2008/148/EC: Council Decision of 22 March 2007 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters recording the common understanding renewing and modifying the Agreement on international cooperation on research and development activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) between the European Community and Australia, Canada, the EFTA countries of Norway and Switzerland, Korea, Japan and the United States of America
Date: 2007-03-22
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: agreement (EU), industrial manufacturing, international cooperation, new technology, ratification of an agreement, research and development, third country

27.2.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 53/19

COUNCIL DECISION

of 22 March 2007

concerning the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters recording the
common understanding renewing and modifying the Agreement on international cooperation on
research and development activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS)
between the European Community and Australia, Canada, the EFTA countries of Norway and
Switzerland, Korea, Japan and the United States of America

(2008/148/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular Article 170,
in conjunction with
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) Decision No 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 27 June 2002 establishing 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 to 2006) (2)
provides for
international cooperation in the field of
manufacturing research.

(2) Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the
seventh framework programme of the European Commu-
nity for research, technological development and demon-
stration activities
for a
continuance of international cooperation.

(2007 to 2013) (3), provides

(3) An agreement was concluded by exchanges of

letters
between the Community and Australia, Canada, the EFTA
countries of Norway and Switzerland, Korea, Japan and the
United States of America (4)
recording the common
understanding on the principles of international cooper-
ation on research and development activities in the domain
of intelligent manufacturing systems (hereinafter the IMS
Agreement). The IMS Agreement expired in April 2005. As
it appeared to be an added value in enhancing research in
the field of intelligent manufacturing systems, the Commis-
sion requested a negotiation mandate to renew the IMS
Agreement.

(1) Opinion delivered on 14 December 2006 (not yet published in the

Official Journal).

(2) OJ L 232, 29.8.2002, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision

No 786/2004/EC (OJ L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 7).

(3) OJ L 412, 30.12.2006, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 161, 18.6.1997, p. 2 and OJ L 151, 7.6.2001, p. 35.

(4)

By Decision of 29 November 2005, the Council authorised
the Commission to negotiate on behalf of the Community
with Australia, Canada, the EFTA countries of Norway and
Switzerland, Korea, Japan and the United States of America
the renewal and modification of the IMS Agreement.

(5) Negotiations were held in accordance with the negotiation
mandate and the results are integrated in the Terms of
Reference for the international cooperation activities in the
field of intelligent manufacturing systems, which set out the
framework for the cooperation. These Terms of Reference
are attached to an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of
Letters recording the common understanding renewing and
modifying the Agreement on international cooperation on
research and development activities in the domain of
(IMS) between the
intelligent manufacturing systems
European Community, Australia, Canada, the EFTA coun-
tries of Norway and Switzerland, Korea,
Japan and the
United States of America (hereinafter the Agreement in the
the
form of an Exchange of Letters). Modifications of
previous scheme relate to the governance of IMS and it
budgetary operations.

(6)

The IMS Terms of Reference stipulate that the chair of the
IMS governance rotates among the participants in the IMS
scheme. In order to fulfil this duty, it is provided for the
Community to host the interregional IMS secretariat in
Europe.

(7)

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters
should be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters recording
the common understanding renewing and modifying the
Agreement on international cooperation on research and
development activities in the domain of intelligent manufactur-
ing systems (IMS) between the European Community and
Australia, Canada, the EFTA countries of Norway and Switzer-
land, Korea, Japan and the United States of America is hereby
approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters
is attached to this Decision.

L 53/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

27.2.2008

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to sign the Agreement in
the form of an Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community (1).

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 22 March 2007.

For the Council

The President

W. TIEFENSEE

(1) The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the

General Secretariat of the Council.