Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon setting out the terms and conditions for participation of the Republic of Lebanon in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

In the light of the above, the Commission proposes that the Council concludes the Agreement on behalf of the Union.

COUNCIL DECISION

on the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon setting out the terms and conditions for participation of the Republic of Lebanon in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)

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

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

1. Decision (EU) 2017/1324 of the European Parliament and of the Council ⁵ provides for the participation of the Union in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area ('PRIMA') jointly undertaken by several Member States.

2. The Republic of Lebanon ('Lebanon') expressed its wish to join PRIMA as a Participating State and on an equal footing with the Member States and countries associated to Horizon 2020 participating in PRIMA.

3. In accordance with Article 1(2) of Decision (EU) 2017/1324 Lebanon is to become a Participating State in PRIMA subject to the conclusion of an international agreement for scientific and technological cooperation with the Union setting out the terms and conditions of Lebanon's participation in PRIMA.

4. In accordance with Council Decision <XXX> ⁶ , the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon setting out the terms and conditions for participation of the Republic of Lebanon in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), was signed on behalf of the Union on XX, 20XX, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

5. The Agreement should be approved on behalf of the Union.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon setting out the terms and conditions for participation of the Republic of Lebanon in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall designate the person empowered to make, on behalf of the Union, the notification provided for in Article 5(2) of the Agreement in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Agreement.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on [the date of its adoption].

Done at Brussels,

Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon setting out the terms and conditions for participation of the Republic of Lebanon in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)

The European Union (hereinafter 'the Union'),

of the one part,

and

the Republic of Lebanon (hereinafter 'Lebanon'),

of the other part,

(hereinafter 'the Parties')

Whereas the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 April 2006, provides for the scientific, technical and technological cooperation;

Whereas Decision (EU) 2017/1324 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation of the Union in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) jointly undertaken by several Member States regulates the terms and conditions for the participation of the EU Member States and Countries Associated to Horizon 2020 who are Participating States of the initiative, in particular their financial obligations and participation in the governing structures of the initiative;

Whereas according to the terms of Decision (EU) 2017/1324 Lebanon is to become a Participating State in PRIMA subject to the conclusion of an international agreement for scientific and technological cooperation with the Union setting out the terms and conditions of Lebanon's participation in PRIMA;

Whereas Lebanon expressed its wish to join PRIMA as a Participating State and on an equal footing with the EU Member States and Countries Associated to Horizon 2020 participating in PRIMA;

Whereas an international agreement between the Union and Lebanon is needed to regulate the rights and obligations of Lebanon as PRIMA Participating State;

Whereas full cooperation and coordination between competent authorities of both Parties is essential for implementation of this Agreement;

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The purpose

The purpose of this Agreement is to set out the terms and conditions for participation of Lebanon in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

Article 2

Terms and conditions of participation of Lebanon in PRIMA

The terms and conditions for the participation of Lebanon in PRIMA shall be those set out in Decision (EU) 2017/1324 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation of the Union in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) jointly undertaken by several Member States. The Parties shall comply with the obligations established by that Decision and take appropriate measures, in particular by providing all necessary assistance in order to ensure the application of its Articles 10(2) and 11(3) and (4). The detailed arrangements for assistance shall be agreed between the Parties, such arrangements being essential to their cooperation under this Agreement.

Article 3

Territorial application

This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Treaty on the European Union are applied and, on the other, to the territory of Lebanon.

Article 4

Signature and provisional application

This agreement shall be applied provisionally from the date of its signing.

Article 5

Entry into force and duration

1. This Agreement shall be approved by the Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

2. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which both Parties notified each other through diplomatic channels that the procedures referred to in the first paragraph have been completed.

3. This Agreement shall remain in force for as long as Decision (EU) 2017/1324 is in force, unless terminated by either Party in accordance with Article 6.

Article 6

Termination

1. Either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time by a written notice informing the other Party of the intent to terminate it.

The termination shall take effect six months after the date at which the written notice reaches its addressee.

2. Projects and activities in progress at the time of termination of this Agreement shall continue until their completion under the conditions laid down in this Agreement.

3. Parties shall settle by common consent any other consequences of termination.

Article 7

Dispute settlement

The dispute settlement procedure provided for in Article 82 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part shall apply to all disputes related to the application or interpretation of this Agreement.

This Agreement shall be drawn up in duplicate in Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Arabic languages, each text being equally authentic.