The Framework of EU-U.S. S&T Cooperation consists of the following:

1. Cooperation within the EU-U.S. S&T Agreement

2. Cooperation within the EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Cooperation

3. Cooperation within the S&T Agreements between EU Member States and U.S. 

1. Cooperation within the EU-U.S. S&T Agreement

Although the EU-U.S. relationship dates back to the 1950s the first formal cooperation took place in 1990 with the Transatlantic Declaration, which was followed by a new Transatlantic Agenda and regular EU-U.S. Summits to assess and develop transatlantic cooperation.

In the area of science and technology, the EU and U.S. concluded a Science and Technology (S&T) Co-operation Agreement in 1999 and renewed it in 2004 and 2009. Since than, joint research activities are undertaken in a number of fields such as biotechnology, environment, materials science (including nanotechnology) and non-nuclear and renewable energy.

EU-U.S. S&T Agreement (initial-1999) 

EU-U.S. S&T Agreement (renewed-2004)

EU-U.S. S&T Agreement (renewed -2009)

1.1. Other related EU-U.S. Bilateral Agreements in the field of S&T

• Agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the Government of the United States of America (1958)

• Agreement for cooperation between the European Atomic Energy Community and the United States Department of Energy in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion(1986)

• Agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the European Atomic Energy Community and the United States of America - Agreed Minute - Declaration on non-proliferation policy (1995)

• Exchanges of Letters recording the common understanding on the principles of international cooperation on research and development activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems...(1997)

• Agreement between the European Community and the United States of America renewing a programme of cooperation in higher education and vocational education and training (2000)

• Agreement for cooperation between the European Atomic Energy Community represented by the Commission of the European Communities and the Department of Energy of the United States of America in the field of fusion energy research and development (2001)

• Agreement renewing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between European Community and the Government of the United States of America (2004)

• Agreement between the European Community and the United States of America renewing a programme of cooperation in higher education and vocational education and training (2006)

 1.2 Other related Multilateral Agreements in the field of S&T

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)

• Protocol on the provisional application of the Agreement establishing an International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC) (1993)

• Protocol to amend the agreement to establish a science and technology centre in Ukraine (STCU)(1997)

• Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project (2006)

• Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters recording the common understanding renewing and modifying the agreement on international cooperation on research and development activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) ..(2007)

 1.3 Implementing Arrangements

• EC-NSF Implementing Arrangement in Environmental Research (2001)

• EC-EPA Implementing Arrangement on Environmental Research and Ecoinformatics (2007)

• Implementing Arrangement on Security Research between the EC (JRC) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington D.C. (2009)

• EC-NIST Implementing Agreement (1994) expired in 2004

• EC-NSF Implementing Arrangement in Materials Science (including nanotechnology) 1999

• EC-DoE Implementing Agreement on Non-Nuclear and Renewable Energy 2001, (Fuel Cell Annex, 16 June 2003)

• EC-Department of Transportation Implementing Agreement on Information and Communication Technologies applications to road transport (2009)

1.4 Other Formal Arrangements

• EU-US Energy Council 

Principals: European Commission (Commissioners for External Relations, Energy and Research) / US govt. (Secretaries of State and Energy), Established November 2009

• Information Technology Understanding on Cooperation 

Principals: European Commission / National Science Foundation 1992

• Task Force on Biotechnology Research

Principals: European Commission / White House Office of Science and Technology. Date Signed: 7 September 1990, renewed: 1996, 2001, 2006 Expiration: 8 June 2011

2. Cooperation within the EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Cooperation

EU-U.S. S&T cooperation within the EU Framework Programme is described under the BILAT-USA Section. Please follow this LINK to be directed to the related web-site.

3. Cooperation within the S&T Agreements between EU Member States and U.S.

The Link2US project performed a survey of the current science and technology (S&T) cooperation agreements between the European Union in general as well as the 27 Member States and Associated Countries, and the United States. Please follow this LINK to be directed to the related web-site.