The Council of the European Union has decided to extend for five years over the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation signed between the EU and United States in 1998. This is the second renewal of this agreement, which will continue in force until 2013.

Initiatives for scientific cooperation between the European Union and United States will continue until at least 2013. That is what emerges from the Council's decision, which renews the agreement signed by both parties in 1998 and renovated in 2003.

The agreement includes the possibility, too, that both sides carry out joint cooperation activities with third parties.

The areas where this cooperation can be made are:

• Environment (including climate research).
• Biomedicine and health (including research on AIDS, infectious diseases and drug abuse).
• Agriculture.
• Science of fishing.
• Research on engineering.
• Nuclear energy.
• Natural resources.
• Materials science (including nanotechnology) and metrology.
• Information technology and communication.
• Telematics.
• Biotechnology.
• Marine sciences and technology.
• Social science research.
• Shipping.
• Research in the field of security.
• Research in the field of space.
• Science and technology policy, management, training and mobility of scientists.

Under the agreement, this list may be extended or amended prior consent of the parties.