Boosting Opportunities for Europe in Space: EU Commission Presents Outline and Launches Broad Consultation on European Space Policy

"Mankind's Ultimate Frontier", space is a timeless source of dreams - and a major strategic and industrial challenge for Europe. Today in Brussels European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin presented the Green Paper on EU Space Policy. The Paper, prepared by the European Commission in co-operation with the European Space Agency (ESA), looks into Europe's assets and weaknesses in this sector.

The report tackles key issues such as EU's independent access to space, the need to achieve scientific excellence in this field, the industrial and technological base, relevant markets, human resources, the legal and institutional framework, international co-operation, and environmental and security aspects. It aims to launch a broad consultation with all stakeholders - national and international organisations, the European space industry, scientific community and citizens. The consultation will help shape the EU's response to space competitive and security challenges, to be detailed in a forthcoming White Paper.
ESA Director General Antonio Rodotà will join Commissioner Busquin for a formal press presentation of the Green Paper on Monday 27 January in Brussels (separate Media Invitation to follow)
"Europe's economic and scientific success is closely linked to its presence in space," said Commissioner Busquin. "Thanks to the European Space Agency, Europe is already a space power. Space is now part of our everyday life and represents a strategic tool for the EU to implement some of its broader goals, such as the March 2000 Lisbon Council call to become the most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world. Another aim for the EU is to be equipped to ensure the safety of its citizens. The time has come to define a global EU space policy to be reflected in the forthcoming EU Treaty. Being a space power requires technological and industrial excellence, but also political will. I invite the Members of the Convention on the future of Europe to debate this issue, and all space players to make sure that their voice is heard. "
BACKGROUND
Europe: a leader in space
Building on decades of space research, and thanks in great part to ESA's efforts, Europe has largely achieved self-sufficiency in space technology, and has become a leading commercial player, particularly in launchers and space platforms. It leads in innovative satellite monitoring applications that are key to ensure the well being and security of European citizens. Put into orbit by European launchers, European satellites provide businesses, public authorities and individuals with a wealth of crucial services, such as better telecommunications, sustainable transport and mobility, effective monitoring of climate changes and faster response to natural disasters.
A breeding ground for cutting-edge research and innovation in the knowledge society, space applications boost the growth and competitiveness of European high tech industries. They provide new markets for European businesses, as well as benefits for European citizens, in key areas such as land use planning, agriculture and fisheries management, sustainable transport, civil security and response to emergencies. At the same time, Europe's space industry is facing considerable challenges. Global competitive pressures and increased commercialisation of space is leading to significant restructuring of the space sector in Europe and world-wide. The traditional balance in Europe between commercial and public services is coming under acute pressure. The present organisation and financing arrangements are equally experiencing difficulties. In particular, Europe is facing a rapidly increasing "investment" gap with the US, which spends nearly six times as much as Europe and accounts for nearly 80% of world spending in this area (civil + military applications).
Global turnover in the space field has essentially remained constant over the past few years - ranging between EUR5.5 to EUR6.0 billion for Europe, and at around EUR35 billion for the United States. For the 1998-2007 period, the total value chain for the global space commercial service market (communications and navigation satellite systems) amounts to more than EUR400 billion.
Citizens directly benefit from space applications. Aside from satellite data support to weather forecasts, over 1250 television channels are beamed via direct-to-home satellites to some 100 million homes in the EU. Space is also a key employer, with 30,000 people working, directly or indirectly, in the space sector in Europe. The Galileo satellite positioning and navigation project alone could create up to 145.000 additional jobs in this area.
Galileo has experienced some delays, but the Commission is confident that pending issues can be resolved so as to allow the initiative to take off by 2008 as planned. A more cohesive and consistent space policy at EU level should help avoid such delays in the future.
A leading role for the European Union
Over the past decades, space policy has been managed at the national and intergovernmental levels. The European Space Agency, with its unique knowledge base, has provided a strong co-ordinating role in Europe's successful efforts to consolidate its industrial base and achieve technological independence. It has given Europe its present capacities in the area of launchers and platforms, turning Europe into a leading world player in a highly competitive commercial field.
Space has become a crucial component for implementing European objectives and policies, notably sustainable development, environmental protection, transport and mobility and the information society. Space applications also provide answers to emerging security challenges, both in the civil environment and in the defence aspects encompassed by the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
The Galileo project and the GMES (Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security) initiative, illustrate this new approach and underline the need for an enhanced role of the Union in space. They show how industrial and technological successes achieved by ESA need to be maximised through complementary space initiatives. This is especially the case where, in addition to its political initiative and regulatory and negotiating functions, the European Commission has developed strong expertise through its research programmes - notably, in applications for sustainable development and the security of the citizens.
