In 1998, the UPU Postal Operations Council created a new structure for the development of EMS services, similar to a cooperative. The EMS Cooperative aims to promote cooperation between member postal organizations to allow them to provide their customers with a high quality EMS service on a global basis.
According to the EMS Cooperative Statutes, only designated postal operators that are members of the UPU can join the EMS Cooperative.
Membership in the EMS Cooperative is voluntary. Nonetheless, more than 170 postal administrations are now members.
The EMS Cooperative is structured around three management bodies:
the General Assembly, composed of all members of the Cooperative,
the EMS Cooperative Board, composed of seven elected ad personam members, and
the EMS Unit, the executive arm of the Cooperative, which is based at the International Bureau of the UPU.
Since its creation, the Cooperative has strengthened the EMS product through the establishment of common standards and procedures and measurement of performance.