On Thursday 5 March, the think-tank CEPS put forward five proposals to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in space.
In its report, entitled ‘Building a European competitive edge in space’, the think tank considers that the European space ecosystem is constrained by institutional, financial and industrial fragmentation.
First of all, it proposes to establish a clear division between the players: Member States, the European Commission and its agency EUSPA, and the European Space Agency, and to simplify, innovate and accelerate procurement cycles.
The CEPS would also like to see emphasis placed on the role of space in European security and defence, with the creation of a European Space Defence Agency. “This entity should coordinate defence-related space procurement, promote intelligence, exploit synergies between civil and military capabilities and identify military requirements at an early stage of development.”
The think tank also proposes the creation of a European Space Fund, a “multiannual, multi-purpose instrument managed jointly by the EIB and the EC”.
Finally, the establishment of a strategy for the European space industry is highlighted.
In response, Isabella Poldrugo, Deputy Head of Unit for the Space Economy at the European Commission’s DG DEFIS, said that the Commission was proposing the creation of a Strategic Council for Space and Defence Activities. “Since there are a lot of issues already ongoing for Member States, it is essential to define strategies and a long-term vision of the synergies between space and defence,” she added.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/l14 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)