Several Member States raised questions about how the future constellation for secure connectivity will be financed during discussions in the EU Council working group on Monday 11 April, according to our sources.
Some Member States, including one Nordic country, have reportedly expressed concerns about the way the European Commission plans to fund the project, by taking money from other EU programmes. One Member State reportedly also asked about possible additional national contributions.
The European Commission has reportedly indicated that it is difficult to accurately anticipate the contribution of the private sector. The institution proposes a public-private partnership based on a ‘2+2+2’ funding model: €2 billion from the private sector, just under €2 billion from the Member States, and €2.4 billion from the EU budget.
Only a finalised regulation will clarify the situation on this front, it reportedly said.
The public funding goal is €4 billion (see EUROPE 12891/3), otherwise the ambitions for governmental infrastructure will have to be lowered, the European institution reportedly said.
The issue of governance between the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) will also reportedly made an appearance, as is common in discussions on space issues. Several Member States, notably Germany, have reportedly expressed fears that ESA’s role would be reduced to that of a technical advisor, which the European Commission has refuted. In any case, the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) should not be reopened, it assured.
In general, government infrastructure will be owned by the European Union. The concessionaires will own the infrastructure for commercial activities.
Doubts have reportedly been expressed about the timetable for bringing the constellation into service and the rate of launches that the European Commission is aiming for.
As a reminder, initial service provision is planned for around the end of 2024. Fully operational service is planned for 2027. Some 15 launches from the forthcoming Ariane 6 (Ariane 64) and Vega-C European launchers are envisaged. However, delays in the entry into service, particularly of Ariane 6, now scheduled for spring 2023, are reportedly a concern for Member States. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)