EU activates Copernicus Emergency Service to assist Bosnia amid floods

"As rising water levels impact northern BiH, the EU has activated Copernicus EMS to assess and map the three key affected zones. The EU will continue to stand with and support BiH and monitor the situation," Soreca stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

What is Copernicus EMS?

Copernicus EMS is a service that provides timely and accurate geospatial data to support decision-making during natural and man-made disasters. The service is free of charge and aids emergency response efforts by helping to mitigate disaster impacts and save lives.

The Copernicus Emergency Management Service, implemented by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, consists of three key components:

1. EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING

• Provides global geospatial information for floods, droughts, and wildfires.


• Includes the European and Global Flood Awareness Systems (EFAS & GloFAS) for flood forecasting.


• Uses real-time tracking for wildfires across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

2. ON-DEMAND MAPPING

• Produces disaster maps for natural hazards, humanitarian crises, and emergencies caused by human actions.


• Supports all disaster management phases: preparedness, emergency response, and recovery.


• Activation is restricted to authorized civil protection institutions.

3. EXPOSURE MAPPING

• Provides data on population and settlements using satellite and census data.


• Supports disaster impact assessments and urbanization analysis.

The activation of Copernicus EMS will help Bosnia and Herzegovina effectively monitor the floods, assess risks, and plan emergency responses, as authorities work to protect affected communities.