OBSERVER: From space to civil protection – How SUNSHINE supports disaster resilience in Europe
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Europe’s risk landscape is changing rapidly, with climate-driven hazards and complex crises placing increasing demands on civil protection authorities. As disasters become more frequent, intense and cross-border by nature, the ability to anticipate events, efficiently prepare, respond rapidly, and coordinate across systems and institutions depends on access to timely, reliable, and interoperable information. Space-based data and services are becoming central to this effort, yet their operational uptake remains uneven across Europe. Bridging this gap between technological potential and real-world and operational use is precisely the mission of SUNSHINE, an EU-funded project designed to ensure that Europe’s space investments deliver tangible benefits for the safety and protection of EU citizens. In this Observer, we explore how SUNSHINE helps strengthen disaster resilience across Europe by connecting space-based information with operational decision-making.
Why was SUNSHINE launched?
SUNSHINE was launched in response to a clear political and operational need. The European Parliament identified the necessity to strengthen training on EU Space services across Member States, a need later confirmed by Member States at the Council of the European Union. Despite significant European investment in advanced space capabilities, many civil protection authorities continue to face challenges in understanding how these services can be accessed, combined, and integrated into everyday operational workflows.
Coordinated by the European Commission, SUNSHINE reflects an institutional effort to making EU Space assets operationally meaningful. The project is closely aligned with the objectives of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and the EU Disaster Resilience Goals (DRGs), supporting stronger anticipation, preparedness, and coordinated response to disasters across Europe.
At its core, SUNSHINE focuses as much on people as on technology: supporting civil protection practitioners in developing the knowledge and skills needed to use space-based information effectively in operational contexts.
What makes SUNSHINE different
What sets SUNSHINE apart is its comprehensive and operationally driven approach. It is the first initiative to address the full spectrum of the EU Space Programme in a coherent way for civil protection stakeholders, rather than focusing on a single component or technology.
At the core of the SUNSHINE project lies a free and open practice-oriented capacity building programme designed to translate EU Space capabilities into operational value for civil protection authorities. The programme covers a broad range of topics, including:
- The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) portfolio, which encompasses mapping products, exposure data, and early warning and monitoring services for droughts, floods, and wildfires;
- Innovative Galileo satellite navigation services relevant to civil protection, such as the Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), the Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA), and the High Accuracy Service (HAS);
- Opportunities for secured communications via the Governmental Satellite Communication service (GOVSATCOM) and the upcoming EU secure connectivity constellation IRIS²; and
- The importance of monitoring space hazards through an overview of the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) component.
Additionally, the programme features dedicated modules on the European Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network (UCPKN), the Global Situation System (GSS), and ARISTOTLE, the European Natural Hazards Scientific Partnership.
To ensure that SUNSHINE information and materials are readily accessible to practitioners, resources from the project are available on the SUNSHINE page on the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network (UCPKN).
Beyond in-person seminars and webinars, SUNSHINE will reinforce practical uptake through dedicated simulation exercises (SIMEX). Following participation in the training seminars, selected participants will be invited to take part in hands-on crisis simulations hosted in Brussels at the European Commission premises. These exercises will immerse practitioners in realistic emergency scenarios, enabling them to actively use knowledge gathered during the seminars in an operational context, helping turn training into real crisis-management capability.
Overall, the capacity building programme will deepen knowledge of EU Space data and services while creating a lasting network of practitioners. Participants to the training seminars will become points of contact for other SUNSHINE opportunities (such as bilateral exchanges, simulation exercises, and technical assistance) and ambassadors of EU Space services within their home countries.
They will also be connected with their national delegates to the European Commission’s Expert Group for early warning and alert tools, reinforcing links between operational practice and EU-level coordination. By empowering practitioners and fostering cross-border cooperation, SUNSHINE supports more coherent, prepared, and coordinated civil protection responses across Europe.
2025 in review: from concept to practice
The year 2025 marked a transition for SUNSHINE, moving from project setup to concrete operational engagement across Europe.
