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SatCen

EuropEan union SaTELLiTE CEnTrE

EU SATELLITE CENTREANNUAL REPORT2015

EU SatCen Annual Report 2015

SatCen


Contact address

European Union Satellite CentreTel. +34 91 678 60 00Fax: +34 91 678 60 06e-mail: [email protected]

Postal adress:Apdo. de Correos 511E-28850 Torrejón de ArdozMadrid, Spain

www.satcen.europa.eu

Cover photo: The Pléiades Satellite © Cnes /Illustration Pierre Carril – 2005 Background: Shutterstock.A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the internet.It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu).Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2016. ISBN 978-92-95034-09-9doi: 10.2820/161409© EU SatCen, 2016Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.Printed in Spain.Printed on white chlorine-free paper.

This Report is published in accordance with the Article 7 of the Council Joint Action of 26 June 2014.

http://www.satcen.europa.eu

http://europa.eu

“Thank you for an extremely qualified, professional and experienced service, fundamental for the EU, its Member States, as well as for our international partners!”

(High Representative Federica Mogherini during her visit to SatCen, 16 February 2015)

Photos: (top row): Visit of High Representative

Federica Mogherini on 16 February 2015; Visit

of Mr Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive of the

European Defence Agency on 7 October 2015;

(bottom) Visit of Prof. Dr. V.Liebig, Director of

ESA Earth Observation Programmes and Head

of ESA-ESRIN on 25 May 2015; (background) EU

SatCen and staff

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Foreword by the Director 7

1. FULFILLING ITS MISSION 9

1.1. Operational chain 10

1.2. SatCen in the User’s decision making cycle 11

2. SUSTAINING AND DEVELOPING A UNIQUE CFSP TOOL 12

3. CORE BUSINESS: GEOSPATIAL AND IMAGERY INTELLIGENCE 13

3.1. Highlights in 2015 13

3.2. Training 17

4. SUPPORTING THE CORE BUSINESS BY IMPROVING CAPABILITIES 19

4.1. Data Provision Services 19

4.2. Innovation in information and communication technology 21

4.3. Capability development in space and security 22

5. A SECURE CONTEXT 28

6. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 29

6.1. Personnel 29

6.2. Finance 30

6.2.1. EU SatCen Budget 30

6.2.2. Financial management 32

7. CONCLUSION 33

ANNEX I. ABBREVIATIONS 36

ANNEX II. ORGANISATIONAL CHART 39

ANNEX III. MEETINGS AND EVENTS 41

Table of contents

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SatCen

7Foreword by the Director

In 2015, during my first year of mandate as Director, SatCen ensured the full implementation of the new Council Decision of 26 June 2014, including the evolution of its mission and entailing the review of Financial Rules, Staff Regulations and Cost Recovery Procedures.

Operationally, in addition to the major security threats (proliferation of WMD, regional conflicts, terrorism and organized crime), SatCen was called to support EU actions to face the migrant crisis.

The trend of a continuously evolving user spectrum was confirmed. In fact, along with EEAS priority users (HR Cabinet, EUMS, IntCen, CPCC, CMPD) and Member States, also international organisations (e.g. UN, OPCW, OSCE, IAEA) and EU missions and operations (e.g. EUMM Georgia, EUTM Mali, EUTM Somalia, Op. Atalanta, OHQs) were increasingly requesting SatCen’s support (representing now about 1/3 of SatCen’s total production). These tendencies indicate an even more demanding future.

GEOINT is today de facto the foundation of all intelligence efforts given that, ultimately, intelligence must be spatially related in order to be useful. This makes user needs and the corresponding demand for comprehensive and interoperable solutions (e.g. Geoportals, training, IT tools) grow.

The Centre pursued alignment and cooperation with all involved actors at national and EU level, primarily the EEAS, EU agencies (e.g. EDA, EU ISS) and the European Commission, in an effort of synergy and non-duplication. In this domain, under the guidance and support of its tasking authority and of the recently established EEAS Space Task Force, an agreement to support Frontex was implemented. SatCen was also called to continue contributing to the Copernicus programme and preparing for its role of coordinator of the SEA service, and also for SST as a “front desk”.

Pascal Legai

Director

Back to table of contents

8

SatCen

Given this background, engagement of all SatCen’s stakeholders in a dialogue on the challenge of aligning SatCen’s capability to the demand in a context characterized by instability, progressive diversification and problematic sustainability of resources (data, staff, workplace and finance) was started.

In cooperation with the EEAS situational awareness actors, notably IntCen and EUMS through SIAC, SatCen actively pursued its contribution to the EU’s CFSP information cycle.

