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Paris, 24 June 2003
Press Release
Nx 41-2003

Europeans Say "Yes" to a Strong Europe in Space

Part 1 of 2

The four-month consultation on the Green Paper on European Space
Policy came to a close in Paris today, with EU Research Commissioner
Philippe Busquin, European Space Agency Director General Antonio
Rodota and other leading players in the space sector calling for a
significant increase in European efforts in space research and an
upgraded institutional framework. Claudie Haignere, French Minister
for Research and New Technologies, and Letizia Moratti, Italian
Minister for Education, Universities and Scientific Research, also
attended to propose key measures to drive forward the space ambitions
of Europe. Other priorities outlined at the conference included
better co-ordination between all sectors at EU and international
levels, guaranteed independent access to space for Europe and a
flexible system of programme funding. Participants stressed the need
to develop space technology, such as Internet by satellite and
security applications. The Conference provided important input for
the forthcoming EU White Paper on Space Policy, due to be published
by the European Commission in October this year. 

Philippe Busquin said: "The consultation was a successful exercise in
democracy and collective creativity. People expect the EU to play a
greater role in space, and we must be ready to meet those
expectations. We will build on the lessons learnt from the
consultation to devise an ambitious action plan for European space
policy. With strong political commitment from all key space
stakeholders and sustained interest among the public, we can turn
Europe into the space leader of the 21st century." 

Claudie Haignere declared: "I welcome the remarkable work undertaken
by the European Commission and ESA. Thanks to this wide-ranging
debate on our future ambitions, we have established shared views on
the current situation and a mutual recognition of the strategic
importance of space for Europe. This exercise comes at the same time
as the Convention's work on a new treaty for the European Union, and
provides us with the opportunity of proposing a space competence for
the EU. We wholeheartedly support this initiative, which should
contribute significantly to developing Europe's future in space. Our
ambition is considerable: we must collectively reaffirm the strategic
role of space in building a Europe that is strong, respected and ever
closer to its citizens." 

Antonio Rodota added: "We are pleased with the quality and quantity
of the contributions to the consultation: this shows there is real
interest in an upgraded role for Europe in space, not only within the
scientific and business communities, but also in the public at large.
ESA will therefore work with the Commission and other space sector
players to raise the profile of space in Europe and help set a true
agenda for the future of space policy."

Wide consultation

The Paris Conference was also attended by Jean-Jacques Dordain,
Director-General elect of ESA, who takes office on 1 July, Carl
Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden, and by Herbert Diehl,
Director General of the German Ministry of Education and Research.
Some European astronauts were also present.

The participants included over 400 representatives of government,
industry, research and civil society.  The Conference provided an
opportunity to draw key lessons from the several thousand
contributions to the consultation process. It also helped to define
priorities for action, and determine specific measures needed to
reinforce Europe's role in the space sector and maximise the use of
space for the benefit of European citizens. These will be the subject
of an EU White Paper to be published by the end of 2003.

The economic picture

The economic implications of space activities cannot be ignored. 
According to the US Department of Defense, by 2010 more than 2000
satellites will be orbiting the Earth compared to 600 today.  Over
the period until then, US investment will total some 500 billion
dollars.  In Europe, it is estimated that by 2010 the space industry
and its related activities could represent around 10% of GDP.
However, European funding for space research and development is only
a sixth of the figure for the US, the bulk of which is accounted for
by NASA and the Department for Defense.

A new era for Europe in space

The Green Paper on European Space Policy, adopted by the European
Commission on 21 January, is a strategic document developed in
co-operation with the European Space Agency, which opens a new era
for Europe in space. Its aim was to initiate a broad debate on the
medium- and long-term future use of space for the benefit of Europe.
On 13 May the EU Competitiveness Ministers adopted a resolution
calling for rapid conclusion of a framework agreement between ESA and
the European Commission and for urgent action to be taken at EU level
to answer the challenges faced by Europe's space sector. On 15 May
the European Parliament adopted a similar resolution, insisting that
space be a shared competence in the new EU Treaty.

On 27 May the ESA ministerial meeting, addressing a series of key
issues including the future of the Ariane launcher and the Galileo
satellite positioning system, also adopted a resolution reaffirming
the commitment of ESA to enhanced co-operation with the EU, taking
into account the distinct missions and institutional bases of the two
organisations and with due regard to their complementarity. Earlier
in June the draft EU Constitution confirmed that space would be one
of the new competencies of the European Union.

From Brussels to Paris: giving Europeans a voice in space

The Green Paper consultation encompassed a series of events,
workshops and meetings spanning the continent and attracting
considerable public interest. Following the opening conference in
Brussels, the Madrid meeting focused on the contribution of the
industrial sector. The Berlin workshop brought the scientific
community together. 

Participants in Rome addressed challenging institutional issues,
while London and Prague featured debates on applications and the role
of international co-operation, respectively.

Additional events were held in Lisbon, Athens and Vienna. High-level
bilateral consultations also took place and many organisations
responded directly to the Commission. Finally, individual citizens
were invited to post their views via the Internet.

 - Continued -

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