Organization:Enlargement of the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) was founded in 1975 when the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) merged with the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO). The ESA Convention was signed by the ESRO and ELDO members on 30 May 1975 and by Ireland on 31 December 1975. Canada signed a Cooperation Agreement on 9 December 1978. The Convention entered into force on 30 October 1980 after the ratification procedures in the 10 ESRO/ELDO members were finalised.
Current membership
The current membership of the European Space Agency includes 22 member states, four associate members and one cooperating state:
State | Cooperation Agreement | ECS Agreement | PECS Charter | ESA Convention signature | Ratification[1] | National Program |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | 1979 for associate membership | 12 April 1984[2] | 30 December 1986 | FFG | ||
Belgium | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 3 October 1978 | BELSPO | ||
Canada [3] | 9 December 1978[4] January 1984 May 1989 January 2000 15 December 2010[5] |
CSA | ||||
Czech Republic | 1996 | 24 November 2003 | 24 November 2004 | 8 July 2008[6] | 12 August 2008 | through MoT |
Denmark | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 15 September 1977 | DTU Space | ||
Estonia | 20 June 2007[7] | 10 November 2009[8] | 22 September 2010[9] | 4 February 2015 | 1 September 2015[10] | ESO |
Finland | 1987 for associate membership | 22 March 1994[11] | 1 January 1995 | through MoEAE | ||
France | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 30 October 1980 | CNES | ||
Germany | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 26 July 1977 | DLR | ||
Greece | January 2001 | N/A | N/A | 19 July 2004[12] | 9 March 2005 | HSC |
Hungary | April 1991[13][14] | 7 April 2003[15] | 1st: 5 November 2003[16] 2nd: 26 September 2008[17] 3rd: 17 October 2013[18] |
24 February 2015 | 4 November 2015[19] | HSO |
Ireland [20] | ESA Founding member | 31 December 1975 | 10 December 1980 | Enterprise Ireland | ||
Italy | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 20 February 1978 | ASI | ||
Latvia | 23 July 2009[21] | 19 March 2013[22] | 30 January 2015[23] | 30 June 2020[24] | 9 July 2020[24][25] | LSO |
Lithuania | 7 October 2010[26] | 7 October 2014[27] | 28 September 2015[28] | 28 April 2021[28] | 20 May 2021[28] | LSO |
Luxembourg | September 2000 | N/A | N/A | 6 May 2004[29] | 30 June 2005 | LSA |
Netherlands | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 6 February 1979 | NSO | ||
Norway | 1981 for associate membership | 12 December 1985[30] | 30 December 1986 | NSA | ||
Poland | 28 January 1994[31] | 27 April 2007[32] | 28 April 2008[33] | 13 September 2012[34] | 19 November 2012 | POLSA |
Portugal | 1996 | N/A | N/A | 4 October 2000[35] | 14 November 2000 | PT Space |
Romania | December 1992[31][36] | 17 February 2006[36] | 16 February 2007[37] | 20 January 2011[38] | 22 December 2011 | ROSA |
Slovakia | 28 April 2010[39] | 16 February 2015[40] | 4 February 2016[41] | 14 June 2022[41] | 12 October 2022[41] | SSO |
Slovenia | 28 May 2008[42] | 22 January 2010[43] | 30 November 2010[44] | 5 July 2016[45] | 1 December 2016[46] | through MoHEST |
Spain | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 7 February 1979 | AEE | ||
Sweden | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 6 April 1976 | SNSA | ||
Switzerland | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 19 November 1976 | SSO | ||
United Kingdom | ESA Founding member | 30 May 1975 | 28 March 1978 | UKSA |
Associate members
The ESA Convention does not require acquisition of the status of an associate member in order for a state to become a full member. The association status is envisaged to allow associate member states to take part in ESA's deliberative bodies and decision-making and also in ESA's programmes and activities. Associate member state firms can bid for and receive contracts to work on programmes. The accord has a provision ensuring a fair industrial return to the associate members.[47]
Previously, associate members were Austria, Norway and Finland (through its Ministry of Trade and Industry[48]), all of which later joined ESA as full members.[49] Portugal, Greece and Luxembourg skipped associate membership and moved from Cooperation Agreements to full ESA membership. The Czech Republic also skipped associate membership, but it went through the new enlargement process via Cooperation Agreement, ECS Agreement and PECS Charter implementation.
