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Abstract: After a consultation with its US counterside, UK space authorities took the initiative to convert its rocket called BLUE STREAK to civilian use. UK authorities asked to France and to other European countries to join the project, that duly enlarged and revised. In a first official meeting of representatives of various European countries, held at Church House, Westminster (London) on January 1961, UK and France presented their proposal. In a second Conference held in Strasbourg almost one month la ...

Abstract: The national delegations convened at Lancaster House conference decided to establish immediately a Preparatory Group, namely a temporary body to which they conferred two objectives : the first one, to prepare detailed plans and arrangements for the setting up of the permanent European launcher pending the coming into force of the Convention;the second one to coordinate the work of the Initial Programme. A particular task of the Preparatory Group was to encourage the participating states to place ...

Abstract: The work of the Preparatory Group began on December 1961, regardless of time needed for the ratification of the Convention. The responsability of the advancement of work was borne directly by the member states. ELDO.B-01 ELDO.B-01

Abstract: The first meeting of the Preparatory Group took place on December 1961 and the last one on April 1964. The lack of complete ratification of the Convention by all the member states paralysed the real power of the Council, devoted rather more to a recommending role. ELDO.B-01.01 ELDO.B-01.01

Abstract: This sub-serie gathers all the working documents presented by the delegations an by other Committees to the plenary debates. ELDO.B-01.02 ELDO.B-01.02

Abstract: The urgent task of the Administration was to draw up measures regarding diplomatic and legal texts regulating the activities of the Preparatory Group and later of ELDO, in compliance with its Convention. With the help of Groups of Experts, the Administration outlined the rules of procedure for the ELDO Council, the Financial Rules, Contracts and Security Regulations, the Staff Statute, a Protocol on Privileges and Immunities and a Patents Protocol. ELDO.B-02 ELDO.B-02

Abstract: This sub-serie gathers the minutes of the meetings of the Administration Committee. ELDO.B-02.01 ELDO.B-02.01

Abstract: In order to establish exact rules for the contributions of the future ELDO member states, the Administration Committee setted up a Sub-group of Experts on Finance and, moreover, a very short-living Ad-hoc Group on Capital. This sub-serie includs also the working documents of the delegations regarding budgetary matters. ELDO.B-02.02 ELDO.B-02.02

Abstract: The Administration Committee setted up another Sub-group of Experts studying the structure of the future ELDO and also another Sub-group on Security. This sub-serie includs also the working documents of the delegations regarding the Convention. ELDO.B-02.03 ELDO.B-02.03

Abstract: A crucial turning point for the establishment of ELDO was the legal settying up of its machinery. The Preparatory Group organised n.5 Sub-groups devoted to the study of the legal context of the future ELDO, namely the Contracts Sub-group, the Security Sub-group, that dealing with the transmission of information and with the contractual provisions moreover the Rules of Procedure and the Immunities Sub-groups, studying the situations in member and non-member states finally, the Patents Sub-group, ...

Abstract: The Personnel Sub-group was the body in charge of the study the procedures of recruitment and retributions of ELDO staff. Moreover, this sub-serie includs the proposals of the national delegations for the savegard of their high-level staff. ELDO.B-02.05 ELDO.B-02.05

Abstract: Theoretically, the Secretariat should have been the leading operational board, but the Convention assigned to it uninfluential powers. The Secretariat coordinated in fact the work, preparing materially the documents and playing a roles as "trait d'union" among the bodies. ELDO.B-03 ELDO.B-03

Abstract: No official serie of minutes of the Secretariat's meetings came to Florence. This sub-serie is in fact a semi-official gathering. ELDO.B-03.01 ELDO.B-03.01

Abstract: Among the official serie of the Secretariat papers, a great amount was devoted to the preparation of the various meetings, to the providing of documentation, to the general information to the delegations and to the staff. ELDO.B-03.02 ELDO.B-03.02

Abstract: This sub-serie includs the official issues dedicated to the preparation of the annual budgets and financial assessments. ELDO.B-03.03 ELDO.B-03.03

Abstract: This sub-serie includs the official issues dedicated to the management of the staff and of the facilities. ELDO.B-03.04 ELDO.B-03.04

Abstract: ELDO.B-03.05 ELDO.B-03.05

Abstract: The Preparatory Group setted up a Technical Committee. A governmental delegate for each member state captained the delegation, composed also by advisors. COPERS observers attended the meetings. The Technical Committee recommended decisions to the governments, having not power on funds. ELDO.B-04 ELDO.B-04