Under the guidance of the High Representative, supported by its partners and recognized by its users as a unique CFSP/CSDP instrument of knowledge and anticipation, SatCen continued to increase productivity and relevance, while ensuring 24/7 availability, thus contributing to EU external action.

Sincerely,

Pascal LegaiDirector


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SatCen’s Mission

(Art. 2 of the Council Decision)

1. SATCEN shall support the decision making and actions of the Union in the field of the CFSP and in particular the CSDP, including European Union crisis management missions and operations, by providing, at the request of the Council or the HR, products and services resulting from the exploitation of relevant space assets and collateral data, including satellite and aerial imagery, and related services.

2. In the framework of SATCEN’s mission, the HR shall also, upon request and if the capacity of SATCEN so allows and without prejudice to its core tasks set out in paragraph 1, direct SATCEN to provide products or services to:

• a Member State, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission, or Union agencies or bodies with which SATCEN cooperates;

• third States having agreed to the provisions set out in the Annex on the association with SATCEN’s activities;

• if the request is relevant in the field of the CFSP, in particular of the CSDP, international organisations such as the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

3. SATCEN may also, in accordance with Article 18 and without prejudice to its core tasks set out in paragraph 1, cooperate with the Commission and with Union agencies, bodies or Member States, with a view to maximising synergies and complementarity with other Union activities that have a bearing on SATCEN and where SATCEN’s activities are relevant to those Union activities, in particular in the area of space and security.

4. In order to facilitate the organisation of activities in Brussels, SATCEN shall have a liaison office in Brussels.

As a unique operational asset in the field of space and security, the EU SatCen serves a variety of institutional users ranging from the EU’s high-level decision makers, such as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission (HR), and the crisis management and situational awareness structures of the European External Action Service (EEAS), to the personnel on the ground involved in missions and operations. Within the EEAS, main users of SatCen products are the Crisis Management and Planning Department (CMPD), the EU Military Staff (EUMS), the Intelligence Analysis Centre (IntCen) and the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC). Furthermore, Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Ministries of Defence of EU Member States, the Commission, Third States and International Organizations like the United Nations can request the support of the Centre.

The EU SatCen is a concrete example of pooling and sharing of know-how and services in a sensitive field. Each Member State, paying only a fraction of contributions to the SatCen budget, but receiving 100% of the output, directly benefits both in terms of operational work, common information for common decision making, financial optimization and savings. Pooling of analysis capabilities and sharing of resulting services strengthen the case for further utilization of the concept upon which the SatCen is built and for wider application of its working method.

This specific role requires tailoring the Centre’s Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) and Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) products and services to support and enable SatCen users in their specific undertakings from diplomatic, economic

1. Fulfilling its mission


10

SatCen

and humanitarian measures to mission planning or intervention through a permanent exchange to support their core business.

The Lisbon Treaty has increased the operational engagement of European actors and made it more diverse. This is reflected in the demand for SatCen products and services and, consequently, capability development has become a central concern for the SatCen.

1.1. Operational chain

The Centre operates under the political supervision of the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and the operational direction of the High Representative.

The EU SatCen primary sources of satellite data are commercial providers. The EU SatCen also benefits from agreements with Member States allowing access and exploitation of high quality governmental satellite imagery. Collateral data, i.e. essential additional information underpinning and complementing the imagery analysis, are acquired from open sources and from users.

Reactivity and consolidated products are the main pillars to ensure efficiency of the operational chain. Thus, the generic tasking – allowing a direct contact between the SatCen and the end-user in a defined framework – and anticipation measures (e.g. a real partnership with data providers) contribute to the necessary reactivity.

EU SatCen products, handled at various levels of confidentiality, are delivered both to central operational entities (e.g. EU Military Staff) and to the Operational Headquarters (OHQs). Every single product is systematically distributed to all Member States, facilitating cooperative decision-making in the

IMINT versus GEOINT

IMINT (Imagery Intelligence) describes the exploitation of information from satellite and aerial imagery. Analysis of this imagery by specialists turns the information into intelligence for further use.

GEOINT (Geospatial Intelligence) embraces the comprehensive analysis of geospatial information to describe, assess and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on Earth. GEOINT data sources include imagery and mapping data as well as collateral data, using all spatial skills and disciplines, including photogrammetry, cartography, imagery analysis, remote sensing and terrain analysis.


