“In Europe, we do not have a clear collective sense of where we are going together on space matters”, said Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Tuesday 22 January, in a speech at the opening of the 11th European Space Policy Conference.
While the first part of her speech focused on the European Union's achievements and successes in the space sector, Ms Bieńkowska then shared her personal reflection on European action in this field.
According to her, the potential of space is still largely unknown in Europe, both by citizens and by European leaders and politicians at national level. She regretted that the debate on space was confined to a circle of specialists, while space issues concerned the future of humanity.
In Ms Bieńkowska's view, this is due to the lack of a clear collective vision of the EU in space matters. However, the simple fact of clearly defining a European objective in this field would, in her view, help to mobilise efforts and ideas - from the public, private, financial, technological or entrepreneurial sector - to move the EU forward in the space sector.
“ It is not about economics, it is a deep strategic issue for Europe, a question of strategic autonomy and technological dependence”, she said. And to insist: “It is actually a matter of vision and political leadership”.
The United States as an example
The Commissioner has also made a series of proposals based more or less on the American model. In the same way as the US 'National Space Council', it first suggested the creation of a 'European Space Council' attached directly to the European Council or its President. This body would gather all the space decision makers and actors, and would directly advise Heads of State and Government on the EU's collective direction on space matters.
Secondly, given the important place that the private sector is expected to occupy in the near future, with the likely emergence of a 'Google Space', Ms Bieńkowska called for a European 'Google Space'. Otherwise, it fears that the global telecommunications, data and broadband Internet infrastructure may be beyond the EU's control. The Commissioner thus seems to be defending the idea of establishing a European 'New space' which, although she does not recognise it, would be strongly modelled on the American space model supported by private actors.
Thirdly, in view of the recent creation of a 'Space Force' by the United States, she highlighted the need for real reflection within the EU on the possibility of creating a 'European Space Force'.
Finally, Ms Bieńkowska recommended making Europe a real attractive hub for space innovation, while developing a true "Single Market for Space in Europe". (Original version in French by Damien Genicot - intern)