
Jean-Jacques Dordain (left), Director General of ESA, and Heinz Zourek, Director General of the European Commission's DG Enterprise and Industry, signed in Paris an agreement confirming the transfer of funds to ESA for the initial operations of the space component for the GMES program.
This funding is for the initial operations of the space component for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security program. The agreement, which secures 104 million euros, was signed at ESA Headquarters in Paris by Heinz Zourek, Director General of the European Commission's DG Enterprise and Industry, and Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA. This agreement follows on from the EU Regulation that was adopted in October 2010 for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) program. The additional funding demonstrates that the existing agreement has been working well and cements the trust the European Union has in ESA to execute its role in realizing the GMES program. GMES is a unique endeavour that will provide decision-makers with access to accurate and timely information services to manage the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change, and ensure civil security.

Sentinel-1, the first Earth observation satellite to be built for Europe’s Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme. Credits: ESA–P. Carril