European space policy
Space systems are strategic assets demonstrating independence and the readiness to assume global responsibilities. The strategic mission of European Space Policy, jointly developed by the European Commission and the ESA, is based on the peaceful exploitation of outer space.
The establishment of a space policy at European level demonstrates the ability of the EU to take a positive lead in areas of
vital strategic policy
that link a wide variety of other policies - from telecommunications to humanitarian aid - and involve a complex interaction of players at regional, national and international levels.
As the policy develops and is implemented it will seek to:
-
develop and exploit
space applications that serve Europe's public policy objectives and the needs of Europe's citizens and enterprises
- meet Europe's space-based
security and defence
needs
- ensure Europe retains a strong and competitive space industry that is
innovative
and provides sustainable, high-quality and cost-effective services
- contribute to the knowledge-based society by investing significantly in
space-based science
and playing a strong role in international space exploration
- secure Europe's unrestricted access to the best technologies, systems and capabilities to ensure the availability of
independent European space applications
.
The European Space Policy will ensure that Europe plays a leading and
significant role
in space and that space-based technologies maximise benefits to Europe and its citizens.
11 September 2008 saw the adoption of the
European Space Policy progress report
[80 KB] . The annex to this report includes elements for a
European strategy
on international relations in space.
On 26 September 2008, the
5th Space Council
[149 KB] welcomed the progress made through the implementation of European Space Policy and highlighted
new priority areas
in a resolution. This was adopted both by the Council of the EU (Competitiveness) and by the Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency (ESA).
The actual resolution recognises that the EU, alongside the ESA and the member countries, is a major player in space. The EU is charged in particular with strengthening the
coordination
of resources and programmes with ESA and the member countries and the development of EU instruments and funding schemes to allow for long-term EU investment in space.
It also takes stock of the progress made under the two European flagship programmes,
and GMES, and invites the Commission to compile an action plan for the setting-up of a GMES programme.
Four new
priority areas
are defined:
- space and climate change
- space's contribution to the Lisbon strategy
- space and security
- space exploration.
In the field of
climate change
, the Commission is invited to study the needs for full access to standardised data and for increased computing power.
In the field of
security
, the resolution underlines the need for Europe to equip itself with a capability to monitor and survey its space infrastructure and space debris, with the EU - in conjunction with the ESA and member countries - taking an active role in order to define the
governance
of this capability.
Finally, in the field of space exploration, the Commission is tasked with organising an international political conference to develop a
common vision
for Europe and its role in this global endeavour.