The EU and space policy
The European Commission has produced a public version of its recent communication on the EU and space. It aims to outline a space strategy for the European Union, focused in particular on fostering applications, markets and industrial competitiveness. The Commission proposes a number of priorities for EU action, taking into account recent evolution in the sector, based on how it sees the EU's role developing. The main lines of action proposed are as follows: - Space telecommunications: Developing a favourable legislative and standards environment for European industry, and sustain development of new technologies through R&D efforts; - Space navigation: Ensuring Europe has a strong position in this field, by developing and demonstrating new applications, bringing together potential users, and promoting relevant R&D efforts; - Earth observation: Action should focus on demonstrating new applications with relevant R&D efforts to sustain it, involving users. Beyond these three areas, the European Commission intends to use its competences in fields such as external trade, internal market and international cooperation to cover horizontal aspects, such as ensuring a strong European presence in space launch services, standardization of space components and in establishing cooperative activities with third countries. The Commission also plans to encourage a coordinated approach to dual use technologies, examine how to improve funding mechanisms and reinforce ties with the European Space Agency.