EU-US Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed
Greater cooperation in research activities between European and US companies and institutions will result from the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed during the EU-US Summit in Washington, on 5 December 1997. The Agreement is the outcome of negotiations launched in July 1996, under the responsibility of Commissioner Edith Cresson, responsible for science, research, innovation, education training and youth. It aims to promote, develop and facilitate cooperative R&D activities in virtually all areas of natural sciences and engineering for the mutual benefit of both Parties. Under the Agreement, research entities from both Parties may participate in RTD activities implemented with financial support from one or both Parties. The Agreement covers all fields in the EU's RTD Framework Programme (except for nuclear research supported under the Euratom Framework Programme, which is the subject of a separate cooperation agreement between the EU and USA). On the US side, government-funded research programmes in equivalent fields not affecting national security will be covered. Such cooperative, or joint research, activities will be subject to designation in advance by the Parties. In addition to reciprocal participation in each others' research programmes, cooperation may also take place through coordinated and joint research projects; joint task forces; joint studies; joint organization of scientific seminars and meetings; training of scientists and technical experts; exchange and sharing of equipment and materials; visits and exchanges of scientific personnel; and exchanges of information. No transfer of funds between Parties will take place, with each Party funding its own participation in all such cooperative activities. Cooperative activities under the Agreement will be overseen by a Joint Consultative Group (JCG) - a small group of official representatives of both Parties. This group will oversee and review activities carried out under the Agreement, and may propose extensions to the fields covered by the Agreement. Rules governing intellectual property rights in respect of cooperative research activities are set out in the Agreement. The Agreement was signed, for the European Community, by Sir Leon Brittan, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Mr, Jacques Poos, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council. Mr. Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary of State, was the signatory for the USA. Once concluded, which requires approval from the European Parliament and the Council, the Agreement will run for five years. It may be renewed and/or amended by agreement of both Parties.
Kraje
United States