Eumetsat, the intergovernmental organization that establishes and maintains operational meteorological satellites for 18 European states, has announced that the Czech Republic will become a Eumetsat cooperating state. The agreement gives the Czech Republic access to all Eumetsat satellite data, products and services for use in the country’s scientific and operational meteorological activities.

Prior to this agreement, Eumetsat has signed seven cooperating state agreements. The deals with Hungary, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Rumania have already entered into force, while the agreement with Serbia and Montenegro still requires ratification prior before taking effect.