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field of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

1.2. SatCen in the User’s decision making cycle

The SatCen executes its mission in close cooperation with the crisis management structures of the European External Action Service under the operational direction of the HR. The strengthening of the link with these bodies to collect operational needs as well as to support and refine the tasking continued to be a primary concern in 2015. This implied nurturing user awareness through exchange of expertise and collection of requirements.

Member States and other concerned entities were engaged through Board meetings, Technical Working Groups (TWG), Expert Users Fora (EUF), the Governmental Imagery Forum, bilateral meetings and other events.

The signature of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Frontex in March 2015 intensified the cooperation between the two Agencies. Furthermore, the increasing number of tasks from international organisations such as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) enhanced the regular contact with these organisations in order to tailor the services provided to the exact needs of the end user.


12

SatCen

Mandated by the new Council Decision of 2014 to continue and develop the SatCen mission, Director Pascal Legai promoted a strategy review engaging SatCen’s stakeholders in a dialogue in relation to the Centre’s sustainability, adaptation and development.

The analysis of the user demand was the basis for the review. This demand shows an intensification of Member State tasking as well as the request for support to international organisations, currently representing about one third of the total production.

Main priority for users is fast products and the trend goes toward near-real time support. Nevertheless, concurrently, a more and more articulated demand emerges. In fact, different users require different solutions, making understanding users’ businesses crucial and requiring solutions in which value is co-created and co-owned by all actors. Indicative is the demand for products that can be easily ingested into users’ geodatabases as well as Web Map Services. Tools, techniques and standards, in-situ support and training services are also appreciated and increasingly adopted within the user community.

Also, there is a domain of unexpressed user needs that GEOINT could meet. In fact, a consistent set of potential customers still does not realise the value that SatCen services could have for their business.

This analysis further calls SatCen to maintain a permanent dialogue with stakeholders and cultivate a user community while striving to achieve an intelligence cycle in which SatCen’s expertise is used from the early phases of analysis and planning, especially for EU crisis management missions and operations. As far as delivery is concerned, the implementation of the EU Classified Network (EU Ops WAN) will considerably increase the value of SatCen services for Member States.

2. Sustaining and developing a unique CFSP tool


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3. Core business: geospatial and imagery intelligence

The year 2015 followed the trend of an increasing involvement of the EU CFSP/CSDP in the international scenario. SatCen continued to anticipate and respond to user demands in a changing political and operational scenario, tailoring its products and services to support and enable its users in their specific undertakings.

3.1. Highlights in 2015

In 2015, SatCen delivered a total of 1348 products. This was due to an overall increase in tasks from Member States and international organisations and new tasking from Frontex. SatCen’s main customers were the European External Action Service (especially the EU Military Staff, the EU Intelligence Analysis Centre and the Civil Planning and Conduct Capability), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, EU Member States, Frontex, the OPCW-UN Joint Mission, EU NAVFOR - Mediterranean Operation Sophia, EU NAVFOR - Operation Atalanta and the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia).

The revised framework set by the new Council Decision and the prospected demand scenario lead to further underpin the SatCen vision and consequently adjust it as follows:

Grounded on the needs of its customers and pursuing cooperation with EU, national and other partners, the EU SatCen aims at being a reference provider of security-related services, based on space-assets, in support to CFSP/CSDP.


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SatCen

Support to the EEAS

In 2015, the Centre continued to support EEAS with the provision of on-demand GEOINT products and a set of services in support of decision making and operational support during crises. The geoportal1 produced in 2013 over a capital city in Asia in response to a request from the EEAS was updated. It shows, amongst other things, the possible routes for crisis evacuation services. More than 200 different users from all parts of the world used the geoportal to interactively access geospatial products prepared by SatCen.

Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

The SatCen continued monitoring possible proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the development of nuclear technology in several countries. The Centre analysed suspected facilities in various countries where ballistic missiles and test and launch facilities are possibly being developed.

Also, the development of nuclear facilities was analysed by monitoring uranium mines, uranium conversion facilities, heavy water reactors, nuclear power plants and yellow cake production facilities.

Support to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

SatCen products for OSCE included analysis of military activity and equipment to support the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM Ukraine) in the verification of the Minsk Agreement.

Support to Frontex

Based on a Service Level Agreement signed in March 2015, SatCen started its operational support to Frontex - the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States - in its efforts to monitor coast activity and external border activity related to the migration crisis. In this context, the analysis of satellite imagery was used to

1 More information on geoportals can be found on page 21.


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Monitoring of military

activity in a crisis area

(Pleiades imagery,

© CNES 2015)

identify routes, means of transport, patterns of the launch and landing operations and border-crossing activities.

