L 299/20 Official Journal of the European Union 18.11.2003 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL DECISION of 5 June 2003 concerning the conclusion of an Agreement aimed at renewing the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the Government of the Russian Federation (2003/798/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (5)  The Agreement aimed at renewing the Agreement on Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, 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), Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ('), Whereas: (1) By its Decision of 16 November 2000 (3, the Council approved the conclusion of the Agreement on coopera- tion in science and technology between the European Community and the Government of the Russian Federa- tion (hereinafter ‘Russia’). 2)  Article 12(b) of the Agreement provides as follows: ‘This Agreement shall be concluded for an initial period ending on 31 December 2002 and will be renewable by common agreement between the parties for additional periods of five years’. (3) By note verbale dated 19 September 2002, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation requested the renewal of the abovementioned Agreement for five more years; the Parties to the Agreement consider that rapid renewal of this Agreement would be in their mutual interest. (4)  The material content of the renewed Agreement will be identical to the material content of the Agreement which recently expired. (") Opinion of 13 May 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ L 299, 28.11.2000, p. 14. cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the Government of the Russian Federation should be approved on behalf of the Community, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Atrticle 1 The Agreement aimed at renewing the Agreement on coopera- tion in science and technology between the European Commu- nity and the Government of the Russian Federation for an addi- tional period of five years is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision. Atticle 2 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in order to express the consent of the Community to be bound thereby. Done at Brussels, 5 June 2003. For the Council The President M. STRATAKIS