ANNUAL REPORT 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS SatCen SatCen European Union Satellite Centre Tel. +34 91 678 60 00 Fax: +34 91 678 60 06 e-mail: [email protected] Postal address: Apdo. de Correos 511, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain www.satcen.europa.eu Additional information on the European Union is available on the internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2021. ISBN 978-92-95034-19-8 doi 10.2820/940883 © SatCen, 2021 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Spain. Printed on white chlorine-free paper. This report is published in accordance with Article 7 of the COUNCIL DECISION 2014/401/CFSP of 26 June 2014. Excma. Sra. Doña Margarita Robles Fernández at SatCen, 05 November 2020 H.E. Ms Florenceat Parly,SatCen, French 24 September Minister of 2020 the Armed Forces Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini (Italian Navy), Commander of Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI at Satcen, 01 July 2020 Major General Michel Friedling, French Space Commander at SatCen, 17 September 2020 Visit of UME delegation to SatCen, 07 July 2020 Visit of HR/VP24 Josep February Borrell 2020 to the Centre on TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | SatCen 3 Foreword by the Director intelligence analysis. Highly skilled and multidisci- plinary teams analyse heterogeneous data at mul- tiple classification levels in a secure environment. The Centre’s fields of activity are broad and inclu- sive, covering all features, activities and phenom- ena related to security that can be analysed and monitored from space (security from space). These cover military capabilities, humanitarian aid, sup- port to evacuation operations, monitoring of weap- ons of mass destruction, critical infrastructures and security related to climate change, to name just a few. Complementing this, the SatCen is the hile approaching its 30th anniversary, the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) Front Desk, European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) enabling the monitoring of the situation in space Whas profiled itself as a highly valuable EU (security of space), in cooperation with EU Mem- autonomous operational asset in support of CFSP/ ber States. These two security dimensions are rein- CSDP, with a proven record of contributing to the forced by operational synergies, as reflected by the four ‘baskets’ of the forthcoming Strategic Com- delivery of relevant analytical products. pass: Crisis management support through geospa- tial analysis is at the core of SatCen’s mission. Its 2020 was one of the most challenging years in Sat- contribution to enhanced resilience is reflected in Cen’s history. In a context framed by the COVID-19 the lessons learned from its own operational resil- pandemic and Brexit, SatCen had to cope with an ience in crisis situations, as well as through its role increasingly growing and differentiated user de- in the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) and mand for geospatial support services, while at the relevant geospatial analysis supporting resilience. same time adapting its processes to harvest the Its contribution to strengthening EU partnerships best of the continuously evolving ‘New Space’ in- is reflected in the EU mandated support SatCen dustry, characterised by significant developments provides to the UN, OSCE and OPCW. Capability in the availability of data and advanced analysis development and efforts to stay at the cutting edge techniques and tools. of relevant technological developments has been a continuous priority for SatCen, strongly linked with From early 2020, as soon as the potential impact of its autonomous operational mission. COVID-19 became apparent, the Centre engaged in a comprehensive effort directed at ensuring the Under the political guidance and supervision of the health and safety of all staff, while continuing to ful- 27 EU Member States and the operational direction fil its essential mission in a context of limitations on of the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Af- ground mobility and activity increasing the demand fairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EU for geospatial analysis services. Commission (HR/VP), the SatCen supports the de- cision making and actions of the Union (including The Centre was successful in maintaining a con- valuable support to EU missions and operations) tinuous output of reliable geospatial analysis prod- by exploiting space assets and other relevant data, ucts, as well as an uninterrupted supply of all other through comprehensive and actionable geospatial services in the field of space and security, to which 4 SatCen || ANNUAL REPORT 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS SatCen is mandated to provide essential support this has shown that SatCen is a valuable autono- for its users and partners. mous capability, fully able to fulfil its geospatial support mission as well as to provide comprehen- In addition to this major impact from the ongoing sive services in the field of space and security, even pandemic, SatCen also