PURPOSE: to renew the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Brazil for five years.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2012/646/EU concerning the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil.
BACKGROUND: the Agreement for Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the European Community and Brazil originally entered into force on 7 August 2007, and contained a provision stating that it should initially be valid for a period of five years and might be renewed by agreement between the Parties after evaluation during the penultimate year of each subsequent renewal period (Decision 2005/781/EC).
At the fifth meeting of the Steering Committee established under Article VI(2) of the Agreement, held on 22 November 2011 in Brasilia, both Parties confirmed their interest in renewing the Agreement for another five years.
It is now appropriate to conclude the agreement on behalf of the European Union.
CONTENT: this Decision approves the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and the Brazil, for an additional period of five years, the EU having succeeded to the EC with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009.
The Agreement originally entered into force on 7 August 2007, and contained a provision stating that it should initially be valid for a period of five years and might be renewed by agreement between the Parties after evaluation during the penultimate year of each subsequent renewal period.
The material content of the renewed Agreement is identical to that of the previous Agreement which expired on 6 August 2012.
Principles of the Agreement: the Agreement is based on the principles of:
The renewal of the agreement will allow both Brazil and the European Union to enhance cooperation and develop a more strategic partnership by increasing the scale and the scope of existing cooperation addressing key societal challenges, promoting reciprocal access to programmes and funding increasing regional cooperation, where appropriate.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 10/10/2012. The Agreement will enter into force once all of the necessary procedures have been completed.