Support to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - UN Joint Mission

SatCen monitored the crisis in Syria providing support to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - UN Joint Mission. Facilities, site surroundings and road network were assessed. SatCen support was used by the Fact Finding Teams and for the verification of Syrian reports.

Support to EU NAVFOR – Mediterranean Operation Sophia

SatCen support to this Operation consisted in surveillance and assessment of human smuggling and trafficking networks.


16

SatCen

Support to EU NAVFOR – Operation Atalanta

SatCen supported EU NAVFOR - Atalanta by monitoring pirate operation locations, maritime facilities and shoreline activity along the Somali coastline.

EUMM Georgia

SatCen support to EUMM Georgia continued with both ad-hoc requests and pre-existing monitoring tasks. The resulting products included analysis of imagery to report on important infrastructures and activities in the region.

350

400

EEAS-CPCC

30

211

2

87 87

163177

278

3666

206

5

EEAS-IntCEn

EEAS-CroC

EEAS-EUMS

EUtMSomalia

FrontexMemberStates

EEAS-others

EEAS-CMPD

EUnAVFor

total products: 1348

oPCW-UnJoint

Mission

oSCE

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Distribution of products by requester in 2015

In 2015, 1348 products were delivered, the main users being the EEAS, OSCE, Member States, Frontex and the OPCW-UN Joint Mission.


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The majority of products responded to general security surveillance tasks, followed by support to crisis management and arms control.

In addition, regarding support to the Copernicus Programme, the pre-operational phase of the Service in Support to EU External Action (SEA) ended in March 2015. From January to March 2015, SatCen coordinated, validated and completed the following production: 82 maps, two Digital Geographic Information products and two reports.

3.2. Training

In line with its strategy, SatCen continued to empower analysts with skills and knowledge, first for SatCen needs, then for Member States and institutions. Training also enables SatCen to exchange experience and knowledge, as well as to create cohesion in the very sensitive GEOINT domain with different stakeholders, developing a common culture and common methods. In-situ

Arms Control

215

2 1

748

382

ContingencyPlanning

Support toExercises

GeneralSecurity

Surveillance

total products: 1348

CrisisManagement

300350400450500550600650

700750

250200150100500

Distribution of products by type in 2015


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SatCen

courses are also favoured when possible, resulting in savings for Member States because they do not have to send the trainees to

SatCen. Specific courses are also designed for non-specialists (decision makers, users) to better understand possibilities

and limitations of imagery.

In 2015, SatCen delivered in-house training courses and coordinated SatCen staff training from numerous external providers. In-house imagery analysis training included the delivery of IMINT and GEOINT introduction courses as well as SAR I and II, Nuclear I and II, and for the first time

in three years, the Imagery Analysis of Strategic Industries course, which was delivered in two separate sessions. Most

in-house imagery analysis courses were fully attended with the total number of participants reaching 145. Other training included

a specially arranged training course for the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD) involving military cartographers.

In May 2015, the Training Unit delivered a two-week IMINT in-situ course in Budapest for the Hungarian MoD and a series of Imagery for Decision Makers presentations was delivered to the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany.

Another important activity is the continuation of training cooperation arrangements with EU institutions and Member States. In 2015, this activity further enhanced with guest speakers from the EU Institute for Security Studies providing specialist presentations to SatCen staff and IAs from the imagery analysis centres of Germany, Italy and Belgium providing training on SatCen in-house imagery analysis courses.


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SatCen continued to improve internal processes and develop support tools in order to optimize the workflow and the use of resources. As in past years, Seconded National Experts (SNE) were a channel for mutual exchange of know-how, a means to spread awareness of SatCen capabilities and a way to reinforce the Centre in high-level activity circumstances.

4.1. Data Provision Services

SatCen does not have direct control over or access to satellite sensors. Although its sources of primary data are commercial and governmental providers activated on a case-by-case basis, SatCen continued directing its efforts toward the development of an autonomous European capability in the field of IMINT/GEOINT, giving preference to European space assets when quality, reactiveness and cost offer were even. In this context, and with the objective of improving the use of European governmental imagery for the EU decision-making process, SatCen organised the sixth Governmental Imagery Forum, strengthening ties to EU Member States contributing data to SatCen (GE, FR, IT, SP, BE, GR). The owners of Helios 2 decided to look at how the current operational agreement could be used for new needs of SatCen.

The SAR-Lupe classified link between SatCen and the German ground segment is fully operational and is used to download SAR-Lupe classified imagery, and the set-up procedures of the secure network for the delivery of COSMO Sky-Med are ongoing.