had to brace for Brexit and under the most challenging conditions. the need to find a contractual agreement with the British staff that had to leave SatCen by end of the SatCen’s operational activity in 2020 also respond- Brexit transition period (31 December 2020) due ed to a number of key recommendations made by to security regulations. This political development Member States and the HR/VP: Firstly, the support posed another major challenge to SatCen opera- with geospatial intelligence to EU missions and op- tional effectiveness, since UK staff were embedded erations increased more than five times compared in core operational functions and were also repre- to the year before (from a 3% share of total produc- sented in the Centre’s management level. tion in 2019 to 17% in 2020). Thanks to the high professionalism, versatility and Secondly, SatCen has continued to enhance its dedication of SatCen staff, as well as to the con- connectivity with the intelligence community at tingency measures indicated above, the Centre EU and Member State levels through enhanced demonstrated exceptional resilience and was able secure technical communications and seamless, to adapt to the new situation and to maintain an out- adaptive responses to prioritised tasking in a pan- put similar to the record levels of the year before. demic context. The decrease in classified activity due to the strict Thirdly, SatCen’s increased use of EU satellite data confinement in the first weeks of the pandemic was providers continued in 2020, sustaining the growth compensated by an increase in on-site presence trend of recent years. and associated classified production in the second half of 2020, with unclassified operational activity To maintain its edge in terms of, expertise and ef- being performed through teleworking at scale. All ficiency, even under the constraints of the current TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNUALANNUAL REPORT REPORT 2020 2020 | | SatCen SatCen 5 health situation, SatCen has kept investing heavily for analysis and discussion. The series of debates in the continuous professional training of its staff, at SatCen Board level has led to the refinement as well as in maintaining a leading technological (and adaptation to the pandemic context) of the edge, supporting highly efficient processes and re- implementation options, in preparation for future sulting services. This includes, but is not limited to, decisions. Furthermore, SatCen has also contrib- uptake of new IT tools and analysis procedures like uted to the ongoing Strategic Compass debate, artificial intelligence and big data handling, con- both through its specific input to the Threat Anal- tinuously adjusting its contractual base with data ysis and through participation in relevant round suppliers and other contributors, as well as further tables and seminars. investments in the secure working environment and secured interlinks with its user community. With all its complexity and unforeseen circum- stances, 2020 also saw an increased political level SatCen’s efforts to maximise synergies and com- interest in the Centre’s unique role and contribu- plementarities with other EU activities in the field tion to EU strategic autonomy. This was also re- of security, defence and space have been reflect- flected by a number of high-level visits, such as ed in the highly effective and appreciated cooper- those of the HR/VP Josep Borrell; H.E. Florence ation with the Commission, in particular through Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces; H.E. SatCen’s role in the Copernicus Security Services Margarita Robles Fernández, Spanish Defence (both in support to External Action and to Frontex) Minister; H.E. Karoline Edtstadler, Federal Minister and its function as Front Desk to the EU Space of Austria for the EU and Constitution; as well as of Surveillance and Tracking Support Framework (EU other high-level officials from France, Italy, Spain, SST). Furthermore, the involvement in R&I activi- Portugal, Romania, Croatia, Malta, Hungary, EU ties, mainly funded through the Horizon 2020 pro- representatives and mission commanders. gramme or as part of close and often multi-annual projects, as well as through cooperation with part- Finally, I would like to express my sincere appre- ners like the EDA, ESA or other actors in the com- ciation to the remarkable dedication and profes- mon field of interest, have further enhanced these sionalism of our staff, and just as much to all our synergies, and thus supported SatCen’s core op- key stakeholders, the Member State representa- erational activity. tives, as well as to our partners for their invest- ment of trust and support, as well as for the close At the policy level, the debate in the SatCen Board and reliable collaboration throughout an unusually on the future of the Centre continued in 2020 on challenging, but also rewarding year. the basis of the recommendations contained in the HR/VP Report on SatCen endorsed by the Council, and based on the input of the entire set of SatCen stakeholders, including the EEAS user Sincerely, community and the Commission.