Daniel Soderman
PRIMET Secretary General
Aallokko 3A76
FIN-02320 Espoo
Finland

Subject ECMWF data access and utilization, archive data, pricing

Dear Dr Soderman,

On behalf of the ECMWF Council, I wish to thank you formally for your letters concerning the above subjects. You will know that these letters were submitted to the 60th Council session, which took place on 3-4 June 2004.

First of all, Council expressed its appreciation for the interest expressed by PRIMET in expanding the use of ECMWF products. I can also assure you that the Council members took the concerns expressed in your letters very seriously. Partly as a result of your letters, and partly as a general strategy discussion of the development of ECMWF, Council asked the Policy Advisory Committee to study the policy aspects of data provision thoroughly.

I can also inform you that Council decided to reduce its maximum price level for real time products considerably, whilst it also decided to review the pricing mechanisms and structure in a year's time.