Na podlagi petega odstavka 75. člena Zakona o zunanjih zadevah (Uradni list RS, št. 113/03 – uradno prečiščeno besedilo, 20/06 – ZNOMCMO in 76/08) izdaja Vlada Republike Slovenije

Ratificira se Sporazum med Republiko Slovenijo in Evropsko vesoljsko agencijo o sodelovanju v vesolju v miroljubne namene, podpisan v Kozarišču 28. maja 2008.

Sporazum se v izvirniku v slovenskem in angleškem jeziku glasi:

Republika Slovenija (v nadaljnjem besedilu »Slovenija«)
in
Evropska vesoljska agencija, ustanovljena s konvencijo, ki je bila na voljo za podpis v Parizu 30. maja 1975 in je začela veljati 30. oktobra 1980 (v nadaljnjem besedilu »Agencija«)
(v nadaljnjem besedilu »pogodbenici«), STA SE
OB SKLICEVANJU, da je namen Agencije izključno v miroljubne namene predvideti in spodbujati sodelovanje med evropskimi državami na področju vesoljskih raziskav in vesoljske tehnologije ter njihove uporabe v vesolju,
OB UGOTOVITVI, da je vesolje postalo dejavnik v tehnološkem, gospodarskem, znanstvenem in kulturnem razvoju,
OB UPOŠTEVANJU želje po sodelovanju z Agencijo, ki jo je izrazila Slovenija,
KER je Slovenija od 1. maja 2004 članica Evropske unije in se tako pridružuje opredelitvi celovite evropske vesoljske politike,
OB UPOŠTEVANJU Resolucije o evropski vesoljski politiki, ki je bila sprejeta na zasedanju Sveta Evropske vesoljske agencije 22. maja 2007 (ESA/C/CXCIV/Res. 1 (končna)),
OB UPOŠTEVANJU Okvirnega sporazuma med Evropsko skupnostjo in Evropsko vesoljsko agencijo, ki je bil podpisan 25. novembra 2003 in vzpostavlja ''okvir, ki zagotavlja skupno podlago in ustrezne operativne režime za učinkovito in vzajemno koristno sodelovanje med pogodbenicama glede vesoljskih dejavnosti skladno z njunimi nalogami in dolžnostmi ter ob upoštevanju njunih institucionalnih vzpostavitev in operativnih okvirov v celoti'', ter je podlaga za skupne pobude Evropske vesoljske agencije in Evropske skupnosti,
OB UPOŠTEVANJU Resolucije o razvoju Agencije, sprejete na zasedanju Sveta Evropske vesoljske agencije na ministrski ravni 6. decembra 2005 ((ESA/C-M/CLXXXV/Res.5 (končna)), in zlasti sedemnajstega odstavka IV. poglavja resolucije, kjer Svet »UGOTAVLJA naraščajoče zanimanje več novih držav članic Evropske unije za postopno sodelovanje v programih Agencije in spodbujanje javnega interesa za raziskovanje vesolja ter SE SKLICUJE NA skupne pobude Evropske vesoljske agencije in Evropske skupnosti, kot sta Galileo in GMES, ki vključujejo vse te nove države članice«,
OB UPOŠTEVANJU določb Pogodbe o načelih, ki urejajo dejavnosti držav pri raziskovanju in uporabi vesolja, vključno z Luno in drugimi nebesnimi telesi, z dne 27. januarja 1967 ter drugih večstranskih sporazumov o raziskovanju in uporabi vesolja, katerih pogodbenice so države članice Agencije in ki jih je Agencija sprejela,
OB UPOŠTEVANJU Konvencije o ustanovitvi Agencije in zlasti njenega prvega odstavka XIV. člena o mednarodnem sodelovanju, ki navaja, da »lahko Agencija na podlagi odločitev Sveta, ki jih soglasno sprejmejo vse države članice, sodeluje z drugimi mednarodnimi organizacijami in ustanovami ter z vladami, organizacijami in ustanovami držav nečlanic ter v ta namen sklepa sporazume z njimi«,
V ŽELJI vzpostaviti mehanizme, ki omogočajo in krepijo sodelovanje med pogodbenicama pri dejavnostih, ki so povezane z miroljubno uporabo vesolja in so v obojestransko korist,
V PREPRIČANJU, da lahko tako sodelovanje pogodbenicama prinese koristi,
DOGOVORILI:

Namen tega sporazuma je vzpostaviti pravni okvir za sodelovanje med pogodbenicama na področju raziskav in miroljubne uporabe vesolja ter pogojev za izvajanje projektov v skupnem interesu.

