April 2001

1. Following a postal vote, the members of FICSA unanimously accepted the application of the Staff Association of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), whose headquarters are in Garching (Germany), for associate membership.

2. FICSA now has: 26 member associations/unions from 21 organizations and 6 regional offices; 3 associate members; 24 members with consultative status; 17 members with observer status (FUNSAs).

3. The category of associate members was created in 2000, largely at the initiative of the CERN Staff Association, in order to enable the staff associations/unions from organizations outside the United Nations common system to strengthen their links with other staff associations/unions. Such closer links are to the benefit of all international civil servants.