Currently there are four associate members: Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia and Slovenia.[24][28][41][45]
Despite that the provisions in the ESA Convention do not show restrictions that only European states can join,[50] the ESA Council implements such rule de facto and that is why Canada has only the status of a cooperating state.[3] However, it is as tightly integrated with the ESA institutions as possible for a non-member state.
The ELDO associate member Australia (CSIRO) decided not to continue as an associate member of ESA. Nevertheless, on 5 March 2003 the first of ESA's deep space ground stations in the world opened in Western Australia in an inauguration ceremony.[51]
Enlargement
After the decision of the ESA Council of 21/22 March 2001 the procedure for accession of the European states was detailed as described here.[52] Nations who want to become a full member of ESA do so in 3 stages. First a Cooperation Agreement is signed between the country and ESA. In this stage the country has very limited financial responsibilities. If a country wants to cooperate more fully with ESA it signs a European Cooperating State (ECS) agreement.
The ECS Agreement makes companies based in the country eligible for participation in ESA procurements. The country can also participate in all ESA programmes, except for the Basic Technology Research Programme. While the financial contribution of the country concerned increases, it is still much lower than that of a full member state. The agreement is normally followed by a Plan for European Cooperating State (or PECS Charter).
This is a 5-year program of basic research and development activities aimed at improving the nations' space industry capacity. At the end of the 5-year period, the country can either begin negotiations to become a full member state or an associated state or sign a new PECS Charter.[53] ESA is likely to expand quite rapidly in the coming years. Many countries, most of which joined the EU in both 2004 and 2007, have started to cooperate with ESA on various levels.
Applicant state | Cooperation Agreement | ECS Agreement | PECS Charter | ESA Convention signature | Full Membership[1] | National Program |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | 1979 for associate membership | 12 April 1984 | 30 December 1986 | FFG | ||
Norway | 1981 for associate membership | 12 December 1985 | 30 December 1986 | NSA | ||
Finland | 1987 for associate membership | 22 March 1994 | 1 January 1995 | through MoEAE | ||
Portugal | 1996 | NA | NA | 4 October 2000 | 14 November 2000 | PT Space |
Greece | January 2001 | NA | NA | 19 July 2004 | 9 March 2005 | HSC |
Luxembourg | September 2000 | NA | NA | 6 May 2004 | 30 June 2005 | LSA |
Czechia | 1996 | 24 November 2003 | 24 November 2004 | 8 July 2008 | 12 August 2008 | through MoT |
Romania | December 1992 | 17 February 2006 | 16 February 2007 | 20 January 2011 | 23 December 2011 | ROSA |
Poland | 28 January 1994 | 27 April 2007 | 28 April 2008 | 13 September 2012 | 19 November 2012 | POLSA |
Estonia | 20 June 2007 | 10 November 2009 | 22 September 2010 | 4 February 2015 | 1 September 2015 | ESO |
Hungary | April 1991 | 7 April 2003 | 1st: 5 November 2003 2nd: 26 September 2008 3rd: 17 October 2013 |
24 February 2015 | 4 November 2015 | HSO |
Slovenia | 28 May 2008 | 22 January 2010 | 30 November 2010 | 5 July 2016 | 1 December 2016 | through MoHEST |
Latvia | 23 July 2009 | 19 March 2013 | 30 January 2015 | 30 June 2020 | 27 July 2020 | LSO |
Lithuania | 7 October 2010 | 7 October 2014 | 28 September 2015 | 28 April 2021 | 21 May 2021 | LSO |
Slovakia | 28 April 2010 | 16 February 2015 | 4 February 2016 | 14 June 2022 | 13 October 2022 | SSO |
Bulgaria | NA | 8 April 2015[54] | 4 February 2016[55] | SRTI | ||
Cyprus | 27 August 2009[56] | 6 July 2016[57] | 2017[58] | through MoCW | ||
Croatia | 19 February 2018[59] | 23 March 2023[60] | 16 August 2023[61] | through MoSE | ||
Turkey | 15 July 2004[62] | TUA | ||||
Ukraine | 25 January 2008[63] | SSAU | ||||
Israel | 30 January 2011[64] | ISA | ||||
Malta | 20 February 2012[65] | MCST[66] |
Possible future cooperation
The political perspective of the European Union (EU) had been to make ESA an agency of the EU by 2014,[67] however, this date was not met. The EU is already the largest single donor to ESA's budget and non-ESA EU states are observers at ESA.
