The European Community and Space A communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament entitled "The European Community and Space: Challenges, Opportunities and New Guidelines" (COM(92) 360 of 23.9.1992) assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the European space effort and sets out g... A communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament entitled "The European Community and Space: Challenges, Opportunities and New Guidelines" (COM(92) 360 of 23.9.1992) assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the European space effort and sets out guidelines for increased Community support in this sector. The Commission proposes that cooperation be strengthened between the Community and the European Space Agency (ESA), the Member States and other organizations to ensure consistency and complementarity in space activities. While previously the main aim of Europe's space effort was to establish a technological and industrial capability, it is now necessary to move progressively towards the integration of space activities into the broader socio-economic fabric. Space applications programmes should therefore be oriented according to objectives defined outside the space sector, with better technological synergy between space and non-space programmes. Community contributions to the space effort, in particular supporting the definition and implementation of a European policy, are to include: - Encouraging and supporting the optimum development of earth observation applications, particularly via initiatives contributing to the establishment of a European operational system for the study of the environment and by increasing the use of satellite data within the framework of various Community policies; - Creating regulatory conditions to allow the development of new markets for satellite communication services; - Developing complementarity and synergy between Community RTD programmes and the space programmes of the ESA and the Member States, in particular taking into account the future technological needs of the space sector when defining the content of Community programmes and by promoting better use of the results of Community programmes in the space sector; - Encouraging the consolidation and growth of a competitive space industry and promoting its interests at international level, within the framework of the Community's industrial and commercial policies; - Encouraging the widening of balanced international cooperation, particularly taking into account the new opportunities for cooperation with the Republics of the former Soviet Union and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. A space advisory committee consisting of representatives of the Member States is to inform and seek guidance from the Member States during the preparation and implementation of Community measures.
