Observing our planet for a safer world

Data gathered from Earth observation satellites and ground-based systems in the context of the GMES initiative improve Europeans' quality of life; GMES projects empower Europe to harvest the potential of spacefor sustainable development and a safer world.

The GMES initiative plays a strategic role in supporting major EU policies. It has an impact on:

• Europe'senvironmental commitments, within EU territory and globally, by contributing to the formulation, implementation and verification of the EU's environmental policies, national regulations and international conventions
• otherEU policy areassuch as agriculture, regional development, fisheries, transport, maritime policy, external relations and development aide
• Common Foreign and Security Policy(CFSP), including the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)
• other policies addressingEuropeans' securityat EU and national level, notably the potential that exists for policies related to the EU's Justice and Home Affairs activities, such as border surveillance

At the June 2001 Gothenburg summit and in the subsequent resolution, the Council of the EU gave strong political support to the GMES initiative whose services are to lead to 'anoperational and autonomousEuropean capability'.

In December 2008, this commitment was reiterated by the Council in its conclusions on "Global Monitoring for Environment and Security: 'Towards a GMES programme'".

Theroles and responsibilitiesof the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA) have been clearly defined. The EU will define the priorities and requirements, aggregate the political will and user demand, and ensure the availability and continuity of services. ESA, its member and co-operating states will develop space technologies and systems in the scope of the European Space Policy, and will, in particular, support and define the technical specifications of the GMES space component.