1.7.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 171/17 II (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION 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 (2009/501/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 170, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2), and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ('), Whereas: S The material content of the renewed Agreement is identical to the material content of the Agreement, which expired on 14 October 2007. The Parties consider that rapid renewal of the Agreement would be in their mutual interest. The Agreement is based on principles of partnership for balanced mutual benefits, reciprocity, timely exchange of information and appropriate protection of intellectual property rights. The Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of India on Partnership and Development (%), signed on 20 December 1993, provides for the Contracting Parties to undertake to (1) By Decision 2002/648/EC (3 the Council approved the establish appropriate procedures to facilitate the greatest conclusion of the Agreement for scientific and tech- possible degree of participation by their scientists and nological ~ cooperation  between  the  European research centres in cooperation in science and tech- Community and the Government of the Republic of nology. India (hereinafter the Agreement). () Article 11(b) of the Agreement provides that the (7  Cooperation in science and technology is also one of the Agreement is to be concluded for an initial period of areas referred to in the India-EU Strategic Partnership five years and may be renewed by mutual agreement Joint Action Plan of 7 September 2005 which, between the Parties after evaluation during the last year amongst others, seeks to increase mobility, exchanges of each successive period. and access of researchers between India and Europe. (3) At the EC-India S& Steering Committee meeting held in Brussels on 15 and 16 November 2006, both Parties expressed their interest for the renewal of the Agreement for five more years. () Opinion of & July 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ L 213, 9.8.2002, p. 29. By its Decision of 26 November 2007, the Council auth- orised the signing of the Agreement renewing the Agreement (hereinafter renewed Agreement) on behalf of the Community. () OJ L 223, 27.8.1994, p. 24.