Copernicus programme

Europe’s external borders are not just lines on a map. They are complex and dynamic areas that face many challenges, such as migratory pressure, smuggling, hybrid threads and natural disasters. To address these challenges, the European Union has developed a comprehensive approach to border management, which involves multiple actors, technologies, and policies. One key element of this approach is the Copernicus Programme, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme.

Copernicus monitors our planet and its environment, for the ultimate benefit of the citizens of Europe. It delivers data, information and services based on satellite Earth observation data and in situ (non-space) data. Copernicus is funded, coordinated and managed by the European Commission, in cooperation with partners such as the European Space Agency and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites.[1]  Copernicus supports a wide range of applications, in areas including environmental protection, management of urban areas, regional and local planning, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health, transport, climate change, sustainable development, civil protection and tourism.

Copernicus is important for Europe because it provides reliable and timely information that helps decision-makers, public authorities and citizens to better understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities that our planet and its environment face. Copernicus also contributes to the strategic autonomy of the European Union, by ensuring independent access to critical information and enhancing its role as a global actor.

1.Source: Factsheet_Copernicus_General_1502-12h30_EN

The Copernicus Programme is divided into six components: Atmosphere, Marine, Land, Climate Change, Emergency and Security. In this last area, Copernicus supports European Union policies by providing information in response to Europe’s security challenges. It improves crisis prevention, preparedness and response in three key areas: support for the External Action Service; border surveillance; and maritime surveillance.

The Copernicus Border Surveillance Service (CBSS) supports national border management authorities. With an agreement signed on 10 November 2015, the European Commission entrusted Frontex with this component of Copernicus Security Services.

The Copernicus products help Member States tackle migratory flows and cross-border crime more efficiently. To provide them, Frontex mainly uses optical and radar satellites as well as in-situ data. The products are delivered in cooperation with external partners including the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the EU Satellite Centre (SatCen) and commercial organizations.

European Integrated Border Management requires a comprehensive picture of the current situation at all the European Union’s external borders and in the pre-frontier areas. EUROSUR is an integrated framework for information exchange and cooperation between Member States and Frontex that delivers this situational picture. EFS are a component under EUROSUR, supplied by Frontex based on the common application of surveillance tools and inter-agency cooperation at Union level, including the provision of Copernicus security services. EUROSUR fusion services provide the Member States and Frontex with value-added information services related to European integrated border management. Frontex coordinates the EUROSUR Fusion Services to provide the national coordination centres, the Commission and itself with information on the external borders and on the pre-frontier area reliably and cost-efficiently.

With its EUROSUR capabilities and expertise in supporting the Member States’ activities on the external borders of the EU and the pre-frontier area, Frontex is a natural candidate for operating the Copernicus Border Surveillance Service.

Frontex oversees the provision of the CBSS, so it operates the Border Surveillance Component on behalf of the Commission. As a single point of entry/exit for the acquisition, fusion and delivery of those services, Frontex provides the services and information products to the European Border and Coast Guard, which comprises the national authorities of Member States and Schengen Associated Countries responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks. Frontex assumes the role of both end user and supplier of those services.

In cooperation with stakeholders including the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), and institutional partners such as EMSA and SatCen, Frontex supports Member States by providing top-quality Earth observation data. Industry suppliers also contribute to the provision of Copernicus products.

Copernicus data allows Frontex to enhance its product portfolio, systems and technologies based on Earth observation, enriched with other data sources, and adapt them to the end users’ needs. The transformation of the Copernicus Border Surveillance Service fits with the general vision of Frontex becoming even more data, product, and customer centric together with a joint approach. Thus, Frontex provides new Copernicus Border Surveillance products, such as reports and maps, and cartographic, digital and interactive products.

To ensure a high-quality service based on end-user needs and state-of-the-art technologies, Frontex is continually developing the Copernicus Border Surveillance Service. The Copernicus Security Services continuously deploys ready-to-use technologies (data, services, algorithms, processing capacities and capabilities, etc.), which immediately enhance current product portfolios. Therefore, Frontex is actively participating in and contributing to the development of strategic research priorities in the Copernicus domain. It provides information about the Copernicus border surveillance service, such as end users’ feedback on their needs, lessons learnt during operations, and research on the latest technology that can improve the way we detect illegal migration at EU external borders, conduct life-saving rescues and fight cross-border crime.

• Frontex: The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, where you can find information about its mission, activities and products, including the CBSS.
• Copernicus: The European Union’s Earth observation programme, with information about its objectives, components and services, including the Copernicus service for Security applications.
• DG DEFIS: The Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space of the European Commission, where you can find information about its policies, programmes and projects, including Copernicus.
• EMSA: The European Maritime Safety Agency, where you can find information about its mission, activities, and products, including the Copernicus Maritime Surveillance Service.
• SatCen: The European Union Satellite Centre, with information about its mission, activities, and products, including the Copernicus Support to EU External Action Service.