Ukraine has officially accessed the Copernicus European Union Space Program, becoming an associate participant on an equal basis with EU Member States. The relevant agreement was signed on April 9 in Brussels during a meeting of the Council of the EU -Ukraine Association. The document establishes the conditions of Ukraine's participation in the EU space initiatives, except for security components.
According to an explanation of the Mission of Ukraine with the EU, the signed agreement gives Kiev access to a number of key areas of space cooperation:
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Copernicus - Earth observation program that provides satellite data for environmental monitoring, climate change, crisis management, etc.;
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Space weather (SWE) - tracking and analysis of phenomena in the space environment that can affect technical systems, communication and navigation;
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Earth objects (NEO) are monitoring of asteroids and other celestial bodies that can be a threat to the Earth.
Although Ukraine will not access the Program's security components (such as Copernicus Security), it will have an observer status in the relevant EU committees. This will allow Ukrainian experts to be aware of decision making, although the right of voice remains with Member States.
The signing of the agreement has already been congratulated in the European Commission. The European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrews Kubilus emphasized the importance of this step to deepen the EU cooperation with Ukraine in the field of space technologies. He also called the first step signed document on the path of Ukraine to full participation in the EU space policy.
New cooperation is expected to open up new opportunities for Ukrainian enterprises, scientists and startups, allowing you to integrate into the European space services market, and will promote the country's economic restoration through high -tech industries.
