The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the European Commission Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) signed the Copernicus Administrative Agreement (CAA) during a hybrid signing ceremony held at the sidelines of the third Philippines-European Union Joint Committee Meeting (PH-EU JCM) on 30 June 2023.

The CAA is a non-binding instrument between PhilSA and DG DEFIS that will facilitate the access and exchange of Earth Observation satellite data between the Philippines and the EU on a reciprocity basis, based on the National Copernicus Support Action Program for the Philippines’ (CopPhil) Data Infrastructure component.

PhilSA Director General Dr. Joel Marciano, Jr. in Manila and DG DEFIS Director for Outreach and Innovation Ekaterini Kavvada in Brussels signed the CAA, witnessed by DG DEFIS officials and by a delegation from the Philippines consisting of representatives from the Philippine Mission to the EU in Brussels, the PhilSA, and the Department of Finance.