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# 52013PC0583

**Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concerning the renewal of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the Government of the Russian Federation /\* COM/2013/0583 final - 2013/0282 (NLE) \*/**

  

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.           CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

The Agreement on cooperation in science and
technology between the European Community and the Government of the Russian Federation was signed in Brussels on 16 November 2000. 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 its Decision 2009/313/EC of 30 March
2009, the Council concluded the renewal of the Agreement for a further period
of five years.

Renewal of the Agreement for five more
years would be in the interest of both Parties so as to maintain continuity in
the scientific and technological relations between Russia and the European
Union.

2.           RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE
INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

Following a review of the Agreement,
jointly conducted by independent experts from the European Union and the Russian Federation, a set of recommendations was drawn up by the appointed expert groups.
Both sides took note of the expert groups' recommendation to renew the
Agreement in its current form for another five years at a meeting between
representatives from the European Commission and the Ministry of Education and
Science of the Russian Federation held on 15 February 2013 in Moscow.

3.           LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL

The material content of the renewed
Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement, which expires on
20 February 2014.

4.           BUDGETARY IMPLICATION

The Legislative Financial Statement presented
with this decision sets out the indicative budgetary implications. The
provisions of the Decision shall ensure that the financial interests of the Union are protected.

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

–
To approve, on behalf of the Union, and
following the consent of the European Parliament, the renewal of the Agreement
between the European Community and the Government of the Russian Federation on
cooperation in science and technology for an additional period of five years;

–
To authorise the President of the Council to
designate the person(s) empowered to notify the Government of the Russian Federation that the Union has completed its internal procedures necessary for the entry into
force of this renewed Agreement.

2013/0282 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

concerning the renewal of 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 on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 186 in conjunction
with point (v) of Article 218(6)(a) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the
European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1)       By its Decision 2000/742/EC
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.

(2)       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'.

(3)       Following a Joint Review
of the Agreement, both parties took note of the recommendation that the
Agreement should be renewed for another five years in its current form.

(4)       The parties to the
Agreement consider that rapid renewal of this Agreement would be in their
mutual interest.

(5)       The content of the renewed
Agreement will be identical to the content of the Agreement, which expires on
20 February, 2014.

(6)       The renewal of the
Agreement for science and technological cooperation between the European
Community and the Government of the Russian Federation should be approved on
behalf of the European Union.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The renewal of 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 European Union.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby
authorised to designate the person(s) empowered, acting on behalf of the Union
and in accordance with point (a) of Article 12 of the Agreement, to notify the
Government of the Russian Federation that the Union has completed its internal
procedures necessary for the entry into force of this renewed Agreement and
make the following notification to the Russian
Federation:

'As a consequence of the entry into force
of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the European Union has replaced and
succeeded the European Community and from that date exercises all rights and
assumes all obligations of the European Community. Therefore, references to
"the European Community" in the text of the Agreement are, where
appropriate to be read as "the European Union".'.

Article 3

This
Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. This Decision
shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels,

                                                                       For
the Council

                                                                       The
President

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1.           FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

              1.1.    Title of the proposal/initiative

              1.2.    Policy
area(s) concerned in the ABM/ABB structure

              1.3.    Nature
of the proposal/initiative

              1.4.    Objectives

              1.5.    Grounds
for the proposal/initiative

              1.6.    Duration
and financial impact

              1.7.    Management
mode(s) envisaged

2.           MANAGEMENT MEASURES

              2.1.    Monitoring
and reporting rules

              2.2.    Management
and control system

              2.3.    Measures
to prevent fraud and irregularities

3.           ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE
PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

              3.1.    Heading(s)
of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected

              3.2.    Estimated
impact on expenditure

              3.2.1. Summary of
estimated impact on expenditure

              3.2.2. Estimated impact
on operational appropriations

              3.2.3. Estimated impact
on appropriations of an administrative nature

              3.2.4. Compatibility
with the current multiannual financial framework

              3.2.5. Third-party
contributions

              3.3.    Estimated impact on revenue

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1.           FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

1.1.        Title of the
proposal/initiative

Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the renewal of the
Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European
Community and the Government of the Russian Federation.

