Argentina and the EU sign Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement
The first agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and a Latin American country has now been signed. Juan-Carlos del Bello sealed the Agreement on behalf of Argentina on 20 September 1999 in Brussels. Signing the Agreement with him as representatives of the EU were Erkki Tuomioja, Finland's Minister for Trade and Industry (President-in-office of the Research Council), and Philippe Busquin, the recently appointed European Commissioner responsible for research. The Agreement will enter into force within a few months, following its approval by the European Parliament and then the Council, and completion of the corresponding procedures on the Argentine side. The Agreement aims to encourage, develop and facilitate cooperative activities between the EU and Argentina in fields of common interest in science and technology. The Cooperation Agreement means that Argentine researchers will be able to participate in all the activities covered by the thematic programmes of the Commission's Fifth Framework Programme for research, while in reciprocation, European researchers will be able to get involved in Argentina's own research initiatives. The Council has welcomed the Agreement and highlighted how EU cooperation with Argentina has already achieved significant proportions. 'During the period 1994 to 1998, (of the) corresponding Fourth Framework Programme, 57 Argentine scientific teams participated in 44 different projects with a total budget of 23.6 million euro. Together with Brazil, Argentina was the most active country in Latin America involved in EU research.'
Countries
Argentina