COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 2 December 1999

on developing a coherent European space strategy

(1999/C 375/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

RECALLING the Council's 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 European Space Agency (hereinafter referred to as the "ESA") Council and TAKING NOTE of the resolution on shaping the future of Europe in space adopted by the ESA Council of 11 May 1999, calling for a fully developed strategy to be prepared by the end of the year 2000,

CONSIDERING the Commission's working document "Towards a coherent European approach for space" analysing the need to address Europe's space effort and to examine Europe's long-term objectives,

CONSIDERING the central role of the ESA in Europe's common effort in the development of space activities,

CONSIDERING the fruitful cooperation between the Community and the ESA and the current activities involving Europe in a new generation of satellite navigation services (Galileo),

UNDERLINING the need to respond, through a comprehensive space strategy, to the challenges in the domains of telecommunications, transport and environment, CONSIDERING also the importance of space technologies in the context of security matters, and TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the restructuring of the European space industry,

(1) WELCOMES the Commission's analysis as to the need for action if Europe wishes to preserve and further reinforce its space capabilities built up over the last decades, and to continue to play a significant role in meeting the commercial and strategic challenges of the information society supported by satellite infrastructures;

(2) AGREES that the industrial, scientific and technological capabilities to meet these challenges require a long-term commitment and investment in all areas, including space science, participation in international programmes, as well as maintaining competitive launch services;

(3) WELCOMES the growing cooperation between the European Community and the ESA and SUPPORTS the intention of the Commission to implement together with the ESA, measures to improve synergy and to examine further concrete measures so that Europe's space effort may gain a strategic impetus from EU activities in other areas;

(4) ASKS the Commission to prepare, as a joint exercise with the ESA and using a single and common consultative framework with all interested parties, a comprehensive document on a coherent European strategy for space;

(5) CALLS ON all Member States to participate fully in the consultative process, in particular in the Space Advisory Group in which the Commission and the ESA provide regular information on progress and opportunity for discussion;

(6) ASKS the Commission to report to the next meeting of the Research Council on the progress made in this process and furthermore to submit to the Council for consideration by the end of the year 2000 a European strategy for space on the basis of the joint ESA-Commission document.

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