1. Pogodbenici se medsebojno obveščata o vseh svojih dejavnostih in programih ter o svojem napredku, o področjih, na katerih je mogoče sodelovati, pa se redno posvetujeta po postopku iz 3. člena.
2. Med področji, za katera pogodbenici menita, da je na njih mogoče sodelovati na podlagi sporazuma, so zlasti naslednja:
(a) znanost o vesolju, zlasti vesoljska astronomija in astrofizika, raziskovanje sončnega sistema ter sončno-zemeljska fizika;
(b) raziskave na področju opazovanja Zemlje in njihova uporaba, zlasti spremljanje stanja okolja, vremenoslovje, aeronomija in geoinformatika, ravnanje ob naravnih nesrečah;
(c) telekomunikacije, vključno s predstavitvami storitev in satelitsko navigacijo;
(d) mikrogravitacijske raziskave, zlasti vesoljska biologija in medicina ter predelovanje snovi;
(e) razvoj tehnologije, vključno s programsko in strojno opremo;
(f) zemeljska inženirska podpora in uporaba.
Ob podpisu tega sporazuma Slovenija obvesti Agencijo o področjih, ki jo posebno zanimajo. Po opredelitvi programa, ki je v skupnem interesu, pogodbenici v skladu s prvim odstavkom 3. člena skleneta posebne izvedbene dogovore, ki določajo njune pravice in dolžnosti.
3. Da bi pogodbenici uresničili projekte sodelovanja na področjih, opredeljenih v skladu z drugim odstavkom, se dogovorita, da bosta omogočali izmenjavo znanstvenikov in inženirjev, izmenjavo informacij in stike med ustreznimi industrijskimi dejavnostmi.
4. Sodelovanje se razširi tudi na:
(a) podeljevanje štipendij, ki bi kandidatom pogodbenic omogočile usposabljanje ali druge znanstvene ali tehnične dejavnosti v ustanovah, ki jih predlaga pogodbenica, ki podeljuje štipendije;
(b) izmenjavo strokovnjakov za sodelovanje pri študijah;
(c) organiziranje skupnih konferenc in simpozijev;
(d) skupno spodbujanje uporabe izdelkov in storitev, razvitih na podlagi programov Agencije;
(e) spodbujanje izobraževalnih dejavnosti v znanosti o vesolju in tehnologiji;
(f) zagotavljanje strokovnih mnenj in pomoči pri vodenju vesoljskih projektov.
5. Pogodbenici se po potrebi posvetujeta o zadevah v skupnem interesu v zvezi z raziskovanjem in uporabo vesolja, ki so na dnevnem redu zasedanj mednarodnih organov.
6. Pogodbenici spodbujata mednarodno sodelovanje pri preučevanju pravnih vprašanj, ki so v skupnem interesu ter se lahko pojavijo pri raziskovanju in uporabi vesolja.

