Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 186, in conjunction with point (v) of Article 218(6)(a) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

By Decision 98/591/EC^f1, the Council approved the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America (‘the Agreement’).

Article 12(b) of the Agreement provides that the Agreement is concluded for an initial period of five years and may be extended, with possible amendments, thereafter for additional periods of five years by mutual written agreement between the Parties.

By Council Decision 2009/306/EC^f2, the Agreement was extended for a further period of five years.

The Parties to the Agreement consider that a rapid extension of the Agreement would be in their mutual interest.

The content of the extended Agreement is to be identical to the content of the Agreement, which expires on 14 October 2013.

The extension of the Agreement should therefore be approved on behalf of the European Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: