As part of a pilot project on space traffic management, the European Commission commissioned a study from the consultancy firm Deloitte on the possibility of establishing a European Space Traffic Management (STM) framework with a view of eventually presenting an initiative in this area.
To this end, Deloitte set up an advisory board - a normal feature of any study whose purpose is to support the consultancy firm in drawing up its recommendations - consisting of a small group of six experts, lawyers specialising in space issues.
However, in a document consulted by EUROPE on Friday 2 July, one presence raises questions. The small group includes an American professor, Akhil Rao, who works at Middlebury College in Vermont in the field of space-related economics.
This choice is surprising to some observers, given that space traffic management is a matter of European sovereignty and in many respects has defence and security implications.
Of course, the situation did improve given that originally there were also members from CentauriCorp and the Secure World Foundation, two US organisations specialising in security and defence issues. The latter two representatives were reportedly eventually dismissed by the European Commission.
It is difficult to work on the issue of space traffic management without the United States, a source told us, because it is such a key player in international space policy.
However, there is a difference between consulting US experts on the issue and including them in the advisory board of a feasibility study, the source added.
This is because the members of the advisory board will have access to, and even the possibility of influencing, the interim reports, whereas the European partners will only have access to the final public report, which will be submitted in January 2022.
Reflection on the legal basis
According to the document seen by EUROPE, the reflections focus in particular on the limits of European action in the framework of the European treaties.
In particular, the authors believe that Article 189 of the TFEU provides only limited room for manoeuvre. Thus, flexible measures are said to be envisaged.
In addition, experts are looking at the ‘subtle’ overlap between space and air traffic management. This includes a coordinated approach between STM and ATM (Air Traffic Management).
The study is divided into several stages throughout 2021, with a stage that opens with the development of policy options and recommendations between June and November. A final report is expected in January 2022.
The development of a European framework in the field of space traffic management has become a priority of the European Commission (see EUROPE 12658/3) and has been included among the three main priorities of the space policy under the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council (see EUROPE 12754/9). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)