Copernicus Programme 2014-2020

PURPOSE: to establish the Copernicus programme (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security).

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) No 377/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Copernicus Programme and repealing Regulation (EU) No 911/2010

CONTENT: Copernicus is the new name of the European Earth Observation Programme, GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) established under Regulation (EU) No 911/2010. This Regulation establishes Copernicus, the Union Earth observation and monitoring programme, and lays down the rules for its implementation. Copernicus is a civil, user driven programme under civil control, building on the existing national and European capacities, as well as ensuring continuity with the activities achieved under the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security.

It consists of the following components:

·         a service component ensuring delivery of information in the following six areas: atmosphere monitoring, marine environment monitoring, land monitoring, climate change, emergency management and security;

·         a space component ensuring sustainable spaceborne observations for the service areas referred to above;

·         an in situ component ensuring coordinated access to observations through airborne, seaborne and ground-based installations for the six service areas.

Appropriate links and interfaces between these components will be established.

Objectives

General objectives are as follows:

·         monitoring the Earth to support the protection of the environment and the efforts of civil protection and civil security;

·         maximising socio-economic benefits, thereby supporting the Europe 2020 strategy by promoting the use of Earth observation in applications and services;

·         fostering the development of a competitive European space and services industry and maximising opportunities for European enterprises to develop innovative Earth observation systems and services;

·         ensuring autonomous access to environmental knowledge and key technologies for Earth observation and geoinformation services;

·         supporting European policies and fostering global initiatives, such as GEOSS.

In order to attain the general objectives, Copernicus shall have the following specific objectives: (a) delivering accurate and reliable data and information to Copernicus users; (b) providing access to spaceborne data and information from an autonomous European Earth observation capacity with consistent technical specifications; (c) providing access to in situ data, relying, in particular, on existing capacities operated at European and national levels, and on global observation systems and networks.

Measurement of objectives: these result indicators will be used: (i) Copernicus data made available in accordance with the respective service-level delivery requirements for the environment, civil protection and civil security; (ii) increased demand for Copernicus data measured by the progression in number of users, etc.; (iii) use of Copernicus data by Union institutions, international organisations and European, national, regional or local authorities; (iv) market penetration; (v) sustained availability of Copernicus data supporting its services.

Financial envelope:  for the implementation of the activities relating to the service, space and in-situ components, the financial envelope is set at EUR 4 291.48 million in current prices for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020.

This amount is broken down in the following categories of expenditure in current prices:

·         for the activities relating to service and in situ components, EUR 897,415 million;

·         for the activities relating to the space component, EUR 3 394.065 million, including a maximum amount of EUR 26.5 million for protection of satellites against the risk of collision.

Governance: the Commission shall have overall responsibility for Copernicus and for the coordination among its different components, and shall manage the funds allocated and oversee the implementation of Copernicus including the setting of priorities, user involvement, cost, schedule, performance and procurement.

The Regulation contains provisions relating to the rules on public procurement. The Financial Regulation, and in particular the principles of open access and fair competition throughout the industrial supply chain, tendering on the basis of the provision of transparent and timely information, clear communication of the applicable procurement rules, selection and award criteria and any other relevant information allowing a level-playing field for all potential bidders, shall apply to Copernicus.

European Space Agency: Copernicus is based on a partnership between the Union, ESA and the Member States. The Commission shall conclude a delegation agreement with ESA entrusting it with certain specified tasks, including ensuring the technical coordination of the Copernicus space component. It will also rely on the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) for the operation of dedicated missions in accordance with its expertise and mandate.

Ownership: the Union shall be the owner of all tangible and intangible assets created or developed under Copernicus. To that effect, agreements shall be concluded with third parties with regard to existing ownership rights. The Commission shall ensure the optimal use of the assets and in particular, it shall manage the intellectual property rights relating to Copernicus as effectively as possible.

Evaluation: by 31 December 2017, an evaluation report shall be established by the Commission on the achievement of the objectives of all the tasks financed by Copernicus at the level of their results and impacts, their European added value and on the efficiency of the use of resources.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 25.04.2014.

APPLICATION: from 01.01.2014.

DELEGATED ACTS: the Commission may adopt delegated acts as in respect of the data requirements necessary for the evolution of operational services, the conditions and procedures regarding access to, registration and use of Copernicus data and Copernicus information, the specific technical criteria necessary to prevent the disruption of Copernicus data and Copernicus information and the criteria for the restriction of acquisition or dissemination of Copernicus data and Copernicus information due to conflicting rights. The European Parliament or the Council may raise objections in regard to a delegated act within two months of notification of that act (this period may be extended by two months). If the European Parliament or the Council make objections, the delegated act will not enter into force.