Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil

The Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil entered into force on 7 August 2007. Article XII(2) of the Agreement provides that it shall initially be valid for a period of five years and may be renewed by agreement between the Parties. The Agreement was last renewed in 2012 and remains in force until 7 August 2017, unless the Parties renew it for the next five-year period.

Since the Agreement was last renewed, Brazil has made significant advances in its science, technology and innovation (STI) policy, which has contributed to the institutional strengthening of the STI system. This includes an improvement in the number and qualifications of human resources and in R&D infrastructure.

Brazil remains at the forefront of research in the field of agriculture, as well as in tropical and infectious diseases. It is also a world-class player in the fields of information and communication technologies, nanotechnologies and energy and it hosts some of Latin America’s top universities. These research areas are of interest to the European Union. The links between Brazil and the EU in science, technology and innovation have been growing through intense cooperation at EU and Member State level.

The evaluation carried out by the Commission clearly demonstrates that the Agreement provides an important framework for facilitating cooperation between the EU and Brazil in common S&T priority areas leading to mutual benefits. As Brazil’s potential as a research and innovation partner continues to grow, it should be seen as a strategic partner for the EU in Latin America. The main instruments for cooperation are the EU framework programmes for research and innovation. Among non-Associated third countries, Brazil was the 6th most active country in FP7 (2007-2013) and the 5th in Horizon 2020 so far.

It is, therefore, in the EU’s interest to renew the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil for a new period of five years. Both Parties confirmed their wish to renew the Agreement by exchange of letters dated 14 November 2016 and 5 January 2017. The substance of the renewed Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement.