Membership

Who can obtain CoESS membership?

The Confederation of European Security Services is made up of the following membership categories: 

• A minimum of three founding active members 
• Active members 
• Associated members 
• Company members
• Corresponding members 
• Supporting members 

National bodies (associations or federations or any other institution of the same type and with the same objectives) representing companies which provide security services in all their forms and, in particular, guarding, transport of valuables, airport security, maritime security, monitoring and remote surveillance etc. in European countries may become members of the Confederation. Such national bodies, established in a Member State of the European Union, when joining the Confederation, can only be active members.

The Confederation only accepts one body per country. Exceptionally, a country may be represented by two bodies or even more, but only in the event of the activity of each of these bodies being sufficiently distinct so that all security services in all their forms are represented. As an exception to this rule, there can be several bodies representing one country, even within the same branch of activity, but only for a limited time and while awaiting unification of these bodies representing the same branch of activity. This unification must take place within a reasonable period of time, to be set by the CoESS Board of Directors, after admission of the second body or body last admitted representing the same branch of activity. If such unification fails to take place within this limit of time, the above-mentioned body or bodies will automatically cease being member of the Confederation. The CoESS Board of Directors decides to which body/bodies this rule applies. In view of ongoing developments, the CoESS Board of Directors may decide upon an extension of the above-mentioned period of time.

In the case of admission of two or more national bodies representing activities sufficiently distinct or activities of the same branch, this admission will require a specially justified deliberation by the CoESS Board of Directors.

All bodies that would thus represent one country will undertake to do everything to move towards one national body representing all these separate bodies. Admission into the Confederation is subject to a formal agreement by the concerned bodies to engage in this process.

Bodies dealing with workplace safety (health and safety) may not become active members of the Confederation. 

Associated members

The bodies as defined above that fulfil the conditions required by the Statutes to become members and that wish to participate in the work of the Confederation, but which are established in a country that is not a Member State of the European Union, can join the Confederation as associated members. Should they choose so, they can join the Confederation as active members.

However, as soon as the country in which such a body is established becomes a Member State of the European Union, the associated member representing this country automatically becomes an active member of the Confederation with the rights and obligations incumbent on this position.

An associated member or a member from a country which is not a European Union Member State can become an active member of the Confederation on the condition that its explicit and written request for admission as an active member is preceded by a positive report of the CoESS Board of Directors of the Confederation and on the condition that this member subscribes to the obligations concerning annual contributions linked to active membership.

The Confederation only accepts one body per country. Exceptionally, a country may be represented by two bodies or even more, but only in the event of the activity of each of these bodies being sufficiently distinct, so that all security services in all their forms are represented. As an exception to this rule, there can be several bodies representing one country, even within the same branch of activity, but only for a limited time and while awaiting unification of these bodies representing the same branch of activity. This unification must take place within a reasonable period of time, to be set by the CoESS Board of Directors, after admission of the second body or body last admitted representing the same branch of activity. If such unification fails to take place within this limit of time, the above-mentioned body or bodies will automatically cease being member of the Confederation. The CoESS Board of Directors decides to which body/bodies this rule applies. In view of ongoing developments, the CoESS Board of Directors may decide upon an extension of the above-mentioned period of time.

In the case of admission of two or more national bodies representing activities sufficiently distinct or activities of the same branch, this admission will require a specially justified deliberation by the CoESS Board of Directors.

All bodies that would thus represent one country will undertake to do everything to move towards one national body representing all these separate bodies. Admission into the Confederation is subject to a formal agreement by the concerned bodies to engage in this process.

Bodies dealing with workplace safety (health and safety) may not become associated members of the Confederation. 

Company members 

National companies established in a European country or a group of companies or a European division of a multinational company with headquarters established in Europe, involved in private security services, can become company members.

In order to be admitted as company member, individual companies must be a member of a national body that has been admitted as an active member of CoESS or must be a member of a national body that has been admitted as an associated member of CoESS.

In case there is no national body in the country where the company is located, or there is such a national body, but it is not affiliated to the Confederation, irrespective of whether the applying individual company is a member or not of that body, the company can be accepted as a member by decision of the CoESS Board of Directors.

Company membership cannot be transmitted. In case of a merger or a fusion or any other operation whereby a company, already member of the Confederation, is being incorporated into another company not member of the Confederation, the latter, should it wish to remain a member of the Confederation, must seek membership under the conditions and following the procedures and requirements set out in the Statutes. 

Corresponding members

The European organisations or European chapters of international organisations that are not a national body as defined above and that are active in the field of private security services may join the Confederation as a corresponding member. 

Supporting members

Any legal and/or natural person, including those registered outside the European Union or Europe, whose activities do not comply with the definitions above, but who wishes to contribute to the achievement of the Confederation’s objectives, can be admitted as a supporting member.

The admission to the Confederation as a supporting member shall be subject to a written agreement between the Confederation, decided and signed by the CoESS Board of Directors on behalf of the Confederation and including a possible seat in the CoESS Board of Directors; and the organisation, company or individual stating the objectives and modalities of such a supporting membership or sponsorship. 

Each body or organisation as defined above seeking the right to become an active or associated member of the Confederation must provide the proof of its representativeness. This includes the proof of following elements: 

• Representation, at national level, of the whole of the private security industry or a specific branch thereof; 
• Be an integral and recognised part of the national social partners’ structures and with the capacity to negotiate collective agreements if applicable and existing in the country concerned; 
• Have adequate structures and the national financial means to ensure the effective participation in the work of the Confederation.