The countries of Europe, through their NM(H)Ss, have developed a cooperation model to develop and implement a comprehensive infrastructure to enable the NM(H)Ss to carry out their duties. This infrastructure is referred to as the European Meteorological Infrastructure or EMI. The EMI combines the national assets of the NM(H)Ss (through EUMETNET) and the shared networked capabilities of two intergovernmental organisations: ECMWF and EUMETSAT. This forms a consistent European information system which enables each NM(H)S to deliver information services to decision makers, customers and users.

Within EUMETNET we define the EMI in the following way:

a. ‘Infrastructure’ is the set of installations, capabilities and basic production lines operated by the European (see below for definition) NM(H)Ss in order to meet their own and the collective needs for delivering information and producing services to their governments and customers.

b. ‘Europe’ is the countries/NM(H)Ss that are full Members of one or more of EUMETNET, ECMWF and/or EUMETSAT, plus the EU-countries/NM(H)Ss that are not yet full Members but have the status of co-operating states of ECMWF or EUMETSAT.

c. ‘Meteorological’ contains all aspects undertaken at present within the framework of EUMETSAT, ECMWF and EUMETNET's missions and within the core work of the NM(H)Ss, e.g., issuing warnings and climatological advice.

d. It is one of the main tasks of NM(H)Ss to ensure that the meteorological infrastructure is operated and maintained in order to support their core work. The core work of the NM(H)Ss may include activities that are not common to all EUMETNET Members. Until a better definition is developed, the core activities of the NM(H)Ss that are not subject to existing or eventual competition will be referred to as “official duties”.

e. The NM(H)Ss (on behalf of member states) are the main shareholders of the EMI.

EUMETSAT, ECMWF, EUMETNET and the member NM(H)Ss complement each other's activities within the EMI. EUMETSAT operates systems of European satellites for meteorology and climate monitoring (currently Meteosat and MetOp) and delivers generic or specialised observational products and related services in real time. ECMWF develops and applies advanced numerical earth system models running on one of the world's largest super computers to deliver advanced medium to extended range forecasts (e.g. weather, sea state).