The three GMES Fast-Track Services (FTS) implementation groups have completed their first reports which are now available on the GMES website: Download the initial FTS reports.

In addition, guidelines for the development and validation of pre-operational GMES Fast-Track Services are are also available, together with a working document prepared by ESA in coordination with the Commission's GMES Bureau. It gives an initial assessment of the correspondence between services developed under ESA GSE and GMES Fast-Track/Core Services.

These documents provide useful information for the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) Space call  (FP7-SPACE-2007-1).

A high-level conference on GMES took place on 17th April 2007 in Munich. The Munich roadmap, presented on that occasion by the German presidency, sets political milestones for GMES long-term sustainability:

1. By 2008, the first GMES services should be available and the Commission should present proposals for a sustainable programmatic, financial and management framework.
2. By 2012, the Council should adopt the necessary acts based on the Commission’s proposal and ESA should implement the first generation of GMES-dedicated satellites (Sentinels).

More information on the Munich conference.

Download the Munich roadmap:  English, French, German.

A joint EuroGeographics / EuroSDR workshop on "NMCAs and GMES" was held on 5 & 6 September 2006, at the BKG office in Frankfurt, Germany. The presentations are available on the NMCAs & GMES webpage (members only).

GMES is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Space Agency to establish a European capacity for the provision and use of operational information for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security.

In 2008 the foundations and the structuring elements of the European Capacity for GMES should be in place and operating, with the launch of the first three GMES Fast Track Services. This Capacity is seen to be composed of three modules, which together constitute the functional GMES "system":

1. the production and dissemination of information in support of EU policies for Environment and Security;
2. the mechanisms needed to ensure a permanent dialogue between all stakeholders and in particular between providers and users
3. the legal, financial, organisational and institutional frame to ensure the functioning of the system and its evolution.

The expected benefits are better information at the users' end and a more active economy in the information production related sectors.

For more information on GMES please visit www.gmes.info.

EuroGeographics and its members are contributing to GMES through almost all our activities, but specifically through the RISE project, funded under the 6th Framework Programme with a focus on improving data harmonisation.