Ukraine Gains Access to EU Earth Observation Program
Ukraine has achieved nearly full access to the European Union's Earth observation program, Copernicus, which provides satellite data for monitoring environmental conditions, climate changes, and emergency management. This was reported by Ukrinform.
The agreement signed in Brussels between Ukraine and the EU under the Ukraine-EU Association Council grants Ukraine the same level of access to the Copernicus program as EU member states, excluding certain security components.
The space agreement also includes Ukraine's association with several other components of the program, such as Space Weather Events (SWE), which allows for the monitoring and analysis of phenomena in space that could affect satellites, energy systems, and communications. Another component is the Near-Earth Objects (NEO) program, which tracks asteroids and other objects that pose a threat to Earth.
Ukrainian representatives will have the right to participate as observers in committees making decisions regarding these programs, although they will not have voting rights. This collaboration will foster the development of space technologies in Ukraine, and the European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, referred to the document as a first step towards Ukraine's integration into EU space programs.
