ESA-EU cooperation discussions aim for new space strategy
Following the European space agency (ESA) Council meeting in Edinburgh, UK, on 14 and 15 November, an ESA spokesman says that discussions are taking place on the establishment of an ambitious new space strategy entailing closer working ties between the agency and the European Union. Franco Bonacina says that an ESA Executive-European Commission task force, supported by a Joint Space Strategy advisory group, aims to initiate discussions on creating a European space strategy that expands beyond the 'Joint European strategy for space' signed by the ESA Council and the EU Transport Council in November 2000. The groups, both of which contain ESA and EU representatives, are examining ways of building a 'joint structure' as a basis for further cooperation and resource-sharing in order to build 'critical mass' in key programme areas. The Galileo satellite navigation project was 'the starting point for the wedding of the ESA and European Union activities' and 'other areas where we can work together' are now being examined, according to Mr Bonacina. He added that the new cooperation would not necessarily result in more EU funding for the ESA across the board, but would instead concentrate on greater cooperation, including the possibility of greater funding, for individual programmes. One focus for discussions was the political dimension of operations. Giving the example of the GMES (Global monitoring for environment and security) project, for which ESA is already providing satellites, Mr Bonachina explained that ESA 'doesn't have the political mandate that the European Union does' and so political aspects of the programme will be dealt with by the European Union.