PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement between the EU and the Faroes on scientific and technological cooperation, associating the Faroe Islands to the Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013).

NON LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2011/218/EU on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Faeroe Islands on scientific and technological cooperation, associating the Faeroe Islands to the Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013).

BACKGROUND: the Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an Agreement with the Government of the Faeroe Islands on scientific and technological cooperation associating the Faeroe Islands to the Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013). The Agreement was signed by the representatives of the Parties on 3 June 2010 in Brussels, and was made provisionally applicable as from 1 January 2010, pending its conclusion at a later date.

The Agreement must now be concluded on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: this Decision approves the Agreement between the EU and the Government of the Faeroe Islands on scientific and technological cooperation associating the Faeroe Islands to the Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013) on behalf of the Union.

The Agreement shall respect the following principles:

mutual benefit, reciprocal opportunities for access to each other’s programmes and activities relevant to the purpose of the agreement, non-discrimination, effective protection of intellectual property, and equitable sharing of intellectual property rights.

The agreement will open to legal entities from the Faroe Islands the same participation and funding rights and obligations as legal entities established in the EU Member States.

In addition, cooperation may include regular discussions on the orientations and priorities for research policies and planning in the Faroes and the Union, as well as discussions on cooperation prospects and development, and visits and exchanges of research workers, engineers and technicians.

Modes of cooperation : the Agreement makes provision setting out the terms and conditions for legal entities in the Faroes to participate in the Framework Programme. Legal entities of the Faroes shall participate in indirect actions and in activities of the Joint Research Centre of the Framework Programme under the same conditions as those applicable to legal entities of Member States of the Union. Legal entities of the Union shall participate in the Faroes' research programmes and projects in themes equivalent to those of the Framework Programme under the same conditions as those applicable to legal entities of the Faroes.

Free movement and residence of research workers : the Parties will make every effort, within the framework of their applicable legislation, to facilitate the free movement and residence of research workers participating in the activities covered by the Agreement and to facilitate cross-border movement of goods intended for use in such activities. The Parties will ensure that no fiscal charge or levy shall be imposed upon the transferring of funds between the Union and the Faroes, when said funds are needed for the operation of activities covered by this Agreement.

Financing : the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Framework Programme shall be established on a yearly basis in proportion to, and in addition to, the amount available each year in the annual budget of the Union for commitment appropriations needed for the implementation, management and operation of the Framework Programme. The rules governing the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Framework Programme is set out in an Annex.

Institutional framework : the Agreement will help to structure and enhance the scientific and technological cooperation between the EC and the Faroes, through regular meetings of its Joint Committee, in which specific cooperation activities can be planned. Furthermore, it envisages the participation of representatives of the Faroe Islands as observers with no voting rights in the Seventh Framework Programme Committees and in the Board of Governors of the Joint Research Centre. A joint committee called the "EU-Faroes Research Committee" shall be established, whose functions shall include ensuring, evaluating and reviewing the implementation of this Agreement and examining any measure of a nature to improve and develop cooperation.

When the Union adopts a new multi-annual framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities, a new agreement may be renegotiated or renewed under mutually agreed conditions, at the request of either of the Parties.

Annexes : the Agreement includes several annexes which deal with, respectively:

terms and conditions for the participation of legal entities of Member States of the Union and of the Faroes; principles on the allocation of intellectual property rights; rules governing the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Framework Programme; financial control of the Faroese participants in the Union programmes covered by this Agreement.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision will enter into force on 9 March 2011. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which both Parties have notified each other of the completion of their procedures for that purpose. It shall be provisionally applied as of 1 January 2010. This Agreement is concluded for the remaining duration of the Framework.

Decision 2011/218
OJ L 093 07.04.2011, p. 0001

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution in which it gives its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Faroes on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, associating the Faroe Islands to the Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013).

