24/09/2021 (Agence Europe) – The joint office of the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission and the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) will hold its first meeting on Friday 1 October, confirmed two European sources to EUROPE on Thursday 23 September and Friday 24 September. Located in Brussels, the joint office is likely to have a staff of around ten people (three per institution) and will be responsible for facilitating the coordination of the three institutions in the implementation of the EU’s space programme. The issue of governance has proven to be a real bone of contention between the three European institutions and has been the subject of tough negotiations in the context of the new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement between the European Commission and ESA (see EUROPE 12606/6). (PH)