2009/306/EC: Council Decision of 30 March 2009 concerning the extension and amendment of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America

2.4.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 90/20
COUNCIL DECISION
of 30 March 2009
concerning the extension and amendment of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America
(2009/306/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 170 thereof 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 Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Whereas:
(1) By Decision 98/591/EC (2), the Council approved the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America, (hereinafter the Agreement), which entered into force on 14 October 1998.
(2) Article 12(b) of the Agreement provides, in particular, that the Agreement may be extended with possible amendments, for additional periods of five years by mutual written agreement by the Parties.
(3) By Decision 2004/756/EC (3) the Council renewed the Agreement for a further period of five years with effect from 14 October 2003.
(4) The United States of America has informed the Commission that it would welcome the extension of the Agreement for another five years. Rapid extension would, moreover, be in the best interests of both parties.
(5) The material content of the extended Agreement will be identical to the material content of the Agreement which expired on 13 October 2008, with the exception of a technical amendment consisting mainly in adding research on security and space to the list of sectors for cooperative activities, in line with the scope of the 7th Research Framework programme of the Community.
(6) The extension of the Agreement should therefore be approved on behalf of the Community,