Mid-term review of the Copernicus programme (2014-2020) (report)

Key points

The EESC:

• welcomes the results achieved so far by the Copernicus programme;
• considers the participation of civil society in the definition of spatial strategies and programmes indispensable;
• declares its interest and willingness to play an active role for establishing a real European Space Community;
• welcomes specially designated Masters programmes, supporting some European university students studying for a Masters degree on Copernicus;
• hopes that priority will be given to European launchers to protect European industry against unfair practices through the principle of reciprocity;
• welcomes the governance model adopted for the Copernicus programme, in particular the creation of the user forum;
• recommends strengthening security safeguards to ensure data protection from increasingly frequent attacks and speeding up programmes aimed at cleaning up debris and satellites that are no longer operational;
• advocates greater involvement of the financial system and investors in space activities;
• recommends keeping and possibly reinforcing funding for the Copernicus programme.

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.