Mercator Ocean International and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) have signed a joint declaration at the UN Ocean Conference, seting the stage for a landmark partnership agreement to strengthen and expand their long-standing cooperation in satellite-based Ocean observation, climate forecasting, and sustainable resource management. The agreement, ratified by EUMETSAT’s Member States on July 2, 2025, is scheduled to be formally signed during their annual conference in September.
Key Elements of the Agreement
The two organizations will leverage their respective expertise building on years of collaboration, including joint Copernicus activities and the implementation of the WEkEO data access service, to improve climate monitoring, Ocean forecasting and the response to global environmental challenges. The new agreement introduces enhanced cooperation in several strategic areas: operational and scientific cooperation, data access and infrastructure, development of artificial intelligence, and support to user community.
EUMETSAT operates a range of satellite missions, including its own Meteosat and Metop series, the Copernicus Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 missions, providing near-real-time and long-term data products on key Ocean parameters such as sea surface temperature, sea level, wind and wave conditions, sea ice coverage, and ocean colour. EUMETSAT also contributes to the development of DestinE, a digital twin of the Earth launched by the European Commission.
Pierre Bahurel, Director-General of Mercator Ocean International, said: “Ocean temperatures are increasing, sea levels continue to rise, and the marine environment is coming under growing pressure from human activity. It’s essential that we deepen our understanding of how the ocean is changing – along with our ability to forecast its conditions – and of its vital role in regulating the climate. Strengthening our partnership with EUMETSAT is a crucial step towards advancing Europe’s leadership in integrated ocean science and services.”
Mercator Ocean International implements the Copernicus Marine Service on behalf of the European Commission and together with its partners is leading the development of the AI-powered European Digital Twin Ocean. This partnership spans operational delivery of satellite-based oceanographic data, aligning EUMETSAT satellite products with Copernicus Marine Service activities, and joint input into future satellite mission planning.
Together, the two organizations will advance data access and infrastructure cooperation in the context of the European Digital Twin Ocean and Destination Earth, while strengthening international coordination and capacity building, under global initiatives such as GEO Blue Planet and the UN Ocean Decade.
Phil Evans, Director-General of EUMETSAT, remarked: “The ocean plays a vital role in regulating weather and climate and is a key source of food and economic activity for billions of people. Through closer cooperation with Mercator Ocean International, we aim to strengthen the value of satellite observations and their contributions to essential ocean services across Europe and beyond.”
Looking Ahead
Mercator Ocean’s partnership with EUMETSAT aligns with its long-term strategy to strengthen international cooperation, foster complementary expertise, and build strategic bridges to advance ocean science and support the global climate response. Mercator Ocean International is in the process of becoming the world’s first Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) dedicated to digital ocean systems and information services.
At the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France in June 2025, 12 European countries endorsed a joint Declaration expressing their commitment to continue working together towards the creation of the Mercator International Centre for the Ocean, led by the governments of France and Norway, who became the first signatories of its international Convention.
