The European Parliament welcomed, on Thursday 23 November, the high level of ambition of the recommendations proposed in the EU’s space strategy for security and defence, calling for the recommended measures to be taken “swiftly and effectively, in accordance with the Union’s guiding principle of open strategic autonomy”.
In the report by Arnaud Danjean (EPP, French) on the ‘Strategic Compass’ and the Union’s space defence capabilities, which they adopted (500 votes in favour, 43 against and 18 abstentions), MEPs stress that space systems and satellites are critical infrastructures that need to be protected and strengthened.
They welcome the Commission’s initiative to propose space legislation for the Union “establishing a common, harmonised and coherent security, safety, and sustainability framework to bolster the resilience and strategic autonomy of EU space services and prevent excessive fragmentation of the global space market, while contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of the European space industry by stimulating the use of space services across a wide range of EU policies”.
Parliament is advocating the development of space capabilities to be reflected in a substantial increase in the resources allocated to space in the next multiannual financial framework.
It calls for a redoubling of efforts in terms of space surveillance and tracking (SST) of objects in orbit, so as to reduce the risk of collision. It also calls for the “rapid and operational” implementation of the “IRIS²” satellite-based secure connectivity, and invites the Commission to commission a study to analyse the feasibility of a European programme of Earth observation services for government use, aimed at sensitive security and defence applications.
Space surveillance is essential to detect, track and attribute a threat and to enable Member States to take appropriate decisions in the event of a space attack, say MEPs.
Stressing that the capacity for autonomous access to space is an essential element of European space policy, the European Parliament hopes that a special effort, based on synergies, will be made to further promote the sustainable production and competitiveness of European launchers. MEPs also stress the need to support the development of geographically diverse space ports and launch complexes across the EU.
In addition, the resilience and reactions of the Union and the Member States to potential hostile actions in space must be underpinned by clear, flexible and responsive governance “in order to address the shortcomings stemming from the current fragmentation of competences in the Union’s approach to space and defence”.
For the European Parliament, the EU should also play a more active role as a facilitator in the development of international space standards and actively seek multilateral solutions. It highlights as well the importance of developing cooperation with strategic partners.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9p7 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)