On Tuesday 29 June, the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council told national delegations at a working group that it has set itself three objectives in the space sector for the next six months, namely to advance the project for a European Space Traffic Management (STM) initiative, to adopt conclusions to once again validate the one space for all approach and, finally, to move forward on the constellation project for secure connectivity.
A ministerial conference on space traffic management, for which the Slovenian Presidency will prepare a report, is to be held on 7 July. A discussion on the STM is planned for after the conference, in line with the roadmap endorsed by the Competitiveness Council in May (see EUROPE 12730/10). The objective is to reach a consensus between Member States on a European project.
In addition, it intends to bring forward conclusions entitled ‘Bringing benefits of space to everyone’, a title that seems to echo the conclusions adopted under the Portuguese Presidency ‘New Space for people’ (see EUROPE 12677/4). Finally, the Presidency wants to make progress on the Secure Connectivity Initiative, based on a presentation by the European Commission at the end of the year.
It is clear that the Slovenian Presidency will not dwell on the project of a European Alliance on Space Launchers. This initiative put forward by the Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton could be of interest to the future French Presidency of the EU Council, as France is particularly committed to this project (see EUROPE 12658/5). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)