White paper - Space: a new European frontier for an expanding Union - An action plan for implementing the European Space policy {SEC (2003) 1249 }
Date: 2003-11-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU research policy, space policy, space science, use of outer space

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 11.11.2003
COM(2003) 673 final

WHITE PAPER

Space: a new European frontier for an expanding Union

An action plan for implementing the European Space policy

(presented by the Commission)

{SEC (2003) 1249 }

WHITE PAPER

Space: a new European frontier for an expanding Union

An action plan for implementing the European Space policy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHITE PAPER Space: a new European frontier for an expanding Union An action plan for
implementing the European Space policy.................................................................................. 1

WHITE PAPER Space: a new European frontier for an expanding Union An action plan for
implementing the European Space policy.................................................................................. 2

Foreword .................................................................................................................................... 5

1.

2.

3.

3.1.

3.2.

3.3.

3.4.

INTRODUCTION: A new approach to Space policy in Europe................................. 6

Space contributions to policy challenges ..................................................................... 8

Space actions in support of the enlarged Union......................................................... 11

Deploy a European asset for satellite navigation, timing and positioning................. 11

Global monitoring for the environment and security................................................. 12

Bridging the "digital divide" ...................................................................................... 15

Space as a contribution to the CFSP, the ESDP and to the anticipation and
monitoring of humanitarian crises. ............................................................................ 17

3.5.

Develop international partnerships ............................................................................ 19

4.

Extending and strengthening Space policy: keys to success...................................... 23

4.1.

Secure strategic independence and common assets for common actions .................. 24

4.1.1. Guarantee independent access to space...................................................................... 24

4.1.2.

Enhance space technology to meet future needs........................................................ 26

4.1.3.

Promote space exploration ......................................................................................... 28

4.1.4.

Encourage more science and technology careers....................................................... 29

4.2.

Strengthen European excellence in space science ..................................................... 30

4.2.1. Boost efforts in sciences of the Universe................................................................... 31

4.2.2.

Stimulate Earth sciences ............................................................................................ 31

4.2.3.

Support life and physical sciences in space ............................................................... 31

2

4.2.4.

Facilitate the exploitation of scientific data ............................................................... 32

4.3.

Creating the right environment for innovation and competitiveness ......................... 32

5.

5.1.

5.2.

Governance and resources.......................................................................................... 36

Establish a new approach to the governance of space activities................................ 36

Match ambitions and resources.................................................................................. 38

CONCLUSIONS...................................................................................................................... 40

ANNEX 1 EUROPEAN SPACE PROGRAMME (framing the White Paper Action Plan)
First sketch ............................................................................................................................... 41

ANNEX 2 RESOURCES ASSESSMENT .............................................................................. 46

ANNEX 3 GREEN PAPER CONSULTATION PROCESS: MAIN MESSAGES ................ 52

ANNEX 4 GLOSSARY........................................................................................................... 60

3

Space: a new frontier for an expanding Union

Executive Summary

Building  on  the  successful  Green  Paper  consultation  on  options  for  European  activities  in
space,  the  Commission  proposes  in  this  White  Paper  the  implementation  of  an  extended
European Space Policy to support the achievement of the European Union’s policy goals. The
following aspects are developed:

Europe  needs  an  extended  space  policy,  driven  by  demand,  able  to  exploit  the  special
benefits  space  technologies  can  deliver  in  support  of  the  Union’s  policies  and  objectives:
faster  economic  growth,  job  creation  and  industrial  competitiveness,  enlargement  and
cohesion, sustainable development and security and defence.

The  European  Space  Agency  (ESA),  EU  and  ESA  Member  States  with  their  national  space
agencies, research centres, and industry all deserve credit for having established Europe as a
key  player  in  space.  This  White  Paper  is  a  call  to  action  to  these  partners,  including  the
space industry, to mobilise behind new goals and to rise to new challenges.

European  Space  Policy  will  be  implemented  within  a  multi-annual  European  Space
Programme  which  will  be  the  mechanism  for  determining  priorities,  setting  objectives,
allocating  roles  and  responsibilities  and  framing  annual  budgets.  Its  scope  must  embrace
R&D,  infrastructure  development,  services  and  technology  and  it  should  be  reviewed  and
updated regularly.

The policy will require an increase in overall expenditure to develop and deploy applications
and to support the research and development, technology and infrastructures. In the context
of  its  future  Financial  Perspectives,  the  Union  should  consider  adding  resources  to  be
allocated in response to the needs of EU policies.

If Europe does not adopt the proposed approach to space policy, it will decline as a “space
power”  because  of  an  inability  to  develop  new  technologies  and  sustain  applications  with
serious consequent damage to its overall competitiveness.

Europe  already  possesses  many  of  the  capabilities  needed  to  develop  the  services  and
applications  that will support EU  policies. It has deployed  operational  communication  and
meteorological  systems  and  has  adopted  an  ambitious  programme  for  satellite  navigation,
timing  and  positioning  (GALILEO)  and  will  present  in  January  2004  its  plan  for
implementing  global  monitoring  and  earth  observation  system  (Global  Monitoring  for  the
Environment and Security: GMES). In addition to supporting a wide range of civil policies,
space  systems  can  also  provide  direct  contributions  to  the  Union’s  Common  Foreign  and
Security Policy and its European Security and Defence Policy.

International co-operation offers good opportunities for building Europe’s strength in space
technologies and applications through partnerships with the US, Russia and emerging “space
nations”.

Implementation of a European Space Policy would come in two phases: the first (2004-2007)
will  consist  of  implementing  the  activities  covered  by  the  recently  agreed  Framework
Agreement between the European Community and ESA; and the second (2007 onwards) will
start after the coming into force of the European Constitutional Treaty which is expected to
establish space as a shared competence between the Union and its Member States.

4

FOREWORD

This is an important moment in the history of Europe. With the future Constitutional Treaty
now under discussion the Union will enter a new and more political phase aiming at a closer
relationship with its citizens.

This is also an important moment in the history of Europe’s activities in space. The time has
come to place them on the Union’s political agenda at the heart of the European construction
process  by  putting  space  applications  linked  to  inspirational  goals  at  the  service  of  the
enlarged Europe and of its citizens.

After  40  years  of  solid  European  achievement  in  the  development  of  space  sciences,
technologies  and  applications,  the  Commission  proposes  in  this  White  Paper  to  make  a
qualitative leap forward in the continent’s ambitions for, and organisation of, this key sector.

The Commission is convinced of the essential support that space technologies can bring to the
Union’s  policies  and  objectives  and  also  of  their  tremendous  social,  economic,  and
commercial  potential.  It  recommends:  (i)  putting  additional  efforts  into  a  variety  of  space
infrastructures and applications, which will make unique contributions to satisfy the needs of
the citizens and to respond to the Union’s political objectives, (ii) consolidating the existing
scientific  and  technical  basis  of  space  activities.  It  also  urges  a  change  of  the  governance
paradigm so as to give the Union new responsibilities for driving, funding and co-ordinating
activities within an extended Space Policy.

The  European  Space  Agency  (ESA),  Member  States  and  their  national  space  agencies,
research centres, together with industry, all deserve the credit for having established Europe
as a key player in space. The White Paper is a call to action to these stakeholders to mobilise
behind new ambitious goals. It also seeks to spur the European space industry to rise to new
challenges.  The  policy  objective  is  a  more  secure  and  predictable  framework  that  will  help
companies  to  plan  and  invest  and  to  build  larger  share  of  commercial  and  institutional
markets.

These proposals, which are based on detailed analysis, take into account the outcome of the
intensive  consultations  carried  out  on  the  issues  raised  in  the  Green  Paper  on  Space  Policy
published  in  January  2003.  Separate  conferences  and  workshops  were  organised  in  ten
European  capitals  and  the  Commission  is  grateful  to  those  who  sent  in  the  several  hundred
submissions.

There  is  a  strong  will  in  Europe  to  put  our  scientific  talents,  our  technologies  and  our
entrepreneurial skills in the space sector at the service of Europe and its citizens. This White
Paper  explains  why  we  should  do  so  and  how  we  should  do  it.  On  some  of  the  issues
addressed,  precise  conclusions  cannot  yet  be  identified,  but  mechanisms  and  milestones  to
pursue them are set.

The White Paper aims to become a point of reference: it provides an Action Plan (“European
Space  Programme”)  including  a  list  of  recommended  actions  for  the  implementation  of  the
European Space Policy. Its success will be measured by the benefits the European Union, its
citizens and the space sector derive from this endeavour.

5

1.

INTRODUCTION: A NEW APPROACH TO SPACE POLICY IN EUROPE

Space can support the Union’s key policy goals

Europe  has  equipped  itself  as  a  space  player  over  the  past  40  years  with  a  wide  range  of
capabilities in rocket launch, satellite technologies, space sciences  and applications and user
services. This is an impressive achievement.

Although an EU common policy for space will have to await a Treaty amendment, this White
Paper  considers  that  key  elements  of  an  extended  space  policy  must  be  put  in  place  at  the
Union level, ahead of the entry into force of the Constitutional Treaty which, assuming that
the Intergovernmental Conference will not alter the conclusions of the European Convention,
will  enumerate  space  policy  among  the  competencies  the  Union  shareswith  its  Member
States. A number of legal bases can already be invoked which enable existing EU policies to
call upon to space as a relevant technology to support their implementation.1

Until  now,  several  European  countries  have  been  pursuing  their  national  goals  while  also
benefiting from a European dimension derived from pooling most of their efforts within the
framework of the European Space Agency (ESA).

This White Paper seeks to build on past successes and existing competencies at all levels in
order to achieve more cost-effective support for European Union policies and objectives from
space technologies, infrastructures and services than is currently being delivered. The political
framework of the Union is the only adequate one to provide the appropriate conditions to reap
the benefits of an extended policy.

These  benefits  will  emerge  through  the  valuable  contributions  space  technologies  and
applications will make to:

(cid:1)  economic growth, job creation and industrial competitiveness

(cid:1)  a successful enlargement of the Union

(cid:1)  sustainable development

(cid:1)  a stronger security and defence for all

(cid:1)  fighting poverty and aiding development

The  Commission’s  recommendations  require  all  stakeholders  to  work  and  combine
successfully  behind  a  common  vision.  One  of  its  ingredients  should  be  confidence  that  the
space policy will help Europe be a better neighbour and a respected global partner. The
Union will be better able to act in defence of its core values of democracy, respect for the rule
of  law,  sustainable  development  and  maintenance  of  peace  and  order  through  dialogue  and
diplomacy.

In  addition,  the  Union  will  be  more  strongly  equipped  as  a  global  leader  in  the  political,
economic  and  scientific  spheres.  By  investing  in  the  right  domains  and  in  effective
programmes, an extended space policy will help raise the Union’s political standing in the

1

Cf. Articles 70, 154, 157, 163 to 173 of the Treaty of the European Communities

6

                                                
world,  sharpen  its  economic  competitiveness  and  enhance  its  reputation  for  scientific
excellence. Europe’s enthusiasm for international co-operation in space activities means that
many of the benefits of space policy can be shared with mankind in general.

Finally, good progress in the economic, social and scientific development of the new Member
States  must  feature  prominently  in  any  vision  of  the  Union’s  future.  An  extended  space
policy  can  accelerate  their  climb  to  higher  levels  of  prosperity  and  social  and  cultural
achievement.

Standing still is not an option

This  White  Paper  is  not  about  trying  to  build  Europe’s  prestige  on  new  foundations.  It  is
about the need to secure new infrastructures and services and to open up new opportunities.
Its ambitions are practical and realistic and expenditure must match ambition.

A  broader,  cost-effective  space  policy  will  need  an  increase  in  overall  expenditure  in  the
medium and long term. Redistributing current budgets will not take us forward. This is not a
proposal to climb steadily towards United States’ levels of spending – more than seven times
higher  per  capita  than  in  Europe  –  but  to  develop  concrete  actions  designed  to  respond  to
concrete  needs  and  to  deliver  genuine  benefits,  with  a  progressive  increase  of  budget  to
match.

Doing nothing will leave Europe vulnerable to two real dangers:

(cid:1)  decline  of  its  capacities  as  a  key  spaceplayer,  if  its  growth  does  not  keep  pace  with  the
global evolution in the space sector. Ability to develop and sustain new technologies and
applications could be jeopardised.

(cid:1)  decline of its leading  space  companies because  of weak  commercial markets  and  lack  of

public investment in new programmes.

In this White Paper ….

Section 2 gives a broad account of the applications and technologies that can be matched to
the  Union’s  chief  policy  challenges.  Section  3  outlines  specific  activities  that  are  under
development  to  support  key  EU  policies  and  objectives.  Section  4  recommends  detailed
actions  for  securing  and  building  upon  Europe’s  current  scientific  and  technological
capabilities  and  for  strengthening  its  space  industry  which  are  prerequisites  for  realising
applications in support of EU policy objectives. Section 5 outlines some necessary changes in
the governance and financing of Europe’s space activities.

Annex  1  presents  a  first  outline  of  a  possible  European  Space  Programme  and  a  roadmap
derived  from  the  recommendations  detailed  in  this  White  Paper.  A  first  analysis  of  the
resources  required  for  its  implementation  is  provided  in  Annex  2.  Annex  3  summarises  the
main outcome of the consultation process. A glossary is provided in Annex 4.

7

2.

SPACE CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLICY CHALLENGES

Put Space in Europe’s policy toolbox

If  Europe  devotes  more  resources  to  space  and  organises  its  efforts  in  the  right  way,  it  can
truly  improve  the  quality  of  life  of  its  citizens  and  contribute  to  economic  growth  and  job
creation in the process. Worldwide, the space applications-related market is estimated at €350
billion by 2010.2

However,  the  actual  and  potential  benefits  of  space  technologies  cannot  be  fully  secured
under  present  institutional  and  budgetary  arrangements.  These  are  mainly  focused  on
Research  and  Development  and  are  not  appropriate  for  an  optimal  exploitation  of  space
assets.

Failure  to  derive  such  benefits  would  have  significant  consequences  for  Europe’s  economy
and its  role in  the  world.  As  a  horizontal  policy,  space  is  especially  relevant  for  supporting
Europe’s economic prospects, agriculture policy goals, levels of employment, its management
of the environment and its foreign and security policies.

Space  technologies  lend  themselves  well  to  address  questions  which  are  of  large-scale  and
global nature. Space is not  the  answer  to  every  problem,  but  it  should  occupy  an  important
place in Europe’s policy toolbox. In the transport and agricultural sectors a number of policy
challenges are already being addressed with the help of space technologies.

Some  other  policy  challenges,  which  have  become  the  Union’s  objectives  following  their
endorsement  by  European  Councils,  are  listed  below.  The  Space  policy  will  offer  valuable
contributions to many of them, at an affordable cost and with greater efficiency.

Policy challenges: Invest in the knowledge economy to strengthen economic growth job
creation and competitiveness  (the  Lisbon strategy)  and  make  a  success  of  enlargement
by  supporting  cohesion  and  economic,  industrial  and  technological  growth  throughout
all Member States

Space tools: Satellite telecommunications are part of a technology portfolio that may deliver
broadband access to the 20% of the EU’s population where it cannot be made available in the
medium  term.  It  can  contribute  to  closing  the  “digital  divide”  with  the  new  Member  States
and beyond in complement of terrestrial solutions.

