Internationalization

Receiving strong backing from ESA member states at this week’s
Ministerial Conference in Berlin, Global Monitoring for Environment and
Security (GMES) is a joint initiative between ESA and the European
Commission to combine ground- and space-based observations to develop
an integrated environmental monitoring capability to benefit European
citizens. (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)

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)

Agreement on Contribution to the 2005 World Summit Reached; Space and
Water Discussed VIENNA, 20 June (UN Information Service) — During its
48th session, which was held in Vienna from 8 to 17 June, the United
Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) agreed
on a text that could be transmitted to the President of the United
Nations General Assembly by Member States of COPUOS for incorporation
into the draft outcome document of the 2005 World Summit, to be held
from 14 to 16 September 2005. Info extracted from Spaceref.

On 20 June 2005, a summit between the European Union and the United States of America brought together the Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, Commission President Jos?à Manuel Barroso, and US President George W. Bush in Washington D.C. The leaders explored means to eliminate impediments to further economic integration and to develop a forward-looking strategy to enhance the EU-US economic partnership.