Brussels, 22/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - By adopting a resolution on European Space Policy during the 4th Space Council, 29 member states of the Union and/or the European Space Agency (ESA) have worked out a common political framework for enhancing cooperation and improving coordination of all space activities in Europe. ESA, the Union and its member states have therefore reached an agreement on the common targets and priorities, as well as the implementation of these activities. Peter Hintze the German secretary of state and president of the Council of the Union explained to the press that, “this will enable us to better exploit Europe's capacities in space to the benefit of European citizens”. The Dutch minister for economic affairs and the president of the ESA Council, Maria Van der Hoeven, was pleased that “after 50 years of space policies, Europe now has a harmonised space policy”.
ESA Director General Jacques Dordain resumed the importance of the progress accomplished on Tuesday in these few words, “the resolution that we adopted today integrates all the dimensions of Europe: all the different levels of institutional decision-making - national, intergovernmental (ESA) and Community, as well as all the dimensions in space activities, including security and defence. It clarifies ESA's role through the Commission and national agencies and affirms the consensus of 29 member states of the Union and/or ESA on European space policy”. Ms Van der Hoeven added: “We reached a consensus that will allow us to better coordinate national, intergovernmental and Community investments…there will still be national programmes, but by enhancing coordination, we will avoid duplication and will use public funds in a better way”. The commissioner for industry, Günter Verheugen, welcomed adoption of a “clear political framework for future projects that depend on the synchronisation of ESA, Union and member states' activities”.
The resolution adopted on Tuesday highlights use of space as a way to attain Europe's political objectives, particularly in the area of environmental monitoring, communications, transport and civil security, as well as external relations. In the first chapter, “General Strategy”, the Space Council confirms its support for the recent joint Commission/ESA communication on European space policy and approves the preliminary elements of the European space programme it is involved in (EUROPE 9415). A second chapter is based on the “further steps” of European space policy and the “programmes and implementation” of which we provide details on the main elements below:
- Applications. The Council supports ESA and the Union's efforts to implement initiatives oriented on GMES and Galileo, as well as the initiatives to increase development and exploitation of space related integrated applications, including satellite communication services. It is requesting, however, the introduction of regular and independent assessments on quality and profitability of major space initiatives involving users in order to validate the quality, relaunch and cost-efficient performance of the overall systems and their services in operational phase.
- Security and defence. The Council is proposing to improve coordination between civil and military space programmes through synergies in security while respecting their specific requirements.
- Access to space. Given that Europe should maintain an independent, reliable and cost-effective access to space, the Council is calling on the ESA director general to ensure continued development of European technological capacities in order to pursue long-term competitiveness of the European launcher sector.
- Exploration. The Council reaffirms the continued commitment of Europe to its contributions to the international space station.
- Science and technology. The Council is calling on the Commission, ESA and member states to support teaching programmes in Europe that promote the importance of space to young people, in an effort to encourage them to opt for science subjects.
- Governance. The Council reaffirms the roles and responsibilities of the Union, ESA and member states as defined during the 2nd Space Council, and supports the continuation of the framework agreement beyond May 2008.
- Industrial policy. The Council underlines the political and economic dimensions of ESA's “fair return principle” and highlights the importance of improving implementation of this principle in the perspective of the challenges industry will have to meet in the future to remain competitive while maintaining member states' motivation to invest in space. It also emphasises the crucial role played by SMEs and supplier industry for innovation and exploration of new market opportunities. It also calls on the Commission to elaborate appropriate financial instruments and mechanisms for Community actions in space, such as public-private partnerships on the space applications and services;
- International Relations. The Council calls on the Commission, ESA and member states to implement a common strategy and install a coordination mechanism for international relations. (eh)