(cid:1)  Policy Challenge: Achieve sustainable development goals

The  European  Council  in  Gothenburg  adopted  in  June  2001  a  strategy  for  sustainable
development. The Council noted that its objectives had “the potential to unleash a new wave
of  technological  innovation  and  investment,  generating  growth  and  employment.”  The
Council has asked for the establishment in 2008 of a European capacity for global monitoring
for environment and security.

Space  tools:  Earth  observation  from  space  supports  sound  environmental  management  and
protection  by  providing  basic  homogeneous  observations  with  unsurpassed  coverage  on
climate  and  weather,  oceans,  fisheries,  land  and  vegetation.  Space  has  enabled  a  weather

2

Euroconsult 2002

8

                                                
prediction over 5 days. A sustainable agricultural model could, as well, benefit from the use
of Earth observation tools. Likewise, the control of the applications of the Kyoto protocol will
require European independent space capabilities.

(cid:1)  Policy Challenge: The Union is to assume a larger role in the world through a stronger
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) supported by a European Security and
Defence Policy (ESDP)

In  the  coming  years,  the  Union  will  have  to  achieve  the  Helsinki  goals,  encompassing
capabilities such as the contact with rapid deployment forces and global intelligence.

Space tools: To be credible and effective, any CFSP and ESDP must be based on autonomous
access to reliable global information so as to foster informed decision-making.

Space technologies and infrastructures ensure access to knowledge, information and military
capabilities on the ground that can only be available through the capacity to launch, develop
and operate satellites providing global communications, positioning and observation systems.
At  the  same  time,  space-based  systems  can  provide  a  higher  level  of  security  for  citizens,
allowing,  for  example,  a  better  enforcement  of  border  and  coastal  control  and  identifying
humanitarian crises in their early stages.

(cid:1)  Policy  Challenge:  Strengthen  industrial  performance  by  stepping  up  R&D  and
technological innovation, while defining Trans-European Transport Network (TEN -
 T) priorities

The European Council has set the objective of raising total R&D spending in the Union from
1.8% to 3% of gross domestic product by 2010. Moving ahead with TEN-T is set to rekindle
economic growth. Realising the TEN-T priorities is projecting gains for the Union’s economy
and society, estimated in the long term at 0.23% growth in GDP.

Space tools:

Space R&D and TEN-T  development  are  also part of  a larger  value  chain  which  stimulates
R&D  in  other  sectors  and  leads  to  commercial  applications,  such  as  GALILEO,  with
potentially  very  large  revenues  and  job  creation  possibilities.  Each  euro  invested  into  the
space  applications  generates  a  turnover  of  €7-8  due  to  the  development  of  added-value
services.3

(cid:1)  Policy Challenge: Fight poverty and aid development

Space  tools:  The  Union  is  the  largest  provider  of  development  aid  in  the  world.  Space
technologies  can  strengthen  its  development  efforts,  and  help  other  countries  to  develop
access to information, raise skills levels and better manage their resources.

In  addition  to  supporting  the  creation  of  commercial  communication  infrastructures,  space
technologies such as Earth observation and global positioning systems can be employed in a
variety  of  tasks  including:  protecting  soils  and  managing  water  resources;  monitoring  crop
development and forecasting food production; providing early warning for flood and fire risk;

3

Euroconsult 2002

9

                                                
monitoring  the  tropical  forest;  preventing  ground-motion  hazards;  ensuring  coastal  and
maritime monitoring; forecasting, preventing and managing natural disasters.

10

3.

SPACE ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE ENLARGED UNION

The  preceding  chapter  indicated  how  space  tools  can  help  the  Union  to  realise  its  policy
objectives. In the following pages, flagship initiatives of this space policy are presented. They
will need financial support from the Union, ESA and Member States in solid partnership with
the private sector.

Each  of  these  initiatives  directly  or  indirectly  will  improve  people’s  lives.  They  can  also
contribute  to  Europe’s  security  and  ability  to  enhance  its  positive  role  in  international  co-
operation. Rolling out the three applications set out below is a key element of the European
Growth Initiative goal for boosting investments in networks and knowledge.

3.1.

Deploy a European asset for satellite navigation, timing and positioning

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To  ensure  a  globally  competitive,  independent  satellite-based  European  capability  for
navigation, timing and positioning that will be financially viable in the long term.

The Opportunity

To provide Europe with a navigation and positioning alternative with strong commercial and
job-creation prospects that delivers services of direct benefit to citizens and EU policies.

An innovative and indispensable solution

Proposed  by  the  European  Commission  in  February  1999,  the  GALILEO  international
programme  for  radio  navigation  by  satellite  is  the  first  large  project  jointly  funded  by  the
Union and ESA. In May 2003, the two organisations cleared the way for implementation of
the development phase of the GALILEO programme.

GALILEO is both an important element of European space policy and an innovative solution
to  Europe’s  indispensable  requirement  for  navigation,  timing  and  positioning.  It  directly
contributes to the definition of a new global standard and has several novel characteristics. It
is:

– 

– 

– 

the first major space project launched under the aegis of the EU;

the first time that the European Union will control such a strategic asset that will be a
key element of EU strategic transport infrastructure project;

a  new  example  of  public-private  partnership:  its  development  phase  is  being
managed  by  a  Joint  Undertaking  comprising  investors’  representatives.  Later  on,
private companies will operate and manage the system under a concession scheme.

11

GALILEO’s  constellation  of  30  satellites  and  associated  ground  stations  is  designed  to
provide a set of services on a global basis by 2008. The market outlook is promising: demand
for satellite navigation services and derived products around the world is growing at a rapid
25% a  year  and  could reach €275 bn by 2020, in  the  process  creating  100,000  skilled  jobs.
Accession countries will be offered participation in its management structure.

The  use  of  GALILEO  signals  from  space  can  be  combined  with  other  global  positioning
systems to provide more robust services. A wide range of categories of applications have been
identified in a wide variety of commercial services. They cover areas as diverse as transport,
energy,  finance,  insurance,  fisheries,  agriculture,  environment,  geology,  science  and  public
works. The system will also serve individual needs – for example, its navigation facilities will
help the visually impaired and those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Recommended Actions

– 

– 

– 

selecting a concessionaire for the management of the next phase of the programme
after a competitive tendering process managed by the Galileo Joint Undertaking;

negotiating with the private sector, after a competitive tendering process, an overall
agreement for undertaking further research activities for innovative applications;

ensuring  the  availability  of  regulating  and  certification  procedures  as  well  as
mechanisms for collecting revenues.

3.2.

Global monitoring for the environment and security

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To  maximise  the  use  of  space  data  in  support  of  sustainable  development  policies  with
particular regard to the protection of the environment, the management of resources and the
quality of life and security of citizens.

The Opportunity

To  derive  a  wide  variety  of  services  to  support  key  environmental  policies  and  foreign  and
security policy goals.

A versatile tool for broad policy support

At  the  Gothenburg  Summit  in  June  2001,  the  European  Council  called  for  “establishing  by
2008 a European capacity for global monitoring of environment and security”. As a response,
the Global Monitoring  for  the  Environment  and  Security  (GMES)  was  set-up  jointly  by  the
European  Commission  and  the  European  Space  Agency  as  an  initiative  to  provide
independent,  operational  and  relevant  information  in  support  of  a  range  of  policies  serving
sustainable  objectives  such  as  environment,  agriculture,  fisheries,  transport,  regional
development.  It  will  also  support  objectives  linked  to  the  implementation  of  a  Common
Foreign  and  Security  Policy  as  well  as  to  early  warning  and  rapid  damage  assessment  in
natural disasters.

12

GMES ensures  Europe’s interest to be  an actor on the  global scene, relying on independent
means for gathering data and information. It answers at the same time the recognition that the
design, conduct and evaluation of policies must be based on appropriate knowledge.

Its  potential  value  in  relation  to  the  requirements  of  the  common  European  Security  and
Defence Policy is currently being assessed.

The importance of space data

Over  the  past  10-15  years  considerable  progress  has  been  made  in  supplying  data  from
satellites. Observation from orbiting satellites presents advantages for monitoring, as they are
global  tools  that  can  repetitively  observe  every  corner  of  the  Earth  and  provide  global
assessments as well as detailed views on specific locations.

Space-borne Earth observation technologies contribute to the objectives of GMES, alongside
in  situ  monitoring  capabilities,  with  which  they  are  integratedby  information  and
communication technologies.

Implementing GMES

The  GMES  capacity  is  geared  towards  the  delivery  of  sustainable  services  supported  by
observation systems that may be in space, on the ground, in the air or sea-borne. Its potential
and range  could be  significantly  increased  through  combining  with  positioning  systems  and
telecommunication satellites.

The  implementation  of  GMES  will  include  a  structured  dialogue  with  the  users  and  the
construction of a  pan  European  partnership, associating owners and operators  of  existing  or
planned observation systems with adequate mechanisms for sharing data and information. In
first  instance,  GMES  is  about  bringing  together  existing  and  future  users  in  need  of
environment and security data, such as environment departments, civil protection authorities.
The  GMES  framework  should  serve  to  federate  user  requirements  at  a  European  level,  to
gather sufficient critical mass and to better use existing infrastructures and systems.

Preparatory  activities  have  been  undertaken  respectively  by  the  Commission  under  the
Framework  Programme  for  Research  and  by  ESA  in  the  context  of  the  GMES  Services
Element programme. The EU Council has requested the Commission and ESA to report at the
end of the initial period (2001-2003). Drawing lessons from this experience, the Commission
will  present  in  January  2004  an  Action  Plan  for  the  Implementation  Period  (2004-2008),
bringing  the  EU,  ESA,  Member  States,  EUMETSAT  and  other  stakeholders  into  an  overall
approach.

GMES  has  the  potential  to  cover  a  wide  range  of  policies.  However,  taking  into  account
political priorities and the state of development of infrastructures, priority should be given to
developing services in support of:

Land management to support areas including agricultural policies, sustainable development
of  crops,  early  warning  for  food  security,  soil  protection,  management  of  natural  resources,
monitoring of bio-diversity, and urban planning.

Ocean monitoring to improve understanding of climate change and to support the sustainable
management of resources e.g. fisheries. Maritime transport requires adequate surveillance for
increased safety and environmental protection.

Atmosphere monitoring to contribute to understanding climate change, analysis of weather
events and measurement of  pollutants that  damage human health.  Services will provide  real
time information on atmospheric chemistry, pollution, aerosols and ozone components.

13

The management  of  water resources as highlighted  at the  Johannesburg  World  Summit  on
sustainable  development  in  2002  is  an  issue  for  the  next  decades.  Services  could  support
human and agriculture access to clean water.

Risk management is required  for natural and industrial hazards that threaten  peoples’ lives
and  cause  significant  damages  to  infrastructures.  Services  will  include  the  provision  of
information  on  industrial  hazards,  floods,  earthquakes,  storms,  forest  fires,  landslides  and
drought.

Humanitarian  aid  and  security  policies  need  tools  for  support,  through  the  provision  of
mapping and decision support for aid and reconstruction, de-mining and development of tools
for crisis management and conflict prevention.

These  various  services  will  require  the  use  of  specific  Earth  observation  systems,  in
particular  sensor  technologies  such  as:  high-  and  medium-resolution,  optical  and  radar
imagers for land surface, coastal zone and ocean monitoring; advanced optical and microwave
sensors  for  atmospheric  composition  measurements  and  advanced  active  and  passive
microwave instruments for ocean monitoring.

These systems will complement the necessary ground, air and sea-borne observation systems
and will also require in situ components for data validation purposes. Activities to establish
the GMES capacity will therefore require the promotion and development of interoperable in
situ  elements  and  their  links  to  data  collection,  data  management  and  communications
infrastructure, including satellite communications. Particular attention will have to be paid to
the promotion of interoperability between existing systems.

The  efficient  use  of  data  collected  by  space,  ground,  air  and  sea-borne  systems  and  their
integration  with  socio-economic  information  will  depend  also  on  the  availability  of  co-
ordinated data policies and appropriate spatial data infrastructures. This will enable services
to find, access, share and trade data and information without unnecessary restrictions.

Recommended actions

(cid:1)  Within  the  EC/ESA  Framework  agreement,  the  Commission  and  ESA  shall  prepare  a

specific arrangement to provide:

– 

– 

– 

a management structure bringing together the various GMES stakeholders;

a roadmap for developing and deploying interoperable GMES observation systems,
spatial data infrastructure and services;

a  joint  European  research  and  development  work  plan  including  scenarios  for
demonstrator projects under the Framework programme.

(cid:1)  The  Commission  should  propose  scenarios  for  the  interface  between  civil  and  security

usage.

14

3.3.

Bridging the "digital divide"

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To  achieve  the  objectives  set  out  in  the  eEurope  2005  Action  Plan  and  ensure  widespread
high speed Internet availability and usage throughout the enlarged European Union.

The Opportunity

To  use  to  the  full  the  potential  offered  by  all  available  broadband  technologies  (including
satellite communications) to bridge the digital divide.

Satellite technologies do not only allow the achievement of the public policy goals presented
in  the  previous  two  sections,  they  also  constitute  an  infrastructure  for  the  delivery  of
electronic  communications  services.  This  market  is  a  commercial  one  characterised  by  an
intense  competition  between  operators  and  technologies.  In  the  European  Union,  electronic
communications  infrastructures  and  services  are  subject  to  the  new  regulatory  framework,
which is based on a technologically neutral approach.

Through  its  eEurope  2005  Action  Plan,4  endorsed  by  the  Sevilla  European  Council  in  June
2002, the Union has set itself the objective of providing a favourable environment for private
investment  and  for  the  creation  of  new  jobs,  to  boost  productivity,  to  modernise  public
services and to give everyone the opportunity to participate in the global information society.
To  achieve  this  objective,  widespread  availability  and  usage  of  broadband  and  high-speed
internet throughout the European Union needs to be established.

Still, a large number of European households living in remote areas – as many as 14 million –
do  not  have  a  realistic  perspective  of  achieving  access  to  high  speed  internet  before  many
years.  This  constitutes  a  serious  obstacle  to  making  the  benefits  of  the  information  society
available to all citizens and firms in the European Union.

The prospects for many of the less developed partners of the EU, especially in Africa, are also
a concern. Bridging the digital divide at a global level to ensure that all parts of the world can
reap  the  benefits  from  the  information  society  is  at  the  heart  of  the  World  Summit  on  the
information society that will be held in Geneva in December 2003 and Tunis in 2005.

The EU Member States are committed to putting in place broadband national strategies by the
end  of  2003;  in  some,  there  is  a  dynamic  emerging  market  for  the  provision  of  broadband
access  in  remote  and  rural  areas.  However,  the  picture  remains  fragmented  and  it  may  be
difficult  for  local  or  regional  communities  in  different  countries  to  consider  on  their  own
solutions  of  more  global  coverage  which  could  generate  broader  economies  of  scale.  They
should, therefore, be encouraged to compare their needs to see whether common solutions can
be shared.

4

COM (2002) 263: eEurope 2005: An information society for all

15

                                                
Satellite technologies may constitute appropriate solutions, especially for rural, peripheral and
island regions, but their adoption should be based on cost effectiveness. The enlargement of
the Union puts these opportunities into a new perspective.

Broadband access can be provided through a variety of networks and platforms such as xDSL
offered  over  telephone  lines,  cable  modem  over  cable  networks,  fibre  optics,  satellites,
wireless  solutions  and  powerline  communications.  These  technologies  can  be  substitutes,
competing with each other, but also complementing and completing and co-existing with each
other according to local geographical needs.

In those areas where the market forces alone do not suffice, public funding whether coming
from  the  Community  through  the  Structural  funds  or  from  Member  States  sources,  can  be
made available provided certain conditions are met. These are described in the guidelines on
the  use  of  the  Structural  funds  in  support  of  the  deployment  of  broadband  access  that  the
European Commission has released in July 2003.5

The  resulting  technological  choice  will  largely  depend  on  the  local  conditions  and  on  the
needed  investment  (e.g.  some  schools  may  only  require  funding  for  the  connections  to  the
final user, others may even need it for the backhaul).

Recommended Actions

Within the framework of the mid-term review of the eEurope 2005 Action Plan in early 2004,
the European Commission will propose to set up a Forum on the Digital Divide. This Forum
will  bring  together  all  stakeholders  in  the  area  of  the  Information  Society  and  electronic
communications, including the satellite constituency and ESA, and will analyse how to bridge
the digital divide. This action will imply among others:

– 

– 

– 

– 

defining the public and users’ needs to be addressed under a digital divide initiative
covering the enlarged Union;

carrying out a cost/benefit analysis of the various technological options including the
space-based ones;

assessing how the various options fit within the national strategies to be provided by
the EU Member States by the end of 2003;

drawing lessons and identifying best practices from running initiatives.

The Commission will report on the Forum’s outcome in the Summer 2004.

In  line  with  the  Forum’s  work,  the  Commission  should  encourage  the  setting  up  of
projects.

pan-European, 

innovative, 

large-scale 

pilot 

5

SEC (2003) 895: Guidelines on criteria and modalities of implementation of Structural funds in support
of electronic communications

16

                                                
3.4.

Space  as  a  contribution  to  the  CFSP,  the  ESDP  and  to  the  anticipation  and
monitoring of humanitarian crises.

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To  mobilise  EU  decision  making  to  reinforce  space  technologies  in  support  of  security  and
defence policy requirements.

The Opportunity

To supplement existing space-based capabilities in Europe and examine new ones needed for
establishing a credible security capability with high EU added value.

Space has a security dimension and security has a space dimension

Space  technology,  infrastructure  and  services  are  an  essential  support  to  one  of  the  most
rapidly  evolving  EU  policies  –  the  Common  Foreign  and  Security  Policy  (CFSP)  including
European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). Most space systems are inherently capable of
multiple  use  and  the  credibility  of  the  above  policies  will  be  significantly  strengthened  by
taking better advantage of space applications.

ESDP  needs  access  to  suitable  space-based  systems  and  services,  both  because  of  their
strategic  capabilities  and  because  they  confer  a  capacity  for  autonomous  decision-making.
Nowadays,  most  of  the  information  used  at  the  EU  level  comes  from  satellites  operated  in
national or bilateral or intergovernmental frameworks. It is essential to guarantee access in the
long  term  to  strategic  information  for  collective  use  by  EU  Member  States  by  supporting
space infrastructures.

Space-based assets can deliver a higher level of security for citizens, especially in an enlarged
Union.  Their  powers  of  surveillance  allow  for  a  better  enforcement  of  border  and  coastal
restrictions  and,  therefore,  more  effective  controls  on  illegal  immigration  and  trafficking.
They  can  also  enhance  conflict  prevention  by  keeping  a  close  watch  on  potential  security
threats and identifying humanitarian crises in their early stages.

The European Union Military Committee has clearly stated that space assets can be efficient
tools for crisis management operations. For its part, the EU Political and Security Committee
has  recommended  further  reflection  on  how  to  ensure  that  security  and  defence  aspects  are
taken into account in the determination of EU space policy and its programmes.

It is obvious that security and military users have special requirements and protocols will have
to be established to reconcile military and civil use of multiple-use  assets. This will have to
take into account, for example, the military requirement to retain control of exclusive access
to certain categories of information, with a real-time capacity for reaction.

No single Member State will ever have the means to develop and support the full range of the
necessary capabilities and better value for money could be achieved by various forms of co-
operation at the EU level. Approaches should be developed to ensure dual use of space assets
in  function  of  user  requirements  defined  at  a  European  level.  In  addition  to  telecoms  and

17

observation satellites already used for security purposes, further developments are needed in
the field of global monitoring, positioning, navigation and timing and communication, signal
intelligence, early warning and space surveillance, to meet the security objectives of the EU
and of its Member States.

With  regard  to  Global  Monitoring,  a  large  part  of  the  observation  requirements  stemming
from  security  and  defence  needs  are  planned  to  be  fulfilled  by  the  services  that  will  be
delivered through GMES. The expected benefits are the development of tools to support:

– 

– 

– 

– 

monitoring of compliance with Treaties;

surveillance of borders;

surveillance of critical sites and installations;

anticipation and monitoring of humanitarian crises.

The  EU  should  establish  the  organisation  necessary  for  the  GMES  services  to  meet  the
Union’s  collective  requirements  for  imagery  and  mapping  for  security,  taking  into  account
existing structures.

Overall,  GMES  could  contribute  to  humanitarian  and  rescue  tasks,  peacekeeping  and
supporting combat forces in crisis management tasks including peacemaking.

The  multinational  military  initiative,  “Common  Operational  Requirements  for  a  European
Global Satellite System” to which six EU countries have subscribed,  describes the  common
operational  specifications  needed  to  develop  a  military  global  satellite  observation  system.
This agreement, which needs to be extended to other EU Member States, represents a useful
instrument for defining a European approach vis-à-vis ground segment and infrastructure.

With regard to signals intelligence, early warning and space surveillance, and in order to build
up over the long term a comprehensive EU space-based security capability, Europe will also
need developments of systems and services in the fields of:

– 

– 

– 

signals intelligence required to monitor electromagnetic activities;

early detection of activities leading to missiles proliferation;

space  surveillance  allowing  the  EU  an  autonomous  capacity  to  detect  and  identify
space objects.

A specific effort might also be needed to ensure that Europe has the capacity to supply to the
different  users  critical  information  on  solar  flares,  near  Earth  objects,  space  debris,  (“space
weather” prediction).

A  great  deal  of  assessment  is  still  needed  about  the  capabilities  and  role  of  space  policy  in
support of defence and security. The Commission, for its part, is prepared to contribute to an
overall  assessment  of  existing  capacities  and  future  requirements  and  identification  of  the
additional  investments  needed  for  the  development  of  a  comprehensive  EU  space-based
defence and security capability.

18

Recommended Actions

(cid:1)  The  Commission  and  Member  States  to  establish  a  report,  through  an  EU  dedicated
working group composed of relevant representatives drawn from EU, Member States, ESA
and space organisations regrouping civil and military space users, at the end of 2004 on:

– 

– 

– 

– 

the current EU needs for multiple-use capabilities needs;

the link with the European Armaments Research and Capabilities Agency (currently
under definition);

the  organisation  of  access  to  imagery  taking  into  account  work  on  the  way  in  the
European Capability Action Plan;

the potential role of the EU Satellite Centre and the role of ESA.

(cid:1)  The Commission to ensure its preparatory action on security research is launched early in

2004.

3.5.

Develop international partnerships

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To forge international partnerships that will serve European space policy objectives in support
of EU policies across a broad spectrum.

The Opportunity

To weigh up, in the context of the existing political agreements, the benefits of establishing a
strategic  partnership  with  Russia,  of  maintaining  and  developing  Europe’s  long-standing
partnership  with  the  United  States,  and  of  exploiting  other  emerging  possibilities  of  co-
operation with new “space powers” such as Brazil, China, India, Japan and Ukraine.

Basic orientations

Space is a privileged instrument for developing  international  co-operations.  Exploration  and
use of space, by nature, are global ventures. Numerous  collaborations  have been built up in
many  fields  of  space  activity.  Strong  European  capabilities  in  space  technologies  and
applications  are  essential  prerequisites  for  ensuring  balanced  and  successful  international
partnerships.

International co-operation within a European space policy is not simply a matter of scientific
collaboration on technologies and applications. It should be in function of serving the widest-
possible  spectrum  of  the  EU’s  objectives  including  economic  and  social  development,
protection  of  the  environment,  education,  health,  science,  technology  and  security.

19

Areas for Co-operation

Existing areas of co-operation such as human spaceflight, solar system exploration, space and
Earth sciences could be extended into new fields of applications for improving infrastructures,
social  development  and  security  in  their  broadest  sense.  These  would  include  satellite
telecommunications,  Earth  observation  and  navigation.  During  the  Green  Paper  process
expressions of interest were received from a number of countries.

Partnerships

Partnerships are based on common values to meet common challenges. They can be essential
for achieving policy goals. Three main strands of co-operation can be pursued:

(cid:1)  Co-operation  with  “space  powers”  especially  in  areas  where  Europe  is  unlikely  to
achieve  its  goal  by  acting  alone.  These  collaborations  would  be  coherent  with  the  EU
Member States’ and ESA’s bilateral activities with third parties.

The  long-standing  space  partnership  with  the  United  States  is  a  valuable  one.  Although  the
US space policy aims at establishing US space dominance, this partnership could be  further
deepened  in  a  number  of  areas  including  space  science,  human  spaceflight  and  sustainable
development. However, the possibilities may  well be  altered  by the  ongoing  revision of US
space policy involving  fundamental questions to do with  the  future of  space access systems
and human spaceflight. Many of these questions should be answered by the end of 2003.

Recognising  Russia’s  outstanding  experience  and  capabilities  in  the  space  sector,  Europe
should extend current areas of co-operation, which include joint research and development in
the  field  of  launcher  technology,  and  build  a  new  strategic  and  long-range  partnership  with
the  Russian  Federation.  This  would  have  to  be  based  on  clear  long-term  commitments  and
should build on the framework of the existing Partnership and Co-operation Agreement.

The most recent  fruit of Europe’s space co-operation  with  Russia  is  the agreement that will
bring the medium-class  launcher Soyuz  to  the Guyana  Space Centre  from 2006.  Set up and
maintained  jointly  by  ESA  and  the  French  government,  the  Centre  already  accommodates
Ariane 5 infrastructure (owned by ESA) and provides range facilities and systems funded by
the  French  space  agency,  CNES.  Since  the  Soyuz  infrastructure  is  crucial  for  collaboration
with Russia, it could be appropriate for the Union to cover a share of the relevant costs of the
Space Centre.

A diversified approach to co-operation needs to be a key element in Europe’s policy so as to
maximise benefits and  minimise  risks.  Candidates  for  co-operation  among  other  established
or  emerging  space  powers  are  the  People’s  Republic  of  China,  India  and  Japan.  Ukraine
deserves particular attention as a country with a recognised space sector covered by the EU’s
Wider Europe policy initiative.

China  in  particular  will  emerge  as  a  major  space  player,  mastering  the  full  range  of  space
technologies  and  is  likely  to  generate  the  world’s  largest  demand  for  space  infrastructures,
which  partly  explains  its  recent  commitment  to  the  GALILEO  programme.  In  addition,  the
number  of  nations  using  satellites  for  peaceful  purposes  is  growing  and  space  co-operation
should be on the agenda of bilateral discussions between them and the Union.

20

(cid:1)  Linking up new Member States and neighbouring regions

This co-operation must embrace as a matter of priority those countries about to join the Union
and those with whom the Union is promoting a range of neighbourhood policies, notably the
“Wider Europe”  approach  to  relations  with  eastern  and  southern  neighbours  and  the  related
Barcelona  initiative  with  countries  of  North  Africa  and  the  Middle  East.  Both  frameworks
offer scope for using space applications in support of economic and social development and
environmental protection.

(cid:1)  Co-operation with developing countries

The  benefits  of  space  should  also  be  made  available  to  developing  countries.  Applications
such  as  Earth  observation  and  telecommunication  could  help  them  down  the  path  of
sustainable  economic  and  social  development.  In  this  context,  the  EU  should  examine
potential co-operation frameworks with international development banks and UN agencies in
order  to  identify  where  space  assets  can  best  support  a  developing  country’s  development
strategies and to implement such initiatives in a globally comprehensive and efficient manner.
Africa will be considered as one of the geographical priorities in the context of Johannesburg
Action plan.

Acting in the Wider International Dimension

The strength of Europe’s capabilities is increasingly enabling it to act as a key space player at
the  global  level.  The  EU  will  have  to  take  responsibility  for  defining  and  representing  the
external dimension of the European space programme.

At the Earth Observation Summit in Washington in July 2003, Europe offered to co-operate
with  participating  states  and  international  organisations  to  develop  a  10-year  strategy  to
improve  and  sustain  global  Earth  observation  systems.  This  followed  on  from  the
Johannesburg Summit in 2002 and the G-8 Evian Summit in 2003 which recognised the role
of Earth observation and the use of satellite technology for monitoring the  atmosphere, land
and oceans to produce high-quality data for dissemination to all, particularly the developing
countries.

The  strategy  for  Earth  observation  being  defined  by  the  GMES  initiative  should  serve  as  a
basis for co-operation in support of the  commitments Europe has made in these global fora.
Furthermore,  Europe  is  well  placed  to  significantly  contribute  to  global  climate  observing
systems for which space represents a crucial technology.

Lastly, through its membership of international organisations such as in the United Nations,
the  EU  should  participate  in  initiatives  relevant  to  its  space  objectives  and  ensure  an
appropriate contribution to the development of new global rules and standards.

Recommended Actions

– 

The  European  Commission  should  develop,  benefiting  from  its  collaboration  with
ESA,  a  Strategy  for  international  space  co-operation  for  the  next  decade  with
particular  emphasis  on  supporting  the  EU’s  CFSP  and  sustainable  development
strategies; an international conference on space should be organised before the end
of 2004;

21

– 

The EU should maintain and develop its long-standing partnership with the US and
build a strategic partnership with the Russian Federation (including the support for
Soyuz  at  the  Guyane  Space  Centre);  it  should  also  contribute  to  provide  a  better
information to policy makers in the developing countries.

22

4.

EXTENDING AND STRENGTHENING SPACE POLICY: KEYS TO SUCCESS

Secure the future

Europe’s  list  of  achievements  in  space  sciences  and  applications,  largely  delivered  through
collaboration  in  the  European  Space  Agency  and  also  through  national  efforts,  have
established the continent as a competitive actor in many public and commercial markets.

Europe enjoys the means to pursue its own space activities in the field of launchers, satellites,
space  sciences  and  applications.  In  addition,  it  has  deployed  operational  communication
systems,  has  adopted  ambitious  programmes  for  satellite  navigation,  timing  and  positioning
and  for  earth  observation  and  global  monitoring.  This  base  is  today  relying  upon  public
investment, mostly national R&D budgets, and commercial resources derived from launchers
services and telecommunication satellites sales.

But  space  policy  has  to  look  forwards  not  backwards.  New  competitors  are  aiming  for
strategic  positions  in  space:  China  is  already  a  force  in  satellite  launchers  and  has  recently
successfully accomplished its first human spaceflight. Brazil and India are about to enter the
launcher  market.  Moreover,  the  commercial  market  is  well  below  previous  levels  and
increasingly competitive.

EU  enlargement  and  the  European  construction  process  are  generating  new  needs  and
demands  for  space  systems.  Europe  has,  therefore,  to  consolidate  the  fundamental  elements
on  which  a  space  policy  depends  for  its  implementation:  access  to  space,  the  scientific  and
technology  base  and  industrial  capabilities.  This  chapter  outlines  specific  recommendations
for achieving this goal.

Much of the European space industry’s potential  growth lies in  implementation of the  EU’s
policies.  The  need  for  the  development  and  exploitation  of  new  space  infrastructures  and
exploitation  of  existing  and  new  space  systems  will  benefit  the  overall  European  space
community, and would lay the ground for a competitive and advanced industry able to supply
the applications and services for helping to deliver many of the Union’s top policy priorities
and to be successful on commercial markets.

23

4.1.

Secure strategic independence and common assets for common actions

4.1.1. Guarantee independent access to space

The Way Forward

The Challenge

To achieve independent access to space on an affordable basis.

The Opportunity

Space  programmes  and  services  that  raise  the  effectiveness  of  EU  policies  and  strengthen
economic performance and the quality of life of the citizen.

Sustained and affordable access to space

The  strategic  pre-requisite  to  implement  any  space  policy  in  the  Union  is  that  the  EU  must
have and maintain independent access to space.

This independence must be sustained on an affordable basis, investments in this field having
long lead times. An essential counterpart to public funding is that European manufacturers of
launchers must operate competitively and profitably in commercial markets, not least because
of the limited volume of institutional launches and the need for a sufficient rate to maintain
reliable levels of performance.

Europe’s  Ariane  family  of  launchers  has  a  good  record  in  operating  competitively  and
successfully in favourable market conditions. However, the lack of institutional demand and
the  recent,  severe  downturn  in  commercial  demand,  coupled  with  extremely  aggressive
pricing by competitors, has put the Ariane system under enormous strain, highlighting in the
process its very high dependence on purely commercial business.

US competitors, by contrast, have been consistently supported by a large institutional market
and  a  strict  preferential  policy  of  flying  government  missions  only  on  US-made  launchers.
This difference of approach is a concern for European authorities.

The European Guaranteed Access to Space (EGAS) programme 2005-2009 recently adopted
by ESA Member States in May 2003, is an exceptional measure to provide both a short term
recovery  for  Arianespace  and  medium  term  support,  in  order  for  the  European  launcher
industry to be competitive by the end of the programme. It highlights the conditions to be met
for the long-term stability of this European strategic asset.

In  order  to  assure  Europe’s  long-term  independent  access  to  space,  sustained  government
commitment and funding are needed for:

(cid:1)  Launcher design and development

ESA is the lead agency for launch vehicle and infrastructure development with national space
agencies  providing  technical  support.  The heavy-lift Ariane-5 launcher, capable of the  most
demanding institutional and commercial missions and relying on European technology, is the
platform for maintaining Europe’s independence as regards access to space.

24

Launcher development is never static and the business is a risky one. To remain a competitive
presence on global launcher markets, Ariane-5 needs constant improvement in performance,
reliability  and  cost  through  a  steady  process  of  new  development  and  technical  upgrading.
This effort is also vital for retaining critical levels of expertise in the industry.

Europe’s range of launcher products is being strengthened by the development of the small-
class Vega launcher and by a recent agreement that will bring the medium-class Russian-built
Soyuz  to  the  Guyana  Space  Centre  (CSG)  from  2006.  Both  will  add  greater  flexibility  and
responsiveness to Europe’s launch services, in particular for smaller institutional missions.

(cid:1)  Infrastructure maintenance and upkeep

As explained above in chapter 3.5, the European launch base in French Guyana has been set
up and maintained jointly by ESA and the French government. As the launching state France
also assumes the relevant international responsibilities.

While the ESA-CNES range complex has been consistently funded since the early days of the
Ariane  programme,  financial  support  for  the  dedicated  Ariane-5  launch  facilities  has  been
more  irregular.  The  EGAS  programme  represents  an  effort  to  maintain  key  Ariane-5  assets
both in French  Guyana  and  in continental  Europe  through  selected fixed  costs funding  over
the medium-term (2005-2009). This form of government commitment to carrying fixed costs
has been used in the US and Russia for no less than four decades and is likely to continue.

Maintenance  and  upkeep  of  both  the  Ariane-5  production  facility  and  the  Guyana  Space
Centre  are  critical  to  assured  European  access  to  space.  These  infrastructures  must  be
considered as projects of common European interest and funded accordingly.

(cid:1)  Launcher technology research and development

The  ESA  Future  Launchers  Preparatory  Programme  prepares  for  mid-term  evolutions  of
existing launch systems and for a decision around 2010 on  the next generation  of  European
launchers. It does not, however, cover basic launcher, reusable launch vehicle and propulsion
technology research, which remains dispersed among national and ESA programmes and not
properly  funded.  Establishing  an  integrated  European  approach  and  restoring  an  adequate
level of effort in the preparation of a new generation launch vehicle is the most promising and
affordable way to ensure the long-term competitiveness and reliability of European access to
space.

Recommended Actions

– 

– 

– 

EU to express a firm commitment to independent, reliable and affordable access to
space  and  establish  guidelines  encouraging  the  use  of  European  launchers  by
European institutional customers;

EU  to  develop  and  negotiate  a  worldwide  harmonised  regulatory  framework
governing procurement and competition;

ESA  to  remain  the  lead  agency  for  launcher  development  while  the  EU  should
commit  funding  for  sustaining  operational  ground  infrastructure  as  an  area  of
common European interest complementing a coherent European launcher initiative
(notably in view of a strategic partnership with Russia).

25

4.1.2.

Enhance space technology to meet future needs

The Way Forward

The Challenge

To optimise and co-ordinate the use of R&D resources to close technology gaps jeopardising
Europe's independence and worldwide competitiveness.

The Opportunity

Much  improved  exploitation  of  European  sources  of  space  technologies  in  support  of  EU
policies (including security).

Europe needs to be better equipped

Europe needs a broad technological base if it is to be capable of acting independently in space
and sustain a space industry that is competitive in global markets. Public support for R&D in
space  technologies  is  imperative  because  of  the  high  costs  and  risks  involved,  and  the
comparatively low returns from commercial and institutional markets.

Thanks to the investments of Member States through ESA, the EU and national agencies and
research  organisations,  Europe  has  access  to  a  solid  technological  and  industrial  base,
mastering most of the critical technologies.

However,  the  mechanisms  driving  the  technology  in  support  of  short-term  competitiveness
are  different  from  those  driving  technology  for  strategic  independence  and  longer-term
preparation. Europe is not as well equipped for this as it needs to be:

– 

– 

– 

Europe  depends  on  others  for  some  critical  space  components  (e.g.  radiation-
hardened  components,  etc.).  It  is  at  the  mercy  of  stringent  US  export-control
regulations;

There  are  gaps  in  its  development  of  future  technologies  mainly  caused  by
inadequate funding. A number of technological breakthroughs must be targeted, such
as  new  propulsion  techniques  -  which  could  induce  radical  changes  for  space
transportation systems - and nanotechnologies;

Europe’s 
technological deficiencies due to insufficient investments in some areas.

to  defence-related  space  activities 

limited  commitment 

leads 

to

Technology  dependence  may  limit  the  capabilities  of  European  industry  to  respond  to  the
challenges  inherent  in  supporting  EU  policies  and  competing  in  commercial  markets,  in
particular in the field of security and defence.

Autonomy and independence can be served by a joint effort between the EU, ESA, national
agencies  and  industry.  In  their  definition  and  development,  space  technologies  have  to
anticipate future needs if they are to deliver applications and services in a timely fashion for
the Union and for the market.

26

Timely  delivery  requires  continuous  dialogue  and  co-ordination  between  technology
providers  and  users  and  the  full  exploitation  of  the  dual-use  nature  of  space  technology
through joint civil and defence technology R&D, to the benefit of an expanding institutional
market.

In  order  to  address  the  challenges  and  to  ensure  the  coherence  of  continued  investment,
Europe has recently established a set of technology foresight and harmonisation processes for
co-ordinating all players - ESA, the EU  and national agencies and  research  organisations as
well as industry.

These  activities  are  organised  in  the  framework  of  the  European  Space  Technology  Master
Plan  (ESTMP).  They 
the
corresponding  gaps  and  unwanted  overlaps  in  current  assets,  establish  priorities  for  the
actions that are needed and lines up the players committed to developing these technologies.

identify  next-generation  space 

technology  requirements, 

ESTMP will also allow new EU Member States to plan and develop their competencies and to
participate, with institutional support, in joint research activities.

European resources can be used more efficiently and synergies maximised across the whole
value chain if this process is opened up to international co-operation, expanded to both civil
and defence related R&D, and if links to applications and services are included. Promotion of
technology transfer will further leverage the investment made in space R&D.

But this alone will not be a sufficient response to the increasing budgets other space nations
are allocating nor to rising competitive pressures.

Recommended Actions

– 

– 

– 

EU  should  reinforce  total  public  spending  on  technology  in  accordance  with  the
European Space Technology Master Plan with special attention to applications and
multiple-use technologies;

The Commission and ESA should promote transfers of technologies;

New EU Member States should be associated with the overall harmonisation actions.

27

4.1.3.

Promote space exploration

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To push forward the boundaries of human capabilities, explore beyond the limits  of  today’s
knowledge and inspire the coming generation.

The Opportunity

To prepare Europe for a possible contribution to future exploration of the solar system to be
performed in an international context.

Exploration of the solar system: What scenario?

Solar system exploration and human spaceflight catch the public eye. Astronauts are subjects
of  admiration  and  fascination  because  they  are  courageous  symbols  of  mankind’s  deeply
rooted desire to extend the boundaries of knowledge and experience.

Human  spaceflight  and  space  exploration  emerged  as  a  special  issue  from  the  consultation
process on the Green Paper. The European Parliament’s report on the Green Paper was also
broadly  positive.  There  are  balanced  arguments  as  to  whether  Europe  should  contribute  to
exploration of the solar system with its own human spaceflight capability or whether it should
concentrate more on automated exploration.

The  Commission  and  the  Member  States  need  to  take  the  initiative  in  organising  a
consultation at high level with key actors of different disciplines to develop a scenario able to
stimulate  the  public  opinion’s  interest.  The  Aurora  long-term  vision  as  currently  under
definition  by  ESA  for  solar-system  exploration  will  have  to  be  taken  into  account  and
properly supported.

The role of the International Space Station

Europe has been sending astronauts into space for some years, but not on its own launchers.
There  is  a  body  of  work  and  achievement  upon  which  it  could  build  if  it  opted  for  a
spaceflight programme. Europe has its own Astronaut Corps, created by ESA, and several of
its  members  have  travelled  to  the  International  Space  Station  (ISS),  which  is  an  orbital
outpost.

The ISS is the first major cooperative undertaking  (involving the US, Russia, Europe, Canada
and  Japan)  since  the  cold  war,  based  on  operating  joint  scientific  programmes  and  sharing
technologies.  Even  though  the  project  is  behind  schedule  and  has  not  yet  fully  lived  up  to
expectations,  Europe  is  strategically  committed  to  the  ISS  following  a  decision  of  the  ESA
Ministerial Council in 1995.

28

Contributing to the ISS permits the development of  system  engineering and  mission  control
capabilities  in  space  while  also  offering  experience  of  long  stays  in  space  and  the
opportunities  to  counter  their  debilitating  effect  on  humans.  As  such,  the  ISS  is  also  a
precursor to the future exploration of our solar system, possibly to the Moon and Mars. This is
an asset for Europe, in particular the European Columbus laboratory module, the utilisation of
which should be opened to all European countries.

However,  Europe  is  critically  dependent  on  the  US  and  Russia  for  the  full  exploitation  and
utilisation of the ISS, and particularly for transporting astronauts to and from the Station. In
the field of human spaceflight, the future European Space Centre-based Soyuz launcher could
give a potential additional capacity to Europeans. Over the next 10 years a series of European-
designed and built automated transfer vehicles will be launched on Ariane 5 to carry materials
to the ISS.

Recommended Actions

– 

– 

The Commission to solicit a wise men group to deliver within 12 months a vision for
space exploration as a basis for ESA to examine the potential feasibility,  costs and
opportunity  for  Europe  to  participate  in  the  exploration  of  the  solar  system  by
mankind;

Consistent  with  the  outcome  of  the  previous  recommendation,  the  European  Union
with ESA to assess and ensure the availability of core capabilities and know-how in
Europe which are indispensable for the preparation of human spaceflights activities
and  exploration.  Continue  the  exploitation  of  the  ISS  as  a  common  infrastructure,
were possible, also in the context of the 6th Framework Programme.

4.1.4.

Encourage more science and technology careers

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To rejuvenate an ageing scientific population by increasing the flow of  young scientists and
engineers into the space sector.

The Opportunity

To  use  space  policy  to  contribute  effectively  to  current  efforts  to  increase  recruitment  into
technical and scientific training (part of the European Research Area strategy).

Young talents needed

The right sort of human capital is critical for achieving Europe’s ambitions in space. But its
supply is far from assured given the declining interest in scientific studies across the continent
which,  in  the  space  sector,  is  resulting  in  an  ageing  community  of  scientists  and  a  lack  of
young talents. The highly motivated generation that started its career in space during the 60s
is  now  retiring,  while  the  number  of  under-30s  in  Europe’s  space  science  and  technical
community is sharply decreasing. There is now a serious risk of losing precious competencies
and  know-how.  The  US  is  encountering  similar  problems,  and  this  has  led  NASA  to  spend
about $160M a year on educational programs.

29

Shortages of researchers in science and technology pose a serious challenge for the Union. In
recent Communications, the Commission has underlined the need to increase recruitment into
technical  and  scientific  training  as  an  important  element  of  its  strategy  for  building  a
European Research Area (ERA).

By  its  very  nature,  space  offers  an  international  working  environment  and  needs  a  mobile
workforce  to  ensure  its  supply  of  scientists  and  engineers.  In  its  ERA  implementation
strategy, the EU has proposed a wide range of measures aimed at facilitating the mobility of
researchers and at raising the extra attractiveness of scientific careers that need to be applied
across a broad range of policies at both European and national levels.

Recommended Actions

The European Commission, with the technical support of ESA, should build up an education
and promotion action for young Europeans and students to be composed of:

– 

– 

– 

– 

actions to include space themes in school- and university studies;

an overall promotion of careers in space science;

measures to make the best use of mobility programmes (i.e. Marie Curie);

targeted media campaigns to improve people’s understanding of space.

4.2.

Strengthen European excellence in space science

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To  enhance  European  leadership  in  space  sciences  and  its  ability  to  develop  capabilities  in
support of EU policies.

The Opportunity

To  strengthen  Europe’s  knowledge-based  society  through  cutting  edge  research  into  the
Universe, Earth systems and life and physical sciences.

Safeguarding excellence

Space research is science conducted in, on and from space. It not only provides far-reaching
insights into the structure of the universe, improved understanding of Planet Earth, and a new
approach  to  life  and  physical  sciences,  it  is  also  a  strong  driving  force  for  new  technology
developments with many subsequent applications of benefit to society and the environment.

Space  research  has  demonstrated  an  ability  to  attract  young  people  into  professions  that
strengthen Europe’s technological capabilities across the board. It leads, by excellence, in the
field of international space co-operation and is essential to Europe’s identity and leadership as
a knowledge-based society.

30

ESA is the lead agency in  Europe  for space  research programme  definition, technology  and
system  development,  and  in-orbit  operations.  Together  with  national  agencies,  scientific
institutes and industry, it has striven for efficiency and competitiveness within the limits of a
global budget for space research sciences that is only one sixth of the US equivalent.

Major  successful  space  research  missions  under  European  leadership  have  placed  the
European science community and industry at the forefront and created a strong position from
which to negotiate co-operative projects with international partners.  But confronted with the
challenge of responding to an increasing demand for applications, more efforts are needed to
enhance scientific knowledge and to develop innovative technologies.

4.2.1.

Boost efforts in sciences of the Universe

Europe’s stature on the world scene in sciences of the Universe has been established through
strict reliance on scientific merit for project selection, ESA’s careful planning and associated
GNP-related  funding  by  its  Member  States.  However,  this  funding  has  been  continuously
eroded over the last decade. In addition, Member States have found it increasingly difficult to
fund on a national basis more and more complex scientific payloads.

This budgetary pressure has now reached the point where it is beginning to disrupt the careful
balance between disciplines and missions of different size. A progressive increase in funding
would  yield  a  high  return  on  investment  by  optimising  the  industrial  development  costs  of
future large-scale satellites, while providing the required short-term flexibility for new small
missions and satellites. A corrective action in this direction is urgently needed.

4.2.2.

Stimulate Earth sciences

Observation of the Earth from space is a striking example of the continuous link and strong
synergy existing between upstream research missions and operational applications. As clearly
illustrated by EUMETSAT in the case of space meteorology, new instrument concepts must
be experimented in orbit before their integration into a future operational application. At the
same time, the Earth sciences research community consistently relies on operational systems
for continuous and homogeneous access to data.

ESA’s  Envelope  Programme,  dedicated  to  the  basic  understanding  of  Earth’s  processes
through a family of explorers, constitutes an appropriate effort to structure the research in this
field. It remains, however, poorly funded and can only support the early scientific use of Earth
observation  data.  This  endangers  the  existence  of  future  European  operational  capabilities
without which the basis for environmental policy decisions would be weak unless dependence
on US capabilities was increased.

Europe  needs  a  sustained  European  programme  to  study  the  Earth  from  space,  with  an
adequate  level  of  funding  and  long-term  stability,  enabling  the  proper  exploitation  of  space
data by the science community.

4.2.3.

Support life and physical sciences in space

Predominantly  carried  out  on  the  International  Space  Station  (ISS),  the  European  space
research programme in life and physical sciences addresses fundamental questions and has the
potential  to  produce  useful  applications  on  Earth,  while  laying  the  foundation  for  future
human planetary exploration.

31

However it faces two limitations: adequate support is lacking for the ground-based activities
which  complement  the  space  experiments,  from  preparatory  research  to  downstream
applications;  and  the  implementation  of  the  programme  on  the  ISS  is  severely  limited  by  a
small share of ISS resources (5%) and limitations on ISS operations under the current NASA
plans.

4.2.4.

Facilitate the exploitation of scientific data

Space  science  data  represent  a  significant  long-term  investment.  They  have  to  remain
affordable  and  accessible  over  a  period  extending  well  beyond  the  nominal  lifetime  of  the
missions. There is a need to develop and sustain  new infrastructures  – thematic  centres  and
networks  –  for  long  term  archiving  and  distribution  of  European  space  data.  This
infrastructure development should allow for integration of space and non-space data archives,
a key issue for multidisciplinary work.

Recommended Actions

Progressively  increase  ESA  and  national  funding  for  space  research:  EU  and  ESA  and
Member  States  should  jointly  review  the  strategic  plan  and  resources  for  European  space
sciences in particular with the objectives of:

– 

– 

– 

– 

strengthening upstream R&D;

developing  the  supporting  infrastructure  for  data  acquisition,  long-term  archiving
and dissemination;

supporting the operational exploitation of Earth observation data;

supporting  ISS  utilisation  and 
applications.

fostering 

technology 

transfer 

to  non-space

4.3.

Creating the right environment for innovation and competitiveness

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To establish the basis for a globally competitive and entrepreneurial space industry in Europe.

The Opportunity

A credible space policy that places European industry on the same footing as its competitors
and  attracts  new  investment  to  the  sector,  so  as  to  encourage  consolidation  in  a  way  which
serves the demand in line with institutional and market needs.

Space  activities  contribute  to  employment  and  competitiveness  in  many  sectors  of  the
economy. However these benefits depend on the existence of an innovative and competitive
European space industry.

32

As  part  of  its  call  for  an  integrated  strategy  for  European  competitiveness  the  European
Council6  has  asked  for  policies  to  be  pursued  as  to  contribute  consistently  to  the  goal  of
enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises and industry.

While  industrial  policy  is  horizontal  in  nature  and  aimed  at  securing  framework  conditions
favourable  to  industrial  competitiveness,  it  needs  to  take  account  of  the  specific  needs  and
characteristics of individual sectors7.

In  line  with  this  approach  to  the  aerospace  sector,  a  European  policy  which  deals  with  all
aspects of the space business8, and fully exploits the specific capabilities of all the institutions
involved is essential for the sector’s future competitiveness.

Through  past  institutional  programmes  and  the  efforts  of  companies  in  the  sector,  Europe
developed  leading  space  capabilities  and  a  world-class  industrial  capacity  in  launchers  and
satellites. However, this position is now threatened by the sharp and sustained downturn in the
commercial market whose past growth had allowed European industry to achieve the critical
mass needed  to  maintain  and  expand  capacities  and  to  compete  internationally  with  foreign
companies which benefited from much larger, protected, institutional markets.

To overcome these  difficulties and maintain a  competitive  European  space  industry  and  the
freedom of action which it provides, Europe needs a consolidated industrial and institutional
approach to space-related activities in line with the Commission’s recent Communication9 on
a coherent framework for aerospace. This includes the efficient allocation of resources and the
elimination  of  outdated  national  restrictions  on  space-based  services  and  a  suitably  adapted
spectrum policy.

In  setting  out  a  comprehensive  European  space  policy  that  takes  account  of  the  strategic
character of the sector and provides a common framework under which the European industry
and  the  different  national  and  intergovernmental  agencies  involved  can  optimise  their
activities, this White Paper identifies many of the steps which are required to create the most
favourable environment possible for industry to preserve and further develop its capabilities.

These should be complemented by a coherent approach to policy internally and externally in
order  to  create  a  predictable  and  rational  environment  for  innovation  and  industrial
competitiveness.

Industrial adaptation and attracting investment

The  slowdown  in  the  commercial  market  is  forcing  the  space  industry  to  restructure  its
operations.  Since  the  European  space  industry  is  more  dependent  than  others  on  the
commercial market, it is essential that there are no unnecessary hindrances within Europe to
the rationalisation and reshaping needed to make the industrial structure more appropriate to
market requirements. Thus, in applying competition policy the particular features of the space
industry, such as its dual-use nature, have to be taken into account in individual cases.

If the industry is to be able to attract the necessary investment for the future, it will also need
a stable flow of activity generated by a strong institutional market. That implies overcoming

6

7

8

9

Meeting of 16-17 October 2003
COM (2002) 714: Communication on an Industrial Policy in an enlarged Europe
COM (2003) 600: A coherent framework for aerospace – a response to the STAR 21 report
COM (2003) 600 final

33

                                                
fragmentation within Europe on defence-related programmes and better co-ordination of civil
and defence activities.

However, it is clear that especially in the current economic climate, even the most optimistic
view of the possible evolution of public space budgets means that European companies will
not benefit from the same scale of institutional market support as their US counterparts.

To  develop  a  stronger  institutional  market  in  Europe  is  likely  to  mean  further  recourse  to
public/private partnerships. In this context, the implementation of GALILEO plays a key role
as  the  first  major  public/private  partnership  undertaken  at  EU  level.  It  will  be  important  to
draw  the  lessons  from  GALILEO,  to  help  determine  the  best  approach  to  public/private
finance for future space projects.

Demand  swings  in  the  worldwide  space  market  create  particular  problems  for  smaller
companies. Small and medium-sized companies bring creativity and innovation to the space
industry.  Accordingly,  the  EU  and  ESA  should  continue  to  develop  their  programmes  for
technology incubators and industry days to promote the role of SMEs in the space industry.
These  companies,  mostly  active  in  “niche  markets”,  should  be  taken  into  account  by  the
primes in their overall strategy. This would avoid unnecessary duplication of R&D efforts and
make  it  possible  to  spread  the  benefits  and  return  on  investment  all  over  Europe.  “Space
incubators”  is  a  mechanism  which  can  be  used  to  foster  innovation  and  SME  participation,
providing the necessary assistance to make technology based ventures succeed commercially.

Using procurement more effectively

Undoubtedly the industry would benefit from more flexibility in Europe’s approach to space
procurement. The geographical return principle  (juste  retour)  – irrelevant in the EU  context
which  aims  at  optimising  collective  interests  –  generally  motivates  national  investments.  It
guides  a  great  deal  of  ESA  procurement  but  could  benefit  from  being  used  both  with  more
flexibility  and  a  broader  definition  of  return,  and  more  creatively  so  as  not  to  discourage
companies from making more cross-border investment, particularly in the new Member States
avoiding,  however,  unwarranted  duplication  of  efforts.  In  addition,  part  of  the  procurement
effort will be aimed at ensuring that strategic technology remains at Europe’s disposal.

Ensuring a level playing field and more balanced regulations

Since  many  countries  in  the  world  view  space  technology  and  a  space  industry  as  strategic
assets, they often have an interest in developing space capabilities and in entering the world
space market. This consequently leads to  public  support  from  civil  and  defence  budgets  for
projects which also serve the commercial market.

The  EU  should  work  with  other  space-faring  countries  to  eliminate  these  distortions  of  the
commercial space market in order to create a level  playing field.  This includes  encouraging
the further efforts which are needed to address  the  inefficiencies  and  adverse  effects arising
from the current US export controls which constrain the expansion of the world commercial
space market.

At the same time it must be recognised that competition has become increasingly international
and  Europe  can  benefit  from  joint  ventures  and  other  forms  of  co-operation  which  take
advantage  of  the  different  industrial  strengths  such  as  technology  leadership,  human
spaceflight technology or lower manufacturing costs available in various countries.

34

The  EU  should  foster  such  international  industrial  co-operation  which  can  be  mutually
beneficial if it reinforces the competitive advantages of Europe’s space industry, promotes the
mastery of essential technologies or encourages the development of attractive programmes.

Recommended Actions

– 

– 

– 

Commission to stiumulate faster progress to be made towards a harmonised market
for  space  services  in  the  EU  through  a  better  co-ordination  on  spectrum  policy  as
foreseen by the new decision on spectrum10;

Commission and ESA to ensure that SME’s have the opportunity to participate and
innovate in the space sector e.g. through the space incubators;

Commission  to  draw  on  the  lessons  from  GALILEO  to  shape  useful  guidelines  for
future public/private financing initiatives with commercial possibilities.

10

Decision  676/2002/EC  on  a  regulatory  framework  for  radio  spectrum  policy  in  the  European
Community

35

                                                
5.

GOVERNANCE AND RESOURCES

A number of factors are arguing for new ways of defining and implementing a space policy in
Europe,  including  the  EU’s  imminent  enlargement  and  its  prospective  adoption  of  a
Constitutional  Treaty,  pressure  from  the  space  industry  (including  manufacturers,  operators
and service providers) for restructuring and a general reassessment of their policies by other
space powers, most significantly the US.

5.1.

Establish a new approach to the governance of space activities

The Challenge

The Way Forward

To identify and encourage the most effective sharing of tasks and responsibilities between
the  EU,  ESA,  Member  States,  national  agencies  and  industry  for  determining  and
continuously delivering the benefits of space to the Union and its citizens.

The Opportunity

To give the institutions of  the Union, working in collaboration with ESA, other  European
organisations  and  the  Member  States,  a  lead  in  fostering  the  services  and  applications  to
support EU policies and priorities.

Changed governance

Objectives must be ambitious and organisational arrangements must be consistent with these
objectives.

The European Space Policy outlined in the preceding pages carries the promise of substantial
economic,  social  and  environmental  benefits  for  the  Union  and  its  citizens.  The  policy  will
also  bring  new  qualities  to  the  Union’s  external  actions,  especially  in  defence,  security,
environment  and  development.  However,  successful  delivery  of  these  benefits  is  not
guaranteed unless the roles and responsibilities of the relevant actors are adapted.

In turn, successful implementation requires a system of governance in which the roles of the
players  are  clearly  understood,  the  tools  for  careful  coordination  properly  provided  and
processes of accountability put in place. Duplication of work and structures must obviously be
avoided.  This  system  should  command  the  consent  and  support  of  all  stakeholders,  respect
their mission objectives and complementarity and conform to the principle of subsidiarity.

The coming into force of the new Constitutional Treaty will open up a long term perspective
in which the Union becomes the natural point of reference for a European space policy driven
by demand, a view strongly supported by the European Parliament in a recent report.11

As a key component of the European space policy, ESA must eventually acquire legitimacy in
the  EU  framework.  Movement  in  this  direction  should  be  conducted  in  a  pragmatic  and

11

Report A5/2002/294

36

                                                
evolutionary way and be subject to regular review so as to ensure that stakeholders can adapt
their structures and procedures progressively.

A two-phased approach

This White Paper has set down the measures needed to implement the European Space Policy.
This would be applied in two phases:

(1) Phase one (2004-2007) will in particular consist of implementing the topics covered by the
recently  agreed  Framework  Agreement  between  European  Community  and  ESA.  This  will
enable the two organisations to set common objectives and to mount joint initiatives, whilst
retaining  their  respective  rules.  ESA  should  be  the  implementing  agency  of  the  Union  for
space matters.

(2)  Phase  two  (2007-onwards)  will  begin  with  the  coming  into  force  of  the  proposed
European  Constitutional  Treaty,  establishing  space  as  a  shared  competence  between  the
Union and the Member States, if the draft Treaty of the Convention on the future of Europe is
followed.  ESA  should  then  be  positioned  within  the  EU  framework  and  its  Convention
modified accordingly.

A first review of these new provisions and their  effects should be planned a few  years after
the entry into force of the new Treaty.

European Space Programme

The  European  Space  Policy  will  be  implemented  within  a  multi-annual  European  Space
Programme. The Programme, acting like a strategic agenda for Europe, will be the platform
for determining priorities, setting objectives, allocating roles and responsibilities and framing
annual  budgets.  Its  scope  must  embrace  R&D,  infrastructure  development,  services  and
technology.  This  programme  should  be  articulated  as  a  response  in  the  form  of  space
infrastructures  to  demands  and  needs  expressed  by  the  citizens  through  the  policies  of  the
European Union. As a “living document”, it should be reviewed and updated every five years.

Such a Programme will provide the stability of outlook that Europe’s various actors need. It
will have to be prepared by the EU, benefiting  from its collaboration  with  ESA, through an
interactive process driven by demand, involving the consultation of space stakeholders.

Key  public  actors  include  national  space  agencies,  national  research  centres,  European
organisations  such  as  EUMETSAT,  ESO,  etc.  The  private  sector  will  be  a  key  interlocutor
since so much of the Programme’s implementation will depend on its efforts. A first outline
of the European Space Programme is attached as annex 1.

Design and implementation of the Programme should lead to greater coherence and stability,
and  a  substantial  improvement  in  the  match  between  ambitions  and  public  resources,  thus
ensuring  better  value  for  tax  payers’  money  and  providing  a  strong  rationale  for  new
investments. It should also provide the framework to encourage common initiatives involving
a collective effort by all Member States, or of a smaller group. Its impact should be regularly
assessed.

Stakeholders’ responsibilities

With the one articulating demand for space-based solutions and the other acting as supplier,
the  European  Union  should  have  the  lead  responsibility  for  federating  society’s  needs  for

37

space-based  services  relevant  to  EU  policies  and  for  co-ordinating  their  delivery,  while  the
European Space Agency should take the lead in elaborating, proposing and developing the
required solutions.

The  European  Union  should  also  ensure  that  ethical  aspects  are  taken  into  account  when
implementing the European space policy and  elaborating the  European  space programme.  It
should also elaborate proposals and represent Europe’s interests when addressing space laws
issues in international fora.

Member  States  and  their  relevant  space/research  agencies  should  be  associated  with  the
revision and ultimate adoption of the European Space Programme. National space agencies
and  research  organisations  will  be  largely  responsible  for  implementing  the  Programme’s
lines of action relevant to them.

Fully in line with the European Research Area objectives, the establishment of a network of
specialised  technical  centres  working  together  would  represent  a  cost  efficient  way  to
associate  the  various  national  actors  with  the  implementation  of  the  European  Space
Programme. Such a network should not only encourage further integration and improved co-
operation  but  also  increased  specialisation  and  a  reduction  of  overall  costs  and  overlapping
activities.  This  will  call  for  a  restructuring  of  the  European  public  technical  infrastructure
based  on  pilot  networks  currently  involving  ESA  and  national  capabilities  in  the
implementation of on-going programmes.

Recommended Actions

– 

– 

– 

– 

EU to establish the European Space Policy as a horizontal policy (serving all other
Union policies); the responsibility for space could be a clearly attributed competence
within the European Commission;

The  Commission  to  elaborate  in  collaboration  with  ESA  the  first  draft  of  the
European Space Programme by the end  of 2004. It  should then report regularly to
Council and Parliament on key issues including the situation of the European space
industry, the execution of the Action Plan and the general state of the space sector;

The  Commission  to  make  use  of  ESA  proposals  for  a  network  of  technical  centres
combining available national and ESA capacities, including the roles of the partners
and a timetable for their creation;

The  Commission  to  review  the  institutional  setting  for  space  policy  after  some
experience with the present  EU space policy and in light  of the new  Constitutional
Treaty.

5.2.

Match ambitions and resources

Resources available today will not be sufficient to meet the objectives assigned to the overall
European space policy as defined in this White Paper.

Maintaining the budgets mobilised by the different stakeholders involved in space activities at
national  and  inter-governmental  levels  is  a  pre-requisite  in  order  to  preserve  the  capacities
built up over the  last 40  years.  It is only in  very  limited  cases that there  could  be  an  added
value in transferring some of these tasks to the EU level.

38

Bringing  the  benefits  of  space  closer  to  the  citizens  and  the  Union  will  require  further
investments  in  R&D,  technology,  infrastructures  and  corresponding  services.  These  would
contribute  both  to  strengthening  Europe’s  capabilities  as  a  space  player  and  to  the  various
initiatives to promote faster growth in the European economy.

Public investments in space have been proven capable to induce a leverage effect mobilising
resources by the other EU actors. This is why the Union should,  in the  context  of  its  future
Financial Perspectives, consider devoting additional resources to supplement existing ones.

These extra-resources would have to be allocated above all in response to users’ demands, as
defined  by  the  needs  of  the  different  EU  policies.  The  logical  consequence  is  that  an  “EU
space budget line” should be a virtual one, with the actual resources being made available to
the  relevant  EU  policies  and  only  a  fraction  remaining  at  horizontal  level  for  activities  of
general interest.

To complement ESA’s efforts in particular, the Union should act both upstream – to support
basic research and research infrastructures- and downstream, to facilitate the inauguration and
deployment  of  space  infrastructures  and  the  sustainability  of  the  corresponding  operational
services, particularly those that involve international co-operation.

Some  of  these  initiatives  may  give  rise  to  public  private  partnerships  as  it  is  frequently  the
case when infrastructures for general public interest have to be deployed, which in turn give
rise to a number of services some of which are of a commercial nature. GALILEO is such an
example.

The intensity and timing of public intervention must of course depend on the public interest
and risks involved and be based on sound cost/benefit arguments. A number of scenarios for
raising  Union  spending  on  space  can  be  envisaged.  But  the  actual  volume  of  resources
eventually committed will depend both on the ambitions of Member States and the capacity of
the Union’s “space system” to react and absorb them.

The risks may be high, but so also may be the public and commercial benefits. This is a good
reason  why pooling  resources and  sharing  investments  at  the  European  level  is  the  sensible
way forward, not least because of the guaranteed access for commercial providers to a huge
market of more than 450 million people.

A first analysis of the resources required to implement the White Paper objectives as well as
possible scenarios are provided in annex 2.

39

CONCLUSIONS

Space  is  a  must  for  an  enlarging  Union  and  the  EU  is  a  key  to  the  further  development  of
space in Europe.

With  the  publication  of  this  White  Paper,  Europe  has  taken  its  first  step  towards  adding
important  new  dimensions  to  its  space  policy,  strengthening  EU  policies,  suggesting  new
ambitious and inspirational goals and contributing to its initiatives for growth.

The proposed European Space Programme  will be one of its cornerstones  for implementing
many  new  initiatives,  in  particular  those  undertaken  in  co-operation  between  the  EU  and
ESA, such as “Global monitoring for environment and security” (GMES) to be presented in
more detail in a subsequent Communication.

Achievement  of  the  longer  term  objectives  set  out  in  these  pages  is  very  much  predicated
upon two pre-requisites. Europe should aim at increasing progressively its space budget; and
the  ongoing  Inter-governmental  Conference  should  confirm  the  results  of  the  European
Convention  and  grant  the  Union  shared  competence  on  space  matters  in  the  future
Constitutional Treaty.

Growth in total space spending should be tied to a long-term vision. The returns will be more
effective policies and opportunities for a revivified space industry to expand Europe’s share
of fast-growing markets in space-based services.

The EU needs more responsibility for policy-making and executing if it is to gain the benefits
space  technology  and  applications  can  bring  in  support  of  its  own  policies.  Space  is
transnational by its very nature because services and applications beamed to earth from space
can cross any and all borders. Placing some authority for space activities at the European level
closes the governance circle. The issues – as a whole – raised in this White Paper should now
be discussed and decided upon in the relevant European institutions.

The potential gains are real ones for the citizen, for Europe and the world. Space is not only
an adventure, it is also an opportunity. Europe cannot afford to miss it.

40

ANNEX 1

EUROPEAN SPACE PROGRAMME
(framing the White Paper Action Plan)

First sketch

The “draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe” prepared by the Convention for the
future of Europe refers in its article III-155 to a European Space Policy and the corresponding
measures to be established, namely a European space programme.

The  aim  of  this  annex  is  to  outline  some  essential  features  of  such  a  programme  and  to
indicate how it should be prepared.

1. DEFINITION

The  European  Space  Programme  (ESP)  has  to  be  seen  as  the  implementation  and
benchmarking instrument for the European Space Policy. It should:

– 

– 

provide  a  synthetic  overview  comprising  all  appropriate  public  and  private  space
activities performed in Europe which contribute to EU policy objectives;

constitute  a  co-ordination  and  harmonisation  platform  for  the  actions  derived  from
the European Space Policy.

In particular, the ESP should:

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

provide guidelines for the implementation of the programmatic and technical part of
the Action Plan described in this White Paper;

identify existing technological and financial gaps in the different areas;

prioritise activities with regard to EU policy objectives;

define the responsibilities and tasks of the different actors;

indicate the timetable attached to the different tasks.

The  ESP  should  be  elaborated  through  a  process  of  dialogue  and  consensus-building
including  all  stakeholders  (EU,  ESA,  Member  States  with  their  national  space  agencies,
European organisations such as EUMETSAT, research organisations and European industry)
following the “Technology platform” concept promoted by the EU.

2. INITIAL RELEASE

The first release of the ESP should in particular build upon:

– 

– 

– 

current EU political priorities;

lessons drawn from the Green Paper consultation process;

the ESA Executive plan “Agenda 2007”.

41

The template below lists some key rubrics that would have to be considered when preparing
the ESP. It (tentatively) allocates roles for carrying out the actions.

For each of the White Paper’s main lines of action mention is made of:

– 

– 

– 

the actors involved in implementation;

three time periods (ongoing, short and medium);

EU policies which directly benefit from the corresponding activities.

A  number  of  key  stakeholders  have  been  identified  who  would  be  in  charge  of  the
implementation  of  the  respective  lines  of  action  (this  list  is  only  preliminary;  several  other
actors should also be considered).

EU

MS

EC

ESA

F.A.

European Union

Member States

European Commission

European Space Agency

The  European  Commission  and  ESA  implement  this line  of  action  in  compliance
with  the  Framework  Agreement  (other  actors  can  also  be  involved,  such  as
Eumetsat).

Joint Undertaking/
Supervisory Authority

Entity created in accordance with the EU Treaty article 171 under the supervision
of a public structure being in charge to protect public interests

Public Private
Partnership (PPP)

Joint public/private investment

Private Sector

Manufacturers and service providers

Concessionaire

(Private)  Operator  identified  to  be  in  charge  of  the  maintenance  and  operation  of
the infrastructure services considered

42

LINES OF ACTION

On-Going
(2003-2004)

Short Term
(2004-2006)

Medium Term
(2007-2013)

Policy
Objectives
covered *

1. SUPPORT OF THE ENLARGED EU

“digital divide”

Global Monitoring for Environment and Security

Positioning, Navigation and Timing

S
N
O
I
T
A
C
I
L
P
P
A

EC / ESA**

EC / ESA

Joint undertaking/
Supervisory authority

EC / ESA

EC / ESA

PPP

1 / 2 / 3

Joint undertaking

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Joint undertaking /
Supervisory
authority

Concessionaire/
Supervising authority

4

4

Security (Contribution to CFSP/ESDP)

EU / MS

EU / MS

 EU/ MS / (ESA)

International Partnerships

Specific Actions for Third Countries (Eastern/Southern neighbours…)

Specific Partnerships (Countries and international Organisations)

2. EXTENDING AND STRENGTHENING SPACE POLICY

Guaranteed and Independent Access to Space

Contribution to European Space Launch Base Maintenance

Launcher R & D

Technology

Space Exploration (incl. Aurora and ISS)

Vocations, Careers & Education

3. SPACE SCIENCES

Sciences of the Universe

Earth Sciences

Life and Physical Sciences

EC / ESA

EU / ESA

EC / ESA

EU / ESA

EC / ESA

EU / ESA

3 / 4

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

MS / ESA

ESA

EU / MS / (ESA)

ESA / EC

EU / MS

ESA / EC

EC / ESA / MS

EC / ESA / MS

EC / ESA / MS

MS / ESA

MS / ESA

MS / ESA / EC

All

All

1 / 4

1

ESA / EC / MS

ESA / EC / MS

ESA / EC / MS

1 / 2 / 3

ESA

ESA / EC

ESA / EC

MS / ESA / EC

MS / ESA / EC

MS / ESA / EC

MS / ESA / EC

MS / ESA / EC

MS / ESA / EC

1

1

1

* Policy Objectives as outlined in the White Paper are :

1: Knowledge-Based Society & Economic Growth;

2 : Enlargement;

3 : Sustainable Development;

** Entities mentioned in bold/italic characters are proposed to be assigned an additional role and corresponding resources as defined in the White Paper.

4 : CFSP/ESDP.

43

ROADMAP

Recommended Actions

Responsibility

Timetable

SUPPORT OF THE ENLARGED EU

“digital divide”

Setting-up a forum on Digital Divide

Reporting on the results of the forum

Assessing of possible solutions

Setting up of pilot projects

GLOBAL MONITORING FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY

Communication on GMES (2004-2008 Action Plan)

Proposing scenarios for the interface between civil and security usage

POSITIONING, NAVIGATION AND TIMING

EC

EC

early 2004

Summer 2004

EC / MS

by the end of 2004

EC

short/medium term

EC

EC

January 2004

short / medium term

Negotiating overall agreement for the management of the next phase

JU / SA / C*

short term

Undertaking further research activities for innovative applications

JU*

short / medium term

Ensuring the availability of regulating procedures

JU / SA*

continuous

SECURITY (CONTRIBUTION TO CFSP/ESDP)

Establishing a report, through an EU dedicated working group

EU / MS / (ESA)

by the end of 2004

Launching of preparatory action on security research:
Communication (with work programme)

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

Developing a strategy for international space co-operation

Organising an international conference on space

Building  specific  partnerships  (with  countries  and  international
organisations)

EC

January 2004

EU / ESA

EC

EU /ESA

2004

end 2004

continuous

Co-operating with developing countries

EC / ESA

continuous

EXTENDING AND STRENGTHENING SPACE POLICY

GUARANTEED AND INDEPENDENT ACCESS TO SPACE

Contribution to European space launch base maintenance

MS / (ESA) / EU

Launcher R & D

Technology , network of centers

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Reinforcing European Space Technology Master Plan

Promoting technology transfer

SPACE EXPLORATION

ESA / EC

EC / ESA / MS

EU/ ESA/ MS

EU/ ESA/ MS

continuous

continuous

continuous

continuous

continuous

Setting  up  of  a  wise  persons  group  to  deliver  a  vision  for  space
exploration

EC / ESA

early 2004

Accessing/ensuring the availability of core capabilities

EC / ESA

continuous

VOCATIONS, CAREERS & EDUCATION

Actions in support of education and promotion of careers

EC / ESA / MS

continuous

Organising an information and promotion campaigns

EC / ESA / MS

short / medium term

SPACE SCIENCES

44

Scientific research

ESA / EC

Supporting infrastructure for data acquisition and archiving

EC

CREATING  THE  RIGHT  ENVIRONMENT  FOR  INNOVATION  AND
COMPETITIVENESS

Progressing towards an harmonised market for space services

EU / MS

Ensuring the participation of SMEs

EU / ESA / MS

Shaping guidelines for future public/private financing initiatives

EC

continuous

continuous

continuous

continuous

short term

GOVERNANCE AND RESOURCES

GOVERNANCE

First  phase  (implementation  under  the  recently  agreed  Framework
Agreement)

EC / ESA

2004-2007

First draft of the European Space Programme

EC / ESA / MS

end of 2004

Proposals for setting up networks of technical centres

EC / ESA / MS

by the end of 2004

* JU : Joint Undertaking; SA : Supervisory Authority; C : Concessionaire

45

ANNEX 2

RESOURCES ASSESSMENT

The aim of this annex is  to  provide  an  overview  of  the  financial  resources  which  would  be
required  for  implementing  the  European  Space  Policy  presented  in  this  White  Paper,
preserving the European Space “acquis” while developing future opportunities. After a brief
overview of the resources currently earmarked, several key scenarios are presented.

Numerous  voices  (e.g.  through  the  Green  Paper  consultation,  the  recent  reports  from  the
European Parliament and European  Economic  and Social Committee)  have  stressed that the
investment on space has to be seen as a source of innovation.

As such, it contributes to the EU and national initiatives for growth12, because the deployment
of  advanced  infrastructures  will  enable  the  emergence  of  new  added-value  services.
Investment in the space sector is also part of the objective of having the EU invest 3% GDP
on  R&D  by  201013  (although  several  dimensions  of  the  space  policy  address  non-R&D
aspects)14.

A  more  vigorous  investment  on  space-related  activities  in  Europe  in  the  period  to  come
should be reflected by a proper EU budget appropriation. This should help to exert leverage
on other public activities in the space field as well as on the private sector, and to encourage
them to intensify their investment.

1. Past and foreseen EC financial expenditure on space (1995-2006)

Table 1 summarises the evolution of EC expenditure on space over the period 1995 to 2006,
which  shows  a  significant  increase  over  the  years  (although  the  absolute  amounts  remain
modest when compared to the national and inter-governmental efforts).

