Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2017)336 - Renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation with Brazil - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2017)336 - Renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation with Brazil. |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2017)336  |
| date | 22-06-2017 |
1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
• Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
The Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil 1 (‘the Agreement’) entered into force on 7 August 2007. Article XII i of the Agreement provides that it ‘shall initially be valid for a period of five years and may be renewed by agreement between the Parties after evaluation during the penultimate year of each subsequent renewal period’. The Agreement was last renewed in 2012 and remains in force until 7 August 2017, unless the Parties renew it for the next five-year period.
Since the Agreement was last renewed (Decision 2012/646/EU 2 ), Brazil has made significant advances in its science, technology and innovation (STI) policy, which has contributed to the institutional strengthening of the STI system. This included an improvement in the number and qualifications of human resources and in R&D infrastructure. Brazil remains at the forefront of research in the field of agriculture, as well as in tropical and infectious diseases. It is also a world-class player in the fields of information and communication technologies, nanotechnologies and energy and it hosts some of Latin America’s top universities. These research areas are of interest to the European Union. The links between Brazil and the EU in science, technology and innovation have been growing through intense cooperation at EU and Member State level.
The evaluation carried out by the Commission clearly demonstrates that the Agreement provides an important framework for facilitating cooperation between the EU and Brazil in common S&T priority areas leading to mutual benefits. As Brazil’s potential as a research and innovation partner continues to grow, it should be seen as a strategic partner for the EU in Latin America. The main instruments for cooperation are the EU framework programmes for research and innovation. Among non-Associated third countries, Brazil was the 6th most active country in FP 7 (2007-2013) and the 5th in Horizon 2020 so far. Cooperation between the EU and the Brazilian research community led, among other results, to the development of a new drug for Chagas disease (already registered with Food and Drug Administration to start clinical testing) and to the development of a new biomass pre-treatment process for advanced bioethanol (allowing the set-up of the first commercial advanced bioethanol plant in Europe).
It is, therefore, in the EU’s interest to renew the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil for a new period of five years.
Both Parties confirmed their wish to renew the Agreement by exchange of letters, dated 14 November 2016 and 5 January 2017.
The substance of the renewed Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement, as discussed and agreed with the Brazilian counterpart.
• Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
This initiative is fully in line with the EU’s international cooperation strategy for research & innovation 3 . The EU’s strategy clearly states the importance of science & technology agreements as vehicles for defining and implementing multiannual roadmaps for cooperation with non-EU countries. The Agreement is also means of implementing the EU’s international cooperation strategy for research and innovation, which calls for more internationalisation and openness in the EU’s research & innovation landscape.
• Consistency with other Union policies
The EU’s global strategy for the EU’s foreign and security policy confirms that research cooperation is an important aspect of EU foreign policy and sees research cooperation as an essential element of stronger socioeconomic ties, notably with Latin American countries.
2. LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
• Legal basis
The EU’s power to act internationally in research and technological development is based on Article 186 TFEU. The procedural legal basis for the proposal is point (v) of Article 218(6)(a) TFEU.
3. RESULTS OF EX POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
• Regulatory fitness and simplification
This initiative is not part of the REFIT agenda.
4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
Only human and administrative resources are required; these are set out in the legislative financial statement.
In the light of the above considerations, the Commission requests that the Council:
- approves, on behalf of the Union, and with the consent of the European Parliament, the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil which will apply, following the expiry of the five years, for an additional period of five years (i.e., from 08.08.2017 until 07.08.2022)
- authorise the President of the Council to designate the person(s) empowered to notify the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil that the Union has completed the internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this renewed Agreement