22.3.1996 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 74/26 AGREEMENT for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and Canada THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION on behalf of the European Community, of the one part, and THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, of the other part, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Parties’; CONSIDERING the importance of science and technology for their economic and social development; RECOGNIZING that the European Community, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Community’, and Canada, are pursuing research and technological programmes in a number of areas of common interest, and that mutual benefits may be derived if the Parties facilitate further cooperation; NOTING that there has been active cooperation and information exchange in a number of scientific or technological areas under the European Communities-Canada Framework Agreement for Commercial and Economic Cooperation signed in 1976; HAVING REGARD to the Declaration on European Community-Canada Relations adopted on 22 November 1990, and DESIRING to establish a formal basis for cooperation in scientific and technological research which will extend and strengthen the conduct of cooperative activities in areas of common interest and encourage the application of the results of such cooperation to their economic and social benefit, HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 Purpose The purpose of this Agreement is to encourage and facilitate cooperation between the Community and Canada in fields of common interest where the Parties are suporting research and development activities to advance science and/or technology relevant to those fields of interest. Article 2 Definitions For the purposes of this Agreement: (a) ‘Cooperative activity’ means any activity carried on under this Agreement, and includes joint research; (b) ‘Information’ means scientific or technical data, results or methods of research and development stemming from the joint research, and any other information deemed necessary by the participants engaged in cooperative activity, including, where necessary, the Parties themselves; (c) ‘Intellecutal Property’ shall have the meaning defined in Article 2 of the Convention establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization, done at Stockholm, 14 July 1967; (d) ‘Joint research’ means research that is financially supported by either or by both Parties and that involves collaboration by participants from both the Community and Canada; (e) ‘Participant’ means any person, legal entity, university, research institute or any other body or undertaking participating in a cooperative activity, including the Parties themselves. Article 3 Principles Cooperation shall be conducted on the basis of the following principles: (a) mutual benefit; (b) timely exchange of information which may affect the actions of participants in cooperative activities; (c) within the framework of applicable laws and regulations, effective protection of intellectual property and equitable sharing of intellectual property rights, as set out in the Annex, which forms an integral part of this Agreement; (d) balanced realization of economic and social benefits by the Community and Canada in view of the contributions made to cooperative activities by the respective participants and/or Parties. Article 4 Areas of cooperation (a) Cooperation may be pursued in the following areas: 1. agriculture, including fisheries; 2. medical and health research; 3. non-nuclear energy; 4. environment, including earth observation; 5. forestry; 6. information technologies; 7. communication technologies; 8. telematics for economic and social development; 9. mineral processing; (b) Other areas may be added to this list upon review and recommendation by the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee and subject to decisions in accordance with procedures in force for each Party. Article 5 Modalitites of cooperation (a) Cooperation may include the following activities: 1. participation of persons and legal entities, including the Parties themselves, universities, research institutions, and other bodies or undertakings, in research projects of the Community or Canada, in accordance with the procedures in force for each Party; 2. shared use of research facilites; 3. visits and exchanges of scientists, engineers or other appropriate personnel for the purposes of participating in seminars, symposia and workshops relevant to cooperation under this Agreement; 4. exchange of information on practices, laws, regulations and programmes relevant to cooperation under this Agreement; 5. other activities as may be mutually determined by the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee in accordance with the applicable policies and programmes of the Parties. (b) Joint research projects shall proceed under this Agreement only after the participants in a project have concluded a Joint Technology Management Plan, as indicated in the Annex to this Agreement. Article 6 Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) (a) This Agreement shall be administered by a Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee composed of representatives of each Party. (b) The functions of the JSTCC shall be to: 1. promote and review the activities envisaged under the Agreement; 2. make recommendations pursuant to Article 4 (b); 3. authorize activities falling under Article 5 (a) (5) as being cooperation to which this Agreement applies; 4. advise the Parties on ways to enhance cooperation consistent with the principles set out in this Agreement; 5. provide a report annually to the Parties on the level, status and effectiveness of cooperation undertaken under this Agreement; 6. review the efficient and effective functioning of the Agreement. (c) The JSTCC shall meet approximately once a year, meetings being held alternately in the Community and Canada. Other meetings may be held as mutually agreed. (d) Decisions of the JSTCC shall be reached by consensus. Minutes, comprising a record of the decisions and principal points discussed, shall be taken at each meeting. These minutes shall be agreed by those persons selected from each side to jointly chair the meetings. The JSTCC annual report shall be made available to the Joint Cooperations Committee established under the 1976 European Communities-Canada Framework Agreement for Commercial and Economic Cooperation and appropriate Ministers of each Party. Article 7 Funding (a) Cooperative activities shall be subject to the availability of funds and to the applicable laws and regulations, policies and programmes of the Community and Canada. (b) Costs incurred by participants in cooperative activities subject to this Agreement shall not require any transfer of funds from one Party to the other. Article 8 Entry of personnel and equipment Each Party shall take all reasonable steps and use its best efforts, within existing laws and regulations, to facilitate entry to and exit from its territory of personnel, material and equipment of the participant(s) engaged in or used in cooperative activities under this Agreement. Article 9 Dissemination and utilization of information The dissemination and utilization of information, and the management, allocation and exercise of intellectual property rights, resulting from joint research under this Agreement, shall be subject to the requirements of the Annex to this Agreement. Article 10 Other agreements and transitional provisions (a) This Agreement shall supersede and replace those provisions of the European Communities-Canada Framework Agreement for Commercial and Economic Cooperation governing existing science and technology collaboration. (b) The Parties shall endeavour to bring under the terms of this Agreement those existing arrangements for scientific and technological cooperation between the Community and Canada that fall under the scope of Article 4. (c) Subject to paragraph 10 (a), this Agreement is without prejudice to other existing Agreements or arrangements between the Parties or any Agreement or arrangement between the Parties and third parties. Article 11 Territorial application This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand to the territories in which the Treaty establishing the European Community is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and, on the other hand to the territory of Canada. Article 12 Entry into force and termination (a) This Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the Parties have notified each other in writing that their legal requirements for entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled. (b) This Agreement may be amended by agreement of the Parties. Amendments shall enter into force on the date on which the Parties have notified each other in writing that their legal requirements have been fulfilled. (c) This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either Party upon twelve months written notice. The expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or duration of any arrangements made under it, or any specific rights and obligations that have accrued in compliance with the Annex. Article 13 This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish languages, each of these texts being equally authentic. