EUSPA welcomes the Polish Presidency

With a theme of 'Security, Europe!', EU Space will play a key role in supporting the priorities set by Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Facing increasing geopolitical tensions, the erosion of the rules-based international order and hybrid attacks targeting European democracy and security, it should come as no surprise that the theme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which it took over on 1 January, is 'Security, Europe'.

"The European Union must protect itself and its citizens and take care of its immediate neighbourhood," reads a statement issued by the Presidency. "It must give Europeans a sense of security and prospects for development."

To do so, the Presidency looks to spend the next six months supporting activities that strengthen European security in all its dimensions, including: external, internal, information, economic, energy, food, and health.

Here's how EU Space can support each of these seven priorities.

1. Defence and security

The EU has made space a key component in its security and defence. This concept has been enshrined in the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence, which aims to protect Europe's space assets, defend its interests, deter hostile activities in space and strengthen its strategic posture and autonomy.

EUSPA plays a leading role in the implementation of the Strategy. It includes co-facilitating the EU Space Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (EUSpace ISAC), operating the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) Front Desk, procuring the GOVSATCOM Hub, and helping ramp up IRIS².

Furthermore, EUSPA supports security-related applications and provides services from space for a secure and safe life.

"As the security gatekeeper of the EU Space Programme ensuring service continuity and robustness, EUSPA looks forward to working with the Polish Presidency to further contribute to enhancing the safety of citizens, the security of the Union and its Member States, and reinforce its autonomy, in particular in terms of technologies" says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa.

2. Protection of people and borders

The Polish Presidency's focus on European Union's borders is also supported by EU Space.

EUSPA, through its mandate, is committed to make the best use of the EU space components when it comes to security and safety including for safeguarding maritime areas against emerging threats, contributing to improving maritime security, and supporting coastguard operations.

The Polish Presidency can also count on EU Space to help enhance its capacities for disaster resilience and humanitarian assistance. As to the former, each component of the EU Space Programme brings added value to different phases of the disaster risk management and mitigation chain. For example, while Copernicus delivers on-demand, detailed information for selected emergency situations, including fires and flooding, Galileo provides the precise positioning needed for search and rescue operations. So, they are essential tools for civil protection and crisis management.

"By leveraging the full potential of EU Space data and information, the EU can enable efficient and faster humanitarian interventions, protect vulnerable communities before disasters strike and, ultimately, save more lives," adds da Costa.

3. Resistance to foreign interference

EU Space supports European Union autonomy and independence - both of which are critical to ensuring our democratic values and protecting the rule of law. For example, with Galileo, Europeans rely on a reliable EU system.

Satellite positioning is vital, and its loss would cause widespread disruption: drivers, crews, and citizens would be disoriented, while governments, financial systems, utilities, and emergency services would grind to a halt.

"The EU had the foresight to see society's growing dependency on satellite positioning and instead of relying on other countries' positioning systems, the EU built Galileo, which now provides an accuracy superior to any other GNSS system," says da Costa.

The Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (GSMC) is for instance a critical component of the Galileo infrastructure. Functioning as a Security Operations Centre (SOC), the GSMC monitors and responds to security and cyber-security threats, ensuring the operational integrity of the Galileo system. By detecting and addressing potential security incidents-whether accidental or deliberate-the GSMC safeguards the programme's services against disruptions caused by security breaches or cyber threats.

EUSPA is also working to develop an even stronger Galileo services to further limit interference, such as when malicious actors spoof the satellite navigation signals to provide unreliable or even fake positioning information. The Galileo Open Service - Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) is an authentication mechanism that lets Galileo Open Service users verify that the data they receive is indeed coming from Galileo and has not been modified in any way.

4. Ensuring security and freedom of business

With EU Space being a key enabler of European competitiveness, it must play a leading role in the Polish Presidency's efforts to restore European competitiveness in the global arena.

According to EUSPA's EO & GNSS Market Report, GNSS and Earth Observation combined global revenues are set to increase from more than EUR 260 billion in 2023 to nearly EUR 590 billion by 2033 - with cumulative global GNSS downstream market revenues expected to surpass EUR 4.5 trillion during that same period.

Add these figures up and what you get is a clear opportunity for European companies to compete in the global market.

To help businesses leverage this opportunity, EUSPA serves as the go-to-source for all things EU Space, providing the information, expertise and market intelligence companies need to successfully integrate European space solutions into the applications, devices and services we all use on a daily basis.

5. Energy transition

With the reliability and certainty of the supply of energy resources being crucial to the EU's energy security, the Polish Presidency has made reducing our dependency on imported fuel a key priority.

A good place to start for delivering on this priority is to promote the transition to renewable energy. From choosing the best location for wind turbines to understanding how dust storms might impact solar energy production, the EU Space Programme is a key enabler of Europe's energy transition.

EU Space also plays an important role in ensuring that European Union has secure and sustainable access to the raw materials needed to drive its energy transition. The raw materials sector already depends on GNSS and Earth Observation for everything from surveying mining sites to accessing remote areas and enabling the safe operation of heavy machinery.

6. Competitive and resilient agriculture

As the Polish Presidency looks to implement a competitive and resilient European agriculture sector, one capable of providing food security for all Europeans, it can depend on the support of EU Space.

For instance, it can leverage Copernicus data, together with field surveys, to help monitor crop seasons and quantify the areas to be planted and, later, harvested. In addition, it can use GNSS and Earth Observation data to determine where to apply fertilisers and pesticides, thereby reducing their use by as much as 20% while increasing yields by more than 10%.

Galileo and Copernicus data are also behind such key operational tools as farm machinery guidance, precision irrigation and variable rate application. All these tools increase the productivity of agricultural cultivation by supporting informed management processes and optimising the use of land, seeds, plant protection agents and water

7. Health security

The Polish Presidency will also focus on the digital transformation of healthcare and the need to improve EU medicines security. Here, Copernicus can be used to support public health authorities identify areas prone to the emergence and spread of epidemics by providing information on such pertinent environmental factors as water, sanitation, food and air quality.

A perfect example of how the health sector can use EU Space data is the Copernicus Health Hub. The tool is designed to help the health sector better leverage all the Earth Observation data, information, products and services available to them. Having access to such information could play a key role in preventing future pandemics, mapping diseases, addressing air pollution and monitoring allergens.

EUSPA looks to further the uptake of EU Space data for healthcare purposes via its Copernicus demonstrator, an initiative that supports health companies developing innovative solutions that leverage Copernicus data. One such collaboration is with RSQ Technologies, a Polish MedTech company investigating the link between heatwaves and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in Poland. The company aims to develop a predictive algorithm that can empower various healthcare stakeholders to better respond to climate change and save lives.

EUSPA looks forward to working with the Polish Presidency

Poland takes over the rotating Council Presidency and, over the course of the next half-year, will chair meetings at every level in the Council, helping ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council.

"By fostering the development of an innovative, competitive and independent space sector, EU Space contributes to such key priorities as the green and energy transformation and provides for the safety and security of the Union and its citizens - all while reinforcing the EU's autonomy, resilience and democratic principles," concludes da Costa. "The Polish Presidency priorities are clear, and we are committed to support and put them into practice."

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).