Space policy is mentioned many times in the ‘Strategic Compass’ document, seen by EUROPE on Tuesday 16 November (see other news), underlining its cardinal role for the EU’s security and defence alongside issues related to the high seas and the digital sphere. For this reason, a new strategy for space policy in the field of defence and security is planned for the end of 2023.
“Despite the principle of the peaceful use of space, competition in this field has strong defence implications. It [space] is essential for observation, surveillance and communication capabilities, but it risks becoming a militarised domain”, warns the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, in this document. He added: “our freedom of action depends on safe, secure and autonomous access to space”.
Therefore, a new space strategy for the EU, specifically dedicated to security and defence, is planned by the end of 2023. This new strategy “will help us to establish a common understanding of space-related risks and threats, develop appropriate responses and fully exploit the benefits and opportunities of space”.
Thus, the Galileo threat response mechanism should be validated by the end of 2022 and should be extended to other components of the programme. Exercises will be tested, again with a view to strengthening the common strategic approach to space.
“We will continue to invest in Space Situational Awareness”, the document states, highlighting the effort in dual innovation (civil and military) as well as the development of infrastructure and resources “to ensure the Union's autonomous access to space”. Always with a view to empowering the EU, space supply chains will be at the heart of this, with the document mentioning in particular the issue of space traffic management (see EUROPE 12810/30).
The space sector is present in the four main communication axes (see EUROPE 12831/1). For example, space infrastructure will contribute to the development of EU Rapid Deployment Capacity for communication, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
As such, the EU Space Programme and EU and Member State infrastructure can provide services in place of ground-based infrastructure for both earth observation and satellite navigation and telecommunications, particularly when the latter is damaged.
To consult the document: https://bit.ly/3Hvnmra (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)