Council approves the renewal of EU-US Science & Technology Agreement

On 25 September 2023 the Council, following the consent of the European Parliament on 13 September 2023, has given the final green light to a five-year extension of the EU-US Science and Technology Agreement. Since its inception in 1998, the strategic partnership for research between the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (US) has grown into a robust and enduring alliance.

This collaboration thrives on shared values and principles such as ethics, research integrity, transparency, openness, and evidence-based policymaking, which make EU and the US strong partners in the field of research and innovation.

The EU-US R&I partnership is a cornerstone of the EU's Global Approach to research and innovation and provides the necessary legal and political framework. The convergence of the priorities of the EU and those of the US in the areas of global health, climate, energy and the environment, health, digital technologies, and standards now provides an important window of opportunity to build collaborations on a larger scale, for the benefit of the world as well as of the EU and the US.

Among non-associated third countries, the US stands as the most active participant in the EU research framework programmes such as Horizon 2020 and now Horizon Europe. Beyond bilateral cooperation, the partnership has played a pivotal role in supporting the creation and development of global research and innovation alliances such as the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance on marine research or Mission Innovation, a global endeavour focused on clean energy innovation.

Background

The genesis of this enduring partnership can be traced to December 5, 1997, when the initial bilateral 'Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the United States of America,' was signed in Washington, DC, entered into force on October 14, 1998. The Agreement has been subsequently extended four times, in 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018, each extension granting an additional five years to this collaborative endeavour, underscoring the continued commitment of both parties.

More information

International cooperation with the United States of America