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    ESA > About Us > Law at ESA

    ESA Convention

    ESA Convention

    At the end of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries, held in Paris on 30 May 1975, the Convention for the establishment of a European Space Agency (CSE/CS(73)19, rev.7) was opened for signature by the Member States of the European Space Conference, until 31 December 1975.

    The Final Act of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries and the associated Resolutions (CSE/CS(73)20, rev.7) established conditions for signature of the Convention and for the functioning of the European Space Agency.

    On 30 May 1975, the Convention was signed by: the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Sweden, and the Swiss Confederation.

    On 31 December 1975, the Convention was signed by Ireland.

    The Convention entered into force on 30 October 1980.

    In accordance with Article XVI. 3 of the Convention, the Council has amended certain provisions in Annexes to the Convention adopting the following:

    • ESA/C-M/CXXII/Res. 1 (Final), chapter IV, adopted on 20 October 1995;
    • ESA/C-M/CLIV/Res. 2 (Final), chapter III, adopted on 15 November 2001;
    • ESA/C/CLXXIX/Res. 6 (Final), adopted on 22 June 2005;
    • ESA/C(2009)73, adopted on 10 June 2009.

    The versions with the consolidated text in force as of 1 January 2010 are provided in links on right navigation bar.

    Ratification by Member States

    Date of deposit of instruments of ratification:

    Sweden: 6 April 1976
    Switzerland: 19 November 1976
    Germany: 26 July 1977
    Denmark: 15 September 1977
    Italy: 20 February 1978
    United Kingdom: 28 March 1978
    Belgium: 3 October 1978
    Netherlands: 6 February 1979
    Spain: 7 February 1979
    France: 30 October 1980
    Ireland: 10 December 1980
    Austria: 30 December 1986
    Norway: 30 December 1986
    Finland: 1 January 1995
    Portugal: 14 November 2000
    Greece: 9 March 2005
    Luxembourg: 30 June 2005
    Czech Republic: 12 August 2008
    Romania: 22 December 2011
    Poland: 19 November 2012
    Estonia: 1 September 2015
    Hungary: 4 November 2015

     

    Link to the ratifications for the ESA Member States are provided in the right navigation bar.

    Last update: 27 April 2017

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