DEFIS Flashcards
DG DEFIS
The Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) leads the European Commission’s activities in the European defence industry and European space sectors.
Under the leadership of Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, DG DEFIS implements the Union’s Space Programme and ensures an innovative, and competitive defence industry.
DEFIS & EU Priorities
Through our work we help to shield the European Union and its citizens from various threats, making it more resilient to climate change and supply chain shortages.
We make sure Europe remains an innovation hub by easing access to finance for space and defence companies, while keeping our talents in Europe.
Our investment in space and defence is strategic and long-term aiming at a sovereign and autonomous Europe.
A secure, innovative, autonomous, resilient Europe
a secure Europe - Space
In the area of space, we have developed Galileo and Copernicus - services that allow Member States to mitigate the effects of natural and manmade disasters and therefore save lives. Some of these services include the Galileo Search and Rescue Service and the Copernicus Emergency Management Service.
a secure Europe - defence
The European Commission and the High Representative have presented the first-ever European Defence Industrial Strategy at EU level and proposed ambitious actions to support the competitiveness and readiness of the EU defence industry.
The European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS) sets a clear, long-term vision to achieve defence industrial readiness in the EU.
As an initial step towards delivery of the Strategy, the European Commission has tabled a legislative proposal for a European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), along with a framework of measures to ensure the timely supply of defence products.
A stronger and more responsive European defence industry will benefit Member States and ultimately EU citizens. It will also benefit the EU’s key partners, including NATO and Ukraine.
Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) service
For instance, the Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) service can detect people in distress anywhere in the world with the activation of an emergency beacon. The Galileo SAR service offers fast (less than 10 minutes) and precise location of the person in distress, which translates into more lives saved. In January 2020, the service received an additional feature - the Galileo Return Link Service (RLS), which lets the person in distress know that that first responders have their signal, their location has been established, and help is on the way. Galileo is the only satellite navigation system to offer such a service and the RLS has proven to increase survival rates by giving an important psychological boost to people in distress.
Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS)
The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) aids civil protection authorities and first responders in all phases of the disaster management cycle. In the area of disaster prevention and preparedness CEMS helps to map and monitor hazard prone areas, while during response and recovery operations it is used to quantify a disaster’s impact on the environment, human safety, or the economy. For example, decision-makers use the Copernicus Services to monitor wildfires, track the evolution of floods, and estimate the cost of the resulting damage.
Earth Observation Governmental Service (EOGS)
The future Earth Observation Governmental Service (EOGS), which will be made available to EU Member States in the next EU multi-annual financial framework (2028-2034), will harness space data in support of autonomous European decision-making in the area of security and defence. In 2024, a pilot project will test a preliminary service and build an EOGS governance that Member States can trust.
Cyber Defence Policy
In the area of defence, cyber is recognised as a military operational domain in its own right, it is also an integral and critical dimension of various key defence capabilities. The EU’s Cyber Defence Policy emphasises the need to invest in cyber defence, including the development of a full spectrum cyber defence capability.
Towards this objective, R&D activities on cyber security and cyber defence under the European Defence Fund will strengthen the EU’s cyber resilience and cyber operational capabilities, while also promoting cooperation and joint capability building, thereby enhancing the interoperability and efficiency of military operations
EU approach to Space Traffic Management (EU STM)
As both space debris and congestion jeopardise the operation and security of the EU’s and Member States’ space assets, such as Galileo, Copernicus and EGNOS, the European Commission recently proposed an integrated EU approach to Space Traffic Management (EU STM). This holistic approach will secure the long-term viability of space activities by ensuring that space remains a sustainable, safe and secure environment. It outlines the means and rules for safely, sustainably, and securely accessing, conducting activities in, and returning from outer space.
To ensure its satellite infrastructure is adequately protected, the European Union has been relying on the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) partnership, which is the main operational pillar of the STM.
EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
NICHT ESA (European Space Agency -> keine EU Agency)
The Prague-based EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) ensures seamless provision of Galileo and EGNOS services and protects the services from malicious attacks. In addition, the agency promotes the commercialisation of Copernicus data across various sectors of our economy.
European Defence Fund
The EDF is the Commission’s instrument to support Research and Development in defence.
Its main goals are:
To promote cooperation between companies, including SMEs and research actors throughout the Union. To boost defence capability development through investments. To help EU companies develop cutting-edge and interoperable defence technologies and equipment.
The Fund has a budget of nearly €8 billion for 2021-2027, with €2.7 billion allocated for collaborative defence research and €5.3 billion for collaborative capability development projects that complement national contributions. The financial support is offered primarily through grants up to 100% of eligible costs contingent on activities involved and a bonus system that considers SMEs, mid-caps, and connection to a PESCO project.
