6.2. The European Union Satellite Centre (Sorin Ducaru

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.

Strategy & Policy

Communication Director

Deputy Director

Coordination & Planning

Brussels Office

Operations Division

SatCen structure

Capability Development Division

IT Division Administration Division Finance Unit

Additionally, SatCen supports the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) as operational service provider for the Copernicus border surveillance programme.

Training

SatCen offers specialised training to image analysts and related seminars for expert users. For this purpose, it is constantly developing applied training techniques and products, such as multimedia tutorials, remote sensing imagery processing and data fusion.

Capability development activities

SatCen executes projects and participates in programmes aimed at developing new – or improving existing – capabilities: • Activities under the Copernicus programme, supporting in particular EU external action,

SatCen’s GEOINT activities, and cooperation in the areas of maritime and border surveillance. • Space surveillance and tracking (SST) services, which contribute to the protection and en-

hancement of space assets. SatCen serves as the front desk for the EU SST and distributes the consortium´s services to users. • Research, technology development and innovation (RTDI) activities to identify and assess technical and programmatic solutions to incoming and transversal issues.

PARTNERS

SatCen cooperates with national and international entities in the space and security sector. It works closely with the European Commission, the European Defence Agency and the European Space Agency, as well as other institutions and international organisations.

STAFF

SatCen employs staff from EU Member States. In addition, experts seconded from Member States work at SatCen for periods ranging from six months to three years, and temporary staff is recruited locally as needed.

G E NERAL CRIME AND SECURITY SURVEILLANCE

GEoinT

Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) is a discipline that comprises the exploitation and analysis of imagery and geospatial information to describe, assess and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on Earth.

In response to task requests, the SatCen produces reports. These range from brief descriptions for fast response requirements to detailed studies on complex areas and installations.

Depending on the task received, the SatCen: The SatCen offers specialised training to image analysts. For this purpose, it is constantly developing applied formative techniques and products, such as multimedia tutorials, remote sensing imagery processing, data fusion, etc.

The Centre organises the following courses:

GEOINT course SAR course IMINT course Nuclear course Sketchup course In-situ courses

analyses:

Critical infrastructure

Military capabilities

Weapons of mass destruction

supports:

Humanitarian aid missions

Contingency planning

General crime and security surveillance

Our services

Training

Detailed information can be found on www.satcen.europa.eu

SUPPORT TO CFSP

As a unique operational asset in the field of space and security, SatCen serves a variety of institutional users, ranging from the EU’s high-level decision makers, such as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission (HR/VP) and the crisis management and situational awareness structures of the EEAS, to the personnel on the ground involved in EU missions and operations.

Within the EEAS, the main users of SatCen products are the CSDP and crisis response directorates, the EU Military Staff (EUMS), the EU intelligence and situation centre (INTCEN) and the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC). Furthermore, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Ministries of Defence of the EU Member States, the Commission, third States and international organisations such as the United Nations can request the support of the Centre.

SatCen distributes its products, with various levels of confidentiality, both to central planning entities (e.g. INTCEN, EU Military Staff) and to the Operations Headquarters (OHQs). Every product

S U ppORTING hUMANITARIAN AID MISSIONS

Capability development initiatives

The SatCen executes projects and participates in programmes suitable for the development of new –or the improvement of existing– capabilities:

• Activities in the framework of the Copernicus programme supporting in particular EU external action and the GEOINT activities of the SatCen and for cooperation in the areas of maritime and border surveillance;

• Space Situational Awareness (SSA) activities contributing to the protection and enhancement of space assets needed to perform the SatCen mission;

• Research, Technology

Development and Innovation (RTDI) activities identifying and assessing technical and programmatic solutions on incoming and transversal issues.

Our partners

The SatCen cooperates with national and international institutions in the field of space.

It works closely with the European Defence Agency, the European Commission and the European Space Agency, as well as other institutions and international organisations.

Our staff

SatCen staff are drawn from EU Member States. In addition, experts seconded from Member States work at the SatCen for periods ranging from six months to three years, and temporary staff are locally recruited as needed.

Details of vacancies are posted on our website.

https://www.satcen.europa.eu/key_documents/SatCen%20leaflet.pdf

is systematically disseminated to all Member States to facilitate cooperative decision making in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), particularly Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). SatCen provides support in near-real time and, when necessary, around the clock.

SatCen Governance

SatCen is a concrete example of the pooling and sharing of services and know-how in the sensitive field of foreign, security and defence policy. Each Member State, paying only a fraction of the SatCen budget but receiving 100% of the output, benefits directly from the operational work and from the shared information for common decision making.

The Centre’s geospatial analysis provides its users with support services tailored to their individual duties ranging from diplomatic, economic and humanitarian measures to mission planning or intervention.

The Treaty of Lisbon and the Global Strategy have increased and diversified the EU level of ambition. This is a key driver for the constantly

Copyright: EU Satellite Centre

The European Union Satellite Centre is located in Torrejón de Ardoz, in the vicinity of Madrid, Spain.

evolving demand for SatCen products and services and consequently the Centre is continuously working to maintain its cutting-edge support capacity.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• SatCen website: https://www.satcen.europa.eu/ • SatCen videos: https://www.satcen.europa.eu/ about_the_eu_satcen/videos