*** modified Tuesday 31 August 10:30 am ***
The European Commission is working on an initiative to eventually develop secure connectivity in EU space (EUROPE 12743/5). It has opened a period for input on the development of a roadmap until 23 September.
In concrete terms, this initiative should make it possible to raise, via a network of satellites, the level of security of government and commercial communications, critical infrastructures and crisis management in the face of increasing cyber threats.
In addition to ensuring secure and resilient connections through the development of telecoms infrastructure, the Commission also aims to bridge existing sovereignty gaps - China and Russia have already announced the launch of government-backed global space infrastructures with multiple strategic objectives - and to reduce the digital divide.
Several avenues are put forward by the Commission regarding the initiative. Thus, the Commission does not rule out the possibility of leaving the free use of existing national capacities to the Member States, without further action by the EU.
In addition, the development of space infrastructure belonging entirely to the EU is one of the options retained. Similarly, ‘fully private’ could be considered, as could the use of a public-private partnership.
Lastly, the Commission could consider, as well, the purchase of a minority stake in one of the non-European constellations under development.
See the initial impact assessment: https://bit.ly/3DrYvCG (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)