Cooperation with industrialised countries (2001-2006)

The European Community pursues cooperation and trade relations with the industrialised countries * of North America, the Far East and Australasia.

ACT

Council Regulation (EC) No 382/2001 of 26 February 2001 concerning the implementation of projects promoting cooperation and commercial relations between the European Union and the industrialised countries of North America, the Far East and Australasia and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1035/1999 [See amending acts].

Repealed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1934/2006 of 21 December 2006 establishing a financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised and other high-income countries and territories [Official Journal L 405 of 30.12.2006].

SUMMARY

On the basis of Articles 133 and 308 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, the Community implements actions to promote cooperation and trade with the industrialised countries of North America, the Far East and Australasia.

This regulation provides a legal framework for engaging in such cooperative actions. It also comes under the bilateral relations already established with:

• The United States of America: these relations are based on the 1990 Transatlantic Declaration, the 1995 New Transatlantic Agenda, the 1998 Transatlantic Economic Partnership and the 1999 Bonn Declaration;
• Canada: these relations are based on the 1976 Framework Agreement for commercial and economic cooperation, the 1990 Declaration on EC-Canada Relations, the 1996 Joint Action Plan and Joint Political Declaration, and the Ottawa Summit partnership agenda adopted on 18 March 2004;
• Japan: these relations are based on the 1991 Joint Declaration and the 2001 EU-Japan Action Plan;
• The Republic of Korea: these relations are based on the Framework Agreement on trade and cooperation, which entered into force in 2001;
• Australia: these relations are based on the 1997 Joint Declaration, revised in 2003;
• New Zealand: these relations are based on the 1999 Joint Declaration, revised in 2004.

This regulation aims to promote cooperation under the various bilateral instruments between the EU and the partner countries by creating a more favourable climate for the conduct and further development of these relations.

Financing will cover in particular the following activities:

• education and information of the public about the bilateral relations;
• strengthening cultural, academic and people-to-people links;
• promotion of the dialogue between political, economic and social partners;
• research work and studies destined to provide input to the Commission's work;
• cooperative projects in science and technology, energy, transport and environmental matters;
• enhancing customs cooperation;
• enhancing the visibility of the EU in the partner countries;
• pilot schemes, which could subsequently lead to new activities to be financed.

The financing of cooperation projects will be provided entirely from the Community budget or will take the form of cofinancing with other sources in the partner countries and/or the EU.

Some projects directly concern individuals, in the fields of education and training for instance. Grants and study awards may be paid to natural persons in such cases.

With Japan, and to a lesser extent Korea, the Community will implement a specific programme of measures and actions to improve the Member States' commercial presence on the Japanese and Korean markets. The regulation provides for support for various actions, namely:

• the participation of European commercial executives in actions carried out in Japan and in Korea (executive training programmes involving Japan and Korea);
• the collection of information and policy advice on trade-related issues with Japan;
• conferences and seminars to promote trade and investment;
• recruitment, training, preparation of missions to facilitate access to the Japanese market by Community companies (Gateway to Japan).

The Commission will be assisted by a committee in implementing actions in the trade field.

The Commission will submit a bi-annual report on the implementation of the regulation to Parliament and the Council. The Commission will also evaluate the actions and programmes concerned in order to determine whether they have achieved their objectives.

The regulation will expire on 31 December 2007. It has been extended pending a new legal framework.

Last updated: 10.07.2007