EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 26.3.2025

COM(2025) 128 final

2025/0066(NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

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 Government of the Republic of India' 1  ('the Agreement') was signed in New Delhi on 23 November 2001 and entered into force on 14 October 2002. Article 11(b) provides that 'This Agreement shall be concluded for an initial period of five years and may be renewed by mutual agreement between the Parties after evaluation during the last year of the aforementioned period'. To date the Agreement has been renewed three times: in 2009 2 , in 2015 3 and in 2020 4 for additional periods of 5 years each time.

The current Agreement is due to expire on 17 May 2025.

The Evaluation of the EU-India Science and Technology Agreement carried out by the Commission, published on 25 February 2025 5 , clearly demonstrates that the Agreement continues to provide a crucial framework for facilitating cooperation between the EU and India in common science and technology (S&T) priority areas, resulting in mutual benefits. This is demonstrated by the three flagship joint calls focused on Water, Influenza Vaccine, and Integrated Local Energy Systems (Smart Grids) that led to 12 joint projects with a total funding of EUR 98 million under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. These projects involve 220 research entities from Europe and India, showcasing promising results and delivering innovative, sustainable, and affordable technologies.

A co-funding mechanism was established with three Indian ministries/departments (Department of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Earth Science), assuring funding to Indian entities successfully participating in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Since 2020, the Indian Government has earmarked around 15 calls falling within the scope of Horizon Europe Pillar II ‘Global Challenges and European Indutrial Competitiveness’ for co-funding, receiving over 50 proposals, with 10 successful proposals co-funded in areas such as AI, polar research, environment, and health.

In November 2020, the second Implementing Arrangement between the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the European Commission was signed to facilitate the mobility of Indian researchers to European Research Council (ERC) grantee teams in the field of social science and humanities. Additionally, in August 2024 the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) decided to set up a co-funding mechanism to support Indian entities successful in the MSCA-Staff Exchange scheme. Its objective will be to incentivise the participation of Indian organisations in MSCA and to set-up partnerships for staff exchanges, as a stepping-stone for the identification of more ambitious and strategic R&I partnerships between EU and Indian stakeholders.

An innovation platform, the Horizon 2020 project INNOCENTER was implemented between 2021 and 2023, resulting in 100 EU companies benefiting, with 63 undergoing market validation and 13 establishing a local presence in India. The initiative supported more than 160 startups, facilitated more than 320 EU-India business matches, and helped 13 European companies successfully enter the Indian market.

The cooperation under the S&T Agreement continues to develop also under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) launched in 2023. One of the three Working Groups established under the TTC focuses on the development of Green and Clean Energy Technologies. Under the scope of this Working Group 2, three coordinated calls with India on marine plastic litter, battery recycling, and waste-to-hydrogen are in preparation. The European Commission is committed to invest €30 million in these calls, with India expected to match the amount. In addition, in 2024 the EU and India joined forces to promote collaboration between start-ups on recycling of e-vehicles batteries and launched a similar initiative to promote solutions for marine plastic litter.

It is in the interest of the EU to renew the Agreement to continue engaging in scientific and technological cooperation in areas of mutual interest and leading to technological advances benefitting the EU scientific community and to increase market access to India through joint cooperation. This coperation also addresses global challenges such as climate change, health pandemics, and sustainable development. By leveraging complementary strengths, it fosters technological advancements, drives economic growth, and enhances competitiveness. Joint cooperation benefits the European scientific  and business community, increases market access to India, and supports innovation ecosystems. This collaboration contributes to the overall well-being of societies in both regions through shared research initiatives and funding opportunities.

The Agreement is instrumental to understand each other's scientific and innovation landscape and establish together priority areas of mutual interest on international cooperation in research and innovation. It offers a legal and administrative framework in which the modalities of cooperation can be discussed ensuring a sound and fair allocation of research and innovation funding in areas that are in line with the EU's interests and policies and can be adapted and adjusted to India's interests and needs.

