HANDBOOK ON CSDP
6.2. THE EUROPEAN UNION SATELLITE CENTRE by Sorin Ducaru
The EU SatCen provides products and services derived from the exploitation of space assets and collateral data to the European Union (to support its decision making, missions and operations), EU Member States, third States1 and international organisations. It was founded in 1992 as part of the Western European Union and was incorporated into the European Union as an agency on 1 January 2002.
ROLE Under the supervision of the Political and Security Committee and the operational direction of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, SatCen is a decentralised EU agency which provides decision makers with early warning of potential crises to allow timely diplomatic, economic and humanitarian measures to be taken, including generic planning and conduct for intervention.
SERVICES Geospatial Analysis In close coordinating with its partners and by request of its official users, SatCen produces geospatial analysis services. These range from brief descriptions when a quick response is required to detailed studies on complex areas, installations and activities.
Geospatial Analysis specifically comprises Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), a discipline that uses the exploitation and analysis of imagery and geospatial information to describe, assess and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on Earth. Depending on the requests received, SatCen analyses satellite and aerial images for activities related to EU crisis management operations, arms control, non-proliferation and treaty verification, counter-terrorism, counter-crime, migration, humanitarian aid, contingency planning and general surveillance. SatCen is also the entrusted entity for the Copernicus operational service in Support to EU External Action. This is part of the Copernicus service for security applications, which aims to strengthen European Union policies by providing information in response to Europe’s security challenges.
1 Third States are non-EU NATO members and other countries which are candidates for accession to the EU.
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