For instance, the European Commission has developed effective satellite-based environmental screening systems to detect and help prevent offshore oil spills and other hazards. Another example of EU-sponsored space project concerns satellite mapping of remote regions, such as in Afghanistan, where EU aid and rescue teams have been able to reach isolated villages in the aftermath of the 2001 earthquake thanks to accurate satellite positioning and mapping services.
It is therefore logical to consider the possibility of integrating space into Union competence. This would allow the development of a Space Programme ensuring more efficient EU action in the space domain. This Programme would maximise available resources from the public and private sectors, and foster a vast range of new applications for industry and citizens, It would also clarify pending organisational and institutional issues, and add strong focus and political backing to space activities.
The Green Paper Consultation
While it is clear that no single member state has the capacity to support an independent space policy, integrating space policy into Union competence poses a number of complex and sensitive questions. The role of the Green Paper is therefore to launch an in-depth debate involving all stakeholders. Its objective is to increase general awareness of the strategic importance of space and space policy for the Union and its citizens, to define areas of consensus, and to find concrete answers to questions concerning access, funding, and institutional arrangements (SEE ANNEX)
The consultation will run from 22 January to 30 May 2003. This will include formal submission process, as well as a Web Forum (see website below). It will be managed by a joint Commission/ESA Task Force, which will organise a series of seminars, workshops and hearings to foster debate. On the basis of responses received from all interested parties, a White Paper will be published later in the year, putting forward concrete proposals in an Action Plan for the Future of Europe in Space.
,NOTE FOR EDITORS
Further information:,Luc Tytgat, Head of Unit, Space: Policy and coordiantion of research, DG Research, European Commission ,Tel: [phone]. ,E-mail: [e-mail]
Press contact, DG Research,Patrick Vittet-Philippe, Press and Information Officer, DG Research, European Commission ,Tel: [phone]. ,E-mail: [e-mail]
Commissioner Busquin's Spokesman,Fabio Fabbi,DG Press, European Commission,Tel + 32 2 296 41 74,E-mail: [e-mail], ,Green Paper Website
http://europa.eu.int/comm/space,ANNEX
This Green Paper on European Space Policy is organised in three parts:,1. European space sector in a changing global context,2. Putting space more at the service of Europe and its citizens,3. Towards a more efficient organisation and framework
On the basis of a comprehensive analysis by the EC in cooperation with the European Space Agency, this document puts forwards a number of questions to all stakeholders. These include
Q1.: Should Europe maintain, until 2020 and beyond, its independent access to space, based on the development of a broad range family of European launchers and their preferential use by institutional users?
What should be the formula for sharing a wished-for evolution in the sharing of responsibilities between the public authorities and the private sector in the economic balance of the use of these launchers and in the finance of new developments?
Q2.: In which fields - including those concerned with space systems used for security and defence - does Europe have critical technology and industrial short-comings, and what are the appropriate mechanisms how to redress the balance?
Q 3.:What is the outlook for growth in the European institutional market? In parallel, is it necessary to seek agreement with key international partners (United States, Russia) to establish more balanced market conditions?
Q4.: From a European point of view, are the results eventually expected from the experimental programme on board benefits of European participation in the ISS correspond to the level of investment and the running costs? How should Europe develop its participation and its objectives? Should it consider autonomous access by its own means of space transport?
Q5.: How may the financing of space activities at European level be organised in a more coherent manner, avoiding that an increase of resources at European level is accompanied by an equivalent reduction of investment at national level?
Q6.: What action should be taken in space professions and allied occupations associated field to make them more attractive, in particular to young people?
Q7.: What are the conditions for the emergence of economically viable and competitive applications and space services for citizens and industries? Will political actions be justified, and if this is the case, to what extent could public support be considered necessary?
Q8.:In the future, it is necessary to better to define and clarify, as part of a coherent and clear whole (including framework and time-scale): the nature and scale of the space capacities required to achieve the political objectives of the PESC?; within what context may the possible new space capability be placed at the service of the security of citizens.
Q79.: What is the most efficient manner to exploit the space competence in Europe of ESA for the benefit of Union policies?
Q810.: How may the political and juridical bases necessary for an efficient Union action by the Union and Europe in the space field, in particular with regard to the definition of the future Treaty of the Union, be reinforced?
Q.12: Are there regulatory barriers that slow the development of new space communication services? What are the measures likely to improve regulatory environment notably with a view to the development of the information society?
Full text of Green Paper and address to send submissions can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/space