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Paris, 16 May 2003
Information Note
Nx 10-2003

Access to space today and tomorrow: what does Europe need? 

Part 4 of 4

The future Constitutional Treaty of the European Union, currently
drafted by the Convention and to be discussed during 2004 at the
next Intergovernmental Conference, will probably attribute space
competences to the European Union. For this reason the institutional
relations between the European Union and the European Space Agency
will have to be arranged through a Framework Agreement. The ESA
Ministerial Council has been called to contribute to orienting any
decision that might be taken in the coming months and that could
strongly affect the future of space in Europe. 

(Note: The Framework Agreement between ESA and the European Community
is intended to be the instrument to allow the two organisations
to permanently work together. The agreement takes into account, inter
alia, the complementary competences of the two organisations and the
respective roles of the parties and must be seen as a step towards
the progressive development of a space policy in an integrated
European perspective). The Ministers are asked to adopt a resolution
that invites the Member States and the Director General of ESA to
ensure that the possible inclusion of space related matters in the
renewed competences of the European Union would contribute to
enhanced co-operation among the European states in space research,
technology and their applications in the widest possible sense,
taking full benefit of the broad competence and recognised
effectiveness of ESA in defining and implementing Europe's
involvement in space, in coordination with national centres and
agencies.
 
For further information, please contact :
ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690

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