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Agreement. Hecho en Halifax, el diecisiete de junio de mil novecientos noventa y cinco. Udfærdiget i Halifax den syttende juni nittenhundrede og femoghalvfems. Geschehen zu Halifax am siebzehnten Juni neunzehnhundertfünfundneunzig. Έγινε στο Χάλιφαξ, στις δέκα επτά Ιουνίου χίλια εννιακόσια ενενήντα πέντε. Done at Halifax on the seventeenth day of June in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-five. Fait à Halifax, le dix-sept juin mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-quinze. Fatto a Halifax, addì diciassette giugno millenovecentonovantacinque. Gedaan te Halifax, de zeventiende juni negentienhonderd vijfennegentig. Feito em Halifax, em dezassete de Junho de mil novecentos e noventa e cinco. Tehty Halifaxissa seitsemäntenätoista päivänä kesäkuuta vuonna tuhatyhdeksänsataayhdeksänkymmentäviisi. Som skedde i Halifax den sjuttonde juni nittonhundranittiofem. Por la Comunidad Europea For Det Europæiske Fællesskab Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα For the European Community Pour la Communauté européenne Per la Comunità europea Voor de Europese Gemeenschap Pela Comunidade Europeia Euroopan yhteisön puolesta På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar Por el Gobierno de Canadá For Canadas regering Für die Regierung Kanadas Για την Κυβέρνηση του Καναδά For the Government of Canada Pour le gouvernement du Canada Per il governo del Canada Voor de Regering van Canada Pelo Governo do Canadá Kanadan hallituksen puolesta På Canadas regerings vägnar ANNEX ANNEX ON THE DISSEMINATION AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT, ALLOCATION AND EXERCISE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS I. OWNERSHIP, ALLOCATION AND EXERCISE OF RIGHTS 1. All research carried out pursuant to this Agreement shall be ‘joint research’. The participants performing the joint research shall develop Joint Technology Management Plans (JTMPs) which shall contain, as a minimum, principles in respect of the ownership and use, including publication, of information and Intellectual Property (IP) to be created in the course of the joint research (1). The JTMPs may be reviewed by the Parties and shall be approved by the responsible funding agency or department of the Party involved in financing the research, before the conclusion of any specific research and development cooperation contracts to which they refer. The JTMPs shall be developed taking into account the aims of the joint research, the relative contributions of the participants, the advantages and disadvantages of licensing by territory or for fields of use, requirements imposed by applicable laws, the need for dispute settlement procedures and other factors deemed appropriate by the participants. The rights and obligations concerning the research and information generated by visiting researchers in respect of IP shall also be addressed in the JTMPs. 2. Information or IP created in the course of joint research and not addressed in a JTMP shall be allocated following the procedures set out in I,1 according to the principles set out in that JTMP. In case of disagreement, which cannot be resolved by the agreed dispute resolution procedure, such unallocated information or IP shall be owned jointly by all the participants involved in the joint research from which the information or IP results, and each participant to whom this provision applies shall have the right to use such information or IP for his/her own commercial exploitation with no geographical limitation. 3. In accordance with applicable laws, each Party shall ensure that the other Party and its participants may have the rights to IP allocated to them in accordance with the principles set out in section I of this Annex. 4. While maintaining the conditions of competition in areas affected by the Agreement, each Party shall endeavour to ensure that rights acquired pursuant to the Agreement, and arrangements made under it, are exercised in such a way as to encourage in particular: (i) the dissemination and use of information created, disclosed, or otherwise made available, under the Agreement; (ii) the adoption and implementation of international standards. II. COPYRIGHT WORKS Copyright belonging to the Parties or to their participants shall be accorded treatment consistent with the Berne Convention (Paris Act 1971). III. SCIENTIFIC LITERARY WORKS Without prejudice to Section IV, unless otherwise agreed in the JTMP, any publication of results of the joint research shall be made jointly by the participants. In addition to the foregoing general rule, the following procedure shall apply: 1. In the case of publication by a Party or public bodies of that Party of scientific and technical journals, articles, reports, books, including video and software, arising from joint research pursuant to the Agreement, the other Party shall be entitled, with written permission from the publisher, to a worldwide, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free licence to translate, reproduce, adapt, transmit and publicly distribute such works. 2. The Parties shall endeavour to disseminate literary works of a scientific character arising from joint research pursuant to the Agreement and published by independent publishers as widely as possible. 3. All copies of a copyright work to be publicly distributed and prepared under this provision shall indicate the names of the author(s) of the work unless an author or authors expressly declines or decline to be named. Copies shall also bear a clearly visible acknowledgement of the cooperative support of the Parties. IV. UNDISCLOSED INFORMATION A. Documentary undisclosed information 1. Each Party or its participants shall identify at the earliest possible moment, and preferably in the JTMP, the information that it wishes to remain undisclosed in relation to this Agreement, taking into account, among other things, the following criteria: — secrecy of the information in the sense that the information, is not, as a body or in the precise configuration or assembly of its components, generally known among or readily accessible by lawful means to experts in the field; — the actual or potential commercial value of the information by virtue of its secrecy; — previous protection of the information in the sense that it has been subject to steps that were reasonable under the circumstances by the person lawfully in control, to maintain its secrecy. 2. Participants shall not normally be required to provide undisclosed information to the Parties. Should the Parties become aware of such information, they shall respect the privileged nature thereof, and it shall not be further disclosed by, within, or between the Parties, without the written consent of the participant(s) to whom the information belongs. These limitations shall automatically terminate when such information is disclosed by the owner, without restriction, to experts in the field. 3. Each Party shall ensure that undisclosed information, communicated between them under the Agreement, and its ensuant privileged nature is readily recognizable as such by the other Party, for example, by means of an appropriate marking or restrictive legend. This also applies to any reproduction of the said information, in whole or in part. 4. Undisclosed information communicated under the Agreement, and received from the other Party, may be disseminated by the receiving Party to persons within or employed by the receiving Party and other concerned departments or agencies of the receiving Party authorized for the specific purposes of the joint research underway, provided that any undisclosed information so disseminated shall be pursuant to a written agreement of confidentiality and shall be readily recognizable as such, as set out above. 