Three non-EU nations — Israel, Turkey and Ukraine — have cooperation agreements with ESA. Agency officials consider the prospects of full membership for these three countries as remote at the current time.[when?]
However, ESA ministers instructed agency officials to begin discussions with Australia, Israel and South Africa on future association agreements with ESA. The ministers noted that “concrete cooperation is at an advanced stage” with these nations and that “prospects for mutual benefits are existing”.[68]
Besides EU countries, the EFTA members Norway and Switzerland are also members of ESA. Neither the remaining EFTA member states of Iceland and Liechtenstein nor the EU candidates not listed above have publicly expressed their intention to participate in the European Space Agency's activities.
In 2016, certain ESA programs were extended to Eastern Partnership member states. Armenia, Georgia and Moldova joined the ESA's Earth Observation for Eastern Partnership initiative. This move brought new perspectives to develop cooperation between the ESA and Eastern European countries. The project aims to achieve an increase in the uptake of satellite-based environmental information, while promoting regional cooperation and knowledge exchange.[69][70]
See also
- European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO)
- European Space Agency (ESA)
- European Space Research Organisation (ESRO)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "ESA Convention / Law at ESA / About Us / ESA". 2014-02-07. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Law_at_ESA/ESA_Convention.
- ↑ "BUNDESGESETZBLATT FÜR DIE REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH". http://download.esa.int/docs/LEX-L/ESA-Ratification-acts/Austria_(30_Dec_1986).pdf.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lydia Dotto. "Canada and The European Space Agency Three Decades of Cooperation". http://www.esa.int/esapub/hsr/HSR_25.pdf.
- ↑ "Canada and ESA: 20 Years of Cooperation". http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bullet96/LECLERC.pdf.
- ↑ media, Government of Canada, Canadian Space Agency, Directions of communications, Information services and new. "Cooperation Agreement between Canada and the European Space Agency (ESA)" (in en). http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/programs/esa/default.asp.
- ↑ "Rozeslána dne 6. října 2009". http://download.esa.int/docs/LEX-L/ESA-Ratification-acts/Ratification_Czech-Republic.pdf.
- ↑ "Estonia signs Cooperation Agreement with ESA". European Space Agency. 26 June 2007. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Estonia_signs_Cooperation_Agreement_with_ESA.
- ↑ "Estonia becomes fifth ESA European Cooperating State". European Space Agency. 12 November 2009. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Estonia_becomes_fifth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ "Dozen Estonian companies to create solutions for European Space Agency". Estonian Investment Agency. 22 September 2010. http://www.investinestonia.com/en/news/dozen-estonian-companies-to-create-solutions-for-european-space-agency.
- ↑ "Estonia is a full member of ESA starting from 1st of September 2015 | Estonian Space Office". http://www.eas.ee/kosmos/en/estonian-space-office/news/article/460-estonia-is-full-member-of-esa-from-1-of-september-2015.
- ↑ "Asetus Suomen liittymisestä Euroopan avaruusjarjestöa koskevaan yleissopimukseen ja sen liitannaisehtoihin tehdyn sopimuksen voimaansaattamisesta". http://download.esa.int/docs/LEX-L/ESA-Ratification-acts/Finland_(1_Jan_1995).pdf.
- ↑ "Hellenic Republic : Ratification". http://download.esa.int/docs/LEX-L/ESA-Ratification-acts/Greece_(9_March_2005).pdf.
- ↑ "Hungary and ESA sign PECS Agreement for another five years". European Space Agency. 11 November 2008. http://pecs.esa.int/node/104.
- ↑ "ESA/Poland cooperation agreement" (Press release). European Space Agency. 28 January 1994. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
- ↑ "Agreements 2003". ESA Annual Report 2003. European Space Agency. pp. 112–113. http://www.esa.int/esapub/annuals/annual03/ar3_agree_signed.pdf.
- ↑ "Hungary and the Czech Republic sign ECS agreements with ESA". European Space Agency. 4 December 2003. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Industry/Industry_how_to_do_business/Hungary_and_the_Czech_Republic_sign_Cooperating_State_agreements_with_ESA.
- ↑ "Hungary and ESA sign PECS Agreement for another five years". European Space Agency. 11 November 2008. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Plan_for_European_Cooperating_States/Hungary_and_ESA_sign_PECS_Agreement_for_another_five_years.