A major milestone was the first in-person SUNSHINE Training Seminar, held in November 2025 at the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences in Tallinn. Over four days, civil protection professionals, operational responders, and technical experts from across the EU explored how EU Space-based services can support real crisis management needs. The seminar placed particular emphasis on the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) and the newly developed Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), illustrating how these services can be used to anticipate hazards, support emergency response, and improve recovery operations.
Beyond technical briefings, the Tallinn seminar focused on synergies and practical applications. Participants engaged in demonstrations, discussions, and scenario-based exercises designed to reflect the realities of emergency operations. By the end of the week, attendees were not only familiar with EU Space services but better equipped to integrate them into their own organisational workflows and to share this knowledge with colleagues at the national level.
Earlier in the year, SUNSHINE organised its first project webinar, bringing together more than 50 participants. The session introduced the project’s objectives, its train-the-trainer approach, and its focus on increasing the operational uptake of EU Space services. The webinar also highlighted how SUNSHINE supports innovation in crisis management through training, exercises, and technical assistance, laying the groundwork for a growing community of practice. The first webinar recording and slides are available here.
Another milestone in 2025 was the launch of SUNSHINE’s first technical assistance activity, in cooperation with Estonian authorities. Working closely with national partners, the project began supporting the integration of Galileo EWSS into the country’s public warning landscape. This collaboration involved gathering user feedback, analysing existing systems, and identifying pathways for effective implementation. The work will culminate in a dedicated EWSS adoption roadmap, demonstrating how EU-level capabilities can be adapted to national contexts.
SUNSHINE also contributed to broader European dialogue on disaster preparedness. In November 2025, project representatives participated in the EU Science for Preparedness Conference in Turin, Italy. Organised by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre’s on behalf of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) and the Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre (DRMKC), the event provided a platform to exchange knowledge, as well as sharing SUNSHINE’s approach with a wider community of stakeholders. Presentations from the session are available here, while the recording can be found here.
Together, these milestones illustrate how SUNSHINE moved from strategic vision to tangible action during its first year, laying a strong foundation for expansion and scale-up.
What lies ahead in 2026
Building on this momentum, 2026 will see a significant expansion of SUNSHINE activities across Europe. The project will deliver three additional in-depth training seminars, hosted in France, Romania, and Croatia, providing new opportunities for civil protection authorities to strengthen their operational use of EU Space data and services. Participation will be open through expressions of interest, ensuring broad engagement across EU Member States.
The seminar programme will be complemented by a new series of webinars, each dedicated to specific EU Space components and practical applications. These sessions will continue to provide accessible entry points for practitioners seeking to build or deepen their expertise.
SUNSHINE will also expand its technical assistance and bilateral activities, supporting additional countries in integrating EU Space-based services, focusing on Galileo EWSS for population alert warning and crisis communications. Simulation exercises will further strengthen practical applications, allowing participants of the training seminars to test coordination mechanisms and decision-making processes in realistic, scenario-based settings.
Beyond dedicated training, SUNSHINE will maintain a strong presence at EU-level events, contributing to awareness-raising, dialogue, and knowledge exchange at the intersection of space technology and civil protection activities.
Making Europe’s space investments work for civil protection
SUNSHINE demonstrates how the European Union can react to EU Member States’ requests for support, and is able to put in place capacity building programmes and operational training. By focusing on people, skills, and operational integration, the project supports the use of the space capacities developed and funded by the European Union, with one goal in mind: to enhance the protection of our societies against disaster.
As disaster risks become more complex and interconnected, initiatives such as SUNSHINE contribute to strengthening collective preparedness and resilience across the EU. By equipping civil protection authorities with the tools and knowledge they need, SUNSHINE is helping transform space from a distant capability into a practical ally in protecting lives, infrastructure, and communities.
To stay informed about upcoming SUNSHINE activities and opportunities, consult the SUNSHINE page on the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network.
