Ukraine has achieved nearly full access to the European Union's Earth observation program, Copernicus, which provides satellite data for monitoring environmental conditions, climate change, and emergency management. This was reported by the "Ukrinform" agency.

The agreement to participate in components of the Copernicus program, signed by Ukraine with the EU in Brussels under the Ukraine-EU Association Council, will grant Ukraine access to the space program on par with EU member states, with some security components excluded.

The space agreement also includes Ukraine's association with several other parts of the space program, including "Space Weather Events (SWE)," which monitors and analyzes phenomena in the space environment that can affect satellites, energy systems, and communications. Another program is "Near-Earth Objects (NEO)," which tracks asteroids and other objects that pose a threat to Earth.

Ukrainian representatives will have the right to observe the committees that make decisions regarding these programs but will not have voting rights. This cooperation will promote the development of space technologies in Ukraine, and European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, referred to the document as a "first step" in integrating Ukraine into EU space programs.