(6 December 2005) Last week the historic fortified town of Campeche, in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, was the centre for a Conference on the use of space technologies to conserve the world??s natural and cultural heritage, including UNESCO biosphere reserves. (Credits ESA)

ESA PR 57-2005. The Ministers responsible for space in the European
Space Agency's 17 Member States and Canada today concluded a two-day
meeting of ESA's ruling Council in Berlin by deciding on a coherent
plan for discovery and competitiveness for Europe in space.(Credits ESA)

On the occasion of the European Space Agency (ESA) Council in Berlin
today, European Commission Vice-President G¬?nter Verheugen called for
an efficient and strong European Space Policy. He highlighted the
already existing tangible aspects of the Commission??s involvement in
space activities. (Credits Europa)

Dutch Space BV, the largest space company in the Netherlands and
leading international space industry supplier joins EADS SPACE,
Europe??s number one in space. In the presence of the Dutch Minister of
Economic Affairs, Mr L.J Brinkhorst, EADS SPACE CEO Fran?Åois Auque and
the CEO of Dutch Space Ben Spee signed the acquisition contract
integrating Dutch Space into the EADS SPACE group of companies. This
transaction confirms EADS' leading role in European space business as
EADS now integrates space industry in five European countries. (Credits
Edubourse)

On 7th December 2005, the African partners of the PUMA project
(Preparation for the Use of Meteosat Second Generation in Africa) will
present the results this inititiative funded by the European Commission
during a workshop co-organised by the unit in charge of the Space
Policy at the EC and EUMETSAT. They will also discuss the future of
Earth observation in support to the development of Africa and the link
with the European Space Policy currently under elaboration. (Credits European Communities)

It??s good to see India finally decide on setting up an Earth
Commission: a panel of meteorologists, geo-physicists, oceanographers,
atmospheric and space scientists to study and understand the dynamics
of the monsoon. (Credits The Hindustantimes)

The European Commission has recently conducted a series of user workshops to define initial Europe-wide pilot services within the GMES (Global monitoring for Environment and Security) initiative. The three events on Land, Marine and Crisis/Emergency services attracted a well represented user European community, underlining the will to have a first set of services operational by 2008, as requested by the Council of the Member States. (Credits Europa)

In London on Tuesday, the British National Space Centre (BNSC) formally
became a Partner Agency of the International Charter 'Space and Major
Disasters' on behalf of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC)
Consortium.(Credits ESA)

On the 10th of November, the European Commission adopted a new
Communication on Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES):
From concept to reality. This Communication that will be on the agenda
of the next European Space Council, plans to introduce the first three
earth observation services: emergency management, land monitoring and
marine services. After GALILEO, the Global Monitoring for Environment
and Security (GMES) has become the second EU flagship in space policy.
(Credits Europa)

Recognising that scientific research has 'not lived up to its full
potential in addressing some of society's most pressing concerns', the
International Council for Science (ICSU) has announced a strategic plan
to strengthen science for the benefit of society. (Credits Cordis)

An agreement on space-based information services and access to, and
provision of, Earth Observation data was signed by ESA and the Joint
Research Centre of the European Commission. The signature took place at
ESRIN, the ESA Earth Observation Centre in Frascati, Italy.(Credits ESA)

How Europe can benefit from Increased Globalisation of R&D
Royal Technology-  Forum
Stockholm, 27 October 2005. Janez POTOČNIK, European Commissioner for Science and Research. (Credits Europa)

With a quarter of the Earth's land surface affected, the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification regards desertification as a
worldwide problem. (Credits ESA)

The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme
will establish an operational capacity in 2008.
It shall integrate space-, air-, ground- and sea-based observation
platforms for regional and global monitoring, providing essential
information for policy- and decision-makers and to European citizens. (Credits EURISY)

ESA has issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) to analyse the evolution
of GMES Services over the next decade. This ITT (05.1AE.08 on the EMITS
system) was issued on 17-Oct and will close on 25-Nov 12:00 am. A
single contract (of 1.5 MEuro maximum, & duration 12 months) is
planned to analyse the evolution of GMES services over the next decade,
assess the requirements arising from this evolution and formulate
designs for operational implementation of service production, delivery
and use. (More info at ESA-EMITS)

Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for Science and Research, will
meet the new 22-member Scientific Council, which has been established
to head up the future European Research Council, at its inaugural
meeting in Brussels today. The European Research Council will fund the
best of European science and scholarship, as assessed by peer review,
starting from 2007. The new Scientific Council - made up of scientists,
engineers, scholars and research leaders ?± will play a key role in
strengthening the quality and autonomy of scientific advice which
underpins the research funding decisions made.(Credits EUROPA-EU)