On 3 February 2016, Jan Woerner, ESA Director General, and Maaike Vancauwenberghe, Chair of the European Polar Board (EPB), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), at ESA headquarters in Paris, France.
The MoU provides a framework for a wider cooperation between ESA and the EPB, and to define the use of European Antarctic Stations for scientific and technological purposes. As such, an umbrella is formed under which the exchange of information on relevant technologies or procedures between ESA and EPB Members is facilitated. Joint activities envisioned under this MoU, will be implemented in separate agreements directly with EPB member organisations, outlining the specific activities agreed upon and detailing the responsibilities of each party.