OEEPE was an international organisation established in Paris on 12/10/1953, in accordance with a Recommendation (C(52)207 Final) of the Council of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC, the predecessor of the current OECD). The aim of the organisation was to cooperate and pool resources in order to carry out a joint programme of advanced photogrammetric experiments, aiming at increasing the accuracy, quality and efficiency of aerial surveys and at speeding up the improvement of photogrammetric methods.

Its initial membership was made up of 5 countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands. The founding fathers of the organization were Karl Neumaier (Austria), Urbain Panier and (Belgium), Erwing Gigas (Germany), Alfredo Parodi (Italy) and Willem Schermerhorn (The Netherlands). The participating organisations were national cadastral and geographical institutions (military and civilian), universities and research centres.

The experimental activities were carried out through Scientific Commissions dealing with specific aspects of photogrammetry. A Steering Committee composed by representatives of the member states coordinated the research activities. The Committee was also the key decision making body for all the organizational, budgetary and strategic issues. An Executive Bureau was tasked with the day to day management of OEEPE.

Following technological developments (especially digitization and the increased role of space-based systems in collecting geographic data and cartography), the organization progressively widened its fields of activities. This led to a debate on reorganization in the late 1970s and 1980s.

In June 2003, a new agreement was signed. Following the above mentioned technological changes, the organization name was changed into EuroSDR. The new activities of the organization are described as: research and development of methods, systems and standards for the acquisition, processing, production, maintenance, storing and dissemination of core geospatial data and information.

By the time of this major change, OEEPE/EuroSDR had also deeply widened its membership: the organisation has currently come to include 19 member countries – the 5 founding members plus Switzerland, Sweden, UK, Norway, France, Denmark, Turkey, Cyprus, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, Slovenia, Ireland and Finland.

Given the lack of institutional flexibility of the 2003 international agreement, in 2005 EuroSDR changed its legal status and was incorporated as a "Company Limited by Guarantee and not having a Shared Capital" under Company Laws of Ireland.