5. With the prior written consent of the Party providing undisclosed information under the Agreement, the receiving Party may disseminate such undisclosed information more widely than otherwise permitted in Paragraph 3 above. The Parties shall cooperate in developing procedures for requesting and obtaining prior written consent for such wider dissemination, and each Party will grant such approval to the extent permitted by its domestic policies, regulations and laws. B. Non-documentary undisclosed information Non-documentary undisclosed or other confidential or privileged information provided in seminars and other meetings arranged under the Agreement, or information arising from the attachment of staff, use of facilities, or joint projects, shall be treated by the Parties or their participants according to the principles specified in point A above, provided, however, that the recipient of such undisclosed or other confidential or privileged information has been made aware in advance and in written form of the confidential character of the information to be communicated. C. Control Each Party shall make its best efforts to ensure that undisclosed information received by it under the Agreement shall be controlled as provided therein. If one of the Parties becomes aware that it will be, or may reasonably be expected to become, unable to meet the non-dissemination provisions of points A and B above, it shall immediately inform the Party likely to be affected by the dissemination. The Parties involved shall thereafter consult to define an appropriate course of action. (1) The indicative features of such JTMPs are set out in the Appendix. Appendix INDICATIVE FEATURES OF A JOINT TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT PLAN (JTMP) The JTMP is a specific contract to be concluded between the participants in joint research defining their respective rights and obligations. With respect to intellectual Property Rights, the JTMP will normally address, inter alia: ownership, protection, user rights for research and development purposes, exploitation and dissemination, including arrangements for joint publication, the rights and obligations of visiting researchers and dispute settlement procedures. The JTMP may also address foreground and background information, the rules governing disclosure of undisclosed information, licensing and deliverables.

Summary: Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Canada Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Canada SUMMARY OF: Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and Canada Council Decision 96/219/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and Canada Agreement amending the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and Canada Council Decision 1999/408/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement amending the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and Canada WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE DECISION? The agreement establishes a formal framework for cooperation aiming at encouraging and facilitating activities in science and technology fields of common interest. The decision adopts the agreement on behalf of the European Community (now the EU). KEY POINTS Activities conducted under the agreement are based on: mutual benefit; timely exchange of information; balanced realisation of economic and social benefits by the EU and Canada; effective protection of intellectual property and fair sharing of intellectual property rights. Fields of cooperation For the EU, these include all research and technological development and demonstration activities covered by: Article 180(a) of the TFEU — Implementation of research, technological development and demonstration programmes, by promoting cooperation with and between undertakings, research centres and universities; and Article180(d) of the TFEU — Stimulation of the training and mobility of researchers in the Union — only concerning networks between infrastructure operators and related research projects. For Canada, these include all non-defence science and technology activities funded or performed by departments or agencies of the Government of Canada, and may include such activities funded or performed by the provincial or territorial governments of Canada, where the relevant provincial or territorial government agrees. Activities Cooperation activities may include: participation of persons and legal bodies including the Parties themselves, universities, research institutions, and other bodies or companies, in research projects in the EU or Canada in accordance with the procedures in force for each Party; shared use of research facilities; visits and exchanges of scientists, engineers or other appropriate personnel to participate in seminars, symposia and workshops; exchange of information on practices, laws, regulations and programmes relevant to cooperation under this agreement; other activities as may be determined by the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee set up under this agreement. DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE The agreement entered into force on 27 February 1996 and it has indefinite duration. BACKGROUND The agreement builds on cooperation established between the EU and Canada under the 1976 framework agreement for commercial and economic cooperation. Broader economic and trade relations between the EU and Canada are governed by the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). For more information, see: Canada and the EU (European External Action Service) For more information about research and innovation (R&I) cooperation with Canada, see: International cooperation — Canada (European Commission) Roadmap for EU-Canada S&T Cooperation (European Commission). MAIN DOCUMENTS Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and Canada (OJ L 74, 22.3.1996, pp. 26-33) Council Decision 96/219/EC of 26 February 1996 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and Canada (OJ L 74, 22.3.1996, p. 25) Agreement amending the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and Canada (OJ L 156, 23.6.1999, pp. 24-25) Consolidated version of the amended agreement (this document is meant purely as a documentation tool). Council Decision 1999/408/EC of 29 April 1999 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement amending the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and Canada (OJ L156, 23.6.1999, p. 23) RELATED DOCUMENTS Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part (OJ L 11, 14.1.2017, pp. 23-1079) Framework Agreement for commercial and economic cooperation between the European Communities and Canada (OJ L 260, 24.9.1976, pp. 2-5) last update 11.01.2019


19.3.1996 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 69/4 INTERREGIONAL FRAMEWORK COOPERATION AGREEMENT between the the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Southern Common Market and its Party States, of the other part THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM, THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC, THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN, THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, IRELAND, THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG, THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS, THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA, THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC, THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND, THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN, THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, Parties to the Treaty establishing the European Community and the Treaty on European Union, hereinafter referred to as the ‘European Community Member States’, and THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Community’, of the one part, and THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL, THE REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY, THE EASTERN REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY, Parties to the Treaty of Asuncion establishing a Southern Common Market and to the Ouro Preto additional Protocol, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Mercosur Party