4 | II Série A - Número: 077S2 | 28 de Fevereiro de 2009

The States Parties to this Convention: ACKNOWLEDGING that weather-related threats to life and health, and to economy and property, are increasingly important; CONVINCED that the improvement of medium-range weather forecasts contributes to the protection and safety of the population; CONVINCED FURTHER that the scientific and technical research carried out for this purpose provides a valuable stimulus to the development of meteorology in Europe; CONSIDERING that, to achieve this purpose and these objectives, resources on a scale exceeding those normally practicable at national level are needed; NOTING the importance for the European economy of a considerable improvement in medium- range weather forecasts; REAFFIRMING that the establishment of an autonomous European centre with international status is the appropriate means to attain this purpose and these objectives; CONVINCED that such a centre can make valuable contributions to developing the scientific basis for environmental monitoring; NOTING that such a centre can also assist in the post-university training of scientists; ASSURING that the activities of such a centre will, moreover, make a necessary contribution to certain programmes of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and to other relevant agencies; CONSIDERING the importance that the establishment of such a centre can have for the development of European industry in the field of data processing; REALIZING the will to widen the membership of such a centre to more States; have agreed as follows: