This year marks a decade since Frontex joined the Copernicus family. Over that time, Earth Observation has become central to Frontex’s support for Member States and Schengen Associated Countries, enabling more effective border surveillance, dismantling of criminal networks, and saving lives at sea. On 18 September 2025, Frontex marked this...

Satellites provide a unique vantage point from above, enabling unparalleled observation of global events. Whether monitoring floods using radar data or providing insights into deforestation through optical imagery, the Copernicus Sentinel missions are instrumental in capturing the state of our planet in remarkable detail. Beyond their ability...

The European Union’s Space Programme is the first integrated framework of its kind, bringing Europe’s investments in Earth Observation, satellite navigation, and secure connectivity under a unified legislation. From Copernicus data helping to monitor climate change and supporting disaster response, to Galileo signals powering smartphone...

Cities are racing to adapt to heavier cloudbursts, rising flood risk, and hotter summers. The sponge city approach treats streets, parks, and waterways as living infrastructure which slows, stores, and cleans rain where it falls, improving liveability and biodiversity while easing pressure on drainage systems. The Copernicus Land Monitoring...

From Europe’s highest mountain ranges to the open sea, the EU Space Programme is helping rescuers save lives. Galileo’s Search and Rescue (SAR) service, the European Union’s contribution to the global Cospas-Sarsat network, provides rapid detection and precise location of distress beacons, while Copernicus provides free and open data which can...

Following the launch of Copernicus Sentinel-4A last month, the European Union successfully launched the Copernicus Sentinel-5A to further monitor air quality and emissions around the world. 

Over the past decade, Copernicus has been at the forefront of Earth Observation (EO), delivering a constant stream of high-quality data to support evidence-based policymaking and enable informed decisions across both the public and private sectors. It has helped to guide climate action initiatives, shape air quality strategies, and improve...

Forests are an important natural resource. They are home to 60,000 tree species worldwide, absorb carbon dioxide, and help regulate both local and global temperatures. They also sustain millions of people who rely on them for food, medicine, and materials such as wood and rubber. Yet, these ecosystems are under threat. Since the last ice age...

The first half of 2025 was marked by intense wildfire activity in several areas around the world. From the boreal forests of Canada and Russia to the agricultural heartlands of Southeast Asia, and from temperate zones of Europe to the Korean Peninsula, wildfires and the resulting long-distance transport of smoke had significant impacts on air...

2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the EU Space Programme, with several satellite launches expanding the capabilities of Copernicus and the other EU space components. Among them is the Sentinel-5A instrument, scheduled for launch in August 2025 from Kourou aboard an Ariane 6 rocket. With this launch, the EU solidifies its position as...

Climate change affects the whole planet, making environmental monitoring more crucial than ever. In order to track its effects, EUMETSAT is collaborating with the European Commission on five new Copernicus satellite missions focusing on atmosphere monitoring and polar-cryosphere monitoring, while continuing to work together on two existing...

The European Commission had a strong presence at the Living Planet Symposium 2025 in Vienna (23 – 27 June) with a dedicated booth, updates on upcoming Copernicus satellite missions, and insights into the European Union’s priorities for the development of the European Earth Observation (EO) sector. In this Observer, we look at how the EU Space...

During the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, the European Digital Ocean Pavilion demonstrated digital innovation, science-based policy, and international collaboration for Ocean protection. Located in the Palais des Expositions from 2 to13 June, the Pavilion provided visitors a deep dive on how the EU is using digital data,...

Agricultural land covers roughly a third of Europe, and as demand grows for detailed information on how that land is used, the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service has introduced HRL Croplands. This new addition to the High Resolution Layers product portfolio provides consistent, high-resolution data on crop types, farming practices, and land use...

When Myanmar was hit by a strong earthquake, DG ECHO’s European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) turned to the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) for the rapid mapping and situational awareness to deliver support where it was needed most. In this Observer, we take a close look at how CEMS Rapid Mapping supported relief...

The online user workshop on extreme snow loads across Europe under climate change was a great success.

EU Space Days 2025 brought the European space community to Gdańsk for two packed days of discussion and inspiration. Organised by the European Commission under the auspices of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, and held alongside InfoShare, the region’s largest startup and tech conference, the event featured a rich mix of sessions,...

The Copernicus Marine Service, implemented by Mercator Ocean International on behalf of the European Commission, is the marine service of the Copernicus Earth Observation component of the European Union Space Programme. Launched in 2014 and fully operational since 2015, it provides free, authoritative, and systematic information on the state of...

The inaugural GEO Global Forum took place in Rome from 5 to 9 May 2025, bringing together ministers, agencies, and experts from around the world to chart the future of Earth Intelligence. The European Union played a key role throughout the week, with a high-level delegation, a strong presence across the programme, and the most active booth in...