24/01/2018 (Agence Europe) – In his address to conclude the first day of the 10th annual conference on European space policy, on Wednesday 24 January, Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger said: “I would like to see the following happen. Together I would like us to put it to our British friends that, although leaving (the European Union), they remain within the space family”. After reiterating that exit would be a “huge mistake”, the commissioner nonetheless said that the United Kingdom and the Union should definitely continue to work as a team. More generally, he explained that space policy was an area where European added value was undeniable. Nonetheless, during his address, the commissioner said he wanted to hold back the desire of the vice-president of the European Commission, Maros Sefcovic, who wants to “double the space budget” (see EUROPE 11945). (PH)