- ↑ "Extension of ECS Agreement between ESA and Hungary". National Innovation Office. 11 November 2008. http://www.nih.gov.hu/nemzetkozi-tevekenyseg/hirek-nagyvilagbol-tet/europai-urugynokseg.
- ↑ "Hungary becomes ESA's 22nd Member State / Welcome to ESA / About Us / ESA". http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Hungary_becomes_ESA_s_22nd_Member_State.
- ↑ Ireland is considered initial signatory, but since it was not member of neither ESRO nor ELDO (the precursor organisations to ESA) the convention entered into force when the last of the other 10 founders ratified it.
- ↑ "Līgums ar Kosmosa aģentūru liks tiekties pēc augstākiem rezultātiem" (in lv). Diena.lv. 23 July 2009. http://www.diena.lv/lat/politics/hot/parakstis-ligumu-par-sadarbibu-kosmosa-joma.
- ↑ "Latvia becomes seventh ESA European Cooperating State". esa.int. ESA. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Latvia_becomes_seventh_ESA_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ "Signature of the PECS Charter between ESA and Latvia". ESA. 31 January 2015. http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2015/01/Signature_of_the_PECS_Charter_between_ESA_and_Latvia2.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Latvia becomes ESA Associate Member State" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Latvia_becomes_ESA_Associate_Member_State.
- ↑ "Saeima ratificē līgumu par asociētās dalībvalsts statusu Eiropas Kosmosa aģentūrā" (in lv). 2020-07-09. https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/saeima-ratifice-ligumu-par-asocietas-dalibvalsts-statusu-eiropas-kosmosa-agentura.a366646/.
- ↑ "Lithuania signs Cooperation Agreement" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Lithuania_signs_Cooperation_Agreement.
- ↑ "Lithuania becomes eighth ESA European Cooperating State" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Lithuania_becomes_eighth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 "Lithuania becomes ESA Associate Member state" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Lithuania_becomes_ESA_Associate_Member_state.
- ↑ "RECUEIL DE LEGISLATION A –– N° 79". 2005-06-17. http://download.esa.int/docs/LEX-L/ESA-Ratification-acts/Luxembourg_(30_June_2005).pdf.
- ↑ "St.prp. nr. 8 (1986-87)". http://download.esa.int/docs/LEX-L/ESA-Ratification-acts/Norway_(30_Dec_1986).pdf.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 "ESA/Poland cooperation agreement" (Press release). European Space Agency. 28 January 1994.
- ↑ "Poland becomes the fourth ESA European Cooperating State". European Space Agency. 4 May 2007. http://www.esa.int/esaMI/About_ESA/SEMVKSU681F_0.html.
- ↑ "Poland and ESA sign the Plan for European Cooperating State". European Space Agency. 5 May 2008. https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Plan_for_European_Cooperating_States/Poland_and_ESA_sign_the_Plan_for_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ "Agreement Between the European Space Agency and the Government of the Republic of Poland". http://download.esa.int/docs/LEX-L/ESA-Ratification-acts/Ratification_Poland.pdf.
- ↑ "Decreto do Presidente da República n.o 42/2000". http://download.esa.int/docs/LEX-L/ESA-Ratification-acts/Portugal_(14_Nov_2000).pdf.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Romania becomes third ESA European Cooperating State". European Space Agency. 27 February 2006. http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMI2HMVGJE_Benefits_0.html.
- ↑ "Romania". ESA PECS. European Space Agency. http://pecs.esa.int/node/82.
- ↑ "Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei". http://download.esa.int/docs/LEX-L/ESA-Ratification-acts/Ratification_Romania.pdf.
- ↑ "Slovak Republic signs Cooperation Agreement" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Slovak_Republic_signs_Cooperation_Agreement.
- ↑ "Slovakia becomes ninth ESA European Cooperating State" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Slovakia_becomes_ninth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 "Slovakia becomes ESA Associate Member state" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Slovakia_becomes_ESA_Associate_Member_state.
- ↑ "Slovenian Government and ESA Sign Cooperation Agreement". Slovenian Government Communication Office. 28 May 2008. http://www.ukom.gov.si/eng/slovenia/publications/slovenia-news/6537/6554/.