The Agreement also offers a useful forum to assess past cooperation and determine future actions, including on topics making the cooperation effective such as through the implementation of Open access and Open Innovation principles.

At the last India – EU Joint Steering Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation, meeting, established by Article 6 of the Agreement, held in Brussels on 25 September 2024, both Parties expressed their intention to renew the Agreement for another five-year period (2025-2030) in line with its Article 11(b) and following the above-mentioned evaluation carried out by the Commission. Both parties also confirmed that they would initiate their respective internal procedures to conclude the renewal before the expirty of the current Agreement in May 2025.

The substance of the renewed Agreement will be identical to that of the current Agreement, as discussed and agreed with the Indian counterparts. It will not create new rights and obligations for the EU, but instead it will extend in time the existing framework between the Parties under the Agreement.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

•Consistency with other Union policies

The Agreement is instrumental in fulfilling the objectives of the EU Strategy on India 8 to jointly tackling global challenges, supporting India’s sustainable modernisation, opening business opportunities and increasing scientific excellence and competitiveness. 9  It is also in line with the Roadmap to 2025 of the EU-India Strategic Partnership 10 .

2.LEGAL BASIS AND SUBSIDIARITY

•Legal basis

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

•Regulatory fitness and simplification

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

The proposal does not require additional resources as set out in the Legislative Financial Statement. The human resources required will be met within the relevant heading by staff from the DG who are already assigned to the management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG or other Commission services.

2025/0066 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1)By Decision 2002/648/EC 11 , the Council approved the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (the ‘Agreement’). The Agreement was signed in New Delhi on 23 November 2001 and entered into force on 14 October 2002.

(2)In accordance with Article 11, point (b) of the Agreement, the Agreement was concluded for a period of five years and may be renewed by mutual agreement between the Parties after evaluation during the last year of the aforementioned period.  

(3)By Decisions 2009/501/EC 12 , 2015/1788/EU 13  and 2020/789/EU 14  the Council approved the renewal of the Agreement for an additional period of five years each time. The Agreement as last renewed is due to expire on 17 May 2025.

(4)The evaluation carried out by the Commission, published on 25 February 2025 15 ,  demonstrates that the Agreement continues to provide an important framework for facilitating cooperation between the Union and  the Republic of India in common Science & Technology priority areas leading to mutual benefits. It is therefore in the Union’s interest to renew the Agreement for a new period of five years.

(5)The decision to proceed with the renewal of the Science & Technology Agremeent for a new period of five years was agreed by both sides  at the meeting of the India-EU Joint Steering Committee on Science and Technology cooperation held in Brussels on 25 September 2024.

(6)The renewal of the Agreement should be approved on behalf of the European Union.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India, for an additional period of five years, is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels,

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL STATEMENT

1.    FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE    3

1.1.    Title of the proposal/initiative    3

1.2.    Policy area(s) concerned    3

1.3.    Objective(s)    3

1.3.1.    General objective(s)    3

1.3.2.    Specific objective(s)    3

1.3.3.    Expected result(s) and impact    3

1.3.4.    Indicators of performance    3

1.4.    The proposal/initiative relates to:    4

1.5.    Grounds for the proposal/initiative    4

1.5.1.    Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for roll-out of the implementation of the initiative    4

1.5.2.    Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g. coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise created by Member States alone.    4

1.5.3.    Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past    4

1.5.4.    Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with other appropriate instruments    5

1.5.5.    Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for redeployment    5

1.6.    Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact    6

1.7.    Method(s) of budget implementation planned    6

2.    MANAGEMENT MEASURES    8

2.1.    Monitoring and reporting rules    8

2.2.    Management and control system(s)    8

2.2.1.    Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed    8

2.2.2.    Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up to mitigate them    8

