Press Release: European Commission launches a plan of action for global monitoring for environment and security

At the initiative of the European Commission, a new programme using space technology for the environment and security is to be launched. Philippe Busquin, the Commissioner responsible for research (including space), and Margot Wallström, the Commissioner responsible for the environment, have joined forces to present a detailed plan of action which, by 2008, will provide Europe with independent, operational capacity in global monitoring for environment and security (GMES). The first stage of this plan (2001-2003) is due to get the go-ahead from the EU research ministers at their council meeting on 30 October 2001. The use of earth observing satellites will be combined with data and information collected by ground-level sensors. The data collected will provide accurate information in support of several Community policies, sustainable development and climate change, civil protection, humanitarian aid, safety, research and space strategy among them. To begin with, this initiative will be financed jointly by the European Commission and the European Space Agency.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2001&nu_doc=609 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2001&nu_doc=609

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