10/01/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Court of Auditors announced on Thursday 9 January the launch of an audit on the European Commission's action to improve the exploitation of space data generated by the Copernicus (earth observation) and Galileo (geolocation) programmes. In the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027, some €260 million have been earmarked for the use of spatial data. The exploitation of space data by the public and private sector is indeed one of the priorities of the Space Strategy (see EUROPE 11655/9) and the new Regulation establishing the EU Space Programme (see EUROPE 12238/21) presented by the previous European Commission. The Court is expected to deliver its audit report towards the end of 2020, it says in its press release. (PH)