2.2.3.    Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure)    8

2.3.    Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities    9

3.    ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE    10

3.1.    Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected    10

3.2.    Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations    12

3.2.1.    Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations    12

3.2.1.1.    Appropriations from voted budget    12

3.2.1.2.    Appropriations from external assigned revenues    17

3.2.2.    Estimated output funded from operational appropriations    22

3.2.3.    Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations    24

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget    24

3.2.3.2.    Appropriations from external assigned revenues    24

3.2.3.3.    Total appropriations    24

3.2.4.    Estimated requirements of human resources    25

3.2.4.1.    Financed from voted budget    25

3.2.4.2.    Financed from external assigned revenues    26

3.2.4.3.    Total requirements of human resources    26

3.2.5.    Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments    28

3.2.6.    Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework    28

3.2.7.    Third-party contributions    28

3.3.    Estimated impact on revenue    29

4.    Digital dimensions    29

4.1.    Requirements of digital relevance    30

4.2.    Data    30

4.3.    Digital solutions    31

4.4.    Interoperability assessment    31

4.5.    Measures to support digital implementation    32

1.    FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE 

1.1.    Title of the proposal/initiative

1.2.    Policy area(s) concerned 

1.3.    Objective(s)

1.3.1.    General objective(s)

1.3.2.    Specific objective(s)

1.3.3.    Expected result(s) and impact

Specify the effects which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted.

1.3.4.    Indicators of performance

Specify the indicators for monitoring progress and achievements.

1.4.    The proposal/initiative relates to: 

 a new action 

 a new action following a pilot project / preparatory action 16  

 the extension of an existing action 

 a merger or redirection of one or more actions towards another/a new action

1.5.    Grounds for the proposal/initiative 

1.5.1.    Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for roll-out of the implementation of the initiative

1.5.2.    Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g. coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise created by Member States alone.

1.5.3.    Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past

1.5.4.    Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with other appropriate instruments

1.5.5.    Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for redeployment

1.6.    Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact

☑ limited duration

    in effect from 17/05/2025 to 16/05/2030

    financial impact from 2025 to 2030.

 unlimited duration

–Implementation with a start-up period from YYYY to YYYY,

–followed by full-scale operation.

1.7.    Method(s) of budget implementation planned 

☑ Direct management by the Commission

– by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations;

–    by the executive agencies

 Shared management with the Member States

 Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to:

– third countries or the bodies they have designated

– international organisations and their agencies (to be specified)

– the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund

– bodies referred to in Articles 70 and 71 of the Financial Regulation

– public law bodies

– bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that they are provided with adequate financial guarantees

– bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with the implementation of a public-private partnership and that are provided with adequate financial guarantees

– bodies or persons entrusted with the implementation of specific actions in the common foreign and security policy pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, and identified in the relevant basic act

–bodies established in a Member State, governed by the private law of a Member State or Union law and eligible to be entrusted, in accordance with sector-specific rules, with the implementation of Union funds or budgetary guarantees, to the extent that such bodies are controlled by public law bodies or by bodies governed by private law with a public service mission, and are provided with adequate financial guarantees in the form of joint and several liability by the controlling bodies or equivalent financial guarantees and which may be, for each action, limited to the maximum amount of the Union support.

Comments

2.    MANAGEMENT MEASURES 

2.1.    Monitoring and reporting rules

2.2.    Management and control system(s) 

2.2.1.    Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed

2.2.2.    Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up to mitigate them

2.2.3.    Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure) 

2.3.    Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities

3.    ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE 

3.1.    Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected 

Existing budget lines

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

New budget lines requested

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

3.2.    Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations 

3.2.1.    Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations 

–The proposal/initiative does not requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below

3.2.1.1.    Appropriations from voted budget

EUR million (to three decimal places)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.2.2.    Estimated output funded from operational appropriations (not to be completed for decentralised agencies)

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.2.3.    Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations 

–    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of appropriations of an administrative nature

–The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative nature, as explained below

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget

The appropriations required for human resources and other expenditure of an administrative nature will be met by appropriations from the DG that are already assigned to management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG, together, if necessary, with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary constraints.

