The European Agency for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GSA), based in Prague, has recently announced that, following the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2021/696 (the ‘Space Regulation’) on 12 May 2021, the GSA has been replaced and succeeded by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).
The EUSPA is built on the foundations established by the GSA, but has a broader scope. Its remit has been extended beyond Galileo and EGNOS (the EU's global and regional satellite navigation systems), Copernicus (the EU's Earth Observation Programme), and the Governmental Satellite Communication (GOVSATCOM) initiative that supports border and civil protection and helps humanitarian interventions. The extended scope of the EUSPA is reflected in the new name, since the main responsibility of the Agency will be to implement the ambitious EU Space Programme established in the Space Regulation during 2021-2027.
How will the EUSPA’s work impact EU citizens’ everyday life?
Even at first glance, the impact on the most diverse areas of daily life is huge. Galileo and EGNOS are used in smartphones, cars, drones, etc., throughout the European Union. Copernicus data help agriculture, where many farmers use the system for better monitoring of their crops. Furthermore, a number of companies and start-ups use satellite data for the greater benefit of the European economy, thus creating new opportunities for all citizens. As the EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa explained, 'the EUSPA aims to make the most of the synergies between the various components of the EU Space Programme, particularly navigation, Earth observation and secure communications, to drive innovation across a broad range of sectors'.
The Translation Centre, which has had the GSA as a client since 2007, takes this opportunity to congratulate the EUSPA on its new mandate. We are confident that our numerous products and responsive and competent services will help the EUSPA in its multilingual communication and enable the Agency to connect with its stakeholders.
More information on the EUSPA is available here.