31/07/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 27 July, the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), Johann-Dietrich Wörner, announced on his blog that he had been cleared by the member states to extend his mandate for two more years on top of the usual term of four years. This, he explains, corresponds to the plan to better synchronise the mandate of the Director General with the ministerial meetings held every three years, giving a total mandate to the Director General of six years. This will help to reinforce ESA's activities in favour of the 'United Space in Europe, United European Space' project, he explains. However, his appointment was reportedly not unanimously agreed by the member states, according to Space Intel Report. The Director General courted controversy by proposing a European space organisation at the 'Competitiveness' Council of May (see EUROPE 12029). (PH)