T7-0413/2010

A7-0303/2010

A7-0303/2010

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted, under the simplified procedure, the report drafted by Herbert REUL (EPP, DE) recommending that the European Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Faroes on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, associating the Faroe Islands to the Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013).

PE438.283

PURPOSE: to conclude and Agreement between the EU and the Faroes on scientific and technological cooperation, associating the Faroe Islands to the Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an Agreement with the Government of the Faroes on scientific and technological cooperation. The Agreement was signed by the representatives of the Parties on 3 June 2010 in Brussels, and was made provisionally applicable as from 1 January 2010, pending its conclusion at a later date.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASE: Article 186 in conjunction with point (v) of Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

CONTENT: this proposal aims to approve the Agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the EU and the Faroe Islands.

For details of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the document annexed to the procedure dated 09/02/2010.

11365/2010

PURPOSE: to conclude and Agreement between the EU and the Faroes on scientific and technological cooperation, associating the Faroe Islands to the Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an Agreement with the Government of the Faroes on scientific and technological cooperation. The Agreement was signed by the representatives of the Parties on 3 June 2010 in Brussels, and was made provisionally applicable as from 1 January 2010, pending its conclusion at a later date.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASE: Article 186 in conjunction with point (v) of Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

CONTENT: this proposal aims to approve the Agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the EU and the Faroe Islands.

For details of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the document annexed to the procedure dated 09/02/2010.

11365/2010

This document sets out the content of the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Faroes on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, associating the Faroe Islands to the Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013).

The negotiations between the Parties resulted in the Agreement initialled on 13 July 2009. Provisional application shall be from 1 January 2010 .

Scope of the application and the Agreement : the Agreement aims to associate the Faroes to the activities laid down in the 7 th Framework Programme.

The Agreement shall respect the following principles:

mutual benefit, reciprocal opportunities for access to each other’s programmes and activities relevant to the purpose of the agreement, non-discrimination, effective protection of intellectual property, and equitable sharing of intellectual property rights.

The agreement will open to legal entities from the Faroe Islands the same participation and funding rights and obligations as legal entities established in the EU Member States.

In addition, cooperation may include, intern alia: (a) regular discussions on the orientations and priorities for research policies and planning in the Faroes and the Union, (b) discussions on cooperation prospects and development, (c) visits and exchanges of research workers, engineers and technicians, etc.

Free movement and residence of research workers : the Parties will make every effort, within the framework of their applicable legislation, to facilitate the free movement and residence of research workers participating in the activities covered by this Agreement and to facilitate cross-border movement of goods intended for use in such activities. The Parties will ensure that no fiscal charge or levy shall be imposed upon the transferring of funds between the Union and the Faroes, when said funds are needed for the operation of activities covered by this Agreement.

Financing : the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Framework Programme shall be established on a yearly basis in proportion to, and in addition to, the amount available each year in the annual budget of the Union for commitment appropriations needed for the implementation, management and operation of the Framework Programme. The rules governing the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Framework Programme is set out in an Annex.

Institutional framework : the Agreement will help to structure and enhance the scientific and technological cooperation between the EC and the Faroes, through regular meetings of its Joint Committee, in which specific cooperation activities can be planned. Furthermore, it envisages the participation of representatives of the Faroe Islands as observers with no voting rights in the Seventh Framework Programme Committees and in the Board of Governors of the Joint Research Centre. A joint committee called the "EU-Faroes Research Committee" shall be established, whose functions shall include ensuring, evaluating and reviewing the implementation of this Agreement and examining any measure of a nature to improve and develop cooperation.

When the Union adopts a new multi-annual framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities, a new agreement may be renegotiated or renewed under mutually agreed conditions, at the request of either of the Parties.

Annexes : the Agreement includes several annexes which deal with, respectively:

terms and conditions for the participation of legal entities of Member States of the Union and of the Faroes; principles on the allocation of intellectual property rights; rules governing the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Framework Programme; financial control of the Faroese participants in the Union programmes covered by this Agreement.

