27/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - During a colloquy on space jointly organised by the WEU Assembly and the European Interparliamentary Space Conference from 19 to 22 September in Kourou, French Guyana, Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director-General of the European Space Agency (ESA), was, according to a WEU press release, of the view that: “Messages were being received from the conference that would constitute important inputs into the preparation, by the European Commission and ESA, of the European Space Policy, to be unveiled at the Fourth Meeting of the Space Council scheduled to take place in May 2007. Members of national parliaments and of the European Parliament had affirmed the strategic importance of space fort the continent of Europe. In defining and implementing a European Space Policy, Europeans should build on present successes. There was a need to take feedback from users, consolidate technological and industrial capacities, maintain flexibility, strengthen coordination between the various parties involved and manage the evolution of space governance by stages. This was a challenge for everyone and one to which, with the commitment of all concerned, and in particular of the Member States, Europe was quite equal”.