1.   The cooperation between the Parties shall be pursued in the light of the common objectives as defined under Article 1, with due regard to their respective tasks and responsibilities and their respective institutional settings and operational frameworks.

2.   Each Party shall take the decisions necessary for the implementation of this Agreement, as described in Article 4, in accordance with its own internal procedures.

3.   Bearing in mind the nature of space technologies and infrastructures, both Parties, in implementing this Agreement, shall take into account their security dimension.

1.   The Parties have identified the following specific fields of cooperation:

2.   The Parties may identify and develop new fields for cooperation.

1.   For the implementation of this Agreement each Party shall undertake, in compliance with its own prerogatives, legal instruments and procedures, such actions as are required to achieve the purpose of the cooperation provided for in Article 1.

2.   Such actions shall aim at fostering the utilisation of space research and development and space applications in the public and private sectors, the promotion of the adoption of legislative, regulatory and standardisation measures in this sector, the funding and carrying out of joint initiatives pursuant to Article 5.

3.   Each Party shall refer to the competencies and capabilities of the other, whenever an action is necessary, to pursue the purpose of the cooperation, and shall provide the other Party with expertise and support in its own specific fields of competence.

1.   Subject to paragraph 3, the joint initiatives to be carried out by the Parties may take, without being limited to, the following forms:

2.   When the implementation of a joint initiative requires a detailed definition, it shall be provided for in specific arrangements to be entered into between the Parties. Whenever applicable, such specific arrangements should include at least:

Both Parties shall work out guiding principles in addition to these specific arrangements as soon as possible.

3.   Any financial contribution made by one Party in accordance with a specific arrangement shall be governed by the financial provisions applicable to that Party. Under no circumstances shall the European Community be bound to apply the rule of ‘geographical distribution’ contained in the ESA Convention and specially in Annex V thereto. Compliance with the rules relating to financial control and auditing of the Party contributing to the joint initiatives, or of both Parties in case of joint contribution, shall apply to any joint activity.

1.   The Parties shall consult each other regularly in order to coordinate their activities to the fullest extent. Each Party shall inform the other of any initiatives within its own decision-making process, in the fields of cooperation under Article 3, which may be of interest to the other Party.

2.   The Parties shall exchange all information at their disposal which may be required for the implementation of this Agreement, subject to their respective rules.

3.   Except when otherwise provided, the Parties shall not disclose any information exchanged in connection with this Agreement to any persons other than those employed by them or officially entitled to handle such information nor shall they use it for commercial purposes. Such disclosure shall extend only so far as may be necessary for the purpose of this Agreement set out in Article 1 and shall be in strict confidence.

1.   Each Party shall inform the other of its activities of an international dimension which may be of interest to the other Party.

2.   Whenever appropriate a Party may, in relation to any matters relevant to its international activities, consult the other Party.

3.   Once a specific arrangement has been concluded between the parties in accordance with Article 5, the external aspects of this joint activity vis-à-vis third parties shall be pursued jointly by the parties in accordance with that specific arrangement.

1.   The coordination and facilitation of cooperative activities under this Agreement shall be accomplished by regular joint and concomitant meetings of the Council of the European Union and of the Council of ESA at ministerial level (Space Council).

2.   The objectives of the joint and concomitant meetings shall include the following:

3.   A Secretariat shall assist the concomitant meetings and shall elaborate the initiatives deriving from the implementation of this Agreement. The Secretariat shall implement the guidelines provided by the concomitant meetings of the two Councils. The Secretariat shall establish its own rules of procedure and be composed of officials of the Commission of the European Communities and of the ESA Executive. The Parties shall undertake, in accordance with their respective rules and procedures, to contribute to the required administrative support.

4.   Without prejudice to the Parties' internal decision-making procedures, the Secretariat shall consult on a regular and informal basis high-level representatives of the Member States of the European Community and of the European Space Agency, with the purpose of reaching common understanding on issues related to the implementation of this Agreement.

1.   The Parties may second members of their staff to each other for specified periods in order to share expertise and develop mutual understanding.

2.   Rules for the implementation of this Article shall be established by the Secretariat, as referred to in Article 8, and be agreed to in the form of a specific arrangement under this Framework Agreement.

1.   The Parties undertake to coordinate in advance their public-relations, press and media activities concerning any joint public activities relating to subjects covered by this Agreement.

2.   In all relevant media activities, the role of each Party in this Agreement shall be clearly identified and mentioned.

3.   The detailed arrangements for implementing public relations activities provided for in this Article shall be adopted jointly.

1.   Any disputes which may arise between the Parties relating to the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be submitted for direct negotiations within the Secretariat.

2.   If it is not possible to settle the dispute in accordance with paragraph 1, either of the two Parties may notify the other of the appointment of an arbitrator. The other Party shall then appoint its own arbitrator within a period of two months. The arbitrators shall then appoint a third arbitrator within one month.

3.   The arbitrators' decisions shall be taken by majority vote.

4.   The award of the Arbitration Tribunal shall be final and binding on the Parties.

5.   Each Party to the dispute shall take the appropriate steps required to implement the arbitrators' decisions.

1.   This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the last written communication by which the Parties notify each other that their respective internal procedures necessary for its entry into force have been completed.

2.   This Agreement shall remain in force for four years from the date of its entry into force. It shall be automatically extended for subsequent periods of four years unless either of the Parties notifies the other Party in writing, at least one year before the expiry of any of its periods of duration, of its intention to terminate it.

This Agreement shall terminate upon the expiry of twelve months after the receipt of written notification by one Party sent by the other Party.

3.   The termination or expiry of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of the specific arrangements entered into between the Parties in accordance with Article 5, which shall remain in full force and effect until the terms for their execution or termination take place.

4.   This Agreement shall be amended only by written agreement between the Parties.

5.   This Agreement is not intended to modify or supersede any previous agreements entered into between the Parties, which shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their own terms and provisions.