Poland Joins the European Space Agency

On September 13, 2012, Poland officially became the European Space Agency's (ESA) 20th Member State, during a ceremony held at the Copernicus Science Center, in Warsaw. The event was attended by high-ranking Polish officials and ESA representatives.

The required Accession Agreements were exchanged between ESA Director General, Jean-Jacques Dordain, and the Polish Minister of Economy, Waldemar Pawlak. Polish Under Secretary for Economy, Grażyna Henclewska, was also present at the conference.

Poland began cooperating with ESA under the terms of a Cooperation Agreement, which was signed back in 1994. In 2007, the country signed the European Cooperating State Agreement, enabling it to participate in several of the agency's projects.

“The Government of Poland plans to conclude the ratification process at the earliest and once the ratification instrument is deposited with the Government of France, Poland will become officially the 20th ESA Member State and will participate in the ESA Ministerial Council in November 2012 as a full Member State,” ESA announces.