The last three years, Pléiades imagery has been used with increased intensity, contributing to SatCen’s operational capacity. The tri-stereo capability of the Pleiades & Spot 6 / 7 sensors has provided an additional enhancement to SatCen’s analytical capacity by making it possible to generate DEM (Digital Elevation Model) products with a 1-metre up to 5-metre posting, ideal for 3D modelling and relief.

4. Supporting the core business by improving capabilities


20

SatCen

The increase in tasking has not only had a remarkable effect on the production process, but has also led to a substantial improvement of the capability to place urgent programming or archive orders with maximum priority of commercial imagery over crisis areas or over areas of interest.

Permanently seeking to improve the access to satellite resources and capabilities, further contact with commercial providers was pursued. Negotiations with the most relevant providers is a continuous process, thus allowing SatCen to get better contractual conditions with a significant optimization on the financial aspect and the provided service.

Below is the distribution of imagery acquired in 2015 by sensor. The great majority is optical very high resolution imagery as a consequence of the nature of needs.

2 Between 1 and 15 metres3 Below 1 metre

Sensor Images Square km

Synthetic Aperture Radar 121 7510

High resolution2 12 21200

Very high resolution3 1360 159200

total 1493 187910

IMAGES ACQUIRED IN 2015 BY SENSOR

High resolution | 1%

Synthetic Aperture Radar | 8%

Very high resolution | 91%


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4.2. Innovation in Information and Communication Technology

In spite of a growing demand for products and continuing budgetary constraints, SatCen continued to develop its business intelligence infrastructure in support of the Centre’s core activities. This process, involving business owners and the user community for the implementation of improvements and innovations of processes and tools, makes the Centre a de facto pooling and sharing entity in the EU.

Development of tools for acquisition, sharing and analysis of data

Geoportals have become one of the most requested deliverables for a wide range of tasks (evacuation, monitoring, common picture). The SatCen Geoportal is an interactive application allowing non-specialists to consult, edit and share geospatial information. Particularly adapted for situational awareness and crisis management, it offers specific features like the calculation of evacuation routes.

Using lessons learned from the geoportal developed for the EEAS and benefitting from previous work and projects, the SatCen launched the development of a prototype standalone geoportal that can quickly be deployed on laptops in case of a crisis where no Internet access is available.

This approach, aiming to develop and validate an advanced geospatial interface allowing users to share a common operational picture, has been used in the EDA GISMO (Geospatial Information to Support Decision-making in Operations) project. In 2015, during the GISMO 2 phase of this project, SatCen delivered to the Italian Ministry of Defence a technological demonstrator for the enhancement of the access to and the handling of geospatial information to EU Operational Headquarters (OHQs) and to Member States. The next phase, GISMO 3, is foreseen to start in 2016. It will enable the delivery of an operational tool including new additional functionalities as defined by the EU OHQ and Member States according to their operational requirements.

The SatCen Download Central

The graph below shows the last five years’ trend in product downloads from the SatCen Download Central – a tool developed for SatCen users to be able to download encrypted products classified up to RESTREINT UE. The graph shows a significant increase in downloads from 2011 to 2015.


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SatCen

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0

Product downloads from 2011 to 2015

4.3. Capability Development in Space and Security

In compliance with the framework provided by the Council Decision and following the decisions and the recommendations of the Board and the Council, the Centre continued participating in EU space and security programmes, and their related initiatives. The involvement in such programmes has provided valuable tools and services in support to the SatCen core business, contributing to the protection of space assets or being related to image processing research, support to EU external action and border surveillance activities. It also constitutes an important source of additional tools and resources for the benefit of SatCen, its stakeholders and users as well as for the Commission who is responsible for these programmes.


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Copernicus programme

The Centre continued cooperating with the Copernicus programme in its security dimension to support the development of services addressing Maritime Surveillance, Border surveillance and in particular Support to EU External Action.

This cooperation was conducted both at institutional level, together with relevant stakeholders such as other EU Agencies, different DGs (Directorate-Generals) of the Commission and EEAS bodies, in particular with the participation of the EU SatCen in Copernicus governance structures such as the Copernicus Committee and the Copernicus User Forum and at working level, through the participation in several projects, including meetings with the Commission and ESA for the development of services and the access to satellite imagery.

Example of a Copernicus

product, Support to

External Action: Risk

Assessment on the

production of illicit crops


24

SatCen

In the context of the Service Level Agreement signed with Frontex, apart from the normal products, three service evolutions were provided. In September, the team created to support Frontex had to be reinforced with new posts due to the increase in operational needs.