States’, and THE SOUTHERN COMMON MARKET hereinafter referred to as ‘Mercosur’, of the other part, CONSIDERING the deep historical, cultural, political and economic links which unite them, and taking inspiration from the values shared by their peoples; CONSIDERING their full commitment to the content and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to democratic values, the rule of law and promoting and respecting human rights; CONSIDERING the importance which both Parties attach to the principles and values set out in the Final Declaration of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 and those set out in the Final Declaration of the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen in March 1995; MINDFUL of the fact that both Parties consider the process of regional integration to be an instrument of economic and social development which makes it easier for their economies to become part of the world economy, and, finally, promotes closer relations between peoples and contributes to greater international stability; REAFFIRMING their desire to uphold and strengthen the tenets of international free trade, in compliance with World Trade Organization rules, with a particular emphasis on the importance of open regionalism; CONSIDERING that both the Community and Mercosur have specific experience of regional integration which could be of mutual benefit as they forge closer relations determined by their needs; MINDFUL of the relations of cooperation which have been established by the bilateral agreements between the States of the respective regions and by the Framework Cooperation Agreements which the Mercosur Party States have signed bilaterally with the European Community; MINDFUL of the results produced by the Interinstitutional Cooperation Agreement of 29 May 1992 between the Southern Common Market Council and the Commission of the European Communities, and emphasizing the need to continue the activities realized by that Agreement; CONSIDERING the political will of both Parties to achieve what will ultimately be a political and economic interregional association founded on greater political cooperation and progressive and reciprocal liberalization of all trade, taking account of the sensitivity of certain goods and complying with World Trade Organization rules, and founded, finally, on the promotion of investment and closer cooperation; MINDFUL of the terms of the Joint Solemn Declaration in which both Parties propose to conclude an Interregional Framework Agreement covering commercial and economic cooperation and preparing for gradual and reciprocal liberalization of trade between the two regions as a prelude to the negotiation of an Interregional Association Agreement between them, THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM: Erik DERYCKE, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK: Niels HELVEG PETERSEN, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY: Klaus KINKEL, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor, THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC: Karolos PAPOULIAS, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN: Javier SOLANA MADARIAGA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE FRENCH REPUBLIC: Hervé de CHARETTE, Minister for Foreign Affairs, IRELAND: Dick SPRING, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC: Susanna AGNELLI, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG: Jacques F. POOS, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS: Hans van MIERLO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA: Wolfgang SCHÜSSEL, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor, THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC: Jaime GAMA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND: Tarja HALONEN, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN: Mats HELLSTRÖM, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND: Malcolm RIFKIND, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY: Javier SOLANA MADARIAGA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union, Manuel MARÍN, Vice-President of the Commission of the European Communities, THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC: Guido di TELLA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL: Luiz Felipe Palmeira LAMPREIA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY: Luis Maria Ramirez BOETTENER, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE EASTERN REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY: Alvaro Ramos TRIGO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, THE SOUTHERN COMMON MARKET: Alvaro Ramos TRIGO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, President-in-Office of the Southern Common Market, HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: TITLE I OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES AND SCOPE Article 1 Basis for cooperation Respect for the democratic principles and fundamental human rights established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights inspires the domestic and external policies of the Parties and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement. Article 2 Objectives and scope 1. The objectives of this Agreement shall be to strengthen existing relations between the Parties and to prepare the conditions enabling an interregional association to be created. 2. To those ends, the Agreement covers trade and economic matters, cooperation regarding integration and other fields of mutual interest in order to bring about closer relations between the Parties and their respective institutions. Article 3 Political dialogue 1. The Parties shall institute regular political dialogue to back up and consolidate closer relations between the European Union and Mercosur. Such dialogue shall be conducted in accordance with the terms contained in the Joint Declaration annexed to the Agreement. 2. The ministerial dialogue provided for in the Joint Declaration shall take place within the Cooperation Council established by Article 25 of this Agreement or within other agreed forums of an equivalent level. TITLE II TRADE Article 4 Objectives The Parties shall undertake to forge closer relations with the aim of encouraging the increase and diversification of trade, preparing for subsequent gradual and reciprocal liberalization of trade and promoting conditions which are conducive to the establishment of the Interregional Association, taking into account, in conformity with WTO rules, the sensitivity of certain goods. Article 5 Dialogue on trade and economic matters 1. The Parties shall agree on the scope of cooperation in trade matters without excluding any sector. 2. To those ends, the Parties shall undertake to conduct periodic dialogue on trade and economic matters, within the institutional framework established by Title VIII of this Agreement. 3. In particular, cooperation of this nature shall focus mainly on the following: (a) market access, trade liberalization (tariff and non-tariff barriers) and trade discipline such as restrictive trade practices, rules of origin, safeguards and special customs arrangements, for example; (b) the Parties' trade relations with non-member countries; (c) the compatibility of trade liberalization with GATT and WTO rules; (d) the identification of goods which the Parties consider to be sensitive or of priority importance; (e) cooperation and exchanges of information on services, within the Parties' respective spheres of competence. Article 6 Cooperation on agri-food and industrial standards and certification 1. The Parties agree to cooperate in promoting the approximation of quality standards for agri-food products and industrial goods and certification, in conformity with international criteria. 2. Within the bounds of their spheres of competence, the Parties shall examine the prospects for beginning negotiations for the conclusion of mutual recognition agreements. 3. The primary aim of cooperation shall be to promote any measure which is likely to improve the quality of the Parties' products and businesses. Article 7 Cooperation in customs matters 1. The Parties shall promote cooperation in customs matters in order to improve and consolidate the legal framework for trade relations between them. Cooperation in customs matters may also seek to strengthen the customs infrastructure of the Parties and improve their operation within the framework of interinstitutional cooperation. 