Brussels, 07/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU ministers with responsibility for space matters recognise the benefits of space policies for the security and sustainable development of the Union. The 8th Space Council was held on Tuesday 6 December on the sidelines of the European Competitiveness Council. After discussion on initiatives to ensure that use is made of space to serve the wellbeing and security of European citizens, the Council adopted guidelines following on from the discussions of the Council working group in November.
In the “Space for security and sustainable development” chapter, the Council underlined the particular role of the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) surveillance system. The Council said that the EU must, as a priority, ensure the continued development and exploitation of sustainable GMES services and infrastructure in the medium and long term. The system can provide independent access to strategic information of use to several European policies, such as agriculture, environment, transport, energy, health, civil protection, humanitarian aid and security, and it can also help provide better understanding of climate change and help bring appropriate responses alongside action already being taken.
The Council also recommended that the Commission work in close cooperation with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and other EU agencies, such as FRONTEX, in order to speed up the use of GMES security services in support of EU external action and border and maritime surveillance.
The Space Council also gave consideration to the use that can be made of GMES and satellite communications in providing effective responses to emergencies resulting from man-made or natural disasters, and in managing the subsequent situations. The Council called on the Commission to ensure access to information contained in national programmes in the event of crises and to commercial and governmental satellite communications to be able to respond effectively to crises.
Security and sustainability in space too. The Council expressed concern at the risks of collision and the impact of space weather. It recognised, therefore, the need for an effective Space Situational Awareness (SAA) capability, in three main segments: monitoring and tracking of space debris, monitoring Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and prediction and monitoring of space weather phenomena. The EU should make the best possible use of all the skills, competences and assets, already existing or being developed in member states. The Council also asked the Commission to come forward with proposals to fully exploit and build on these assets and capabilities in order to develop an SSA.
The Space Council highlighted the importance of continued support for the space industry which can help deliver responses to current economic challenges. The competitiveness of the sector will have to be improved both in the internal market and in export markets. It also called for EU space access conditions, which are not overly expensive but reliable and independent, to be maintained. The Council expressed the view that it was of the greatest importance that launchers of European manufacture be used for the next satellite launch (the first two Galileo satellites were put into orbit in October on Russian built launchers).
A word on exploration. The Space Council did not rule out the idea of further stages in space exploration and said it would be happy to consider international cooperation. Partnerships could be based on shared peaceful goals or on scientific advancement, or on fuelling future discoveries, for example. (MD/transl.rt)