Following the request of the Council of Ministers to elaborate an action plan leading to the setting-up of an EU programme for securing the availability of GMES services and of critical observation data, the European Commission has published on 12 November 2008 the communication entitled 'Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES): we care for a safer planet'.
The Commissions states that a legislative proposal will be made in 2009 for an EU Earth observation programme named GMES. The so-called programme will be user driven and will deliver services of public interest such as maps for emergency operations, monitoring of climate change parameters or chemical composition of the atmosphere.
The communication also addresses the future financing of GMES, which is expected to be mainly public. The Commission will consequently examine the operational funding necessary for GMES during 2011-2013. After that period, decisions on funding and organisational arrangements will have to be determined as part of the next EU multi-annual financial framework.
Regarding the governance of GMES, the Commission states that a large number of players will contribute to the implementation of the system including intergovernmental agencies, such as ESA, and national and regional organisations. The overall political coordination will still be entrusted to the European Commission assisted by a Programme Committee, a Partners Board, a Security Board and a User Forum.
According to the Commission, further investments are necessary in order to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the system. In this context, the growth of the GMES downstream sector will be stimulated by EU instruments for competitiveness and innovation.
Finally, at international level, the Commission proposes to establish an international cooperation strategy for GMES. The Commission will collaborate with its GEO partners to maintain access to observation data, and define what the European contribution to GEOSS shall be.
More information on Europa website
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