Brussels, 26/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - The result of the framework agreement signed in November 2003 between the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA), the first European "Space Council" was held on 25 November in Brussels between ministers of the EU's Competitiveness Council and the ministers of the ESA Council, i.e. 25 EU Member States plus Switzerland and Norway. This is a major political milestone for Europe in Space. It allows, in the footprint of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, which defines space as a "shared competence of the Union", for endorsement of the drafting of a fairly general document with a view to launching a global and coherent European Space Programme.
On the basis of work by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on four aspects (scope and content of European Space Programme, management of the programme, principles of industrial policy and financing), the first Space Council - jointly chaired by German Minister for Education and President of the ESA Council Edelgard Bulmahn, and the Dutch Minister for the Economy and President-in-Office of the Competitiveness Council, Laurens-Jan Brinkhorst, and attended by European Commissioner for Industry Günter Verheugen - highlighted two necessities: - the effective and profitable use of available resources to ensure that the infrastructure available and space services meet the needs of users and the requirements of EU and Member State policies in the interest of all European citizens; - and the setting in place of an appropriate industrial policy, with close attention from the public authorities given the specific nature of the space sector.
The European Space Programme, the concept of which must be defined by end 2005, will form a common, inclusive and flexible platform encompassing all activities and measures to be undertaken by the EC, ESA and other stakeholders such as national organisations in order to achieve the objectives set in the overall European space policy. Two new Space Councils are scheduled for the spring and autumn of 2005 to define the principles of general government, identify priorities as well as the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders, and establish industrial policy principles, as well as the rules for financing the implementation of the European Space Programme.
"This meeting was a great step forward for Europe's ambitions in space. Europe must federate its space efforts in order to better exploit the potential of space technologies for the well-being of its citizens", Ms Bulmahn said after the meeting "The industrial dimension of space is key to increasing the competitiveness of European industry", Mr Verheugen said. In answer to questions on the funds available for the European Space Programme, the Commissioner for Industry pointed out that the figure of one billion euros, put forward by Research Commissioner in the Prodi Commission, Philippe Busquin, is not unrealistic and that it is "imperative" to increase this allocation.