In his capacity as censeur, the Executive Secretary participates in all meetings of the Boards of Directors of Eutelsat Communications S.A. and Eutelsat S.A.
EUTELSAT IGO has partnership agreements and cooperates closely with intergovernmental satellite organisations IMSO, ITSO and Intersputnik.
The Executive Secretary is Commissioner and active contributor to the work of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.
EUTELSAT IGO participates regularly in events of relevance organised by other international organisations including inter alia the European Union, the European Space Agency and others.
OVERSIGHT OF THE Eutelsat GROUP
In his capacity as censeur, the Executive Secretary participates in all meetings of the Boards of Directors of Eutelsat Communications S.A. (the holding company, listed on the Paris stock exchange) and Eutelsat S.A. (the operating company). He also participates in meetings of the Joint Commission of EUTELSAT IGO and Eutelsat S.A. Relations between EUTELSAT IGO and the companies of the Eutelsat Group are stated in the Arrangement between EUTELSAT IGO and Eutelsat S.A., together with two Letter-Agreements. These documents are available on the secure area of the website.
ITU
EUTELSAT IGO has the status of International Organization Operating Satellite Systems in all three sectors of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Given its obligations to ensure continuity regarding the rights of use of radio frequency under the ITU Radio Regulations, EUTELSAT closely monitors and participates in relevant ITU activities. The Organisation attends ITU seminars, conferences and working groups meetings of interest and also follows the preparatory process of the World Radiocommunication Conferences.
COPUOS
EUTELSAT IGO has permanent Observer status with the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and participates in sessions of the Committee, its Subcommittees and in meetings of specialised Working Groups. The Organisation continues to follow these activities which aim at maintaining and strengthening peaceful cooperation in outer space.
SATELLITE ORGANISATIONS
EUTELSAT IGO, ITSO and IMSO
In December 2009 a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding was signed by EUTELSAT IGO, the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) and the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) following the agreement of each organisation’s Plenary Assembly. The Heads of the three intergovernmental satellite organisations meet on a regular basis to discuss matters of mutual interest and to give further consideration for joint initiatives in relation to the regulatory framework applicable to satellite communications and capacity building.
EUTELSAT IGO and INTERSPUTNIK
EUTELSAT IGO and the Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications signed an Agreement on Cooperation in 2019 in order to reinforce their relationship. The two organisations have mutual observer status during plenary meetings of the Assembly of Parties for EUTELSAT and the Council for Intersputnik.
BROADBAND COMMISSION
The Broadband Commission for Digital Development was set-up in 2010 by the Secretary General of the ITU and the Director General of UNESCO. Its initial aim was to accelerate the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and present broadband as potentially the most effective means to bridge the digital divide. EUTELSAT IGO’s former Executive Secretary was a Founding Member of the Commission.
With the adoption of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015, the Commission was re-launched as the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development to showcase and document the power of information technology and broadband within the framework of the 2030 UN Development Agenda. In 2018, the Executive Secretary, Mr Piotr Dmochowski-Lipski, was named Commissioner. Since then, he is an active contributor to the Broadband Commission and its specialised working groups. In this role he remains committed to “connect the unconnected” and to advocate the use of satellite technology and space communications to foster progress towards the achievements of SDGs.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
EUROPEAN UNION
EUTELSAT IGO maintains its vigilance with regard to regulatory changes in European countries in which Eutelsat S.A. operates, in particular in evaluating the consequences they might have on the Company’s ability to respect its commitments under the EUTELSAT Amended Convention. The Secretariat participates in the annual European Space Conferences, organised under the patronage of the European Parliament, and in the annual meetings of the European Digital Assembly organised by the European Commission.
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
EUTELSAT IGO in its supervisory role of the activities of the operating Company maintains relations with the European Space Agency (ESA) via joint programmes and technology exchanges. As an intergovernmental organisation, EUTELSAT IGO participates in the European Space Agency’s Council of Ministers, which provides guidelines for the development of Europe’s space programme.
UNESCO
Relations are maintained with the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation through participation in relevant fora such as the Internet Governance Forum and the Transforming Education Summit. EUTELSAT IGO is particularly interested in questions related to school connectivity, digital learning, freedom of expression and means of tackling disinformation.
RCC
As an observer, EUTELSAT IGO participates in relevant meetings of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC) and in particular follows the work of the Commission on regulation of the use of radiofrequency spectrum and satellite orbits. It also monitors RCC’s activities in relation to the regional preparation of ITU’s World Radiocommunication Conferences.