2. Cooperation may be translated into action by measures including: (a) exchanges of information; (b) the development of new training techniques and coordination of activities in the relevant international organizations; (c) exchanges of officials and senior personnel from customs and tax departments; (d) simplification of customs procedures; (e) technical assistance. 3. The Parties hereby signal their interest in giving future consideration, within the institutional framework established by this Agreement, to the conclusion of a Customs Cooperation Protocol. Article 8 Cooperation in statistical matters The Parties shall agree to promote an alignment of statistical methods with the aim of achieving mutual recognition and making use of statistics on trade in goods and services and, in general terms, data relating to any field for which statistics can be collected. Article 9 Cooperation regarding intellectual property 1. The Parties shall agree to cooperate in intellectual property matters in order to encourage investment, the transfer of technology, trade and all associated economic activity, and to prevent distortions of trade. 2. Within the bounds of their respective laws, regulations and policies, and in line with the undertakings made within the TRIPs Agreeement, the Parties shall ensure that there is suitable and genuine protection of intellectual property rights, if necessary by arranging for such protection to be stepped up. 3. To the ends described in paragraph 2, intellectual property matters shall encompass copyright and similar rights, trademarks or brands, geographical terms and descriptions of origin, industrial designs and utility models, patents and integrated circuit topography. TITLE III ECONOMIC COOPERATION Article 10 Objectives and principles 1. Guided by their mutual interests and their medium-and long-term economic objectives, the Parties shall promote economic cooperation in such a way as to help to expand their economies, increase their international competitiveness, foster technical and scientific development, improve their standards of living, establish conditions conducive to job creation and job quality and diversify and strengthen economic links between them. 2. The Parties shall encourage the conferring of a regional character on any aspect of cooperation which, by virtue of its scope or economies of scale, results in what they consider to be a more rational and efficient use of available resources and a better outcome. 3. Economic cooperation between the Parties shall have as wide a basis as possible. No sector shall be excluded from the outset, and account shall be taken of the Parties' priorities, mutual interest and areas of competence. 4. In the light of the foregoing, the Parties shall cooperate in all areas which will foster economic and social links and networks between them and which will bring their economies closer together, as well as in all areas in which there is a transfer of specific know-how relating to regional integration. 5. Within the framework of such cooperation, the Parties shall promote the exchange of information on their respective economic indicators. 6. The Parties shall pay attention to protection of the environment and the ecological balance in all their cooperation activities. 7. A regard for social development, particularly the promotion of fundamental social rights, shall motivate the steps taken by the Parties in this field. Article 11 Cooperation in business 1. The Parties shall promote cooperation in business with the aim of establishing a climate which favours economic development in their mutual interest. 2. Such cooperation shall focus in particular on: (a) increasing the flow of trade, investment, industrial cooperation projects and the transfer of technology; (b) encouraging modernization and diversification in industry; (c) identifying barriers to industrial cooperation between the Parties and eliminating such barriers using measures which promote compliance with competition rules and foster the tailoring of those rules to the needs of the market, giving due attention to the involvement and consultation of operators; (d) stimulating cooperation between the Parties' economic operators, especially small and medium-sized enterprises; (e) promoting industrial innovation by developing an integrated and decentralized view of cooperation between operators in the two regions; (f) ensuring that action seeking to produce a positive influence on cooperation between businesses in the two regions remains a coherent whole. 3. Cooperation shall essentially take the following forms: (a) more organized contact between the Parties' operators and networks, through conferences, technical seminars, fact-finding missions, attendance at general and specialist fairs and business meetings; (b) suitable initiatives to back cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises, such as the promotion of joint ventures, the establishment of information networks, encouraging the opening of trade offices, the transfer of specialist know-how, subcontracting, applied research, licensing and franchising; (c) promoting initiatives to increase cooperation between Mercosur economic operators and European associations, with the aim of establishing dialogue between networks; (d) training schemes, encouraging the establishment of networks and backing for research. Article 12 Promotion of investment 1. Within the bounds of their spheres of competence, the Parties shall promote an attractive and stable climate for greater mutually beneficial investment. 2. Such cooperation shall encompass measures including the following: (a) promoting regular exchanges of information, the identification and dissemination of information on legislation and investment opportunities; (b) promoting the development of a legal environment which is conducive to investment between the Parties, particularly, where applicable, through the conclusion between interested Community Member States and Mercosur Party States of bilateral agreements for the promotion and protection of investment and bilateral agreements to prevent double taxation; (c) promoting joint ventures, particularly between small and medium-sized enterprises. Article 13 Cooperation regarding energy 1. Cooperation between the Parties shall be directed towards encouraging closer relations between their economies in energy-related industries, taking into consideration the need to use energy rationally and in a manner which respects the environment. 2. Cooperation regarding energy shall essentially take the following forms: (a) exchanges of information in all appropriate forms, particularly through joint meetings; (b) transfers of technology; (c) encouraging the involvement of the Parties' economic operators in joint technological development or infrastructure projects; (d) technical training programmes; (e) to the extent that their spheres of competence allow, dialogue regarding energy policy. 3. Where appropriate, the Parties may conclude specific agreements of common interest. Article 14 Cooperation regarding transport 1. Cooperation between the Parties regarding transport shall seek to back the restructuring and modernization of transport systems and find mutually acceptable solutions for moving people and goods using all modes of transport. 2. Cooperation shall be conducted as a matter of priority by: (a) exchanges of information on both Parties' transport policies and on matters of mutual interest; (b) training programmes for transport system operators. 3. Within the framework of the dialogue on trade and economic matters referred to in Article 5, and considering the prospect of interregional association, both Parties shall devote attention to all aspects of international transport to ensure that they do not act as a barrier to the reciprocal expansion of trade. Article 15 Cooperation in science and technology 1. The Parties shall agree to cooperate in the field of science and technology with the aim of promoting a lasting working relationship between their scientific communities and exchanging information and know-how regarding science and technology between the regions. 2. Cooperation in science and technology between the Parties shall be conducted as a matter of priority by means of: (a) joint research projects in fields of common interest; (b) exchanges of scientists in order to encourage joint research, prepare projects and provide high-calibre training; (c) joint scientific conferences to exchange information, promote interaction and facilitate the selection of subjects for joint research; (d) the publicizing of results and development of links between the public and private sectors. 