15/09/2022 (Agence Europe) – Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti stressed the importance of space issues in an exchange with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Wednesday 14 September. She considered it very important for politicians to have “a deep understanding of the potential of space”, and highlighted the need to develop and improve space infrastructure and the exploitation of space data and services provided. She also emphasised the need to ensure the security of these infrastructures. In November, the Member States of the European Space Agency (ESA) will meet in Paris to decide on the Agency’s next overall budget and future major exploration projects (see EUROPE 12015/18). To access the exchange: https://aeur.eu/f/33l (PH)