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Summaries of EU Legislation

EU Satellite Centre (SATCEN)

SUMMARY OF:

Council Decision 2014/401/CFSP — on European Union satellite centre

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It repeals Joint Action 2001/555/CFSP, which established SATCEN, and consolidates previous amendments and additional proposed changes into a single new decision.

KEY POINTS

  • SATCEN headquarters continue to be in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain. However, this decision establishes a liaison office in Brussels.
  • This decision reaffirms that SATCEN operations are in the context of the EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and, in particular, the common security and defence policy (CSDP).
  • The Political and Security Committee (PSC) of the Council of the EU exercises political supervision over the activities of SATCEN. The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is responsible for the operational direction. The SATCEN board is responsible for the annual and long-term programmes and the appropriate budget.
  • SATCEN is responsible for the residual administrative tasks, such as administering pensions, medical insurance and employee disputes, for employees of the dissolved Western European Union (WEU)1.
  • Under this decision, primarily through Earth observation satellites, SATCEN offers geospatial intelligence products and services to users that request it, such as the European external action service, individual EU countries, the European Commission or international organisations such as the United Nations or NATO.
  • Every September, the SATCEN director, who is appointed by the board for the duration of 3 years, establishes an annual work programme. This annual work programme, as well as the long-term work programme and the budget, must be approved by the board. The board is composed of a representative appointed by each EU country and the European Commission and chaired by the High Representative.
  • By , the High Representative of the EU must present a report and, if necessary, recommendations, to the Council of the EU on the functioning of SATCEN.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It applies from .

BACKGROUND

Satellites are essential for strengthening early warning2 and crisis monitoring functions in the context of security and defence. Here, the EU takes action to strengthen its satellite centre (SATCEN) for such purposes.

For more information, see:

KEY TERMS

  1. WEU: an international organisation and military alliance consisting of 10 EU countries. It became dormant in November 2000, when its tasks were transferred to the European Union’s CSDP, which is a key element of the EU’s agreed foreign policy (CFSP). The WEU was dissolved in 2011 and its residual administrative tasks were transferred to SATCEN.
  2. Early warning: the tracking of indicators to identify potential problems at an early stage.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Decision 2014/401/CFSP of on the European Union satellite centre and repealing Joint Action 2001/555/CFSP on the establishment of a European Union satellite centre (OJ L 188, , pp. 73–84)

Successive amendments to Decision 2014/401/CFSP have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

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