C/S G.003 - INTRODUCTION TO THE COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEM Issue 7

The ICSPA provides for other States to participate in the operation of the Cospas-Sarsat System, as Ground Segment Providers (Article 11 of the ICSPA) and as User States (Article 19 Of the ICSPA).

 The Agreement explicitly states that they will “participate in appropriate meetings of the Programme, as defined by the Council”. The Council, consisting exclusively of the Parties to the ICSPA, is the legal governing body of the Cospas-Sarsat System. However, since 1989, the Council has invited representatives of all States and organizations who have formally associated with the Programme (“the Participants”) to join the open meetings of the Council sessions. The open meetings of the Council are normally conducted once a year, in the week following the fall closed meeting of the Council.

 In 2020, there are 45 Participants[1] in the Cospas-Sarsat Programme, including:

·      the four (4) Parties to the ICSPA

·      thirty (30) Ground Segment Provider States

·      two (2) Participating Ground Segment Provider Organizations

·      nine (9) User States

These Participants are shown on the map in Figure 8‑1.

 There are also three Space Segment contributors (in addition to the Parties), who contribute to the Programme through special arrangement with the Cospas-Sarsat Parties. All of the Participants and contributors to the System are eligible to participate in the open meetings of the Council and of its other subsidiary bodies. The open meetings may also include Observers (who may be from non-Participating States or from supporting organizations) who have been invited by the Council to participate in the meetings.