At the Competitiveness Council on Friday 28 May, Member States all supported the need for the EU to position itself in the field of space traffic management and stressed the importance of agreeing on a framework at European level before moving to the international level.
As reported by the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and the Portuguese Minister for Science and Technology, Manuel Heitor, this first discussion on space traffic management was warmly welcomed by the Ministers (see EUROPE 12729/4).
Many Member States, including the major players in European space policy, such as France, Germany, Italy, but also Spain and Poland, supported the roadmap for action presented by the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council (see EUROPE 12726/9). Consequently, Member States have all been supportive of an agreement at European level before moving to the international level.
Several Member States argued for a step-by-step approach, such as France, Luxembourg and Ireland, while others, such as Belgium and Poland, suggested forming a group with common interests at international level. Thus, the issue of a transatlantic partnership was mentioned in the field.
On how to proceed concretely to make progress on the issue of space traffic management, Member States supported the inclusion of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the private sector (also from outside the space sector in the strict sense) as well as the standardisation organisations. Security and defence players were mentioned, notably by France, in connection with the inherently dual nature of the space sector.
Several Member States, such as Spain, have stressed the role of the EU SST Consortium in this context. The importance of strengthening the regulatory framework and standards was highlighted by some, notably the Benelux Member States as well as France and Poland. Here, some have indicated a preference for the use of ‘soft law’ - non-binding standards - in the short term, with the establishment of binding rules for the long term. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)