What is GMES

 

GMES is an initiative set up jointly by the European Commission and the European Space Agency. It is driven by the need to improve the monitoring of the European and global environment in view of pursuing the sustainable management of our resources and the security of the citizen. The key feature of the GMES strategy is to establish by 2008 a European capacity which, through technological, institutional and political support will fully meet those objectives. [...]

 

In this context, GMES will pay particular attention to the use and development of appropriate information technologies among which space observations represent a key asset to improve the European capacity to monitor the environment and to play a role in preserving stability and security. The mission and challenge of GMES thus is to contribute to the timely provision of such information necessary to enable all society agents, each in their own capacity, to take the decisions and actions which will make sustainable development become a reality. [...]

 

The GMES Vision for 2008

In 2008 the capacity for GMES should be an operational system consisting of three main components:

a partnership of the key European actors

European Shared Information Services

mechanisms to maintain the dialogue between stakeholders of information production and use. [...]

The GMES Action Plan (2002-2008)

 

The Initial Period (2002-2003):

A series of Thematic Projects have been initiated covering some of the major priority areas of the 6th EU Environment Action Programme. By the end of 2003 these projects have delivered information products of interest to EU policies in particular in the field of nature protection, soil degradation, marine resources and air pollution. In addition they have also reported the users comments and document fully the quality of the information produced. [...]

 

The Implementation Period (2004-2008):

The recommendations stemming from the Initial Period of work address the obstacles to an efficient production of information for European environment and security policies and suggest ways to improve the situation and to establish by 2008 a European capacity for GMES.

These recommendations will then be evaluated by the European Commission and the ESA Executive and serve as input to prepare proposals to be submitted in the decision making process of the respective institutions. In order to ensure continuity between the two periods of the Action Plan, the EU 6th Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration and other ESA relevant programmes will fund GMES projects. [...]

 

(Source: GMES Newsletters 1 & 2)