In 2015, the pre-operational phase of the Copernicus Service in support to EU External Action ended successfully. The preparation of the Delegation Agreement with the Commission for the support to EU External Action continued as well, by providing support to the Commission of the drafting of Service Specification, portfolio of products and related documents. The signature of the Delegation Agreement is expected mid-2016 after approval by the SatCen Board.

Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

In the context of European SSA/SST development, SatCen continued to collaborate with EU Member States, EDA and European Commmision on their respective activities for SSA (Space Situational Awareness).

In 2015, discussions with eligible participating Member States in the European SST (Space Surveillance and Tracking) Support Framework (SST Consortium) took place in order to determine the modalities of cooperation between the SatCen and the SST Consortium. The negotiations entered into their final phase during the month of June, leading up to the approval by the SatCen Board on 23 July 2015 of the SST Implementing Arrangement.

The Arrangement was signed on 14 September 2015, and the negotiation with the SST Consortium concerning SatCen’s role within the three SST projects took place. The first three project proposals (1SST2015, 2SST2015 and 3SST2015) within the SST Support Framework were submitted in November and 1SST2015 was signed by the Commission end December. 2SST2015 and 3SST2015 are expected to be signed by the beginning of 2016, and the provision of initial services is foreseen to start mid-2016.

Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

Space Situational Awareness refers to the knowledge of location and function of space objects and space environment, including operational satellites, space debris, near Earth objects and space weather. The potential development of a European system will underpin the exploitation of space assets, a key capability contributing to autonomous access to and sustainability of space for the EU and its Member States.


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In December, the PASS Mid-Term Review was successfully completed setting the focus for future PASS activities and their alignment to the SST Support Framework Projects. PASS (Preparation for the establishment of A European SST Service provision function) is a Horizon 2020 Support Action whose main objective is to contribute to the set-up of an SST Service Provision Function by identifying necessary functional elements, security provisions and interfaces with relevant SST actors, supported by the development of a Pilot SST Service Provision. Experts from Member States, the Commission and EEAS attended the meeting.

During the year 2015, the SatCen has continued its cooperation with EDA in the field of SSA through the implementation of the Recognized Space Picture (RSP) Display study, RSP being a specific defence component of SSA.

Artistic illustration

of an SST

fragmentation service

and its associated

functions - sensor,

processing and

service delivery.

SatCen cooperates

with the SST

Consortium on the

SST service provision

function.


26

SatCen

Research, Technology Development and Innovation

In 2015, RTDI (Research, Technology Development and Innovation) activities started at SatCen with the aim to develop innovative solutions with regard to the whole data lifecycle on transversal issues. In fact, the rapidly increasing amount and variety of data coming from satellites and other sources demand addressing new issues such as the management and exploitation of extremely large and complex datasets (Big Data) as well as the development of online collaborative systems (Virtual Research Environments). To this aim, it is crucial to foster cooperation with the European Commission and other EU entities as well as with key international organisations such as the European Space Agency and the Groups on Earth Observations.

SatCen is currently participating in the H2020 projects BigDataEurope (Integrating Big Data software & communities for addressing Europe’s Societal Challenges) and EVER-EST (European Virtual Environment for Research - Earth Science Themes). SatCen also organised the 1st Big Data in Secure Societies workshop and the Big Data from Space conference (jointly with ESA and the EC Joint Research Centre).

Moreover, since November 2015, SatCen is leading the GEO Space and Security Community Activity.

Cooperation with EDA and ESA

In 2015, SatCen participated regularly in EDA Project Team meetings related to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Cyber security and continued to be involved in EDA project initiatives in domains linked to its core activities, such as the SULTAN (persistent SUrveillance Long-Term ANalysis) study, finished in April 2015; GISMO 2, mentioned on page 21; and Recognised Space Picture (RSP), mentioned on page 25.

Furthermore, SatCen is entering the final phase of negotiating with the EDA MARSUR (Maritime Surveillance Network between Member States) partnership, and is participating very actively in the definition of the CISE - Common


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Information Sharing Environment – between the maritime authorities of the Member States participating in MARSUR.

Following an exchange of visits between the EDA Chief Executive and the SatCen Director, the objective for 2016 is to prepare a structured cooperation framework between the two Agencies.

The SatCen Director and the Director of ESA EO Programmes and Head of ESA-ESRIN met in several occasions to discuss the status of the ESA-SatCen Administrative Arrangement. An overview of relevant SatCen initiatives and possible future cooperation activities were presented.

