Events

Website: www.forumgmes2008.eu

The GMES Forum 2008, entitled “Together, take better care of the Planet”, organised by the European Commission and the current French Presidency of the European Union, took place in Lille on September 16th and 17th. During his opening speech EU Vice-President Mr. Verheugen announced the new name of the GMES programme: Kopernikus. He also firmly announced the implementation of operational budgets for Kopernikus by the next year and for the next financial period (from 2013).

The forum featured a series of speeches and presentations on the benefits and the political future of GMES as well as on the new challenges introduced by climate change. In addition, an accompanying exhibition gave a comprehensive overview on the existing service portfolios for the individual thematic areas of GMES: Land, Emergency, Marine, Atmosphere, Security and Climate.