Brussels, 28/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - In addition to measures for improving the regulatory framework and investment in R&D for the space industry, the Commission is proposing a European system aimed at preventing satellite collisions.
On Thursday 28 February, the European executive tabled a broad package of measures for improving the competitiveness of the industry in the global market for commercial launchers and telecommunication satellites and services, given that it faces increasing competition from new global players, such as China and India.
The Commission's new policy for the space sector has a number of aims. The Commission hopes to increase skill levels in an industry that is suffering from a shortage of qualified labour. It also wants to encourage investment in R&D, by focusing on industry access to essential technology and on advanced technology. The Commission also proposes to reshape the EU's regulatory framework in order to make it more appropriate for encouraging the emergence of a single market for space-related products and services, increase the availability of spectrum for satellite communications in the future, and develop a legal framework for emerging space activities, such as commercial space flights. In the chapter on funding space infrastructure, the Commission will explore the possibilities offered by EU funding instruments proposed for the next multiannual financial framework to increase financing for space infrastructure or space-based applications and services, in particular for SMEs. It will also examine how to improve its approach regarding space procurement. On the subject of access to space, the Commission will support the development of a European launcher policy to ensure an independent launcher system.
Given the risk of collision in space - and also the risk of accidents on the ground due to re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere of inactive satellites and discarded sections of rockets - the Commission suggests setting in place a surveillance and monitoring system to prevent collisions, based on the pooling of member state resources of data, radars, telescopes, etc. (EH/transl.jl)