- ↑ "Slovenia becomes sixth ESA European Cooperating State". ESA. 25 January 2010. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Slovenia_becomes_sixth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ "European Space Agency selects and confirms ten Slovenian proposals". Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Slovenia. 3 December 2010. http://www.mvzt.gov.si/nc/en/splosno/cns/news/article/94/6845/049772920e/.
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Slovenia signs Association Agreement" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Slovenia_signs_Association_Agreement.
- ↑ "ESA Director General visits Slovenia" (in en). http://www.vlada.si/en/media_room/newsletter/slovenia_weekly/news/article/esa_director_general_visits_slovenia_59365/.
- ↑ "ESA and Canada renew cooperation agreement, building on long-term partnership / Press Releases / For Media / ESA". http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_39_2000_p_EN.html.
- ↑ "FINLAND BECOMES 14TH MEMBER OF EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY". http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-44557417.html.
- ↑ "Enlarging ESA?". http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bulletin120/bul120g_poncelet.pdf.
- ↑ "Convention of the European Space Agency". http://www.esa.int/esapub/sp/sp1300/sp1300EN1.pdf.
- ↑ "ESA's first deep space ground station opens in Western Australia / Welcome to ESA / About Us / ESA". 2003-03-05. http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMACK2A6BD_index_0.html.
- ↑ "Plan for European Cooperating States Overview". ESA. https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Plan_for_European_Cooperating_States/General_overview.
- ↑ "General Overview". http://pecs.esa.int/node/24.
- ↑ "Bulgaria becomes tenth ESA European Cooperating State". http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Bulgaria_becomes_tenth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ "Bulgaria signs PECS Charter". 4 February 2016. https://www.mi.government.bg/bg/news/balgariya-podpisa-harta-s-evropeiskata-kosmicheska-agenciya-sporazumenieto-za-evropeiska-kooperirashta-da-2463.html.
- ↑ "Cyprus signs space agreement". Famagusta Gazette Online. 28 August 2009. http://www.famagusta-gazette.com/default.asp?sdetail=9458.
- ↑ "Cyprus becomes 11th ESA European Cooperating State". http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Cyprus_becomes_11th_ESA_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ "Εθνική Στρατηγική Διαστήματος | Τμήμα Ηλεκτρονικών Επικοινωνιών". https://dec.dmrid.gov.cy/dmrid/DEC/ws_dec.nsf/spacestrategy_el/spacestrategy_el?OpenDocument.
- ↑ "Croatia signs Cooperation Agreement" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Croatia_signs_Cooperation_Agreement.
- ↑ "Croatia becomes 12th ESA European Cooperating State" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Croatia_becomes_12th_ESA_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ "Croatia becomes ESA European Cooperating State" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Croatia_becomes_ESA_European_Cooperating_State.
- ↑ "ESA signs Cooperation Agreement with Turkey". European Space Agency. 6 September 2004. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Industry/ESA_signs_Cooperation_Agreement_with_Turkey.
- ↑ "A cooperation agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the European Space Agency was signed in Paris". State Space Agency of Ukraine. http://www.nkau.gov.ua/nsau/newsnsau.nsf/HronolE/54F1C600559E994CC22573DB00489EE7?OpenDocument&Lang=E.
- ↑ "Israel signs Cooperation Agreement". ESA.int. 31 January 2011. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Israel_signs_Cooperation_Agreement.
- ↑ "Malta signs Cooperation Agreement". ESA. 23 February 2012. http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Malta_signs_Cooperation_Agreement.
- ↑ "Malta exploring ways of collaborating with European Space Agency". EARSC. 20 June 2009. http://www.earsc.eu/news/malta-exploring-ways-of-collaborating-with-european-space-agency.
- ↑ "Agenda : A Document by the ESA Director General and the ESA Directors – October 2006". http://www.esa.int/esapub/br/br268/br268.pdf.
- ↑ "ESA Welcomes New Members, Deepens Ties With Other States at Parabolic Arc". 2015-04-13. http://www.parabolicarc.com/2015/04/13/55053/.
- ↑ "Expanding EO4SD scope to EU eastern neighbourhood | earth observation for sustainable development". http://eo4sd.esa.int/2017/09/05/expanding-eo4sd-scope-to-a-new-region/.
- ↑ "Welcome to earth observation for eastern partnership | earth observation for eastern partnership". http://www.eo4sd-eastern.eu/#overview.
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlargement of the European Space Agency.
Read more |