3.2.4.    Estimated requirements of human resources 

–    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources

–    The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as explained below

3.2.4.1.    Financed from voted budget

Estimate to be expressed in full-time equivalent units (FTEs) 24

Considering the overall strained situation in Heading 7, in terms of both staffing and the level of appropriations, the human resources required will be met by staff from the DG who are already assigned to the management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG or other Commission services.

Description of tasks to be carried out by:

3.2.5.    Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments

3.2.6.    Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework 

The proposal/initiative:

–    can be fully financed through redeployment within the relevant heading of the multiannual financial framework (MFF)

–    requires use of the unallocated margin under the relevant heading of the MFF and/or use of the special instruments as defined in the MFF Regulation

–    requires a revision of the MFF

3.2.7.    Third-party contributions 

The proposal/initiative:

–    does not provide for co-financing by third parties

–    provides for the co-financing by third parties estimated below:

Appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.3.    Estimated impact on revenue 

–    The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue.

–    The proposal/initiative has the following financial impact:

    on own resources

    on other revenue

    please indicate, if the revenue is assigned to expenditure lines

EUR million (to three decimal places)

For assigned revenue, specify the budget expenditure line(s) affected.

Other remarks (e.g. method/formula used for calculating the impact on revenue or any other information).

4.    Digital dimensions

4.1.    Requirements of digital relevance

4.2.    Data

4.3.    Digital solutions

4.4.    Interoperability assessment

4.5.    Measures to support digital implementation

(1)    Council Decision 2002/648/EC (OJ L 213, 9.8.2002, p. 29–29, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2002/648/oj ).

(2)    Council Decision 2009/501/EC (OJ L 171, 01.07.2009, p. 17, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2009/501/oj ).

(3)    Council Decision 2015/1788/EU (OJ L 260, 07.10.2015, p. 18, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2015/1788/oj ).

(4)    Council Decision 2020/789/EC (OJ L 193, 09.06.2020, p. 3, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2020/789/o j).

(5)     Evaluation of the EU-India science and technology agreement - Publications Office of the EU

(6)    Communications from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: “Enhancing and focusing EU international cooperation in research and innovation: a strategic approach” COM(2012) 497 and “Global Approach to Research and Innovation: Europe's strategy for international cooperation in a changing world”, COM (2021) 252.

(7)    The TTC was launched in New Delhi on 25 April 2022 by the President of the European Commission and the Indian Prime Minister.

(8)    Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council - ‘Elements for an EU strategy on India” JOIN(2018) 28.

(9)    EU Strategy on India – Council conclusions 14634/18 (10 December 2018, p.3).

(10)    “EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” endorsed by the 15th EU-India Summit of 15 July 2020.

(11)    Council Decision 2002/648/EC of 25 June 2002 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 213, 09.08.2002, p. 29, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2002/648/oj).

(12)    Council Decision 2009/501/EC of 19 January 2009 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement renewing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 171, 01.07.2009, p. 17, ELI: [please insert the ELI link]).

(13)    Council Decision 2015/1788/EU of 1 October 2015 concerning the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 260, 07.10.2015, p. 18, ELI: [please insert the ELI link]).

(14)    Council Decision 2020/789/EU of 9 June 2020 concerning the renewal of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of India (OJ L 193, 17.06.2020, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2020/789/oj ). 

(15)     Evaluation of the EU-India science and technology agreement - Publications Office of the EU

(16)    As referred to in Article 58(2), point (a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation.

(17)    Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations.

(18)    EFTA: European Free Trade Association.

(19)    Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidates from the Western Balkans.

(20)    Year 2025 is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts and 2030 the year when it will end.

(21)    Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.

(22)    Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g. number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.).

(23)    As described in Section 1.3.2. ‘Specific objective(s)’

(24)    Please specify below the table how many FTEs within the number indicated are already assigned to the management of the action and/or can be redeployed within your DG and what are your net needs.

(25)    As regards traditional own resources (customs duties, sugar levies), the amounts indicated must be net amounts, i.e. gross amounts after deduction of 20% for collection costs.