Since 1994, the European Commission has undertaken various actions to expand the use of Earth observation (EO) from space in the Union and to stimulate value-added services based on the use of Earth observation satellite data.' By supporting research and technological development activities in this area, DG XII responded to the need to increase the cost-effectiveness of space- derived environmental information. At the same time, it has contributed to a better exploitation of this unique technology, which is a key source of data for environmental monitoring from local to global scale. MAVIRIC...