In November 2003, the ESA Council adopted the Framework Agreement (FA) endorsed by the EU Council in October 2003. The FA entered into force in May 2004 and has two main aims:

• to establish a common basis and appropriate practical arrangements for efficient and mutually beneficial cooperation between ESA and the EU
• to progressively develop a European space policy to link the demand for services and applications in support of EU policies with the supply, through ESA, of the space systems and infrastructure needed to meet that demand. The European Space Policy was adopted in May 2007.
   

European Conference on Satellite Communications, also Conférence européenne pour les télécommunications par satellites (CETS). Created in 1963, ceased activity in 1970.

European Centre for Space Records – physical home to the ESA Archives in ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

European Space Vehicle Launcher Development Organisation (also known as European Launcher Development Organisation), created in 1964 to establish a satellite launch vehicle for Europe. It operated until it was merged with ESRO to form ESA in 1975.

European Space Agency, created in 1975 with the merger of ESRO and ELDO

The Council is ESA's governing body. Each Member State is represented on the Council and has one vote. The ESA Council meets as and when required and at least twice a year at delegate level and regularly at ministerial level.

European Space Conference, created in 1966 coordinate the activities of the two space organisations (ELDO and ESRO) and the implementation of a European space policy

European Centre for Space Law, established in 1989 under the auspices of ESA

European Space Data Acquisition Centre

ESRO’s European Space Research Laboratory, set up in 1965 in Noordwijk in the Netherlands