Other initiatives

SatCen was invited by the EU ISS to participate in a project on Space and Security. The objective of this project is to map out priorities for the European Union as well as to investigate the latest trends and recent developments related to space and security, and to finally report the research, main findings and analysis in a study edited by the EU ISS.


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SatCen 5. A secure context

Maintaining high security standards is one of SatCen’s main priorities. Awareness presentations to all personnel were regularly given and analyses of cyberattacks performed.

In order to maintain the highest level of proficiency, processes and regulations were systematically reviewed and updated.

Physical security being a constant concern for SatCen, works and actions were carried out in relation to the fire detection system as well as to the technical secured areas with the installation of dedicated devices in order to ensure proper surveillance tasks, in accordance with the recommendations of the EU security assessment visit in 2014. The Fire Prevention Plan and the Evacuation Plan were updated and tested through various drill exercises.

Security awareness of SatCen staff has become an even higher priority than before. Due to the latest terrorist attacks, briefings were reinforced.


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6. Resource management

7.1. Personnel

The Human Resource management system continued to be reviewed to ensure alignment with the Centre’s strategy. Human resources are considered the main asset of the Centre and have to be permanently taken into consideration and encouraged.

The SatCen personnel in 2015 was composed of 121 staff – 90 permanent posts, 25 temporary posts, 1 local staff – and 5 seconded national experts (SNEs) complementing the pool of imagery analysts and Directorate staff.

Below the breakdown by type is given:

The Centre hosted five SNEs from Italy, France, UK, Hungary and the Czech Republic, reinforcing the SatCen analysis and Directorate capability while at the same time strengthening operational ties to Member States.

SNEs not only reinforce the operational capacity and widen the spectrum of services, as recommended by the High Representative, but also permit transparency and a fruitful exchange of knowledge as an efficient means to spread awareness of SatCen capabilities and to achieve a common approach.

Local Staff | 1

Permanent Posts | 90

Temporary Posts | 25

SnEs | 5


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6.2. Finance

6.2.1. EU SatCen Budget

The Budget 2015 was approved by the SatCen Board under silence procedure on 12 December 2014 for a total amount of 17.976.464 €. Out of this, 12.245.659 € were financed through Member State contributions, representing a decrease of 0,24 % over the 2014 contributions.

The following chart shows the SatCen Budget 2015 by expenditure chapters.

The income sources of the SatCen Budget 2015 are depicted below.

External projects costs | 1,56%

Mission operating costs | 24,36%

Contingency fund | 1,85%

Internal tax | 12,30%

Other receipts | 15,47%

General operating costs | 10,38%

Personnel costs | 61,84%

Contingency fund | 1,85%

Member States’ contributions | 68,12%

External projects funding | 2,26%

EU SatCen Budget

2015 by cost

categories

EU SatCen Budget

2015 by funding

source


31

The chart below compares the evolution of the Centre’s approved budgets (Member States’ contributions) in nominal and in real terms from 2000 to 2015.

Despite the impression that the trend in budgets was slightly increasing and then stagnating in the last years, a very different trend results from the comparison of the different budgets given in year-2000 fixed euros below.

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

2.000.000

4.000.000

6.000.000

8.000.000

12.000.000

10.000.000

0

EU SatCen budget evolution (Member States’ contributions)

SatCen budget evolution (SatCen budget in fixed 2000 euros)

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

8.200.000

8.400.000

8.600.000

8.800.000

9.000.000

8.000.000

Year-2000 fixed euros

2000

2000


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SatCen

6.2.2. Financial Management

The SatCen Board adopted the Implementation Procedures for Cost Recovery on 23 July 2015, adapting existing cost recovery procedures to the Council Decision 2014/401/CFSP of 26 June 2014. This approval enabled SatCen to enhance funding and cost recovery models to meet the pattern of the operational demand, while satisfying the more demanding needs of the new spectrum of customers. Significant alternative funds sustaining an outstanding level of operational activity were achieved, especially for the support of missions and operations, in particular the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (SMM).

The cost accounting system was efficiently applied to accomplish the estimation and calculation of actual costs per activity and task, as well as for billing purposes when the cost recovery procedure applies.

During 2015, the draft new Financial Rules were subject to a review process. The document under review adapts the existing rules to a more demanding and more transparent scenario, as well as to the new Council Decision 2014/401/CFSP.


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In 2015, SatCen continued increasing its support to EU’s political, diplomatic and operational CFSP/CSDP actions. By providing relevant IMINT/GEOINT services to EU decision makers and its other users, the Centre contributed to enhance consistency, credibility and effectiveness of these actions in a scenario in which threats to security are growing.

