The European ministers responsible for space affairs adopted two resolutions setting out a clear mandate for the European Space Agency (ESA) on the future relationship with the European Union, but also on the Agency's future programmes, activities and organisational functioning after 2019, at the intermediate ministerial meeting held on Thursday 25 October in Madrid.
“These resolutions were adopted unanimously", welcomed ESA Director General Jan Wörner, who recalled that this intermediate meeting had been decided by Ministers in 2016 (see EUROPE 11681), in order to facilitate decision-making for the ministerial meeting in November 2019 and thus avoid some past setbacks.
The first resolution thus aims to establish an "appropriate" relationship between ESA and the EU in the context of the next EU multiannual financial framework and the Space Programme for Europe, but also in connection with the resolution on "Space 4.0" and "United Space in Europe". Ministers propose that the EU transfer management responsibilities for the future partnership to an "appropriate level" in order to ensure effective management, also in terms of 'cost containment'.
To this end, they renewed the points to be included in the future Financial Partnership Framework Agreement, such as ESA's scope of activity, rights and obligations and other financial aspects, in connection with the new Regulation establishing the European Space Programme.
The second resolution, which is both programmatic and organizational, defines four pillars of activity: - 1) science and robotic and human exploration; - 2) safety and security against space-based threats (asteroids threatening the earth or space debris) or land-based threats (volcanic activity, earthquakes), as well as cybersecurity; - 3) telecommunications, Earth observation and navigation; - 4) technology development and support, including in space transport.
Common roadmap. The Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Spanish Presidency of ESA have presented a joint roadmap to make Europe a leading player in space exploration, including the Moon and Mars, in partnership with the United States and China. This roadmap also envisages a reorganisation of ESA to speed up the decision-making process and streamline procedures. Finally, the document recommends the application of the principle of "European preference".
European preference. On this occasion, the Director General announced that five ESA Member States (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland) have signed a joint declaration in which they undertake to give priority to European launchers, in particular Ariane 6 and Vega C. The Commission is expected to sign this agreement shortly, as well as other Member States, he said.
‘FlyEye' telescope. Mr Wörner also welcomed the fact that ESA and the Italian Space Agency have agreed to develop the FlyEye telescope, which will monitor space and, in particular, asteroids, which could potentially threaten the earth.
To consult the resolutions and the roadmap: https://bit.ly/2PtzbGb. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)