The agreements cover greenhouse gas monitoring with Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), renewed cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), and extended partnerships with the African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD) and the AGRHYMET Regional Centre.

“These agreements show how balanced international cooperation multiplies the value of EUMETSAT’s satellite systems for our Member States,” said Paul Counet, EUMETSAT’s Head of Strategy, Communication and International Relations. “By exchanging data and expertise with trusted partners, we strengthen access to global observations and help ensure Europe remains influential in the global observing system.”

Strengthening cooperation with Japan

A new Memorandum of Understanding with NIES establishes cooperation on atmospheric composition and greenhouse gas monitoring, complementing EUMETSAT’s existing partnerships with JAXA and the Japan Meteorological Agency. It supports the exchange of near-real-time satellite data, air pollutant products and ground-based measurement data, alongside scientific collaboration on environmental research.

The council also approved a five-year renewal of EUMETSAT’s Earth observation agreement with JAXA, extending 10 years of cooperation on data exchange, scientific work and next-generation satellite missions.

Extending meteorological satellite cooperation with South Korea

A renewed Memorandum of Understanding with KMA will extend cooperation in meteorological satellites and satellite meteorology, supporting continued data and product exchange and further scientific collaboration between European and Korean satellite programmes.

Supporting weather, climate and environmental services in Africa

Renewed cooperation agreements with ACMAD and AGRHYMET will extend partnerships first formalised in 1996, supporting the use of EUMETSAT data and products for weather, climate, agricultural, hydrological and environmental services across Africa.

The agreements build on existing cooperation to develop the infrastructure needed to use Meteosat Third Generation data across the continent, as well as on European Union-funded programmes, including Space for Early Warning in Africa.

In addition, the council discussed potential cooperation with Canada on the Arctic Observing Mission, a proposed satellite mission to provide geostationary-like observations over the Arctic and northern high-latitude regions.

Built over 40 years of operational service and international cooperation, these partnerships reinforce EUMETSAT’s role as a trusted actor in the global Earth observation system and multiply the value delivered to its Member States.