Within the framework of the German EU Presidency, a high-level conference on Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) “The Way to the European Earth Observation System GMES – Munich Roadmap” took place on 17th April 2007.
Commission Vice-President Verheugen underlined the strategic role of GMES as the first and most important application in the context of the European Space Policy, which will be disclosed in the next days. In particular he, together with the Federal Minister of Transport Wolfgang Tiefensee, presented GMES as strategic for Europe, as it will ensure independent access to information relating to the environment, climate change and security and deliver efficient and reliable services so that Europe can be treated on equal foot as other world actors when global issues are concerned.
The Munich roadmap, presented at that occasion by the German presidency, sets political milestones for GMES long-term sustainability:
1- By 2008, the first GMES services should be available and the Commission should present proposals for a sustainable programmatic, financial and management framework.
2- By 2012, the Council should adopt the necessary acts based on the Commission’s proposal and ESA should implement the first generation of GMES-dedicated satellites (Sentinels)
For more information at EU
Download the Munich Roadmap:
(Source GMES.Info)