Proposal for a Council Decision on the accession of Canada to the Agreement setting up an International Science and Technology Centre between the United States of America, Japan, the Russian Federation and, acting as single party, the European Atomic Energy Community and the European Economic Community
Date: 2003-10-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Canada, accession to an agreement, international agreement, the EU's international role

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 30.10.2003
COM(2003) 648 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the accession of Canada to the Agreement setting up an International Science and
Technology Centre between the United States of America, Japan, the Russian
Federation and, acting as single party, the European Atomic Energy Community and
the European Economic Community

(presented by the Commission)

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

On 27 November 1992, the European Community and the European Atomic Energy
Community, acting as single party (hereinafter "the Communities"), signed with the
United States of America, Japan and the Russian Federation an Agreement setting up
an International Science and Technology Centre (hereinafter "the Agreement"). The
Communities concluded this Agreement through Council Regulation No 3955/92/EC
and Commission Regulation 3956/92/EURATOM of 21 December 1992.

The  International Science  and Technology  Centre (hereinafter  "the Centre") acts  as
an intergovernmental organisation with its own legal capacity, in accordance with the
laws and regulations of the parties. The objectives of the  Centre  consist in  offering
scientists  and  engineers  specialising  in  weapons  and  in  particular  those  with
knowledge and qualifications in the field of weapons of mass destruction or missile
launching systems in the Russian Federation and in other CIS States and Georgia the
possibility of directing their skills towards peaceful activities and contributing to the
solution  of  national  or  international  technical  problems  and  wider  objectives
regarding the transition to a market economy responding to civilian requirements.

On  28  March  2003,  Canada  notified  the  Board  of  the  Centre  of  its  intention  to
become a party to the Agreement. In accordance with Article XIII of the Agreement,
it is the responsibility of the Board of the Centre to approve this accession.

The  accession  of  Canada  falls  within  the  framework  of  the  Agreement  and  more
generally  the  broader  framework  of  the  support  to  the  G8  initiative  on  the  global
partnership against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction the objectives of
which include the non-proliferation and skills objectives of the Centre. The accession
of Canada also fits in with the concern of the parties to see their numbers enlarged, in
the  awareness  that  the  success  of  the  Centre  necessitates  solid  support  from  the
governments, 
institutions  and  other
intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations.

foundations,  academic  and  scientific 

In  accordance  with  Article  3(3)  of  Council  Regulation  3955/92/EC,  the  position  of
the Communities with regard to questions arising from Article XIII of the Agreement
must be adopted by the Council and expressed, as a general rule, by the Presidency.

Having regard to the above, the Commission proposes that the Council:

– 

should approve, on behalf of the Communities, the accession of Canada to the
Agreement setting up an International Science and Technology Centre between
the  United  States  of  America,  Japan,  the  Russian  Federation  and,  acting  as
single  party,  the  European  Atomic  Energy  Community  and  the  European
Economic Community;

– 

should authorise the Presidency of the Council to express this agreement within
the Board of the Centre.

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Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the accession of Canada to the Agreement setting up an International Science and
Technology Centre between the United States of America, Japan, the Russian
Federation and, acting as single party, the European Atomic Energy Community and
the European Economic Community

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,

Having  regard  to  Council  Regulation  No  3955/92/EC  of  21  December  1992  on  the
conclusion, on behalf of the European Economic Community of the Agreement setting up an
International  Science  and  Technology  Centre  between  the  United  States  of  America,  Japan,
the Russian Federation and, acting as single party, the European Atomic Energy Community
and the European Economic Community1, and in particular Article 3(1), (3) and (4) thereof,

Having regard to the communication from the Commission2,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The European  Atomic  Energy  Community  and  the  European  Economic  Community,
acting  as  single  party  (hereinafter  "the  Communities")  concluded  on  21  December
1992 the Agreement setting up between them and the United States of America, Japan
and  the  Russian  Federation  an  International  Science  and  Technology  Centre
(hereinafter "the Agreement").

On  28  March  2003  Canada  notified  the  Board  of  the  International  Science  and
Technology Centre (hereinafter "the Centre") of its intention to become a party to the
Agreement. In accordance with Article XIII of the Agreement, it is the responsibility
of the Board of the Centre to approve this accession.

The Communities are represented on the Board of the Centre by the Presidency of the
Council  and  by  the  Commission.  The  position  of  the  Communities  with  regard  to
questions arising under Article XIII of the Agreement is adopted by the Council and
expressed, as a general rule, by the Presidency,

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2

OJ L 409, 31.12.1992, p. 1.
OJ C , , p. .

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HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The  accession  of  Canada  to  the  Agreement  setting  up  an  International  Science  and
Technology Centre between the United States of America, Japan, the Russian Federation and,
acting as single party, the European Atomic Energy Community and the European Economic
Community, is hereby approved on behalf of the Communities.

Article 2

The Presidency of the Council shall express within the Board of the Centre the approval of the
Communities to the accession of Canada to the Agreement.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

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