N° 44–1996: Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and ESA

7 November 1996

Mr Ivan Pilip, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of the Government of the Czech Republic, and Mr Jean-Marie Luton, Director General of ESA, today signed in Prague an Agreement concerning cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

The aim of the Agreement is to establish the framework for cooperation between the Czech Republic and ESA in areas of mutual interest, in particular:

space science
Earth observation research and applications
satellite telecommunications
microgravity research
ground segment engineering and utilisation.

The Czech Republic and ESA will develop the exchange of information in these areas, especially by facilitating the exchange of scientists and engineers and contacts with industry. This could lead to the conclusion of specific Arrangements on agreed projects, including the possibility for the Government of the Czech Republic to participate in ESA programmes.

For the execution of the obligations under this Agreement each party shall normally meet its own costs. The duration of the Agreement is of 5 years with a possibility of renewal. This Agreement will pave the way of a fruitful cooperation between the Government of the Czech Republic and ESA. The European Space Agency has 14 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom). Its purpose it to provide for and promote, for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation among European States in space research and technology and their space applications with a view to their being used for scientific purposes and for space applications systems.