1.2.        Policy area(s) concerned
in the ABM/ABB structure[1]

Policy strategy and coordination of, in particular, the
Directorates-General RTD, AGRI, JRC, CNECT, EAC, ENER, ENTR and MOVE.

1.3.        Nature of the
proposal/initiative

¨ The proposal/initiative relates to a new action

¨ The proposal/initiative relates to a new action
following a pilot project/preparatory action[2]

þ The proposal/initiative relates to the extension of
an existing action

¨ The proposal/initiative relates to an action
redirected towards a new action

1.4.        Objectives

1.4.1.     The Commission's multiannual
strategic objective(s) targeted by the proposal/initiative

The present initiative will allow both parties to improve and
intensify their cooperation in science and technology in areas of common
interest.

1.4.2.     Specific objective(s) and
ABM/ABB activity(ies) concerned

Specific objective No 1

It will allow a further exchange of specific knowledge and a
transfer of know-how to the benefit of the scientific communities, industry and
the citizens.

ABM/ABB activity(ies) concerned

1.4.3.     Expected result(s) and
impact

Specify the effects
which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted.

This decision will allow the EU and Russia to derive mutual benefit
from the scientific and technical progress achieved through research cooperation
in their respective specific research programmes and facilitate further
increased cooperation.

1.4.4.     Indicators of results and
impact

Specify the
indicators for monitoring implementation of the proposal/initiative.

The Commission services will regularly monitor all actions carried
out under the Agreement, which will include a review by the EU. The review will
consist of the following elements;

(a) Performance indicators – number of proposals put forward by Russia per specific programme compared with number of proposals selected for funding under
the programme.

(b) Data collection – based on information from the specific
programmes of the Framework Programme and information provided by the Russian
Federation to the Joint Community-Russia Committee, established under Art. 6 of
the Agreement.

1.5.        Grounds for the
proposal/initiative

1.5.1.     Requirement(s) to be met in
the short or long term

This decision will allow both parties to continue to improve and
intensify their cooperation in mutually beneficial areas of science and
technology.

1.5.2.     Added value of EU
involvement

The Agreement is based on the principles of mutual benefit,
reciprocal access to programmes and activities of the other party, in
connection with the subject of the Agreement, non-discrimination, effective
protection of intellectual property and equitable sharing of IPR and effective
exploitation of results. The renewal of this Agreement will allow for increased
scientific knowledge leading to market access opportunities.

1.5.3.     Lessons learned from
similar experiences in the past

Based on experience thus far in the S&T cooperation it is
considered mutually beneficial to continue this cooperation with Russia by renewing the Agreement for a further period of five years.

1.5.4.     Compatibility and possible
synergy with other appropriate instruments

The renewal of the Agreement with Russia is fully coherent with the
opening up of participation in the EU Framework Programmes to the world.

1.6.        Duration and financial
impact

þ Proposal/initiative of limited
duration

–
þ  Proposal/initiative in effect from 20/02/2014 to 19/02/2019

–
þ  Financial impact from 2014 to 2019

¨ Proposal/initiative of unlimited
duration

–
Implementation with a start-up period from YYYY
to YYYY,

–
followed by full-scale operation.

1.7.        Management mode(s)
envisaged[3]

þ Centralised direct management by the Commission

¨ Centralised indirect management with the delegation of implementation tasks to:

–
¨  executive agencies

–
¨  bodies set up by the Communities[4]

–
¨  national public-sector bodies/bodies with public-service mission

–
¨  persons entrusted with the implementation of specific actions
pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union and identified in the
relevant basic act within the meaning of Article 49 of the Financial Regulation

¨ Shared management with the Member States

¨ Decentralised management with third countries

¨ Joint management with international organisations (to be specified)

If more than one
management mode is indicated, please provide details in the "Comments"
section.

Comments

2.           MANAGEMENT MEASURES

2.1.        Monitoring and reporting
rules

Specify frequency
and conditions.

Participation of research entities from Russia in the Framework
Programme (Horizon 2020) and other cooperative activities under the Agreement will
be regularly followed through meetings of the Joint Community-Russia Committee
established under Art. 6 of the Agreement.

