Brussels, 12/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - An expansion in the use of space data would be limited by legislative, technical, political, cultural, security and private live aspects, according to the document submitted by the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU to the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper I) on Wednesday 11 May, in view of preparing the next Competitiveness Council on 26-27 May. A point on space data will be discussed at this Council.
Therefore, current legislation in the EU would not be extremely propitious to the use of space data and observations may not include requirements for specific legislative purposes; for example, thresholds in certain aerosols are not measured according to those set by the law. With regard to technical obstacles, the Dutch Presidency highlights a lack of coordination in the methodologies and technical difficulties in processing data, as well as finding trade outlets. The data in question does not ultimately respond to what is needed (the measures are carried out over fixed periods, limited by meteorological constraints and do not focus on crucial areas).
With regard to the political field, the Presidency notes that the EU's current policies are poorly geared towards the use of this kind of data, although some third countries promote space data generated by their own national systems.
Cultural inertia inside organisations is also highlighted by the Presidency. The latter points out those employees in charge of processing data are not sufficiently trained in general, do not have the appropriate instruments and also suffer from a lack of access to space based services. In this connection, there is also a preference for maintaining the status quo and the Presidency points out that there are many undertakings that are unable to take the initiative.
Finally, the use of space data also provokes a number of questions with regard to security and respect for private life. On the first point, the Presidency highlights the crucial challenges linked to accuracy, continuity and reliability of the data generated, as well as the need to ensure the security of navigation services. With regard to respect for private life, the Presidency also believes that there are ethical problems, particularly with regard to when data is used for monitoring the "behaviour" of people. In this respect, there is also a question of responsibility when space data constitutes an integral part of specific services.
The use of space data constitutes a major challenge for future space policy in the EU (EUROPE 11540), particularly with regard to locating trade for astronomic quantities, either in the present or future, of data generated by the Copernicus and Galileo programmes. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)