Conclusions of the Council concerning a European partnership for international scientific and technological cooperation
Date: 2009-01-24
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU research policy, cooperation policy, innovation, investment, research and development, research body, research staff, scientific exchange

24.1.2009

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Conclusions of the Council concerning a European partnership for international scientific and
technological cooperation

(2009/C 18/05)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

the realisation of

RECALLING the general context of
the
European Research Area (ERA) and in particular the Commis-
sion's Green Paper of 4 April 2007 (1), the conclusions of the
Presidency of the European Council of 14 December 2007 and
the Council conclusions on the launch of the ‘Ljubljana Process’
— towards full realisation of
the European Research Area
(30 May 2008) (2), in which a ‘wide opening of the ERA to the
world’ constitutes one of the five initiatives identified in this
context, and REFERRING to its ‘Vision 2020 for the European
Research Area’ (2 December 2008) (3);

CONSIDERING that accelerating globalisation creates opportu-
increasing scientific excellence and for achieving
nities for
sustainable development, and whereas,
in particular, scientific
and technological cooperation needs to be stepped up at world-
wide level in order to resolve the major global challenges (those
already identified such as climate change, poverty,
infectious
diseases, energy risks, water and food supply, safety of the popu-
lation, preservation of biodiversity, network security and the
digital divide as well as further challenges which may emerge);

sion of knowledge worldwide, and constitute an important
means for promoting the mobility of researchers and brain
circulation;

1.

IS OF THE VIEW that the pursuit of the European Union's
general objectives can be strengthened through a strategic
framework for the appropriate coordination of its various
scientific and technological cooperation activities with
third countries, while setting priorities that are differen-
tiated according to the level of scientific and economic
development and sectoral characteristics of those countries;

2. WELCOMES the Commission Communication ‘A strategic
European framework for international science and tech-
nology cooperation’ (4), with the aim of,
in particular,
strengthening the scientific and technological base of the
European Union, boosting the competitiveness of
its
industry and helping to deal with global challenges within a
context of ‘global responsibility’;

CONSIDERING that
the Seventh Framework Programme for
Research and Technical Development (7th FP) allows for the
participation of third countries and includes several new instru-
ments intended to encourage international cooperation;

3. UNDERLINES that such a strategy aims to develop better
coherence and synergies between the various international
scientific and technological cooperation activities carried
out in Europe by Member States and the European Com-
munity, whilst respecting the principle of subsidiarity;

CONSIDERING that there are a large number of bilateral and
multilateral S&T cooperation agreements in force concluded
between the European Communities and third countries as well
as between Member States and third countries, and WHEREAS
there are currently no strategy at European level for exchanging
information on the activities deriving from these
relevant
ensuring the
various agreements and, where appropriate,
adequate level of coordination amongst these activities;

CONSIDERING that Europe's aspiration — as expressed in its
‘Vision 2020 for the ERA’ — is to be able to speak with a
consistent voice with its main partners, as well as within rele-
vant international fora, in the area of science and technology;

CONSIDERING that
international scientific and technological
activities should be based on principles and practices which
uphold reciprocity, fair treatment and mutual benefits, as well as
adequate protection of intellectual property;

CONSIDERING that scientific and technological cooperation activ-
ities play a crucial role in the development, sharing and diffu-

(1) 8322/07 (COM(2007) 161).
(2) 10231/08.
(3) 16767/08.

4.

5.

INVITES Member States,
incorporating as appropriate the
countries associated to the FP7, to encourage a dialogue at
European level with a view to the coordination of their
international S&T cooperation policies and activities, as well
as to facilitate consultation between interested stakeholders,
including industry,
in order to identify opportunities for
and, where appropriate, obstacles to the development of
scientific and technological cooperation activities between
the European Union and the rest of the world;

INVITES Member States and the Commission to form a
European Partnership in the field of international scientific
and technological cooperation (‘S&T cooperation’) with a
view to implementing this European strategy; this should
be based on consultation and sharing of information in a
flexible way in order to identify common priorities which
could give rise to coordinated or joint
initiatives; and
INVITES Member States and the Commission to coordinate
activities and positions vis-à-vis third countries and within
international fora in those areas which are part of this
incorporating where appropriate the associated
strategy,
countries of the 7th FP;

(4) 13498/08 (COM(2008) 588).

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Official Journal of the European Union

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6. In that context, INVITES Member States and the Commis-
sion to collaborate within a dedicated configuration of
CREST (thereafter called ‘Strategic Forum for International
S&T Cooperation’) to drive forward the European Partner-
ship for S&T cooperation according to the mandate set out
in the Annex;

7.

INVITES Member States and the Commission to contribute
the Partnership by making
fully towards the success of
available to it appropriate information and experience
acquired in connection with their respective cooperation
activities including the outcome of evaluation and impact
assessment of S&T collaboration with third countries;

8. Within the framework of the Partnership, INVITES Member
States and the Commission to better coordinate and make
more operational
their S&T cooperation activities with
other regions of the world, notably by strengthening or
creating dialogue platforms with other regions of the world
with a view to jointly identifying future priorities and
actions with regard to S&T cooperation;

9.

INVITES the Commission to further increase the impact of
S&T Agreements, ensure the correct application of the prin-
ciples of reciprocity, fair treatment and mutual benefits as
referred to in the cooperation agreements between the
European Community and third countries in the scientific
and technological domain; and INVITES Member States to
promote, within the framework of their S&T cooperation
with third countries, where appropriate, the principles and

practices set out in the Code of Practice for the manage-
ment of intellectual property in knowledge transfer activ-
ities (1),
for Researchers and the
Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (2);

the European Charter

10. UNDERLINES the need to ensure the necessary coherence
and complementarity between European and national
instruments
supporting research and those supporting
S&T capacity-building, and INVITES the Commission to
strengthen the
Framework
Programmes for Research and Technological Development
the European
(FP),
Development Fund (EDF),
for
development cooperation (DCI) and the European Neigh-
bourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) as well as
other relevant mechanisms;

(IPA),
the financing instrument

the Pre-Accession Instrument

relationship between the

11. and in this context, RECALLS the action already undertaken
to promote cooperation between Member States and devel-
oping countries, notably the EU-Africa Strategic Partner-
ship, and along these lines CONSIDERS exploring further
cooperation with developing countries as part of the EU's
overall S&T strategy;

12. CONSIDERS that all specific procedures related to the imple-
mentation of the international cooperation strategy of the
European Research Area must be examined within the
framework of the general approach to the optimisation of
the governance of the European Research Area, as foreseen
by the Ljubljana Process.

(1) See Council Resolution (30 May 2008), 10323/08.
(2) OJ L 75, 22.3.2005.

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Mandate for CREST concerning a strategic forum for international S&T cooperation

ANNEX

Objective:

To facilitate the further development, implementation and monitoring of the international dimension of ERA by the
sharing of information and consultation between the partners (Member States and the Commission) with a view to identi-
fying common priorities which could lead to coordinated or joint initiatives, and coordinating activities and positions
vis-à-vis third countries and within international fora.

Working methods:

CREST will meet in a dedicated configuration (‘The Strategic Forum for International S&T Cooperation’) with high level
representatives of Member States and the Commission. This dedicated configuration of CREST may be supported by an
appropriate working group if deemed necessary. It will be chaired by one of its members representing a Member State
designated for a period of 2 years. It will be open, as appropriate, to the countries associated to FP.

Main activities:

— systematically sharing and structuring information on the S&T cooperation activities and objectives (whether ongoing

or planned) of the various partners,

— pooling relevant knowledge concerning third countries, in particular analyses of their S&T resources and capabilities,

— ensuring regular consultation between the partners in order to identify their respective objectives and common priori-

ties in terms of S&T cooperation with third countries (‘what and with whom?’),

— where appropriate, coordinating activities of a similar nature implemented by Member States and the Community

(with variable geometry),

— if necessary, proposing initiatives to be implemented with appropriate ways and means,

— networking of Member States' and the Commission's scientific advisors in key third countries.

Reporting:

Annual report to the Council and to the Commission on progress achieved in realising the objectives of the Partnership,
including as relevant:

— mapping of international cooperation activities (whether ongoing or planned) between the EU and third countries,

— analysis of the scope, coherence and complementarity of the various EU activities,

— identification of common priorities and proposals for measures to implement them,

— overall assessment of the impact of the EU's actions in international S&T cooperation.