Member States should recognise the importance of the space sector, both for the economic future of the European Union and in the fight against climate change, according to a draft version of the conclusions on the European Space Policy consulted by EUROPE on Friday 14 February at the Competitiveness Council in May.
For example, Member States readily assert that space data and technologies “contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal”, notably through the Copernicus Earth observation programme. The space sector will therefore be the cornerstone for decarbonising transport, particularly in the rail sector (with the European Rail Traffic Management System – ERTMS), it reads.
Interestingly, the conclusions mention the need to deal with the “rapid transformation” of the sector in the face of the rise of New Space, i.e., the arrival of private players in a sector of activity dominated by state institutions until recently. In this context, it should be noted that the Commission intends to launch an initiative to encourage the development of a European New Space (see EUROPE 12420/5).
Key role of the regions. The conclusions stress the importance of competencies. They underline the central role of local and regional authorities in the development of skills and the densification of the industrial fabric in the space sector.
The European GNSS Agency (soon to be the future EU Space Programme Agency) could be tasked with monitoring the competency needs of the labour market on behalf of the Member States. The creation of thematic working parties with Member States and the GSA could be envisaged in this framework.
A reduced budget? While the crucial role of space is recognised by the Member States, budgetary support does not follow. In the budget proposals presented by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, the space programme thus loses €1.2 billion compared to the Commission proposal (see other news). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)