After the recent launch of the first Galileo satellites –an event of paramount political importance for Europe– politicians, policymakers, space agency managers, industrialists, satellite operators and members of civil society gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels on 8–9 November for the 4th Conference on EU Space Policy. The Conference, organised by Business Bridge Europe and devoted to the benefits of space to citizens and society, confirmed that space is high on Europe’s political agenda by including European authorities of the highest level.
Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council, confirmed the importance of Galileo and the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) initiative as the EU’s two flagship programmes.
Mr van Rompuy expressed his commitment to ensuring that policies of the future are safeguarded and strengthened –and space will be one of those policies. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, noted that, with the launch of the first two Galileo navigation satellites on 21 October, Europe had taken a step of critical importance for the competitiveness of its industry and for Europe’s independence in space technology.
Mr Barroso confirmed that space is a key component of Europe’s 2020 strategy and reiterated that Galileo and GMES are the EU’s two flagship programmes. He recalled that €7.9 billion is planned for Galileo in the EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework for 2014–20. In addition, the Commission will issue a communication soon on the development and deployment of GMES, for which €5.8 billion is needed. Mr Barroso concluded by reasserting his ambition for the EU to be a world leader in space.
Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA, noted that the space sector is also being affected by the economic crisis. Mr Dordain continued that it is a sector where most of the industrial activities are undertaken in Europe. It is a sector of knowledge and technology, a key element of competitiveness and one of the few sectors where the transfer between knowledge and services is systematic and quick. Space is one of the few sectors where Europe is both a world leader and a model. It is a leader in the commercial market, in technology and in the provision of services. It is a model for using space to benefit the citizens of Europe and the world, and as a reliable partner in international cooperation. Mr Dordain also highlighted the fact that Europe’s leadership is not linked to security and defence drivers, unlike all other space powers in the world. He praised the Polish government’s willingness to address that issue during its current presidency of the EU.
Mr Dordain reaffirmed the importance of having GMES and Galileo included in the EU’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014–20. They need to be ensured in that community context because they are not just space programmes but services to Europe’s citizens. Mr Dordain stressed that the current uncertainties in the continuity of GMES weaken the overall space sector in Europe. With two major decisions facing Europe –the ESA Council at Ministerial level in late 2012 and the MFF– Mr Dordain appealed for a greater effort to ensure that they become instruments for a Europe with an even greater role for space than it has today for all citizens of Europe and the world.
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