1. Za zagotavljanje sodelovanja pri programih v skupnem interesu iz 2. člena se pogodbenici vsakokrat pogajata in dogovorita o posebnih izvedbenih dogovorih.
2. Slovenija za izvajanje tega sporazume imenuje Ministrstvo za visoko šolstvo, znanost in tehnologijo.
3. Vsaka pogodbenica imenuje »osebo za stike«, ki bo odgovorna za spremljanje izvajanja tega sporazuma in sprejemanje ukrepov za pomoč pri nadaljnjem razvoju sodelovanja. Taki osebi za stike sta običajna pot za sporočanje predlogov pogodbenic za sodelovanje.
4. Ustanovijo se lahko skupne delovne skupine, ki podrobno preučijo predloge na področjih, ki jim jih dodelita pogodbenici, in zanju oblikujejo priporočila.
5. Posebni sestanki med osebama za stike, ki sta imenovani v skladu s tretjim odstavkom tega člena, se skličejo tako pogosto, kot je potrebno za preučevanje napredka pri izvajanju tega sporazuma.
6. Za izvajanje svojih obveznosti po tem sporazumu vsaka pogodbenica načeloma prevzame svoje stroške.
7. Slovenija soglaša, da bo zagotovila upravno pomoč pri izvajanju tega sporazuma, zlasti glede omogočanja vstopa in izstopa oseb ter uvoza in izvoza blaga in materialov, povezanih s projekti, o katerih se dogovorita pogodbenici na podlagi tega sporazuma, vključno z oprostitvijo plačila pristojbin, ki navadno veljajo za uvoz in izvoz, iz 6. člena. Slovenija bo za carinske organe izdala potrdilo o uvozu in izvozu blaga in materialov, povezanih s projekti, o katerih se dogovorita pogodbenici. To potrdilo zagotavlja, da se uvoženo ali izvoženo blago in materiali uporabljajo med izvajanjem projektov, o katerih se dogovorita pogodbenici.

Slovenija je vabljena, da se kot opazovalka z enim predstavnikom, ki ga lahko spremljajo svetovalci, udeležuje zasedanj Sveta Agencije, ki potekajo na ministrski ravni. Sloveniji se pošlje osnutek dnevnega reda in ustrezne dokumente, ki so na voljo državam članicam, za sodelovanje na takih sestankih.

1. Pogodbenici si izmenjavata znanstvene in tehnične informacije v zvezi z znanostjo o vesolju, tehnologijo in uporabami, ki so v skupnem interesu, s pošiljanjem tehničnih in znanstvenih poročil in obvestil v skladu s svojimi pravili o razpošiljanju informacij in podatkov.
2. Znanstvene in tehnične informacije, ki jih ena pogodbenica pridobi med izvajanjem skupnih poskusov ali projektov, so na voljo drugi pogodbenici ob upoštevanju pravil v zvezi z razpošiljanjem informacij in podatkov, o katerih se lahko pogodbenici medsebojno dogovorita.
3. Če ena pogodbenica priskrbi drugi blago, podatke ali informacije, pogodbenica prejemnica zagotovi stopnjo zaščite za pripadajoče pravice intelektualne lastnine, ki je vsaj enaka tisti stopnji, ki je zagotovljena v pravnem sistemu pogodbenice, ki priskrbi blago, podatke ali informacije. O posebnih ukrepih, ki jih je treba sprejeti po mnenju pogodbenice, ki priskrbi blago, podatke ali informacije, da se doseže ta stopnja zaščite, se morata pogodbenici medsebojno dogovoriti.

1. Za vse dejavnosti, ki se na podlagi tega sporazuma izvajajo v Sloveniji, ima Agencija na slovenskem ozemlju status pravne osebe. V ta namen Slovenija Agenciji podeli privilegije in imunitete iz Konvencije o privilegijih in imunitetah specializiranih agencij, ki jo je sprejela Generalna skupščina Združenih narodov 21. novembra 1947 in je v Sloveniji začela veljati 17. julija 1992. Razume se, da se davčne in fiskalne izjeme, predvidene v navedeni konvenciji, ne bodo uporabljale za uradnike Agencije, ki bi ob imenovanju za uradnika Agencije imeli tudi slovensko državljanstvo ali stalno prebivališče v Sloveniji.
2. Za vsak poseben program v skupnem interesu bo izvajanje takih privilegijev in imunitet podrobno opisano v izvedbenih dogovorih iz prvega odstavka 3. člena.

Slovenija ob upoštevanju 6. člena omogoča in olajšuje gibanje oseb, ki izvajajo ta sporazum, na slovensko ozemlje in z njega na podlagi veljavnih zakonov in drugih predpisov. Agencija bo ob upoštevanju veljavnih zakonov in drugih predpisov svojih držav članic omogočala in olajševala gibanje oseb, ki izvajajo ta sporazum, na ozemlja svojih držav članic in s teh ozemelj.

