Brussels, 09/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Union must give itself the means to conduct an ambitious space policy if it wants to rival the United States. That was the message that came out of the exchange of views between Philippe Busquin, Chairman of the European Parliament Sky and Space Intergroup, and the “Espace” working group from the Belgian Senate.
European Solidarity in the area of space must be strengthened and a real European space policy implemented if Europe is ever to be able to compete with the United States, said François Roelants du Vivier for the Belgian Senate as he opened the debate. Yet, a tendency towards nationalisation can be seen in this area, he regretted. Philippe Busquin said that it was true that some countries, like France, Italy and Belgium, were more interested than others in the development of a European space policy, and that, until Galileo (the European satellite navigation system: editor's note), there was no interest from the European Commission. Since then things have changed somewhat, with, for example, the 2003 White Paper on Space, which, according to the former Research Commissioner, looked a bit like a Bible without its catechism. Welcoming the development of a European Space Programme by the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) to be presented on early 2007, Mr Busquin that it was essential, too, to implement the existing Bible to develop this European Space Programme, fully involving with new Member States.
Policies were fine, but the money to implement them had to be found. In December 2005, the European Council decided to grant 72 billion euro to Competitiveness for growth and employment (Research, TEN, Education, Training) within the framework of the financial perspective 2007-2013. Of this sum, 75%, or some 50 billion euro, was to be awarded to Research and Innovation. While this was an increase on the means available at the moment, Mr Busquin still felt it was insufficient to meet needs. Michel Pret, of the ESA said that the problem was not just the lack of means but also how best to spend the money available. That was why he supported the idea of creating in the 2007-2013 financial perspective a budgetary line specifically for all European infrastructures.