Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2021)653 - Renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the EC and Brazil - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2021)653 - Renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the EC and Brazil. |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2021)653  |
| date | 27-10-2021 |
1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
• Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
The Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil 1 (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement) entered into force on 7 August 2007. The Agreement provides in its Article XII (2) that it 'shall initially be valid for a period of five years and may be renewed by agreement between the Parties after evaluation during the penultimate year of each subsequent renewal period'. The Agreement was last renewed in 2017 and remains in force until 7 August 2022, unless the Parties renew it for the next five year period.
Since the Agreement was last renewed (Decision 2018/343/EU 2 ), Brazil has continued to advance in its science, technology and innovation (STI) development. A continent in itself by its size and resources, the country can be considered a ‘science powerhouse’ in the Latin American continent. The country continues to be the EU’s major STI partner in the region, with research and innovation (R&I) cooperation remaining an important and positive building block of the EU’s overall relations with this country.
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 in Horizon 2020 (representing over 25% of the whole Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries participation), with a success rate well above the average. The evaluation carried out by the European 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.
During the time-life of Horizon 2020 (2014-2020), cooperation between the EU and the Brazilian research community led, among other results, to the further development of transatlantic marine research & innovation within the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, based on the Belém Statement with the EU and South Africa. Additionally, there was important collaboration in health research, tackling global challenges such as the Zika virus, with strong Brazilian participation in the calls for proposals launched by the EU in 2016. The fruitful collaboration for tackling COVID-19 needs to be highlighted, with Brazilian entities taking part in two projects under the ‘emergency calls’ launched by the European Commission, as well as under multilateral initiatives, in particular Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R). Furthermore, in the last five years a positive involvement of Brazilian entities in research infrastructures (RI) projects has contributed to the mapping of LAC RIs.
Brazil is a key player in any future global climate change and sustainability scenario, the country is a valuable partner in biodiversity research and in any ecosystems-based approach to addressing environmental challenges. Cooperation has been intensified in sustainability-related areas contributing to the Green Deal, e.g. in fresh water management and biodiversity through active Brazilian involvement in BiodivERsA calls for research proposals; indeed Brazil is at the centre of ERA-LAC collaboration in biodiversity research. There is potential for new actions, in a Team Europe approach, on climate related topics such as forest degradation, deforestation and sustainable agriculture.
Another area in which cooperation has been promoted is sustainable, greener and safer aviation. The EU and Brazil have also embarked on cooperation on sustainable and smart cities. EU-Brazil cooperation on digital key topics, including 5G, Internet of Things and Cloud computing under Horizon 2020, placed EU as a major partner of Brazil in this area. It has culminated in the inauguration of the optical fibre cable under the BELLA project with significant Brazil funding and strong potential for valuable R&I partnerships in areas such as high performance and quantum computing and space.
A Collaboration Arrangement, under the Agreement, signed in 2013, and renewed in 2018, between the Joint Research Centre and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil, has enhanced bilateral cooperation in several areas namely disaster prevention and crisis management, monitoring of wildfires and forests degradation by means of remote sensing; climate change and critical raw materials.
Legal entities established in non-associated, high-income third countries such as Brazil, generally bear the costs of their participation in collaborative activities under the EU framework programme for research and innovation. In this context, it is noteworthy that an Administrative Arrangement between the Brazilian Federal and State Funding bodies and the European Commission was signed in May 2018, aiming to facilitate the cooperation with the Agencies that provided funding to Brazilian legal entities taking part in Horizon 2020 collaborative activities. A similar arrangement is to be signed in the context of Horizon Europe as well, ensuring that Brazilian entities are supported for their participation in Horizon Europe projects selected for funding.
The EU-Brazil S&T Joint Steering Committee Meeting of 24 March 2021 confirmed the positive dynamics in our dialogue in all the above areas, with the prospect of continuing and stepping up bilateral R&I cooperation under Horizon Europe (2021-2027). All this augurs well for the prospects of Brazilian participation in the future Missions and Partnerships of Horizon Europe. Additionally, Brazil features high in the next EEAS programming for the period 2021-2027, with several EU-Brazil Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs), focused on overarching EU objectives. This reaffirms the position of Brazil as a strategic STI partner of the EU and the significant potential of synergies.
In view of all above, 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 11 May 2021 and 24 May 2021.
The material content of the renewed Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement.
• Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
This initiative is fully in line with the Commission Communication of 18 May 2021 on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation, Europe's strategy for international cooperation in a changing world (COM(2021)252 final/2) 3 .
A particularly valuable example of a Global Alliance, promoted by the EU and Brazil, is the already mentioned All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, which inspired to a great extent the whole conception of Global Alliances in the above-referred Communication. A further example is Mission Innovation (MI), which is a global initiative of 22 countries and the European Union, with the aim to accelerate effort in innovation in clean energy. MI members represent over 90% of global government investment in clean energy research and innovation. In MI both EU and Brazil are very active members, namely in the field of bio-fuels.
The Global Approach Strategy upholds the idea that “stronger engagement should be sought with Brazil […] and other EU partners in the region, in areas such as green and digital transition, health, or developing common solutions for a sustainable recovery. An increasing collaboration with the EU Space programme and the new Copernicus hubs and Galileo centres in LAC will play a key role to drive innovation and research in the region”.
• Consistency with other Union policies
The EU's Global Strategy for the EUs Foreign and Security Policy' confirms that research cooperation is an important aspect of EU foreign policy and sees research cooperation as an essential element of stronger socio-economic ties, notably with Latin American countries. It is also important to mention that the Commission Communication on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation reaffirms the EU’s commitment to international openness and respect for fundamental values in the field of research and innovation. In this sense, it recalls the importance of multilateral as well as bilateral cooperation with different international partners, including Brazil. The EU’s overarching policy priorities such as the Green Deal & sustainable development, the digital transition and global health are reflected in the EU’s STI bilateral relations with Brazil, notably in cooperation through the Horizon Europe programme.
2. LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
• Legal basis
The EU’s power to act internationally in research and technological development is based on Article 186 TFEU. The procedural legal basis for the proposal is point (a) (v) of the second subparagraph of Article 218(6) TFEU.
3. RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
• Regulatory fitness and simplification
Contents
4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
Only human and administrative resources are required and are set out in the 'Legislative Financial Statement'.
- approves, on behalf of the Union, and with the consent of the European Parliament, the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil which will apply, following the expiry of the five years, for an additional period of five years (i.e. from 08.08.2022 until 07.08.2027);
- authorises the President of the Council to designate the person(s) empowered to notify the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil that the Union has completed its internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this renewed Agreement.