3. Such cooperation shall involve the Parties' centres of higher education and research and their industries, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. 4. The Parties shall agree between them the scope, nature and priorities of cooperation through a multiannual programme which can be adapted to suit the circumstances. Article 16 Cooperation in telecommunications and information technology 1. The Parties shall agree to establish cooperation regarding telecommunications and information technology, with the aim of fostering economic and social development, driving the information society forward and making modernization of society easier. 2. Cooperation in this field shall seek especially to: (a) facilitate the establishment of dialogue on the various features of the information society and promote the exchange of information on standards, inspection and certification in the field of information technology and telecommunications; (b) disseminate new telecommunications and information technology, particularly in the fields of integrated services digital networks, data transmission and the establishment of new communications and information-technology services; (c) stimulate the launching of joint research, industrial and technological development projects in the field of new communications technologies, telematics and the information society. Article 17 Cooperation regarding environmental protection 1. With the aim of achieving sustainable development, the Parties shall encourage awareness of the issues of environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources in all fields of interregional cooperation. 2. The Parties shall agree to devote special attention to measures connected with the international dimension of environmental problems. 3. Cooperation could cover the following in particular: (a) exchanges of information and know-how regarding matters including regulations and standards; (b) training and education regarding the environment; (c) technical assistance, the implementation of joint research projects and, where appropriate, institutional assistance. TITLE IV ENCOURAGING INTEGRATION Article 18 Objectives and scope 1. Cooperation between the Parties shall seek to further the objectives of Mercosur's integration process and shall encompass all the areas of this Agreement. 2. To those ends, cooperation activities shall be considered in the context of the specific requests of Mercosur. 3. Cooperation should take any form which is considered appropriate, and particularly: (a) arrangements for the exchange of information in any suitable manner, including the establishment of computer networks; (b) training and institutional backing; (c) studies and joint projects; (d) technical assistance. 4. The Parties shall cooperate to ensure maximum efficiency in the use of their resources for the compilation, analysis, publication and dissemination of information, without prejudice to any steps which might be necessary to protect the confidential nature of some of that information. They shall also undertake to protect personal data in all instances in which there is provision for exchanging information via computer networks. TITLE V INTERINSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION Article 19 Objectives and scope 1. The Parties shall promote closer cooperation between their respective institutions and shall particularly encourage regular contact between them. 2. Such cooperation shall have as wide a basis as possible and shall focus on: (a) any means of fostering regular exchanges of information, including the joint development of computer networks for communication; (b) the transfer of know-how; (c) advice and information. TITLE VI OTHER AREAS OF COOPERATION Article 20 Cooperation regarding training and education 1. Within the bounds of their spheres of competence, the Parties shall endeavour to find ways to improve education and training relating to regional integration, whether in the form of training for young people and vocational training or in the form of cooperation between universities or businesses. 2. The Parties shall pay particular attention to action which would promote the establishment of links between their specialist entities and encourage the use of technical resources and exchanges of know-how. 3. The Parties shall encourage the conclusion of agreements between training centres and the holding of meetings between bodies responsible for edcucation and training in the field of regional integration. Article 21 Cooperation regarding information, communication and culture 1. Within the bounds of their spheres of competence, and with the aim of broadening knowledge of their political, economic and social realities, the Parties shall agree to strengthen the cultural links between them and encourage the dissemination of information on the nature, objectives and scope of their processes of integration to promote understanding of them within their societies. The Parties shall also agree to expand exchanges of information between them on matters of mutual interest. 2. Such cooperation should seek to promote contact between the Parties' information and communications media in forms including technical assistance. It could include the organization of cultural activities if their regional significance justifies such action. Article 22 Cooperation in combating drug-trafficking 1. In accordance with their spheres of competence, the Parties shall promote the coordination and intensification of their efforts to combat drug-trafficking and its many ramifications, including financial ramifications. 2. Such cooperation shall include the promotion of consultation and greater coordination between the Parties at regional level and, where appropriate, between the relevant regional institutions. Article 23 Future developments 1. The Parties may by mutual consent expand this Agreement with a view to enhancing the levels of cooperation and supplementing them, within the bounds of their respective laws, by means of agreements on specific sectors or activities. 2. With regard to the implementation of this Agreement, either of the Parties may put forward suggestions for widening the scope of cooperation, taking into account the experience gained in applying this Agreement. TITLE VII RESOURCES FOR COOPERATION Article 24 1. In order to facilitate the achievement of the aims set out in this Agreement, the Parties shall make available, within the limits of their abilities and through their own channels, the appropriate resources, including financial resources. 2. Depending on the results obtained, the Parties shall call on the European Investment Bank to step up its activities within Mercosur in accordance with its own procedures and financing criteria. 3. The provisions of this Agreement shall not affect bilateral cooperation resulting from existing cooperation agreements. TITLE VIII INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK Article 25 1. A Cooperation Council is hereby established, with responsibility for the implementation of this Agreement; the Cooperation Council shall meet at ministerial level periodically and whenever circumstances require. 2. The Cooperation Council shall discuss important matters arising in connection with the Agreement and any other bilateral or international issues of common interest, with the aim of fulfilling the Agreement's objectives. 3. The Cooperation Council may also make appropriate proposals, with the agreement of the Parties. In carrying out its duties, the Cooperation Council shall undertake in particular to make recommendations which contribute to the ultimate objective of interregional association. Article 26 1. The Cooperation Council shall be composed, on the one hand, of members of the Council of the European Union and members of the European Commission and, on the other hand, of members of the Mercosur Common Market Council and members of the Mercosur Common Market Group. 2. The Cooperation Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure. 3. The Cooperation Council shall be chaired in turn by a representative of the Community and a representative of Mercosur. Article 27 1. The Cooperation Council shall be assisted in the performance of its duties by a Joint Cooperation Committee which shall be composed of members of the Council of the European Union and of members of the European Commission, on the one hand, and representatives of Mercosur, on the other. 