2.2.        Management and control
system

2.2.1.     Risk(s) identified

Meetings and bilateral contacts occur regularly, allowing for a
systematic sharing of information. No risks have been identified in the control
system.

2.2.2.     Control method(s) envisaged

2.2.3.     Costs and benefits of
controls and probable non-compliance rate

2.3.        Measures to prevent fraud
and irregularities

Specify existing or
envisaged prevention and protection measures.

When
the implementation of the Framework programme calls for the use of external
contractors or entails granting financial contributions to third parties, the
Commission will carry out, where appropriate, financial audits, in particular
if it has reason to doubt the realistic nature of work performed or described
in the activity reports.

The
Union's financial audits will be carried out either by its own staff or by
accounting experts approved according to the law of the audited party. The Union will choose the latter freely, while avoiding any risks of conflicts of interest
which might be indicated to it by the party subject to the audit. In addition,
the Commission will make sure, in carrying out the research activities, that
the financial interests of the Union are protected by effective checks and,
where irregularities are detected, by deterrent and proportionate measures and
penalties.

In
order to achieve this aim, rules on checks, measures and penalties, with
reference to Regulations No 2988/95, No 2185/96 and No 1073/99 will be
incorporated in all contracts used in the implementation of the Framework
programme.

In
particular, the following points will have to be provided for in the contracts:

- the
introduction of specific contractual clauses to protect the financial interests
of the EU in carrying out checks and controls in relation to the work
performed;

-
the carrying out of administrative checks as part of anti-fraud measures, in
accordance with Regulations No 2185/96, No 1073/1999 and No 1074/1999;

-
the application of administrative penalties for all intentional or negligent
irregularities in the implementation of the contracts, in accordance with the
Framework Regulation No 2988/95, including a blacklisting mechanism;

-
the fact that any recovery orders in the event of irregularities and fraud must
be enforceable according to Article 299 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union.

In
addition and as a routine measure, a control programme in respect of scientific
and budgetary aspects will be carried out by the responsible staff in the DG
for Research and Innovation; an internal audit will be carried out by the
Internal Audit unit of DG Research and Innovation; and local inspections will
be undertaken by the European Court of Auditors.

3.           ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE
PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

3.1.        Heading(s) of the
multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected

· Existing budget lines

In order of
multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

Heading of multiannual financial framework || Budget line || Type of expenditure || Contribution

Number [Description………………………...……….] || Diff./non-diff. ([5]) || from EFTA countries[6] || from candidate countries[7] || from third countries || within the meaning of Article 18(1)(aa) of the Financial Regulation

1a || 08.01.05 || Non-diff. || YES || YES || YES || YES

1a || 08.01.05.01 || Non. Diff. || YES || YES || YES || YES

1a || 08.01.05.03 || Non. Diff; || YES || YES || YES || YES

· New budget lines requested

In order of multiannual financial framework
headings and budget lines.

Heading of multiannual financial framework || Budget line || Type of expenditure || Contribution

Number [Heading……………………………………..] || Diff./non-diff. || from EFTA countries || from candidate countries || from third countries || within the meaning of Article 18(1)(aa) of the Financial Regulation

|| [XX.YY.YY.YY] || || YES/ NO || YES/ NO || YES/ NO || YES/NO

3.2.        Estimated impact on
expenditure

[This part must be completed on the spread sheet on budget data of an
administrative nature (second document in the annex to this financial
statement) to be uploaded to CISNET for interdepartmental consultation purposes.

3.2.1.     Summary of estimated impact
on expenditure

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Heading of multiannual financial framework: || 1a || [Heading]: Competitiveness for Growth and Jobs

DG: <Research and Innovation.> || || || Year 2014[8] || Year 2015 || Year 2016 || Year 2017 || Year 2018 || Year 2019 || || TOTAL

Ÿ Operational appropriations || || || || || || || ||

Number of budget line || Commitments || (1) || || || || || || || ||

Payments || (2) || || || || || || || ||

Number of budget line || Commitments || (1a) || || || || || || || ||

Payments || (2a) || || || || || || || ||

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes[9] || || || || || || || ||

Number of budget line || 08.01.05 || (3) || || || || || || || ||

TOTAL appropriations for DG <Research and Innovation>[10] || Commitments || =1+1a +3 || 0.099 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.011 || || 0.550

