Starting today, 24 March 2026, the EU-funded SUNSHINE project is conducting its first Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) in Brussels. Running through 25 March, this activity supports the operational uptake of EU Space Programme data and services by EU Member States civil protection authorities.

This is the first-ever EU-level cross-cutting simulation exercise designed to cover all components of the EU Space Programme - Copernicus, Galileo, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), GOVSATCOM, and IRIS² - within a single operational framework for civil protection authorities. By using this approach, attendees will gain a clear understanding of how these space-based services can support emergency management procedures.

The exercise is designed as a practical, scenario-based activity which places participants in a simulated real-life crisis environment. It enables professionals to apply the knowledge acquired during their participation in a previous SUNSHINE Training, within a realistic and time-constrained operational setting.

"Taking part in the first SUNSHINE SIMEX has been an outstanding opportunity, not only for discovering the great potential of EU space assets in a crisis scenario, but also for the human experience of working side by side with colleagues from different EU Member States. Exchanging perspectives, comparing procedures, and building trust across teams made the scenarios feel truly operational. Beyond the exercise itself, we are bringing back practical takeaways we can apply immediately at home, from faster access to space-based information to clearer coordination workflows, helping make our response processes more efficient and effective." Paolo Covelli, Civil Protection Officer at Italian Civil Protection, SUNSHINE SIMEX participant

Over the course of the two-day exercise, participants will follow established activation procedures for exploiting EU Space-based data and services across two simulated crisis scenarios: one related to wildfires, and another related to floods. The primary objective is to strengthen their ability to effectively use and activate EU Space services in support of civil protection decision-making processes.

The SUNSHINE Simulation Exercises complement the project's training opportunities, building on seminars, webinars and technical assistance to national civil protection authorities, by translating theoretical knowledge into operational practice. This approach supports continuous learning and helps improving participants' ability to integrate space-based solutions into real-world emergency management workflows in their country.

"Exercises like the SUNSHINE SIMEX are essential to keep Europe's civil protection community up to date with the latest tools and procedures, and ready to act when crises strike. By training together and testing how space-based services can better support the Emergency Response Coordination Center and the EU Member States situational awareness, coordination and decision-making, we strengthen our collective preparedness and ensure the Union Civil Protection Mechanism remains operationally fit for purpose". Olimpia Imperiali, Project Officer at European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO)

Looking ahead

Following the first two seminars in Tallinn (November 2025) and Strasbourg (March 2026), the SUNSHINE capacity building programme will continue with two additional seminars in Timișoara, Romania (5-8 May 2026) and Zagreb, Croatia (23-26 June 2026), further expanding the network of trained professionals across Europe. Participation in a SUNSHINE Training Seminar is recommended before participating to a Simulation Exercise (SIMEX), ensuring that selected participants can build directly on the methods, tools and activation procedures covered during the training. The link to the expression of interest for the next two seminars is available at the end of this press release. A second SIMEX is also scheduled to take place in Brussels, in October 2026.

These seminars also feed into the SUNSHINE Ambassadors Programme, which helps sustain the community of practice by empowering trained professionals to act as national and organisational focal points for the uptake of EU Space Programme services. For those national authorities willing to address in depth a specific aspect of the EU space programme and its benefit in disaster management contexts, SUNSHINE can organise targeted bilateral meetings with interested authorities and organisations. Such bilateral exchanges with space experts offer an exclusive forum to follow-up on training needs, discuss concrete use cases and support participation in upcoming activities, including SIMEX.

The SUNSHINE project is funded by the European Union as a capacity building programme. The consortium is composed with Telespazio France, ALSO Space, CNES, Edelweiss Resilience, EENA, FDC, IABG and UNISTRA-SERTIT.

"With the first SUNSHINE simulation exercise, we are reaching a major milestone for the project: this SIMEX demonstrates how the space infrastructure developed and owned by the European Union can be used in emergency management contexts, and how it can support the efforts of the civil protection authorities across Member States. We are proud to show what the EU space assets can do to protect our citizens and save lives!" Eric Guyader, Galileo Programme engineer at European Commission's Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS)