Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the launch of the first artificial satellite by the Soviet Union in 1957 marked the start of space exploration and the beginning of a new era for mankind. Man’s ability to launch space vehicles has extended our frontiers well beyond the Earth’s atmosphere and has afforded us a wealth of new knowledge on the solar system and the universe as a whole. At the same time, it has brought practical applications which have changed our lives. The use of artificial satellites in telecommunications, weather forecasting, Earth observation and navigation is so widespread that it is hard to imagine these activities continuing without the use of space. Moreover, the high technical standards required of space equipment have led to enormous technological breakthroughs, which have gradually filtered into our everyday lives. Finally, space has always had a strategic importance, since whoever controls space also controls the Earth. Space is the one sector in which international cooperation is particularly important. In Europe, the European Space Agency (ESA), an independent body comprising 14 European countries, 12 of which are members of the European Union, has played a critical role in fostering cooperation in space exploration, space applications and the development of research in space. The Council, the Commission and Parliament have all addressed the issue of space policy on a number of occasions in the past. The main political issue in the entire discussion concerned the development of a coherent approach to space and the promotion of collaboration between the European Union and the ESA on the basis of specific targets and within a clear framework. The Commission’s working document being examined today comes as a response to the Council’s resolution of 22 June 1998 calling on the Commission to take practical measures to promote cooperation between the European Union and the ESA. The text discusses aspects of the European Union’s space policy concerning practical applications, mainly in the fields of telecommunications, navigation and Earth observation, but makes no mention of space exploration or the use of space for scientific research. From this point of view, the document is somewhat limited in scope, since an overall policy for space cannot restrict itself merely to practical applications. The Commission has made it clear that a coherent approach is indispensable for the European Union. It has therefore set up a consultative structure for space and related matters with the active participation of the ESA. This structure comprises the Space Advisory Group and other high-level groups. The Commission’s document concludes that the European Union must find new means of implementing a space policy and proposes specific lines of approach. The resolution by the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy expresses a strong desire to see space used for peaceful purposes for the benefit of mankind as a whole. At the same time, it takes the view that space policy must not be wholly dominated by the market and that account must be taken of long-term assessments of the benefits and risks of exploiting space, not only from the point of view of the interests of industry, but also in terms of the welfare of mankind as a whole. It stresses the importance of international cooperation, the need for all Member States to participate in space activities and the importance of collaboration with third countries, and points out that the ESA has functioned efficiently and has played a leading role in space research and space applications in both Europe and worldwide. The Committee on Industry welcomes the European Commission’s intention of establishing a policy framework for future programmes and stresses that this framework must be developed after extensive and in-depth consultations between all the parties involved. It is in favour of the further development of launching systems, the development of new telecommunications systems and further European participation in the Alpha station programme and reiterates the European Parliament’s support for the development of the global satellite navigation system known as Galileo. It calls on the Commission, in collaboration with the Member States, to take all measures needed for effective use of space-based systems for monitoring the environment and for security, in order to protect citizens’ lives and natural resources, identify at an early stage, or even avert natural or man-made disasters and help combat fraud. I am convinced, fellow members, that today’s debate will help to develop space policy further.

Political group: GUE-NGL