Ob upoštevanju vseh drugih pogojev izvedbenih dogovorov iz prvega odstavka 3. člena je vsaka pogodbenica odgovorna za vsako izgubo ali škodo, ki jo utrpijo njene osebe ali lastnina pri izvajanju dejavnosti po tem sporazumu, razen ob namerni povzročitvi škode ali hudi malomarnosti druge pogodbenice.

1. Spori v zvezi z razlago ali uporabo tega sporazuma pogodbenici načeloma rešujeta z medsebojnimi posvetovanji. Če je treba vprašanje, ki ni bilo rešeno s posvetovanji, rešiti, ga je treba na predlog katere koli pogodbenice predložiti razsodišču, ki ga sestavljajo osebi, ki ju predlagata pogodbenici, in predsednik, ki ga sporazumno imenujeta pogodbenici ali predsednik Meddržavnega sodišča, če se pogodbenici ne moreta sporazumeti. Razsodba razsodišča je dokončna in za pogodbenici zavezujoča.
2. Izvedbeni dogovori iz prvega odstavka 3. člena tega sporazuma vsebujejo lastne določbe o reševanju sporov, ki vključujejo postopke in oblike razsojanja.

1. Sporazum začne veljati, potem ko Slovenija pisno uradno obvesti Agencijo, da so končani vsi notranji postopki za začetek njegove veljavnosti.
2. Ta sporazum velja pet (5) let od dneva začetka njegove veljavnosti. Eno leto pred potekom njegove veljavnosti pogodbenici pregledata rezultate njegovega izvajanja ter preučita načine in sredstva za nadaljevanje ali nadaljnje razvijanje takega sodelovanja. Pogodbenici zlasti preučita možnost za sklenitev Sporazuma evropske sodelujoče države.
3. Če se bo sedanje sodelovanje nadaljevalo, lahko pogodbenici sporazum razširita in/ali dopolnita pisno.
4. Razen v prvih dveh letih po podpisu tega sporazuma lahko katera koli pogodbenica sporazum prekine, pri čemer velja šestmesečni pisni odpovedni rok. Če sporazum preneha veljati zaradi take prekinitve, se njegove določbe še vedno uporabljajo za obdobje in v obsegu, ki sta potrebna za zagotovitev izvajanja katerih koli posebnih izvedbenih dogovorov, sklenjenih v skladu s prvim odstavkom 3. člena in še vedno veljavnih na dan prenehanja veljavnosti tega sporazuma.
Sklenjeno v Kozarišču dne 28. maja 2008 v dveh izvirnikih v slovenskem in angleškem jeziku, pri čemer sta besedili enako verodostojni. Agencija zagotovi prevod v francoski in nemški jezik.

The Republic of Slovenia (hereinafter referred to as “Slovenia”)
and
The European Space Agency, established by the Convention, which was opened for signature in Paris on 30 May 1975 and entered into force on 30 October 1980 (hereinafter referred to as “the Agency”),
(hereinafter together referred to as “the Parties”),
RECALLING that the purpose of the Agency is to provide for and to promote, for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation among European States in space research and technology and their space applications,
NOTING that space has become a factor in technological, economic, scientific and cultural development,
CONSIDERING the wish expressed by Slovenia to cooperate with the Agency,
CONSIDERING that Slovenia is, since 1 May 2004, a Member of the European Union and is thereby associated to the definition of an overall European Space Policy,
HAVING REGARD to Resolution on the European Space Policy adopted by the ESA Council meeting on 22 May 2007 (ESA/C/CXCIV/Res.1 (Final)),
HAVING REGARD to Framework Agreement between the European Community and the European Space Agency signed on 25 November 2003 establishing a “framework providing a common basis and appropriate operational arrangements for an efficient and mutually efficient cooperation between the Parties with regard to space activities in accordance with their respective tasks and responsibilities and fully respective of their institutional settings and operational frameworks” and which constitutes the basis for the joint ESA and European Community initiatives,
HAVING REGARD to Resolution on the evolution of the Agency adopted by the ESA Council meeting at Ministerial level on 6 December 2005 (ESA/C-M/CLXXXV/Res.5 (Final)), and in particular its Chapter IV paragraph 17 whereby the Council “NOTES the growing interest of several new Member States of the European Union in participating progressively in the Agency’s programmes and to foster public interest in space exploration, and RECALLS the joint initiatives between ESA and the European Community such as Galileo and GMES which involve all these new Member States”,
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, done on 27 January 1967, and other multilateral agreements on the exploration and use of outer space to which Member States of the Agency are parties and which the Agency has accepted,
HAVING REGARD to the Convention establishing the Agency and in particular Article XIV.1 thereof, on international cooperation, which states that “The Agency may, upon decisions of the Council taken by unanimous votes of all Member States, cooperate with other international organisations and institutions and with Governments, organisations and institutions of non-member States, and conclude agreements with them to this effect”,
DESIRING to establish mechanisms to facilitate and intensify cooperation between the Parties on mutually advantageous activities connected with the peaceful use of outer space,
CONVINCED of the benefits that such cooperation can bring to each Party,
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