05475/2010

The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, amended the EU's two core treaties, the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (EC Treaty). The latter was renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

These changes had various consequences for many ongoing procedures. First of all, the articles of the TEU and of the old EC Treaty that constitute the legal basis of all the proposals founded on those Treaties were renumbered in accordance with the table of equivalences mentioned in Article 5 of the Lisbon Treaty.

In addition, some proposals underwent a change to their legal basis going beyond a mere change to their numbering, and this resulted in changes to the type of procedure .

The Lisbon Treaty also introduced new concepts of decision-making procedure . The old "codecision procedure" was extended to new areas and renamed the "ordinary legislative procedure". A new "consent procedure" replaced the old "assent procedure". New interinstitutional procedures were also set up for the adoption of certain non-legislative acts, for example the conclusion of some international agreements.

The ongoing proposals concerned by these changes were formally modified by the Commission in a Communication published on 2 December 2009 (COM(2009)0665).

In the case of the proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion on behalf of the European Community of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Faroes on scientific and technological cooperation, associating the Faroe Islands to the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013), the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty had the following impacts :

· the old legal basis – Treaty/EC/Art.170, Art.300(2) first para and (3) first para. - became Art 186, Art 218 (6)(a) of the TFEU. Please note that the numbering of the old legal basis corresponds to the consolidated version of the Treaty that was applicable immediately before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, and may differ from the references in the original Commission proposal ;

· the proposal, which had previously fallen under the old consultation procedure (CNS), was classified as an interinstitutional non-legislative procedure (NLE).

signature

For more details of the content, see the summary of the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the agreement.

COM(2009)0565
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: to conclude a scientific and technological agreement between the European Community and the Faroe Islands with a view to associating the latter to the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (1007-2013).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: on 15 June 2009, the Council authorised the European Commission to negotiate an Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Faroes on scientific and technological cooperation, associating the Faroes to the Seventh (EC) Framework Programme for Research and Development (2007-2013).

The negotiations between the two parties were completed and resulted in a draft agreement, which was initialled on 13 July 2009 and which is in line with the negotiation directives issued by the Council.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: not applicable.

CONTENT: the proposal related to the conclusion in the name of the Community an agreement to associate the Faroe Islands to the Community’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research.

The draft agreement is based on the principles of:

mutual benefit, reciprocal opportunities for access to each other’s programmes and activities relevant to the purpose of the agreement, non-discrimination, effective protection of intellectual property, and equitable sharing of intellectual property rights.

The agreement will open to legal entities from the Faroe Islands the same participation and funding rights and obligations as legal entities established in the EU Member States.

Institutional framework : the draft agreement will help to structure and enhance the scientific and technological cooperation between the EC and the Faroes, through regular meetings of its Joint Committee, in which specific cooperation activities can be planned. Furthermore, its text envisages the participation of representatives of the Faroe Islands as observers with no voting rights in the Seventh Framework Programme Committees and in the Board of Governors of the Joint Research Centre.

Anticipated entry into force : the agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the parties exchange diplomatic notes informing each other that their respective internal procedures necessary for its entry into force have been completed and shall remain in force for the remaining duration of the Seventh EC Framework Programme. It is proposed that this Agreement should apply provisionally as of 1 January 2010, subject to conclusion at a later date.

Annexes : the Agreement contains several annexes which deal with, respectively: i) terms and conditions with respect to the association of the Faroes, ii) principles on the allocation of intellectual property rights, iii) rules governing the financial contribution of the Faroes to the Seventh EC Framework Programme, and iv) financial control of Faroese participants in the Community programmes covered by the agreement.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the conclusion of the agreement would impact on expenditure only in terms of technical and administrative assistance for the management of the agreement from the Community’s side. The envisaged amount would be EUR 117 000/year from 2010 to 2013 (in other words, a total amount of EUR 468 000 for the period in question.

COM(2009)0566
EUR-Lex