European Economic
and Social Committee
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.