The European Parliament and the Council of the EU are continuing their clarification work on the draft regulation on the constellation for secure connectivity. The Parliament rapporteur is expected to publish his report early next week, while national delegations are awaiting an opinion from the EU Council’s Security Committee, according to information obtained on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 May.
On Parliament’s side, rapporteur Christophe Grudler’s (Renew Europe, France) text should be published next week. It should provide many clarifications, notably on the integration of GOVSATCOM into the overall architecture of the future programme, but also, in general, on the objectives of the programme.
The MEP’s proposal should strengthen the environmental aspects, in particular with regard to space traffic management, light pollution, and emissions from space activities. Another issue addressed by the draft text is the provision of commercial services, particularly for remote and outermost regions.
The adequacy of the resources of the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) should also be highlighted by the rapporteur, as well as the place of the new Programme in the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. The contribution of Member States to the Programme should also be clarified.
On governance, the role of the European Space Agency (ESA) would be extended to the deployment phase of the future constellation, as well as in the development of the next generations of satellites. In general, the report should highlight the multiple possible uses of the constellation, in addition to telecommunications, i.e. emphasise the versatility of the future programme.
Mr Grudler’s text is expected to be presented to MEPs on 14 June. The deadline for tabling of amendments is 16 June. Parliamentarians will discuss the amendments in committee in mid-July. The vote on the report and mandate is scheduled for October.
On the EU Council side, discussions are progressing, also with a view to specifying the SME quotas, the differentiation between government services based on the government segment and government services based on the commercial segment of the future constellation. However, security-related discussions are still subject to the opinion of the EU Council’s Security Committee (see EUROPE 12947/6). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)