7 DE MAIO DE 1998

1106-(7)

Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et

d'Irlande du Nord.................. 18.508

Suède.............................. 5.039

Suisse..............:............... 3.305

100.000

AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY

The Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Denmark,

the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Israel, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, being Parties to the Agreement establishing the European Molecular Biology Conference (hereinafter referred to as «EMBC»), signed at Geneva on 13 February 1969;

Considering that the existing international co-operation in the domain of molecular biology should be further developed by establishing a European Molecular Biology Laboratory and taking note of the proposals to this end submitted by the European Molecular Biology Organisation (hereinafter referred to as «EMBO»);

Having regard to the decision of 28 June 1972 by which EMBC approved the project for such a Laboratory in accordance with paragraph 3 of article n of the said Agreement under which special projects may be established;

Desiring to specify the terms and conditions under which the Laboratory shall be established and operated, in such a way that they would not be affected by any modification of the Agreement establishing EMBC;

Taking note of the acceptance by EMBC of those provisions of this Agreement which concern it;

have agreed as follows:

Article I Establishment of the Laboratory

1 — A European Molecular Biology Laboratory (hereinafter referred to as «the Laboratory») is hereby established as an intergovernmental institution.

2 — The Headquarters of the Laboratory shall be situated at Heidelberg in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Article II Purposes and means

1 — The Laboratory shall promote co-operation among European States in fundamental research, in the development of advanced instrumentation and in advanced teaching in molecular biology as well as in other areas of research essentially related thereto, and to this end shall concentrate its activities on work not normally or easily carried out in national institutions. The results of the experimental and theoretical work of the Laboratory shall be published or otherwise made generally available.

2 — In order to fulfil its purposes the Laboratory shall carry out a programme which provides for:

a) The application of molecular concepts and methods for the investigation of basic biological processes;

b) The developments and use of necessary instrumentation and technology;

c) Working accommodation and research facilities for visiting scientists;

d) Advanced training and teaching.

3 — The Laboratory may establish and operate the facilities necessary for its programme.

The Laboratory shall include:

à) The necessary equipment for use in the programme carried out by the Laboratory;

b) The necessary buildings to contain the equipment referred to in a) above and for the administration of the Laboratory and the fulfilment of its other functions.

4 — The Laboratory shall organise and sponsor international co-operation, to the fullest possible extent, in the fields and programme of activities defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, and in harmony with the General Programme of EMBC. This co-operation shall include in particular the promotion of contacts between, and the interchange of, scientists and the dissemination of information. So far as is consistent with its aims the Laboratory shall also seek to co-operate, to the fullest possible extent, with research institutions by collaborating with and advising them. The Laboratory should avoid duplication of work carried out in the said institutions.

Article III Membership

The States Parties to this Agreement shall be Member States of the Laboratory.

Article IV Co-operation

1 — The Laboratory shall maintain close co-operation with EMBC.

2 — The Laboratory may establish formal co-operation with non-Mèmber States, national bodies in those States, international governmental or non-governmental organisations. The establishment, conditions and terms of such co-operation shall be defined by the Council, by unanimous vote of the Member States present and voting, in each case according to the circumstances.

Article V Organs

The organs of the Laboratory are the Council and the Director-General.

Article VI The Council Composition

1 — The Council shall be composed of all Member States of the Laboratory. Each Member State shall be represented by not more than two delegates, who may be accompanied by advisers.

The Council shall elect a Chairman and two Vice--Chairmen who shall hold office for one year and may be re-elected on not more than two consecutive occasions.