European Union & International Organisations Relations

Relations with international organisations and other partners

The team develops and coordinates structured engagement with international organisations to enhance CERN’s visibility, impact, and influence. This includes, among others, EIROforum members, the UN‑system and other intergovernmental organisations, scientific unions, global scientific organisations, intergovernmental scientific bodies, global summits, science‑policy platforms, and parliamentary science forums. Through these engagements, the section ensures that CERN contributes actively to multilateral discussions shaping the global science and technology policy agenda.

International scientific organisations

CERN cooperates with a number of international scientific organisations, in particular through the EIROforum, a group of eight large European research organisations (CERN, ESA, ESO, EMBL, ESRF, EUROfusion, European XFEL, ILL).

In addition, CERN has signed specific bilateral cooperation agreements with ITER, ESA, ESO, IRENA, ICTP, and is a strong partner of the Middle East’s pioneering SESAME laboratory.

United Nations system

CERN has signed cooperation agreements with several UN organisations: UNESCO, UNITAR/ UNOSAT (hosted at CERN), IPU, ITU, WIPO, WMO, WHO and UNOG. Notable areas of cooperation include the promotion of joint initiatives in the area of science, technology and innovation, the management of complex IT systems, or data preservation. CERN is also linked to IPU by a memorandum of cooperation.

In 2012, the member states of the United Nations formally recognised the positive role of CERN in the international community and its contribution to the resolution of global issues by adopting a resolution granting CERN observer status at the United Nations General Assembly.

Sustainable Development Goals

CERN contributes de facto to some of the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN roadmap for development for the years 2015-2030. These goals are of particular relevance in CERN action and impact on society^

  • Goal 3: Good health and well-being
  • Goal 4: Quality education
  • Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
  • Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

European Union

CERN has a long-standing cooperation with the European Commission along three main axes:

  1. the implementation of the European Research Area – policy level relations within the framework of the CERN-EC MoU in areas such as research and e-infrastructures, international cooperation, careers and mobility of researchers, Open Access etc.
  2. the participation in the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Technological development – working level relations with the EC Directorates-General RTD, CNECT and EAC.
  3. collaboration with the Joint Research Centre of the EC in a number of areas of mutual interest and benefit, such as knowledge and technology transfer, medical isotopes, neutron and big data.

Cooperation with the EU is coordinated by the CERN EU Projects Office.

Other Partners

In addition to these international organisations, CERN also collaborates with a number of platforms and networks of partners, such as GSPI, engaged on the science policy interface. They serve as important multipliers for our work in this area.