Most of the  investment is to  be  qualified  as  R&D  resources,  either  directly  drawn  from  the
R&D 5th and 6th Framework programmes or from the Trans-European networks – Transport
budget line. GALILEO is the main application developed during that period.

Table 1:
EC expenditure on space-related activities – 1995 -> 2006 (in M€)

(1995 – 1998)

(1999 – 2002)

(2003-2006)

FRAMEWORK  PROGRAMME  +
JRC

~150

~280

GALILEO

TOTAL

*: Definition and development
**: Development

~150

270*

~550

475

280**

755

12

13

14

Space applications like GALILEO, GMES are  foreseen  to  be  part  of  the  Commission’s  “Quick-start”
initiative to be presented at the next European Council. A “Digital Divide” initiative is also proposed.
COM(2003) 226 final: Investing in research: an action plan for Europe
in 2003, the total European public investment devoted to space-related activities amounted to 0.06% of
the EU GDP

46

                                                
2. Estimated annual public funding in Europe in 2004

Annual public sector expenditure in space in 2004 in Europe is estimated at the level of 5380
M€, from five main sources:

Table 2:
Estimated public expenditure in Space in Europe (M€) (2004)

European Space Agency
Member States

Eumetsat
EC*
TOTAL
*: corresponding figures only include earmarked budgetary resources
**ESA expenditure in recent years: 1999 (2400); 2000 (2299); 2001 (2522); 2002 (2812)

(national civil activities)
(national military activities)

2700**
1600
550
300
230
5380

The EC contribution presented in Table 2 is exclusively composed of resources drawn from
the following financial instruments:

– 

– 

Trans-European networks – Transport (5 years): 550 M€/year

6th  Framework  programme  (2002-2006):  priority  “information  society”:  p.m.;
priority  “aeronautics  &  space”:  235  M€  ;  priority  “sustainable  environment,
transport  and  energy”:  50 M€;  Joint  Research  Centre  space-related  activities  :  50
M€; priority “nanotechnologies and materials”  or “research  infrastructures”  for an
estimated total of 40 M€. The total expenditure is about 475 M€.

Other  investments  may  be  used,  on  an  individual  project  basis:  Structural  funds,  TACIS,
FED, MEDA, although there is no pre-determined allocation for space-related activities.

3. Possible scenarios (2004-2013)

Following  the  Green  Paper  consultation  and  in  line  with  the  European  Parliament
recommendation,  the  White  Paper  highlights  the  need  to  develop  an  ambitious  European
Space Policy.

In  order  to  reach  its  objectives,  the  Union  must  support  in  priority  space  applications.
Additional resources will also have to be devoted to the “enablers” of such applications (e.g.
technology and access to space in particular) with special attention given to international co-
operations.

For the Policy to be successfully deployed, a programme of actions - which is described in the
White  Paper  -  would  have  to  be  implemented  to  complement  the  ongoing  and  planned
activities in Europe.

Two phases have been identified for the implementation of the European Space Policy, taking
into account the current (2000-2006) and future (2007-2013) EU Financial Perspectives:

– 

first phase (2004-2006), based on existing Financial Perspectives. Resources during
this  phase  will  have  to  be  managed  through  the  existing  financial  instruments  and
within  the  current  budgetary  constraints.  Additional  budgetary  resources  might  be
made  available  through  the  sectorial  policies  on  case-by-case  basis.  Opportunities

47

might  also  occur  under  the  future  initiative  for  growth  to  be  proposed  for
endorsement at the next European Council in December 2003;

– 

second phase (2007-2013), to be part of the future Financial Perspectives, which are
currently the subject of initial reflections within the Commission. These could lead to
the identification of a “space virtual budget line”, supporting the shared competence
between EU and Member States on space granted by the future Constitutional Treaty.

The  analysis  of  global  economic  factors  and  of  the  projections  about  the  future  EU  growth
rate  suggest  several  possible  scenarios.  These  must  also  take  into  account  considerations
which are more specific to the European space sector, in particular:

– 

– 

– 

the  outcome  of  the  Green  Paper  consultation  (including  the  declared  objective  of
doubling public investment on space in Europe by 2010);

ESA Executive plans (“Agenda 2007”);

the analysis of the EC expenditures on space over the last 10 years.

An  additional  issue  concerns  whether  the  EU  decides  to  intervene  in  security/defence  on  a
larger scale. Variants of the key scenarios are presented in graphic 1 to single out this option.

Last, any progression of the resources must be gradual, to ensure absorption capabilities are
developed in a sustainable way.

On that basis, three main scenarios are described, together with an estimate of the resources
which they would require.

to 

the  overall  public 

Scenario A is the “Green paper” scenario. It reflects the needs identified  during the Green
paper consultation. This package represents an annual expenditure growth rate of 4.6% with
respect 
is  an
aggressive/ambitious scenario, which would require a high level a global economic growth in
order to be sustainable for the public contributors. Scenario A is compliant with all objectives
identified,  including  space  exploration  and  significant  security/defence  related  space
developments. This scenario is consistent with the ESA executive objectives described in its
“Agenda 2007”.

in  2003  (5380  M€).  This 

level  of  funding 

Scenario B is the “political act” scenario. It corresponds to an annual expenditure growth rate
of 3.4% and marks a new departure for space in Europe, with the entry into force of the new
Constitutional treaty of the EU. This is an ambitious scenario, with a growth rate higher than
the  global  growth  rate  of  the  EU  economy.  Scenario  B  is  compliant  with  the  overall  EU
objectives.

Scenario C is the “linear natural” scenario, built as a linear expansion of the current level of
EC  expenditures.  It  corresponds  to  an  annual  public  expenditure  growth  rate  of  2.3  %.
Scenario C does not fully guarantee independence vis-à-vis technology and access to space.

A  first  estimate  of  the  European  public  expenditure  needed  to  implement  the  White  paper
action  plan  is  presented  in  Table  3;  the  evolutions  of  the  different  options  are  shown  in
Graphic 1 (without inflation). Like for all activities with a long lead time,  it  is important to
embed these expenses in a multi-annual plan and budget.

48

The corresponding estimated increase in the multi-annual European expenditure is presented
in Table 4.

Evolution of European public expenditure (in M€)

Green Paper

A2 *

Political Act

B2 *

Linear Natural

8.080

7.710

7.230

6.980

6.620

8.500

8.000

7.500

7.000

6.500

6.000

5.500

5.000

2004

2006
* without Security & Defence expenditures

2005

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Table 3:
Estimated European public annual expenditure on space activities (in M€)

On-going
(2004)

In 2006

In 2013
(projections)

Scenarios ->
INCREASE  IN  COMPARISON  WITH
2004
ANNUAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
Scenarios for different annual expenditure growth rates:
A) 4.6 %

C) 2.3%

B) 3.4%

5380

-

A
500

B
400

C
300

A
2700

B
1850

C
1240

5880

5780

5680

8080

7710

6620

49

Table 4: Additional* annual public expenditure in 2013 (in M€)

scenario A(i)

scenario B(ii)

scenario C(iii)

S
N
O
I
T
A
C
I
L
P
P
A

SATELLITE COMMUNICATION**

GMES**

POSITIONING, NAVIGATION,
TIMING**

SECURITY

INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION

ACCESS TO SPACE **

TECHNOLOGY **

SPACE EXPLORATION

VOCATIONS

SPACE SCIENCE

LEGISLATION, 
STANDARDS

TOTAL

REGULATORY 

ASPECTS,

250

340

220

750

200

250

270

220

30

140

30

250

340

220

250

70

250

270

100

20

65

15

250

340

220

0

10

200

200

10

3

5

2

2700

1850

1240

(i):annual expenditure growth rate of 4.6%
(ii):annual expenditure growth rate of 3.4%
(iii): annual expenditure growth rate of 2.3%
*:additional to the present expenditure of 5380 M€
**:EIB possible additional intervention under discussion; funding plan already decided for GALILEO

The darker areas of each pie chart show the “applications” while the lighter  ones represent the
“enablers”.

50

Concluding remarks

Whatever scenario is retained, the following remarks apply:

There should be no simple transfer of funds: an extra effort from the EU in the field of space,
driven by the need to support applications of EU interest at the service of EU policies, should not
be considered as a pretext for Member states to “pass the burden” to the EU budget and to reduce
accordingly  their  own  expenditures.  On  the  contrary,  this  should  act  as  an  incentive  to  match
EU’s new investments.

Actions undertaken under the EU framework are optimised for the collective benefit of the EU as
a  whole.  The  optimisation  of  national  interest  is  to  be  sought  under  national  or  inter-
governmental investments and mechanisms.

Apply more innovative types of support: space has, up to now, been mostly confined to R&D
budgets,  with  their  inherent  limitations.  Complementary  sources  of  funding  and  mechanisms
should  be  more  systematically  considered  in  the  future  such  as:  Public  Private  Partnership
(already in use for GALILEO, it could be applied for the “Digital divide” initiative); a larger role
for  the  European  Investment  Bank  (cf.  “Innovation  2010  initiative”);  innovative  investments
under Structural funds.

Last,  the  level  of  resources  devoted  to  space-related  activities  cannot  grow  indefinitely.
Depending on the type of scenario retained for implementing the set of actions recommended is
this White paper, one would expect the level of public investment to enter a stabilised “cruising
regime” between 2013 and 2020.

The  leverage  effect  of  the  public  funding  in  the  space  sector  represents  an  added  value  this
sector can generate vis-à-vis other EU policies.

51

ANNEX 3

GREEN PAPER CONSULTATION PROCESS: MAIN MESSAGES

The  Green  Paper  on  European  Space  Policy  was  adopted  by  the  European  Commission  on  21
January 2003. Its aim was to initiate a debate on the medium- and long-term future use of space
for the benefit of Europe.

The Green Paper process has encompassed a series of events, workshops and meetings spanning
the  continent  and  drawing  contributions  from  hundreds  of  representatives  of  the  space
community.

The debate was open from the industrial and institutional players down to the ordinary citizen.

The  Joint  Task  Force  composed  of  representatives  of  the  Commission  services  and  ESA
organised  joint  workshops  in  several  European  capitals,  focussing  on  specific  themes  and
communities. The consultation was complemented with an open website forum.

The following table summarises the most relevant messages received:

Consultation
workshop/event

The Industrial View

The View of the Scientific
Community

The Institutional View

Security and Defense
Aspects

The View of the Operators
and Service Providers

The International Context

Main messages

Revitalise the current situation for the European space industry
Need for a wider institutional market with greater EU engagement
Guarantee access to space as a strategic need
Stimulate  new  vocations  by  new  European  flagship  programmes  in
space
Need for EU regulations (harmonisation)
Fill the gaps of strategic space technology
Stop the reduction of funding; double the budget for Space sciences
Need for a coherent data policy (harmonised dissemination)
Support to horizontal and infrastructure activities
Support ISS utilisation and operations
Need for a European Space Policy discussed at the highest political level
A legitimate role for the EU in the context of European Space Policy
A legitimate role for ESA in the context of European Institutions
Support to the shared competence principle (Constitutional Treaty)
Space as key element supporting CFSD/ESDP
Develop multiple-use capabilities
Co-ordinate present activities in view of the future European Armaments
Agency
Space applications key components of European space policy, bringing
concrete benefits to European citizens
Need  for  a  joint  ESA/EU  initiative  on  broadband  communication
(bridging the “digital divide”)
Importance of Earth observation (a strategic issue)
Use of satellite navigation for the benefit of European citizens’ life
Space as a contributor to the success of Enlargement
Russia and Ukraine as the closest partners of the enlarged Union

52

The Website Forum

Space  as  a  strategic  tool  to  develop/implement  international  co-
operation
Need for flagship programmes in space
Support to the exploration of the solar system
Need for long-term vision including human spaceflight

The  complete  EC/ESA  report  on  the  outcome  of  the  consultation  process  is  available  on  the  following
website: http:\\europa.eu.int\comm\space\index_en.html

The list of the contributors having responded or participated to the Green Paper consultation process is
enclosed.

53

Workshop rapporteurs:
Mr G. Beretta, president ESOA
Mr C. Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden
Prof R. Bonnet, former ESA Director of Science
Lt Col A. Kolovos, Head of National Centre for Space Applications, Greek Ministry of Defence
Mr R. Loosch, former Department Head at German Federal Ministry for Research
Ms P. Sourisse, President Eurospace
Contributors:
Col. V. Santoro, EU Council
Dr. D. Deniozos, General Secretary of Research and Technology, Ministry of Development, Greece
Dr. F. Merkle, OHB, Director SAR-Lupe Project
Dr. G. Thiele, European Astronaut Centre, Köln, Germany
Dr. J.-L. Fellous, member of ESF, IFREMER, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Dr. P. Norsk, member of ESA European Users Board, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Gen (Retired) B. Molard, Defence and Security Advisor for the CEO, EUROSPACE
Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Technology, U.K.
Col A. Husniaux, Belgian Ministry of Defence
Lt Gen D. Gavoty, Head of Bureau Espace, France
Lt Gen M. Vankeirsbilck, Belgian Defence Staff
Mr A. Gaubert, Secretary General of Eurospace
Prof A. Lebeau, former ESA Director of Science
Mr A. Patacchini, Eutelsat
Mr B. Andersen, Norwegian Space Center
Mr B. Lançon, SNECMA
Mr C. Hicks, Director General, BNSC
Mr C. Paynter, Paradigm
Mr D. El Hadani, Director of the Royal Centre for Space Remote Sensing, Morocco
Mr D. Levesque, SARSAT/COSPAS
Mr D. Verhulst, Alcatel
Mr E. Both, Hungarian Space Office
Mr E. Kuznietsov, Deputy Director General of the National Space Agency of Ukraine
Mr E. Saggese, Telespazio
Mr F. Davara, Director, EU Satellite Center
Mr F. De Winne, European Astronaut, European Space Agency
Mr F. Huyns, Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement, Montpellier, France
Mr G. Aridon, Senior Vice-President Corporate Development, Alenia Spazio / Finmeccanica
Mr G. Dahan, Vice-Chairman European Federation of High Tech SMEs
Mr  G.  Savary,  Vice  Chairman  of  the  Committee  for  Transport,  Regional  Policy  and  Tourism,  Sky  and
Space Intergroup
Mr G. Sawyer, Astrium
Mr G.Bodrato, Member of the European Parliament, and EP rapporteur on space matters
Mr H. Diehl, German Ministry of Education and Research

Mr H. Haubold, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Mr I. Shepherd, Member of GMES Security Group
Mr J. Broquet, Astrium
Mr J. Davey, former Chairman of the Galileo Security Board
Mr J. Garcia Palacios, Hispasat
Mr J. Kolar, President of the Czech National Committee for Space Research
Mr J. Maury, Astrium
Mr J. Nebrera, Proespacio
Mr J. Rønneberg, Norwegian Space Center
Mr J. Storey, Eurocontrol
Mr J.-L. Dehaene, Vice President of the European Convention
Mr J.-M. Luton, Chairman of Arianespace
Mr K. Becher, Associate Research Fellow, EU Institute for Security Studies
Mr K.-U. Schrogl, German Aerospace Centre DLR, Chairman of the International Relations Committee
of ESA
Mr Kremék, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
Mr L. Mayo, GMV
Mr M. Bartolomey, Arianespace
Mr M. Dillon, Managing Director, ESYS plc
Mr M. Kracht, Thales Communications
Mr M.A. Llorca, EADS/CASA
Mr M.-I. Piso, Romanian Space Agency
Mr O. Colaitis, Alcatel Space
Mr P. Kent, European Maritime Radionavigation Forum
Mr P. Kompfner, Ertico
Mr P. Morenés, Secretary of State, Ministry for Science and Technology, Spain
Mr P. Norris, LogicaCMG
Mr P. Rudolff, Corporate Affairs, Arianespace
Mr P.M. Borgeal, Bureau Espace, France
Mr R. Bausch, SES-Global
Mr R. Buttiglione, Italian Minister of Community Policies
Mr K. Madders, Systemics Network International
Mr R. Olsen, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment
Mr T. Pirard, Space Information Center
Mr R. Williams, Eumetsat
Mr S. Buffetaut, European Economic and Social Committee
Mr S. Kulik, Head of International Division, Rosaviakosmos
Mr S. Plattard, Director of International Relations, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, France
Mr S.Vetrella, President of the Italian Space Agency
Mr T. Dachev, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Mr T. Eltges, Newtech
Mr V. Gomez, Director General CDTI, Spain

