Busquin: 'Space is a European reality'
Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin has underlined the importance of European involvement in the space industry, speaking at the conference 'towards a programme on global monitoring for the environment and security (GMES)', in Lille on 17 October. The EU's involvement in space will benefit Europe in several ways, emphasised Mr Busquin. It will increase Europe's political weight and institutional visibility, it will enforce the EU's presence on the international scene, in bilateral negotiations and in multilateral organisations, and it will provide Europe with the tools for its industrial politics and politics of research. 'It is this profound link between the dynamic of spatial activities and the political objectives of the Union which is the base of the communication 'Europe and space', which I will be presenting to the Union's research ministers on 16 November', said Mr Busquin. Commissioner Busquin also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of space for Europe's research policies. 'Space provides research with invaluable tools for increasing knowledge,' he said. On the subject of a global observation system of the Earth, Mr Busquin emphasised three important benefits to be gained from Europe's involvement. First, and most importantly in Mr Busquin's estimation, is understanding and control of global change, which such a system would provide. Second, the opportunity to study different phenomena that are putting pressure on the environment, for example, water shortages and damage to the ozone layer. Finally, involvement in a global observation system will provide valuable information on both natural disasters and those caused by mankind. Mr Busquin emphasised that the research community must act in a co-ordinated fashion in order to avoid contradictions, which would compromise the project's chances of success. 'Space is a European reality, a European ambition, an area of success which is symbolic of European co-operation.'