Council Resolution

of 16 November 2000

on a European space strategy

(2000/C 371/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

GIVEN the achievements of the space industry in Europe and its present level of excellence,

RECALLING the Council Resolution of 22 June 1998 on the reinforcement of the synergy between the European Space Agency and the European Community(1), adopted in parallel by the ESA Council, the Council Resolution of 2 December 1999 on developing a coherent European space strategy(2), asking the Commission to prepare, together with the European Space Agency (ESA), a communication on a European space strategy, and the ministerial Resolutions of the ESA Council of 11 and 12 May 1999,

WELCOMING the positive response to that request, in the form of a single document jointly drawn up by the Commission and the ESA Executive, identifying the major issues at stake in the space industry for Europe,

BEARING IN MIND the ESA Council Resolution of 16 November 2000,

RECALLING the European Parliament Resolution of 18 May 2000 concerning a coherent approach for space,

HAVING REGARD to the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) initiative,

BEARING IN MIND the present definition phase for an autonomous European satellite radionavigation system (Galileo),

REAFFIRMS the strategic nature of space and the need, on the basis of the major achievements of the last thirty years, to conduct an overall space policy reflecting Member States' political ambitions and responding to the challenges of European integration and RECOGNISES that, with this in view, a sustained political commitment is required in order to pursue such a policy,

(1) RECOGNISES that the space strategy must take account of developments in European society's use of satellite systems in areas such as communications, navigation and earth monitoring; AGREES that in order to meet society's growing demand, the needs of scientific research and the requirements of industrial competitiveness the strategy should be developed along the three lines identified in the Commission communication, i.e.:

- strengthening the foundation for space activities,

- enhancing scientific knowledge,

- reaping the benefits for markets and society:

TO THAT END THE COUNCIL:

(2) RECOGNISES the respective roles of governments, the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA) in supporting and consolidating research and development work in connection with space systems as well as the need for Europe to have a technological base and the related operational infrastructure enabling it to hold its own in global competition.

(3) RECOGNISES the basic need for guaranteed access to space and considers it to be a major strategic aim for Europe to maintain the competitiveness of its launchers and of related infrastructure.

(4) NOTING the standard of scientific research on space in Europe, which has already made it possible to develop many forms of cooperation, particularly at the transatlantic level, RECOGNISES the need to ensure consistency of European research policy, especially by way of international cooperation, and the need to press ahead with space science programmes, in order to gain a better understanding of the universe, the solar system, our planet, its interaction with its surroundings and its climate.

(5) TAKES NOTE of the growing involvement of the private sector in the development and operation of space activities and industrial restructuring; CALLS ON the Commission, together with the ESA, to look into conditions for stimulating private investment in the space industry in Europe, in particular by strengthening public-private partnership; HIGHLIGHTS to this end the special importance to be attached to small and medium-sized businesses, equipment manufacturers and subcontractors in general.

(6) HIGHLIGHTS the strategic issue of control of information technology and ENCOURAGES the Commission to consider to what extent Community policies can provide an environment facilitating the contribution of satellite communication systems to the information society and promoting RTD projects in this area in conjunction with the ESA and European applications systems operators.

(7) NOTING the importance of satellite data in managing the environment and regional planning, in safeguarding human life by managing the consequences of disasters, in monitoring risks and in improving civil security, and noting the need to develop, without delay, operational or pre-operational application services, ENCOURAGES the GMES initiative to monitor and protect the environment, enabling Europe to obtain all the necessary resources to assess and watch over such matters; accordingly CALLS ON the Commission, together with the ESA and the Member States, to complete the outline for this initiative, starting from the needs of users and civil society, so that specific implementing proposals can be drawn up by the end of June 2001.

(8) NOTING the major technological and economic issues at stake in bringing into operation a satellite radionavigation system, REITERATES the strategic importance of the Galileo project and the need to take a decision on this matter by the end of 2000 and to complete preparations for that purpose; RECOMMENDS in that connection the establishment, for the development of that programme, of a single, tightly knit body, with clearly defined roles for the ESA and the Commission respectively, to take charge of it and be accountable to the Member States.

(9) AGREES that, in order to achieve the above objectives and implement a European space strategy, the Commission and the ESA should seek to arrive at an efficient framework for cooperation whereby the ESA acts as the implementing agency for the development and procurement of the space segment and ground segment involved in the European Community's initiatives, giving the Union access to expertise, including the network of technical centres coordinated by the ESA.

TO THAT END THE COUNCIL:

(10) REQUESTS the Commission to set up, as soon as possible, in cooperation with the ESA and by the end of 2000 at the latest, a joint high-level Task Force involving the Commission and the ESA Executive. In close consultation with the Member States, the role of that Task Force, whose composition should make it possible to integrate the various Community policies with the space strategy, will be to develop further the European space strategy and produce proposals for its implementation.

(11) RECOMMENDS that in the work of the Task Force account be taken of developments regarding the European security and defence policy.

(12) URGES the Commission, together with the ESA, to forge ahead with the European space strategy accordingly and report to the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the Council of the ESA at the end of 2001 on initial activities and progress achieved.

(1) OJ C 224, 17.7.1998, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 375, 24.12.1999, p. 1.