Brussels, 24/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - The consultation exercise launched four months ago following the adoption (on 21 January 2003) of the European Commission Green Paper on space policy, concluded on 24 June with a conference in Paris attended by Commissioner Philippe Busquin, Director General of the European Space Agency, Antonio Rodotà, French research minister, Claudie Haigneré and his Italian counterpart Letizia Moratti.
At the conference the Commissioner said “With a strong political commitment from all key space stakeholders and a continued interest of public opinion, we can turn Europe into the space leader of the 21st century”. Rodota said the ESA would “work with the Commission and other space sector players to raise the profile of space in Europe and help set a true agenda for the future of space policy”.
The priorities set out at the conference include: - greater coordination of all sectors at EU and international level; - ensuring the EU has independent access to space ; - a flexible mechanism for funding space programmes; and the need to develop space technology, including satellite internet provision and security applications.
In a press release, the Commission notes that the following events will drive forward Europe's space policy: 1) July 2003: a summary report on the consultation process from the EU/ESA Joint Task Force will be published; 2) September 2003: the European Parliament will contribute their views to the Green Paper process; 3) in October 2003 the Commission is expected to release the White Paper on European Space Policy, with subsequent submission to the Council and Parliament. The 'White Paper' will include an action plan setting out a future strategy for space activities within the European Union. It will acknowledge the contributions received, and include proposals for the content, organisation and level of future European space activities. 4) November 2003: the White Paper will be discussed by the Competitiveness Council.