Payments || =2+2a +3 || 0.099 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.011 || || 0.550

Number of budget line || 08.01.05.01 || || || || || || || || ||

TOTAL appropriations for DG <Research and Innovation> || Commitments || (1a) || 0.055 || 0.066 || 0.066 || 0.066 || 0.066 || 0.011 || || 0.330

|| Payments || (2a) || 0.055 || 0.066 || 0.066 || 0.066 || 0.066 || 0.011 || || 0.330

Number of budget line || 08.01.05.03 || || || || || || || || ||

TOTAL appropriations for DG <Research and Innovation> || Commitments || (1b) || 0.037 || 0.044 || 0.044 || 0.044 || 0.044 || 0.007 || || 0.220

|| Payments || (2b) || 0.037 || 0.044 || 0.044 || 0.044 || 0.044 || 0.007 || || 0.220

Ÿ TOTAL operational appropriations || Commitments || (4) || || || || || || || ||

Payments || (5) || || || || || || || ||

Ÿ TOTAL appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope for specific programmes || (6) || 0. 0.092 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.018 || || 0.550

TOTAL appropriations under HEADING <1a.> of the multiannual financial framework || Commitments || =4+ 6 || 0.092 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.018 || || 0.550

Payments || =5+ 6 || 0.092 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.018 || || 0.550

If more than one heading is affected by the proposal /
initiative:

Ÿ TOTAL operational appropriations || Commitments || (4) || || || || || || || ||

Payments || (5) || || || || || || || ||

Ÿ TOTAL appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope for specific programmes || (6) || || || || || || || ||

TOTAL appropriations under HEADINGS 1 to 4 of the multiannual financial framework (Reference amount) || Commitments || =4+ 6 || || || || || || || ||

Payments || =5+ 6 || || || || || || || ||

Heading of multiannual financial framework || 5 || ‘Administrative expenditure’

EUR million (to three decimal places)

|| || || Year N || Year N+1 || Year N+2 || Year N+3 || Enter as many years as necessary to show the duration of the impact (see point 1.6) || TOTAL

DG: <…….> ||

Ÿ Human resources || || || || || || || ||

Ÿ Other administrative expenditure || || || || || || || ||

TOTAL DG <…….> || Appropriations || || || || || || || ||

TOTAL appropriations for HEADING 5 of the multiannual financial framework || (Total commitments = Total payments) || || || || || || || ||

EUR million (to three decimal places)

|| || || 2014[11] || 2015 || 2016 || 2017 || 2018 || 2019 || || TOTAL

TOTAL appropriations under HEADINGS 1 to 5 of the multiannual financial framework || Commitments || 0.092 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.018 || || 0.550

Payments || 0.092 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.018 || || 0.550

3.2.2.     Estimated impact on
operational appropriations

–
þ  The proposal/initiative does not require the use of operational
appropriations

–
¨  The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational
appropriations, as explained below:

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three
decimal places)

Indicate objectives and outputs ò || || || Year N || Year N+1 || Year N+2 || Year N+3 || Enter as many years as necessary to show the duration of the impact (see point 1.6) || TOTAL

OUTPUTS

Type[12] || Average cost || Number || Cost || Number || Cost || Number || Cost || Number || Cost || Number || Cost || Number || Cost || Number || Cost || Total number || Total cost

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE NO 1[13] || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||

- Output || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||

- Output || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||

- Output || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||

Subtotal for specific objective No 1 || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 2… || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||

- Output || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||

Subtotal for specific objective No 2 || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||

TOTAL COST || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||

3.2.3.     Estimated impact on
appropriations of an administrative nature

3.2.3.1.  Summary

–
þ  The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an
administrative nature, as explained below:

EUR million (to
three decimal places)

|| Year 2014[14] || Year 2015 || Year 2016 || Year 2017 || Year 2018 || Year 2019 || TOTAL

HEADING 5 of the multiannual financial framework || || || || || || ||

Human resources || || || || || || ||

Other administrative expenditure || || || || || || ||

Subtotal HEADING 5 of the multiannual financial framework || || || || || || ||

Outside HEADING 5[15] of the multiannual financial framework || || || || || || ||