2. The Joint Committee shall generally meet once a year, on a date and with an agenda agreed in advance, alternately in Brussels and in one of the Mercosur Party States. Extraordinary meetings may be convened by mutual agreement, at the request of either Party. The office of chairman of the Joint Committee shall be held alternately by a representative of each of the Parties. 3. The Cooperation Council shall set out the operating procedures of the Joint Committee in its own rules of procedures. 4. The Cooperation Council may delegate all or part of its powers to the Joint Committee; the latter shall provide continuity between meetings of the Cooperation Council. 5. The Joint Committee shall assist the Cooperation Council in the performance of its duties. In fulfilling its functions, the Joint Committee shall in particular: (a) stimulate trade relations in accordance with the objectives of this Agreement and in compliance with provisions of Title II; (b) exchange views on any matter of common interest which relates to trade liberalization and cooperation, including future programmes of cooperation and the resources available for their implementation; (c) make proposals to the Cooperation Council, with the aim of stimulating preparations for the liberalization of trade and of intensifying cooperation, while taking due account of the need for coordination between the activities proposed; and (d) in more general terms, make proposals to the Cooperation Council which contribute to achieving the ultimate aim of EU-Mercosur interregional association. Article 28 The Cooperation Council may decide to set up any other body to assist it in the performance of its duties; it shall determine that body's composition, objectives and operating procedures. Article 29 1. In accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 5 of this Agreement, the Parties shall establish a Joint Subcommittee on Trade, which shall ensure that the trade-related objectives of this Agreement are fulfilled and shall conduct preparatory work for the subsequent liberalization of trade. 2. The Joint Subcommittee on Trade shall be composed of members of the Council of the European Union and of members of the European Commission, on the one hand, and representatives of Mercosur, on the other. It may commission any studies or technical analyses which it deems necessary. 3. The Joint Subcommittee on Trade shall report once a year to the Joint Cooperation Committee established under Article 27 of the Agreement on the progress of its work, and shall make proposals regarding the subsequent liberalization of trade. 4. The Joint Subcommittee on Trade shall submit its rules of procedure to the Joint Committee for approval. Article 30 Consultation Within the bounds of their spheres of competence, the Parties shall undertake to hold consultations on any issue referred to in this Agreement. The procedure for the consultations referred to in the preceding subparagraph shall be laid down in the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee. TITLE IX FINAL PROVISIONS Article 31 Other agreements Without prejudice to the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Community and Mercosur, neither this Agreement nor any action taken under it shall in any way affect the powers of the Member States of the European Community or the Mercosur Party States to undertake bilateral activities within their spheres of competence or where appropriate to conclude new agreements. Article 32 Definition of the Parties For the purposes of this Agreement, the term ‘the Parties’ shall mean, on the one hand, the Community or its Member States or the Community and its Member States, in accordance with their respective spheres of competence, as deriving from the Treaty establishing the European Community and, on the other hand, Mercosur or its Party States, in accordance with the Treaty establishing the Southern Common Market. Article 33 Territorial application This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty establishing the European Community is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and, on the other hand, to the territories in which the Treaty establishing the Southern Common Market is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and its additional protocols. Article 34 Duration and entry into force 1. This Agreement shall be valid indefinitely. 2. The Parties shall determine the suitability, timing and conditions of the start of negotiations for Interregional Association in accordance with their own procedures and in the light of the work carried out and the proposals made within the institutional framework of this Agreement. 3. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the month following that in which the Parties notify each other of the completion of the procedures necessary for this purpose. 4. Notification shall be sent to the Council of the European Union and the Mercosur Common Market Group. 5. The Secretary-General of the Council shall be the depositary of this Agreement for the Community and the Government of the Republic of Paraguay shall be the depositary for Mercosur. Article 35 Fulfilment of obligations 1. The Parties shall adopt any general or specific measure required for them to fulfil their obligations under this Agreement and shall ensure that they attain the objectives laid down in that Agreement. If either Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation under this Agreement, it may take appropriate measures. Before doing so, except in cases of special urgency, it shall supply the Joint Committee with all relevant information required for a thorough examination of the situation with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the Parties. In the selection of measures, priority must be given to those which least disturb the functioning of this Agreement. These measures shall be notified immediately to the Joint Committee and shall be the subject of consultations within that Committee if the other Party so requests. 2. The Parties agree that the term ‘cases of special urgency’ in paragraph 1 of this Article shall mean a case of material breach of the Agreement by one of the Parties. A material breach of the Agreement shall consist in: (a) repudiation of the Agreement not sanctioned by the general rules of international law, or (b) violation of the essential elements of the Agreement, as referred to in Article 1. 3. The Parties agree that the ‘appropriate measures’ referred to in this Article are measures taken in accordance with international law. If a Party takes a measure in a case of special urgency as provided for under this Article, the other Party may ask that an urgent meeting be called to bring both Parties together within days. Article 36 Authentic texts This Agreement shall be drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish languages, each of these texts being equally authentic. Article 37 Signature This Agreement will be open for signature in Madrid between 15 and 31 December 1995. Hecho en Madrid, el quince de diciembre de mil novecientos noventa y cinco. Udfærdiget i Madrid, den femtende december nitten hundrede og femoghalvfems. Geschehen zu Madrid am fünfzehnten Dezember neunzehnhundertfünfundneunzig. Έγινε στη Μαδρίτη, στις δέκα πέντε Δεκεμβρίου χίλια εννιακόσια ενενήντα πέντε. Done at Madrid on the fifteenth day of December in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-five. Fait à Madrid, le quinze décembre mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-quinze. Fatto a Madrid, addì quindici dicembre millenovecentonovantacinque. Gedaan te Madrid, de vijftiende december negentienhonderd vijfennegentig. Feito em Madrid, em quinze de Dezembro de mil novecentos e noventa e cinco. Tehty Madridissa viidentenätoista päivänä joulukuuta vuonna tuhatyhdeksänsataayhdeksänkymmentäviisi. Som skedde i Madrid den femtonde december nittonhundranittiofem. Pour le Royaume de Belgique Voor het Koninkrijk België Für das Königreich Belgien Cette signature engage également la Communauté française, la Communauté flamande, la Communauté germanophone, la Région wallonne, la Région flamande et la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale. Deze handtekening verbindt eveneens de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, de