Focussed on meeting users’ needs, SatCen is called to continuously adapt its core and support processes, improve IT tools, organizing operational activities and enhancing its service portfolio correspondingly, while optimizing the use of resources. For these reasons, and in order to align orientations and practices, SatCen continuously engages stakeholders and creates awareness with the aim of developing synergies and avoiding duplications.

The support to Frontex will increase in 2016. After the preparatory phases in 2015, the implementation of Copernicus SEA and the delivery of the first SST services will integrate the SatCen offer in the near future.

The permanent commitment, proactivity, team spirit and search for excellence of the Centre’s staff, together with the decisive support of major stakeholders, constitute the major assets of the EU Satellite Centre when facing upcoming challenges.

7. Conclusion


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Annexes 35


36

SatCen Annex I

ABBREVIATIONS

CISE Common Information Sharing Environment

CD Council Decision

CFSP Common Foreign and Security Policy

CMPD Crisis Management and Planning Department

CPCC Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability

CSDP Common Security and Defence Policy

DEM Digital Elevation Model

DGI Digital Geographic Information

EC European Commission

EDA European Defence Agency

EEAS European External Action Service

EVER-EST European Virtual Environment for Research - Earth Science Themes

EO Earth Observation

ESA European Space Agency

ESRIN European Space Research Institute

EU ISS EU Institute for Security Studies

EUF Expert User Forum

EUMM European Union Monitoring Mission

EUMS European Union Military Staff

EU Ops WAN EU Operational Wide Area Network


37

Annex I

Frontex European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union

GEOINT Geospatial Intelligence

GISMO Geospatial Information to Support decision Making in Operations

HR High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice President of the European Commission

IA Image Analyst

IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency

IMINT Imagery Intelligence

INTCEN Intelligence Analysis Centre

ISR Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

JRC Joint Research Centre

MARSUR Maritime Surveillance

NAVFOR Naval Force(s)

OHQ Operational Headquarters

OPCW Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

OS Open Sources

OSCE Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

PASS Preparation for the establishment of A European SST Service provision function

PSC Political and Security Committee

RSP Recognized Space Picture


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RTDI Research, Technology Development and Innovation

SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar

SatCen European Union Satellite Centre

SEA Support to External Action (Copernicus)

SIAC Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity

SLA Service Level Agreement

SNE Seconded National Expert

SSA Space Situational Awareness

SST Space Surveillance and Tracking

TWG Technical Working Group

UN United Nations


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Annex II

ORGANISATIONAL CHART

Director

operationsDivision

CapabilityDevelopment

Division

ItDivision

AdministrationDivision

FinanceUnit

Deputy Director

Brusselsoffice

Communication

Coordination& Planning

Strategy& Policy


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41

Annex III

MEETINGS AND EVENTS

The Centre has received and organised the following key visits and meetings in 2015:

15 January Head of EEAS Situation Room

10 February Ministre Conseiller, Embassy of France to Spain

16 February High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice President of the European Commission

4 May Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Spain

5 May Ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands to Spain

5 May Chief Royal Engineers and Delegation 42 Engr, UK

11 May Ambassador of Hungary to Spain

25 May Director of Earth Observation Programmes, ESA-ESRIN

26 May Senior Analyst, EU ISS

27 May Base Commander and Heads of Unit, Torrejón Air Base

28 May SatCen Board meeting

29 May Torrejón Discussion with SatCen Board Members

3 June Director, Military Intelligence Security Directorate of Sweden

9 June Centro Universitario de la Guardia Civil, Academia de Oficiales

15 June Delegation of the German Ministry of Defence

2 July Sous-directeur des opérations de la direction du renseignement militaire, French Military Intelligence Directorate

21 September Policy Officer for Maritime Security, Security Policy Division, EEAS

28 September Former and current UK Board Members

7 October Chief Executive, EDA


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19 October Director, Centre Français de Recherche sur le Renseignement (CF2R)

20 October Head of the Italian Joint Air Operations School

3 November Delegation of the Norwegian Ministry of Defence

6 November Head of Euro-Atlantic Division, French General Staff

19 November Senior Analyst, EU ISS

20 November Secretary-General of the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Autria, and Ambassador of Austria to Spain

23 November Consul, Embassy of Romania to Spain

3 December Delegation of the British Joint Intelligence Operations Centre


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European Union Satellite CentreLuxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union2016 - 44 pp. - 20 x 21 cmISBN: 978-92-95034-09-9doi: 10.2820/161409


Apdo. de Correos 51128850 Torrejón de ArdozMadrid - SPAIN

www.satcen.europa.eu

Publications Office

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