will  be  regularly  evaluated  by  the
relevant Commission departments.

This evaluation will cover the following:

a.

b.

Collection  of  information:  on  the  basis  of  data  from  the  specific  programmes  of  the
Framework Programmes.

Overall evaluation: an evaluation of all the cooperation activities in the context of this
Agreement will be made by the Commission's departments at the end of each year.

8.

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

Numerous administrative and financial audits are provided  for at each stage of  the  cooperation
activities in the context of this Agreement. These include in particular:

–  verification, at various levels, of the statements of expenditure before payment;

–  audit by the internal audit service;

–  audit by the Court of Auditors.

8