A comprehensive analysis of previous results on policy perspectives and the socio-economic benefits of GMES

The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is considered as an important strategic programme for Europe and its citizens. It will support making informed decisions on trade-offs related to a wide range of concerns in order to better formulate, implement and assess European policies. These include the environment, climate change, agriculture, energy, fisheries, regional development, etc. Currently, most discussions concerning this programme focus more on governance and financing. In these discussions the socioeconomic benefits impact of GMES play a great role for decision and policy makers. This paper provides the necessary overview and provides a holistic comprehensive assessment of the various studies on the socioeconomic benefits of GMES. It shows that GMES can produce significant socio-economic benefits and can offer significant strategic and political benefits for Europe. The strategic and political benefits for Europe are inherently economically non-quantifiable. These benefits concern European leadership in this high-profile area and the long term quality of life of the European citizens. The study provides information on the projected economic benefits by impact category in 2011 numbers and estimates that for every 1 euro of tax payer's money invested in GMES, the citizen receive the equivalent of at least 10 euros public benefits back in a dynamic scenario where the interrelationship between impacted areas is taken into account. It identifies the relevant policy issues in a number of areas and provides recommendations according to political, economic, social, technological and social factors.