Franse Gemeenschap, de Duitstalige Gemeenschap, het Vlaamse Gewest, het Waalse Gewest en het Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Gewest. Diese Unterschrift verbindet zugleich die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft, die Flämische Gemeinschaft, die Französische Gemeinschaft, die Wallonische Region, die Flämische Region und die Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt. På Kongeriget Danmarks vegne Für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland Για την Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Por el Reino de España Pour la République française Thar ceann na hÉireann For Ireland Per la Repubblica italiana Pour le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Für die Republik Österreich Pela República Portuguesa Suomen tasavallan puolesta För Konungariket Sverige For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Por la Comunidad Europea For Det Europæiske Fællesskab Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα For the European Community Pour la Communauté européenne Per la Comunità europea Voor de Europese Gemeenschap Pela Comunidade Europeia Euroopan yhteisön puolesta För Europeiska gemenskapen Por la República Argentina Pela República Federativa do Brasil Por la República del Paraguay Por la República Oriental del Uruguay Por el Mercado Común del Sur Pelo Mercado Comum do Sul Joint Declaration on political dialogue between the European Union and Mercosur Preamble THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE MERCOSUR PARTY STATES, — conscious of their historical, political and economic ties, their common cultural heritage and the bonds of friendship between their peoples, — mindful that political and economic freedoms are fundamental to society in the European Union and the Mercosur countries, — reaffirming human dignity and the promotion of human rights as cornerstones of a democratic society, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, — reaffirming the essential role of the principles and democratic institutions based on the rule of law, respect for which governs the internal and external policies of the Parties, — desiring to strengthen international peace and security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, — sharing an interest in regional integration as a means of enabling their citizens to achieve sustainable and harmonious development predicated upon social progress and solidarity between their members, — building upon the preferential relations formalized by the framework Cooperation Agreements which the European Community has signed with each of the Mercosur Party States, — recalling the principles set out in the Solemn Joint Declaration signed by the Parties on 22 December 1994, HAVE DECIDED to develop relations on a long-term basis. Objectives — Mercosur and the European Union solemnly reaffirm their commitment to progressing towards the establishment of an interregional association and to establishing greater political dialogue for that purpose, — regional integration is one means of achieving sustainable and socially harmonious development, and a tool for ensuring competitiveness in the world economy, — this dialogue is also intended to ensure closer consultation on issues affecting both regions and on multilateral issues, in particular by allowing the positions of the respective parties to be coordinated in the relevant multilateral organizations. Mechanisms of the dialogue — The parties will conduct this political dialogue by means of contacts, information exchanges and consultation, especially meetings at the appropriate level between the various Mercosur and European Union bodies as well as by making full use of diplomatic channels, — in particular, with the aim of establishing and developing this political dialogue on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, the Parties agree to hold: (a) regular meetings, the detailed arrangements for which will be decided on by the Parties, between the Heads of State of the countries of Mercosur and the highest authorities of the European Union; (b) an annual meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Mercosur and of the Member States of the European Union, attended by the European Commission. These meetings will be held at a venue to be determined on each occasion by the Parties; (c) meetings of other Ministers responsible for matters of mutual interest where such meetings are deemed necessary by the Parties in order to strengthen mutual relations; (d) periodic meetings of senior officials from both Parties.

Summary: Interregional Framework Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and Mercosur Interregional Framework Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and Mercosur SUMMARY OF: Council Decision 1999/279/EC — concluding on behalf of the European Community, the interregional framework cooperation agreement between the European Community and its Member States, and the Southern Common Market and its Party States Interregional Framework Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, and the Southern Common Market and its Party States WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION AND AGREEMENT? The decision concludes the agreement on behalf of the European Community (now the EU). The agreement, based on democratic principles and fundamental rights, aims to strengthen existing relations between the parties and to lay the foundations for an Interregional Association between the EU and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur). KEY POINTS In addition to a series of bilateral agreements, the EU has concluded this Interregional Framework Agreement with Mercosur. Mercosur includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The agreement covers trade and economic matters, cooperation and other fields of mutual interest. With respect to trade, regular dialogue on trade and economic matters is designed to prepare for a gradual and reciprocal liberalisation of trade, and the main areas of cooperation include: market access, liberalisation of trade and trade disciplines;the compatibility of trade with WTO rules;the identification of sensitive and priority products;cooperation and exchanges of information on services. Although no sector is excluded from economic cooperation, the agreement specifically covers: energy;transport;telecommunications and information technology;environmental protection;science and technology;business cooperation; andinvestment promotion. Other areas of cooperation include: training and education;communication, information and culture, where the aim is to promote mutual understanding and strengthen cultural ties;combating drug trafficking. Financing The parties agree to provide the required resources and encourage the European Investment Bank to give greater help to Mercosur to attain the agreement’s objectives. Institutional support A Cooperation Council which oversees the agreement’s implementation meets regularly at ministerial level. Interregional Association The agreement sets up regular political dialogue to advance progress towards an Interregional Association. In June 2019, political agreement was reached on Association Agreement between the parties. DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE The agreement entered into force on 1 July 1999 and is valid indefinitely. BACKGROUND For more information see: EU and Mercosur (European External Action Service). MAIN DOCUMENTS Council Decision 1999/279/EC of 22 March 1999 concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the interregional framework cooperation agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Southern Common Market and its Party States, of the other part (OJ L 112, 29.4.1999, pp. 65-84) Interregional Framework Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Southern Common Market and its Party States, of the other part — Joint Declaration on political dialogue between the European Union and Mercosur (OJ L 69, 19.3.1996, pp. 4-22) Corrigendum to the Interregional Framework Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Southern Common Market and its Party States, of the other part (OJ L 61, 10.3.1999, p. 55) RELATED DOCUMENTS Information concerning the date of entry into force of the Interregional Framework Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Southern Common Market and its Party States, of the other part (OJ L 175, 10.7.1999, p. 62) last update 06.03.2020