29/11/2021 (Agence Europe) – The Copernicus Steering Committee will meet on 1 December to discuss the way forward and to consider alternative scenarios for developing the EU Earth observation and monitoring programme if the Contribution Agreement, in the context of the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) with the European Space Agency (ESA) (see EUROPE 12807/15), is not finalised due to questions about the UK contribution. “The conditions for the UK’s participation in the EU programme are set out in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and its protocols, which are in the process of being adopted”, explained European Commission spokesperson Sonya Gospodinova. Funding for the programme and future developments is in any case guaranteed by the budget allocated to the EU space programme, she said. (PH)