The purpose of this Agreement is to establish a legal framework for cooperation between the Parties in the field of research and peaceful use of outer space and the conditions for implementing projects of mutual interest.

1. The Parties shall keep each other informed on all their respective activities and programmes and on their progress and shall consult regularly, according to the procedures set out in Article 3 below, on areas offering potential for cooperation.
2. Among the areas considered by the Parties as offering potential for cooperation under the Agreement the following are specifically mentioned:
(a) Space science, in particular space astronomy and astrophysics, solar system exploration and solar-terrestrial physics;
(b) Earth observation research and applications, in particular environmental monitoring, meteorology, aeronomy and geoinformatics, disaster management;
(c) Telecommunications, including service demonstrations as well as satellite navigation;
(d) Microgravity research, in particular space biology and medicine, and materials processing;
(g) Technology development including software and hardware;
(h) Ground segment engineering and utilisation.
Upon signature of this Agreement, Slovenia shall notify the Agency of the areas that are of particular interest to it. Upon identifying a programme of mutual interest, the Parties shall conclude specific implementing arrangements defining their rights and obligations in accordance with the provisions of Article 3.1 below.
3. The Parties agree, with a view to realising cooperative projects in the areas identified pursuant to paragraph 2 above, to facilitate the exchange of scientists and engineers, the exchange of information as well as the contacts between the industries concerned.
4. The cooperation shall also extend to:
(a) the award of fellowships to enable the nominees of either Party to undertake training or other scientific or technical activities at institutions proposed by the awarding Party;
(b) the exchange of experts to participate in studies;
(c) the holding of joint conferences and symposia;
(d) joint promotion of the use of products and services developed under the Agency's programmes;
(e) the promotion of educational activities in space science and technology;
(f) the provision of expert opinions and assistance in space project management.
5. The Parties shall consult as appropriate on matters of common interest on the exploration and use of outer space on the agenda of the meetings of international bodies.
6. The Parties shall encourage international cooperation in the study of legal questions of mutual interest, which may arise in the exploration and use of outer space.

1. In order to pursue cooperation in programmes of common interest as referred to in Article 2 above, the Parties shall on each occasion negotiate and agree upon specific implementing arrangements.
2. Slovenia designates the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, for the implementation of this Agreement.
3. Each Party shall designate a “point of contact” who shall be responsible for monitoring the implementation of this Agreement and for taking measures to assist in the further development of cooperative activities. Such points of contact shall be the ordinary channel for the Parties' communication of proposals for cooperation.
4. Joint working groups may be established to examine in detail proposals in areas assigned to them by the Parties and to make recommendations to the Parties.
5. Special meetings between the points of contact designated under paragraph 3 of this Article shall be held, as often as necessary, to examine the progress in the implementing of this Agreement.
6. For the execution of its obligations under this Agreement, each Party shall in principle meet its own costs.
7. Slovenia agrees to provide administrative assistance in the implementation of the present Agreement, in particular as regards facilitating the entry and exit of persons and the importation and exportation of goods and materials relating to projects agreed upon by the Parties within the frame of the present Agreement, including exemption from charges that are normally applicable upon importation and exportation referred to in Article 6 below. Slovenia will issue certification for import and export of goods and materials relating to projects agreed upon by the Parties for customs authorities. This certification guarantees that the imported or exported goods and materials are employed in the course of the projects agreed upon by the Parties.

