There are two types of membership in the Core Group: Members and Observers. The opportunity to apply to be a member or observer to the Core Group is open to all countries that are members or observer states of the United Nations.
Members are those that have expressed that they underwrite the goals and objectives of the Core Group.
Observers are those that have expressed that they are interested to learn what it means to support the goals and objectives of the Core Group.
Any Member State that wishes to join the Core Group as an Observer or a Member is required to submit a request in writing to the Co-Chairs (currently Chile and the Kingdom of the Netherlands).
In the case of applying to be a Member, States should make clear, that they underwrite the goals and objectives of the Core Group and substantiate this with examples of national legislation and policy.
In the case of applying to be an Observer, States should make clear that they are interested to learn what it means to support the goals and objectives of the Core Group.
The Core Group strives to have a broad, cross regional membership with balanced geographical representation. To ensure this, an applicant from the from WEOG/EEG region will only be admitted as a member when a country has also joined from Africa/GRULAC/Asia and the Pacific. There is no such geographical restriction on becoming an Observer State. If an Applicant to be a member is not able to join due to the geographical restriction mentioned above, it will be invited to be an Observer until it is eligible to join due to member(s) joining from another relevant region.
The request will be discussed at the first consequent meeting of the Core Group.
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