This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

European Space Agency

Press Release

The future of Europe in space - have your say
=============================================
7 February 2003

The European Commission has, together with the European Space Agency
generated a Green paper on the "European Space Policy" (COM 2003
17/final).

The "Green paper" exercise is intended to launch a consultation
process about the future of Europe in space by raising a number of key 
questions closely linked to ESA`s future. The "Green Paper" looks into 
Europe's assets and future needs in the space sector. Its purpose is 
to launch in-depth debate in Europe involving all parties - national 
and international organisations, the space industry and users, the 
scientific community and citizens. Its objective is to increase 
general awareness of the strategic importance of space for Europe, to 
define areas of consensus and to find concrete answers to questions 
concerning independent access to space, 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.

As part of this debate the European Space Agency invites you to voice
your opinion via an online web forum.

The consultation process will run from 22 January to 30 May 2003. It
will be managed by the Commission/ESA Joint Task Force on space, which 
will organise a series of conferences and workshops to foster the 
debate.

The consultation will help shape a European response to
competitiveness and security challenges related to space, to be
detailed in a forthcoming White Paper. ESA Director General, Antonio
Rodotà, and Commissioner Philippe Busquin made a formal press
presentation of the Green Paper on Monday 27 January in Brussels. 

For more information see ESA Press Release no. 06-2003, and the EU
dedicated website "Towards a European Space Policy". 

 - End of File -
================

---