Slovenia shall be invited to attend meetings of the Agency's Council held at Ministerial level as an observer through one representative who may be accompanied by advisers. Slovenia shall receive the draft agenda and relevant documents available to Member States to enable it to participate in such meetings.

1. The Parties shall exchange scientific and technical information of mutual interest concerning space science, technology and applications through the transmission of technical and scientific reports and notes, consistent with their respective rules on the dissemination of information and data.
2. Scientific and technical information obtained by one Party in the course of joint experiments or projects shall be made available to the other, subject to the observance of such rules as may be mutually agreed concerning the dissemination of information and data.
3. Where goods, data or information are furnished by one Party to the other, the receiving Party shall accord a degree of protection to the intellectual property rights therein at least equivalent to that enjoyed in the legal system applicable to the furnishing Party. Special measures that need, in the view of the furnishing Party, to be taken in order to achieve this level of protection shall be the subject of mutual agreement.

1. For any of the activities undertaken in Slovenia within the frame of the present Agreement, the Agency shall have legal personality on the Slovenian territory. For that purpose, Slovenia shall grant the Agency the privileges and immunities contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialised Agencies adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 21 November 1947 and entered into force for Slovenia on 17 July 1992. It is understood that the tax and fiscal exemptions provided for in the above-mentioned Convention will not be applicable to Agency officials who would also have Slovenian nationality or would have permanent residence in Slovenia, at the time of their appointment as Agency official.
2. For each specific programme of common interest, the implementation of such privileges and immunities will be detailed in the implementing arrangements referred to in Article 3.1 above.

Taking into account the provisions of Article 6 above, Slovenia shall facilitate and expedite the movement of persons necessary to implement this Agreement into and out of the Slovenian territory subject to applicable national laws and regulations. The Agency will, subject to applicable laws and regulations of its Member States, facilitate and expedite the movement of persons necessary to implement this Agreement into and out of the territories of its Member States.

Subject to any other terms contained in the implementing arrangements referred to in Article 3.1 above, each Party shall be liable for any loss or damage to its persons or property which it sustains in pursuit of the activities provided for under this Agreement, except in the case of wilful damage or gross negligence on the part of the other Party.

1. Disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall in principle be settled by mutual consultations between the Parties. If an issue not resolved through consultations still needs to be resolved, that issue shall be submitted, at the request of either Party, to an arbitration tribunal composed of one nominee of each Party and a Chairman appointed by agreement between the Parties or, failing agreement, by the President of the International Court of Justice. The tribunal's award shall be final and binding upon both Parties.
2. Implementing arrangements as referred to in Article 3.1 of this Agreement shall contain their own dispute-settlement provisions, which shall include the procedures and modalities for arbitration.

1. The Agreement shall enter into force upon written notification by Slovenia to the Agency that all internal procedures necessary for its entry into force have been completed.
2. This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five (5) years from the date of its entry into force. One year before the expiry of this Agreement, the Parties shall review the results of its implementation and shall examine ways and means of continuing or further developing such cooperation. The Parties shall in particular examine the possibility of concluding a European Cooperating State Agreement.
3. In the event of the continuation of the present cooperation, the Agreement may be extended and/or amended by mutual agreement in writing.
4. Except during the first two years from signature, the present Agreement may be terminated by either Party by giving six months' notice in writing. If the Agreement ceases to have effect on account of such termination, its provisions shall nevertheless continue to apply for the period and to the extent necessary to secure the implementation of any specific implementing arrangements concluded pursuant to Article 3.1 above and still effective on the date upon which the present Agreement ceases to have effect.
Done at Kozarišče on 28 May 2008 in two originals, in the Slovenian and English languages, both texts being equally authentic. The Agency will provide translations in the French and German languages.

Za izvajanje tega sporazuma skrbi Ministrstvo za visoko šolstvo, znanost in tehnologijo.

Ta uredba začne veljati naslednji dan po objavi v Uradnem listu Republike Slovenije – Mednarodne pogodbe.