32001G1211(01)

Council Resolution

of 13 November 2001

on the launch of the initial period of global monitoring for environment and security (GMES)

(2001/C 350/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Considering the outline action plan prepared by the Commission in close cooperation with all parties involved, including Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the various users' communities,

(1) URGES the Commission to start, in close coordination with the ESA, the initial period of global monitoring for environment and security (GMES), taking into account the various possible contributions by stakeholders;

(2) REQUESTS the Commission, in close coordination with the ESA, to build on the capabilities and existing infrastructure (terrestrial, airborne, seaborne and spacebased) and to start pilot projects in line with users' views, based on the initial potential priority themes as described in the action plan; RECALLS in this context its Resolution of 16 November 2000 on a European space strategy(1) where it agreed, inter alia that the Commission and the ESA should seek to arrive at an efficient framework for cooperation;

(3) STRESSES the importance of the initial period in preparing the next phase of GMES, aimed at achieving by 2008 an operational and autonomous European capability for global monitoring for environment and security based on a sound cost/benefit assessment and avoiding any overlap with activities carried out under the common foreign and security policy;

(4) REQUESTS the Commission to contribute to focusing GMES on users' needs by assessing in detail its own needs for GMES services, ensuring an appropriate involvement in and financing of related projects;

(5) REQUESTS therefore the Commission to report to the European Parliament and to the Council at the end of the initial period of 2001-2003 on the definition of the system, based on users' requirements, the expected services, the possible support to the various Community policies, the results obtained from the pilot services, the economic and social benefits, the possibilities for international cooperation at global level and the possible scenarios for an organisational framework;

(6) ENDORSES the establishment of a high-level steering committee composed of representatives of, inter alia, Member States, the Commission, the ESA, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat), users and industry.

Done at Brussels on 13 November 2001.

(1) OJ C 371, 23.12.2000, p. 2.