
Key information
- Date(s)
- -
- Location
- Brussels, Belgium
- Attendance type
- Face-to-face
- Registration instructions
The expression of interest is now open via this link and is available to civil protection and emergency management professionals across Europe who wish to take part in the event. To ensure an appropriate balance between participants and visitors, a selection process will be carried out following the submission of expressions of interest.
- The selected applicants will be notified and invited to participate.
- Travel, accommodation, and other subsistence costs are not covered.
- Pricing
- Free
- Attendance model
- Closed
Description
SUNSHINE is an EU-funded project coordinated by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS). It aims to strengthen disaster resilience across Europe by facilitating the uptake of EU Space Programme data and services - such as Copernicus EMS, Galileo EWSS, SSA, and GOVSATCOM - within civil protection frameworks, supporting the objectives of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
As part of its capacity-building activities, the SUNSHINE project is organising its second Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) on 6 and 7 October 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. The exercise is designed as a practical, scenario-based activity which places participants in a simulated real life crisis environment, enabling them to apply the knowledge acquired during the previous seminars and webinars, in an operational and time-constrained context.
The primary objective of the exercise is to strengthen participants’ ability to effectively use or activate EU Space data and services in support of civil protection decision-making. The exercise complements the training seminars campaign by translating concepts into practice, supporting continuous learning and maximising knowledge retention through engagement with operational tools and procedures.
Throughout the two days, the participants will be required to access official portals, follow established activation procedures, and exploit EU Space-based data and services to support disaster preparedness, response, and coordination activities.
Who Should Attend
Participation in the SUNSHINE Exercise is open to representatives from EU Member States and countries participating in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). Due to the limited number of places, priority will be given to applicants from EU Member States. Applications from UCPM Participating States will be considered subject to the availability of places.
The exercise is intended primarily for:
- Civil protection authorities and disaster management coordinators at national, regional or local level;
- Technical emergency teams and first responders (e.g. USAR, firefighting and CBRNe units);
- UCPM National Training Coordinators.
Applications are also welcome from:
- Policymakers, trainers, and scientific or technical experts in disaster preparedness, early warning and civil protection;
Representatives of academic institutions with a relevant interest in the subject matter, subject to the availability of places.
Further Information
For any queries, please contact the SUNSHINE project team via EC-SUNSHINE-SEMINARS@ec.europa.eu.
Sectors
Risk drivers