Brussels, 17/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - A cooperation agreement between the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) is to be signed on Monday 20 June with a view to making their relationship official. The partnership will be sealed on the occasion of the International Aeronautic and Space Exhibition (SIAE) at Le Bourget, Paris, to be attended by EDA Executive Director Claude-France Arnould, and ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain. Although the two agencies have been working together for many years, this new legal framework aims to enhance that cooperation, in order to allow “civil-military synergies”. In practical terms, the EDA will identify gaps or shortfalls in security and defence that may be filled by the ESA's space assets. For all forms of defence and security-related activity, such as conduct of operations, space assets are essential to allow communication, tracking and navigation. Cooperation between the two agencies, which is to be of a “practical” kind, will involve exchange of information and coordination in research and technological development. It will also be a matter of meeting the wish expressed by the European Commission in 2008, for the EDA and ESA to acquire technological independence in space-related areas considered critical for the EU's security and defence. (J.K./transl.jl)