Notawisseling houdende een verdrag tussen het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden en het Europees Ruimte-Agentschap (ESA) inzake de positie van ESA-ESTEC-stagiairs in Nederland

For the purposes of the present exchange of Diplomatic Notes, ``apprentice" means a person who has been accepted by ESA for its apprenticeship programme for ESTEC for the purpose of performing certain tasks at ESTEC without receiving salary from ESA therefor. An apprentice shall not be considered in any respect to fall under one of the categories of persons as described in Article 1 or Article 14 of the Headquarters Agreement.

Within eight (8) days after first arrival of the apprentice in the Netherlands, the Agency shall request the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register the apprentice in accordance with paragraph 3.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall register the apprentice in the Netherlands for the purpose of his apprenticeship at ESTEC for a maximum period of one year, provided that ESA supplies the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a declaration signed by the apprentice, accompanied by adequate proof, to the effect that:
a) the apprentice entered the Netherlands in accordance with the applicable immigration procedures;
b) the apprentice has sufficient financial means for living expenses and for repatriation, as well as sufficient medical insurance (including coverage of costs of hospitalization for at least the duration of the apprenticeship plus one month) and third party liability insurance, and will not be a charge to the public purse of the Netherlands;
c) the apprentice will not work in the Netherlands during his apprenticeship other than as an apprentice at ESTEC;
d) the apprentice will not bring any family members to reside with him in the Netherlands other than in accordance with the applicable immigration procedures;
e) the apprentice will leave the Netherlands within 14 days after termination of his apprenticeship with ESA unless he is otherwise entitled to stay in the Netherlands in accordance with the applicable immigration legislation.

Upon registration of the apprentice in accordance with paragraph 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall issue an identity card bearing the code ZF to the apprentice.

ESA shall not incur liability for damage resulting from non-fulfilment, by apprentices registered in accordance with paragraph 3, of the conditions of the declaration referred to in that paragraph.

The apprentice shall not enjoy any privileges or immunities.

In exceptional circumstances, the maximum period of one year mentioned in paragraph 3 may be extended once by a maximum period of one year.

ESA shall notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the final departure of the apprentice from the Netherlands within eight (8) days after such departure, and shall at the same time return the identity card of the apprentice.

This Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent at any time at the request of either ESA or the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Any dispute between ESA and the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement, which cannot be settled amicably, shall be settled by way of the procedure set out in Article 25 of the Headquarters Agreement.

This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of time. At any time, either ESA or the Kingdom of the Netherlands may terminate the Agreement by giving three (3) months advance notice in writing.