Human resources || 0.055 || 0.066 || 0.066 || 0.066 || 0.066 || 0.011 || 0.330

Other expenditure of an administrative nature || 0.037 || 0.044 || 0.044 || 0.044 || 0.044 || 0.007 || 0.220

Subtotal outside HEADING 5 of the multiannual financial framework || || || || || || ||

TOTAL || 0.092 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.110 || 0.018 || 0.550

The administrative
appropriations required will be met by the appropriations of the DG which are
already assigned to management of the action and/or which have been redeployed
within the DG, together if necessary with any additional allocation which may
be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the
light of budgetary constraints.

3.2.3.2.  Estimated requirements of
human resources

–
þ  The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as
explained below:

Estimate to be expressed in full time
equivalent units

|| Year 2014 || Year 2015 || Year 2016 || Year 2017 || Year 2018 || Year 2019 || Enter as many years as necessary to show the duration of the impact (see point 1.6)

Ÿ Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary agents) ||

XX 01 01 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s Representation Offices) || || || || || || ||

XX 01 01 02 (Delegations) || || || || || || ||

08 01 05 01 (Indirect research) || 0.5 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 0.5 ||

10 01 05 01 (Direct research) || || || || || || ||

|| Ÿ External personnel (in Full Time Equivalent unit: FTE)[16] ||

XX 01 02 01 (CA, INT, SNE from the "global envelope") || || || || || || ||

XX 01 02 02 (CA, INT, JED, LA and SNE in the delegations) || || || || || || ||

XX 01 04 yy[17] || - at Headquarters || || || || || || ||

- in delegations || || || || || || ||

XX 01 05 02 (CA, SNE, INT - Indirect research) || || || || || || ||

10 01 05 02 (CA, SNE, INT - Direct research) || || || || || || ||

Other budget lines (specify) || || || || || || ||

TOTAL || 0.5 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 0.5 ||

XX is the policy area or budget title
concerned.

The human resources
required will be met by staff from the DG who are already assigned to
management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG, together if
necessary with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing
DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary
constraints.

Description of
tasks to be carried out:

Officials and temporary staff || Preparation and management of the Joint Committee meetings foreseen under Art. 6 of the Agreement, and missions ensuring the good functioning and implementation of the Agreement and regular review of the Agreement.

External staff ||

3.2.4.     Compatibility with the
current multiannual financial framework

–
þProposal/initiative is compatible the current multiannual financial
framework.

3.2.5.     Third-party contributions

–
The proposal/initiative does not provide for
co-financing by third parties.

3.3.        Estimated impact on
revenue

–
þ  Proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue.

[1]               ABM: Activity-Based Management – ABB: Activity-Based
Budgeting.

[2]               As referred to in Article 49(6)(a) or (b) of the
Financial Regulation.

[3]               Details of management modes and references to the
Financial Regulation may be found on the BudgWeb site: http://www.cc.cec/budg/man/budgmanag/budgmanag\_en.html

[4]               As referred to in Article 185 of the Financial
Regulation.

[5]               Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-Diff. =
Non-differentiated appropriations.

[6]               EFTA: European Free Trade Association.

[7]               Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential
candidate countries from the Western Balkans.

[8]               Year N is the year in which implementation of the
proposal/initiative starts.

[9]               Technical and/or administrative assistance and
expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions
(former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.

[10]             Appropriations for the period 2014-2020 and related
legal basis are still to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council
and the Draft Budget 2014 is yet to be approved by the budget authority.

[11]             Year N is the year in which implementation of the
proposal/initiative starts.

[12]             Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g.:
number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.).

[13]             As described in point 1.4.2. ‘Specific objective(s)…’

[14]             Year N is the year in which implementation of the
proposal/initiative starts.

[15]             Technical and/or administrative assistance and
expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions
(former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.

[16]             CA= Contract Agent; LA = Local Agent; SNE = Seconded
National Expert; INT = agency staff (‘Intérimaire’); JED= ‘Jeune Expert en
Délégation’ (Young Experts in Delegations).

[17]             Sub-ceiling for external staff covered by operational
appropriations (former "BA" lines).

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