In late 1960 a Conference of European Senior Scientists took place in Meyrin, Switzerland. This conference formalised the so called Meyrin Agreement which officially established the European Preparatory Commission for Space Research (COPERS) on 27th February 1961 with the aim of preparing the ground for the establishment of a proper international organisation capable of planning and implementing programmes of common interest for Europe's entry into space. It began work on the draft of a convention setting up the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) which was signed in Paris on 14 June 196 by most of the COPERS state members (Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Sweden, while Austria and Norway abstained from signing). In addition COPERS was responsible for carrying out such studies as might be assigned to it by the governments in order to facilitate the initial activities of the Organisation.