54

Mr Y. Papantoniou, Minister of Defence of the Hellenic Republic
Mr Z. Klos, Polish Space Research Centre
Mrs C. Haigneré, French Minister for Research and New Technologies
Mrs F. Ghiron, Esinet
Mrs L. Moratti, Italian Minister for Education, University and Research
Mrs M. Flaminia Rossi, Italian Space Agency
Mr C. Jacob, Eurospace
Ms C. Noguez, former Conference Originator and Director
Ms E. McNally, Member of European Parliament
Prof. A. Colombati, University of Udine, Italy
Prof. F. Rocca, Politecnico Milano, Italy
Prof. G. Corazza, University of Bologna, Italy
Prof. G. Haerendel, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Physique de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
Prof. H. Balsinger, Physikalisches Institute, Bern University, Switzerland
Prof. J.-P. Swings, Institut d’Astrophysique et de Géophysique, Liège, Belgium
Prof. L. Bengtsson, Max Planck Institute für Meteorologie, Hamburg, Germany
Prof. M. Grewing, Institut de Radio-Astronomie Millimétrique, Grenoble, France
Prof. R. Pellinen, Finnish Meteo Institute, Finland
Prof. S. Hobe, Univeristy of Cologne, Germany
Prof. C. Cesarsky, European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany
Mr R. Gibson, former Director General of ESA
Mr P. Munier, Spotimage

55

International

Germany
Greece

Belgium
Spain
Czech Republic

Companies and Institutions:
ACCESS Germany
Advisory Board of Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear
Power in Space
AECMA - European Association of Aerospace Ind.
AENA - Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea
Aeronautical Research and Test Institute
Aeronautics and Space Technologies Institute Turkey Turkey
Aerospace Institute Germany
Aerospace Institute Greece
Agencia EFE
Spain
AGi Agenzia Giornalistica Italia Italy
AIAD - The Italian Industries Association for Aerospace Systems
and Defence
Italy
Airclaims United Kingdom
AirPresse Italy
ALCATEL
Alcatel
Alcatel Espacio
Alcatel ETCA
Alcatel Space
Alenia Spazio
ALTEC - Advanced Logistics Technology Engineering Center

Spain
Belgium
France
Italy

France

France

Italy

Italy

Italy

ANSA (Press)
ARD - Studio Brüssel Belgium
AREA (Press)
Argongra Spain
Arianespace
France
Astrium GmbH
Germany
Astrium Space
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Astrium-Crisa
Astronomy Working Group (FR) France
Astrophysikalisches Institut Postdam
Aurensa
Austrian Federal Ministry for Education and Research Germany
Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and
Technology
Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence
Austrian Space Agency
B612 Foundation
Baden-Wuettemburg at the European Union Belgium

The Netherlands

Germany

Austria

Austria

Austria

Spain

Germany

Belgium

Belgium

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

BBC
BDLI - German Aerospace Industries Association
Belgian Air Force
Belgian Defence Staff Department for Strategic Affairs Belgium
Belgian Federal Office for Scientific Affairs Belgium
Belgium
Belgian Government Space Department
Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
Belgium
Belgian Minister of Defence
United Kingdom Department for Environment Food and Rural
Affairs
United Kingdom Department of Trade & Industry
Kingdom
United Kingdom Embassy in Spain
United Kingdom Government
United Kingdom Industrial Space Committee
Kingdom
United Kingdom Minister for Science and Technology United
Kingdom
United Kingdom Ministry of Defence/BNSCUnited Kingdom
British National Space Centre
British Telecom
Bureau Space News - Paris
Cabinet Yvan Ylieff Belgium

United Kingdom
France

Spain
United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United

United

Canadian Embassy in Germany Germany
Canadian Embassy in Spain
Canadian Mission to the European Union
Canadian National Defence (OCIPEP)
Carlo Gavazzi Space SpA
Italy
CDTI - Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial

Belgium
Canada

Spain

Spain

Belgium

Czech Republic

Cedarwood Associates International
CFE/CGC - Confédération Française de l'Encadrement France
Chinese Embassy in Prague
CIFOR-INIA - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología
Agraria y Alimentaria Spain
CNES
CNES / CFCIB
CNR
Italy
Comitato VAS Italian Parliament Italy
Comité économique et social européen
Commitee Office, House of Lords

France
United Kingdom

Belgium

Brussels

56

Italy

Czech

Czech Republic

Czech Republic

Switzerland
Italy
Italy

Contraves Space
COPItaly-ONLUS
Corriere della Sera
COSPAS-SARSAT United Kingdom
CRO-IRCCS
Crystal Science and Technolgy Institute
CS Systemes d'Information
France
CVUT - Czech Technical University in Prague
Republic
Czech Astronomical Institute
Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
Republic
Czech National Committee for Space Research
Republic
Czech Space Office Czech Republic
Dassault Aviation
Deimos Space SL
DEIS/ARCES - Univeristy of Bologna
Democritus University of Thrace Greece
Demos
United Kingdom
Deutsche Bundesregierung
Deutschland Funk / German Nat'l Radio
DLR - German Aerospace CentreBelgium/Germany
DNV - Det Norske Veritas
DOTARS - Department of Transport and Regional Services (AT)

France
Spain

Hamburg

Germany

Norway

Czech

Czech

Italy

Austria

The

The Netherlands

Dutch Agency for Aerospace Programmes The Netherlands
Dutch Government
The Netherlands
Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Netherlands
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dutch Space Research Organization
EADS
EADS - Astrium
EADS CASA EspacioSpain
France
EADS France
EADS Hellas
Greece
EADS Launch Vehicles
EADS Space DivisionFrance
EARSC - European Association of Remote Sensing Companies

The Netherlands
The Netherlands

Germany

Germany

France

Italy

Belgium

France

Germany

Portugal
France

Belgium
Spain

France
Belgium

Germany
Belgium

Ecologic Germany
European Economic and Social Committee Belgium
Edisoft
EGIS
Embassy of Estonia in Greece Greece
Energy co / TUB Berlin
ERTICO - ItalyS Europe
ESO/EIROforum
ESOA European Satellite Operators Association
ESSP – European Satellite Services ProviderBelgium
ESYS plc United Kingdom
Etat Major des Armées - Bureau Espace
EU Council Secretariat General Belgium
EU Institute for Security Studies France
EU Military Staff
EU Satellite Centre
Eumetsat France
Euroconsult
Eurocontrol
EUROGI United Kingdom
European Astronaut Centre
European Centre for Space and Security
European Convention Members EU/Belgium
European Martime Radionavigation Forum United Kingdom
European Parliament EU/Belgium
European Satellite Operators Association
European Service Network
Belgium
European Space Foundation/ESSC
European Space Imaging
European Voice
Eurospace France
France
Eutelsat
Fachhochschule Heilbronn
Fédération Confédérée FO de la Métallurgie France
Fédération des Travailleurs de la Métallurgie CGT
FiatAvio Italy
Financial Times
Finmeccanica
Finnish Meteorological Institute Finland
Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry
Flight International
FlugRevue Germany

United Kingdom
Italy

Germany

Germany

Germany

Belgium

Belgium

Belgium

Finland

France

France

France

United Kingdom

Germany

Germany
Greece

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Freitag
French Embassy in Germany
French Embassy in Greece
Permanent Representation of France to the EU
French Ministry of Defence
French Ministry of Research
French Ministry of Research and new Technologies
France
Futuraspace Sarl
Italy
Galileo Avionica
Gebecoma Belgium
Geoinformatik FSU Jena
German Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture

France
France

Germany

France

Belgium

Austria/Germany
Germany

Greece

Portugal

Belgium

GFZ
GIFAS - Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et
Spatiales France
GMV
Spain
GPlus Europe
Greece
Greek Centre of Space Science & Technology
Greece
Greek National Center for Space Applications
GRICES - Gabinete de Relações Internacionais da Ciência e do
Ensino Superior
GTD
Spain
Helios Technology United Kingdom
Hellenic Aerospace Industry
Hellenic Air Force
Greece
Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy
Hellenic Ministry of Defence
Greece
Hellenic Ministry of Development
Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Greece
Hellenic Ministry of Transport and Communication
Hellenic National Defence General Staff
Greece
Hispasat Spain
HiTec Marketing
Homes International s.a.
HTS Development Limited
Hughes Network Systems
Hungarian Ministry of Defense Hungary
Hungarian Space Office
Hungary
IberEspacio
Spain
IFAC - Istituto di Fisica Applicata "Nello Carrara"

Belgium
United Kingdom
USA

Austria

Greece

Greece

Greece

Italy

57

IFREMER - French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea

France

Czech

France

Czech Republic

United Kingdom

Spain
Portugal

France
Germany

Iguassu Software Systems
Italy
Il Corriere di Roma
Italy
Il Manifesto
Italy
il Sole 24 Ore
Indra Espacio
Spain
Industrial Science & Technology United Kingdom
Infoterra United Kingdom
United Kingdom
INMARSAT Ventures
Institut de France - Académie des Sciences France
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Institut Français de Navigation
Institut für Quantenoptik
Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Czech Acad. Sci.
Republic
Instituto Geografico Nacional
Instituto Geografico Portugues
INTA - Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
INTELLECT
International Institute of Applied Technologies IIAT
International Space University
IRAM - Institut de Recherches et d'Applications des Méthodes de
Développement
France
Istituto Affari Internazionali
Italian European Policy Gov. Dept.
Italian Institute of Navigation
Italian Ministry of Defence
Italy
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs
Italy
Italian Ministry of University and Research Italy
Italian Space Agency Italy
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Belgium
Kayser-Threde
La Libre Belgique
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique
Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement France
L'Echo
Lockheed Martin
Logica CMG
Luxemburg Aerospace Industries Luxembourg

Belgium
United Kingdom

Germany
Belgium

Italy
Italy

Belgium

Belgium

France

France

Spain

Italy

Italy

Luxemburg Ministry of Culture, High Education and Research

Luxembourg

USA

Spain

Turkey

Germany

Germany

Liverpool

France
Sweden

ES
Belgium

United Kingdom
United Kingdom

France
United Kingdom

Maltepe University
MAN Technologie Germany
Mars Society Deutschland
Massachusets - Institute of Technology
Max Planck Institut Germany
Mersey Reperter / Ukseds
Météo France
Metria Miljöanalys
Mier Communicaciones
Ministry of Flanders BE
Mitglied des Deutschen Bundestages
Munich Orientation Convention Gernany
NASDA - Japanese Space Agency
National Audit Office UK
National Observatory of Athens Greece
National Space Agency of Ukraine
NATS - National Air Traffic Services
NERA Satcom
NERC/UNSC Natural Environment Research Council United
Kingdom
New Skies satellites N.V.
Newtec
Norwegian Defence Research Establishment Norway
Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry Norway
Norwegian Space Centre
NPA Satellite mapping and exploitation
Occar - Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière
d'Armement
OECD
OHB-System
OMNI Communications
Pagnanelli Risk Solutions
People TV France
Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU
Polish Academy of Science
Polish Space Research Centre
Politecnico di Milano Italy
Polspace Poland
Portuguese Embassy in Greece Greece
Portuguese Ministry of Science Portugal

United Kingdom
Milan, Italy

United Kingdom

The Netherlands

Poland
Poland

Germany

Germany

Belgium

Norway

France

Belgium

Portugal

Portuguese NSA
Prospace France
Prudential United Kingdom
Publications UKSEDS
Puertos del Estado
Qinetiq Ltd
Radiacion y Microondas
RaumfahrtJournalist Germany
Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe

Spain
United Kingdom
Spain

United Kingdom

Hungary

Morocco
Norway

Russia

Sweden

Romany

Belgium

Luxembourg

United Kingdom

Romanyn Space Agency
Rosaviakosmos
Royal Centre for Space Remote Sensing
Royal Ministry of Trade and Industry
Saab Ericsson Space AB
Sabca
SAP REG - Satellite Action Plan Regulatory Group
SAT REG Ltd
Satlynx
SatNavConsult
SchlumbergerSema
Science's Next Wave United Kingdom
SCISYS United Kingdom
Senat de Belgique
Sener
SES Global
SESO - Société Européenne de Systèmes Optiques
SGAC - Space Generation Advisory CouncilFrance
Sira Electro-Optics United Kingdom
Sky & Space Intergroup of the European Parliament

Germany
Spain

Belgium

Belgium

Spain

EU/Belgium

Italy
Sky Logic - Eutelsat
Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science & Sport
Snecma Moteurs
France
Solar - Terrestrial Influences Laboratory
Space Benefit
Space Imaging
Space Information Center
Space News
SpaceChecker
Spanish Ministry for Science & Technology Spain
Spanish Ministry of Defence

Germany
Greece

Paris
Belgium

Belgium

Spain

BULGARIA

Belgium

France

Slovenia

58

Spain

Sweden

Belgium

Belgium

Belgium

Switzerland

Spain
Spain

The Netherlands

The Netherlands
Italy
United Kingdom
Greece

Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Spanish National Space Programme
Spanish Parliament
Spotimage France
SSTC Services fédéraux des affaires scientifiques, techniques et
culturelles / Belgian Space Department
Stato Maggiore Difesa
Italy
Stork
Stork Aerospace
Stork Product Engineering
Studio Legale Carnelutti
Surrey Satellite Technology
Swedish Embassy in Greece
Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Swedish National Space Board Sweden
Swiss Mission to the European Union
Swiss Space Office
Systemics Network International Belgium
Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd
Spain
TCP Sistemas e Ingenieria
Czech Republic
Technology Centre AS CR
Techspace Aero
Tecnologica
Telelogic Spain
Telesambre
Telespazio Italy
Terma A/SDenmark
Thales
Thales ATM - Delegate European Affairs Belgium
Thales Avionics
France
Thales Communications
The Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy
Kingdom
The Heart Centre
Top Strategies
Transplarety
Trinity House Lighthouse Service
UDcast
UNIFE Union of European Railway
United Nations, Office for Outer Space Affairs
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
University College United Kingdom

Spain
United Kingdom

Denmark
Belgium
Belgium

Belgium
Spain

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Belgium

Belgium

Austria

France

France

United

France

United Kingdom
Germany
Germany
Germany

Switzerland

University of Aachen Germany
University of Aveiro Portugal
University of Berlin Germany
University of Bern
University of BolognaItaly
University of Bremen Germany
University of CologneGermany
University of Cranfield
University of Darmstadt
University of Greifswald
University of Hamburg
University of Leeds United Kingdom
University of Liège Belgium
University of Marseille
France
University of Oxford United Kingdom
University of Patras Greece
University of Pisa
University of ReadingUnited Kingdom
University of Rome
University of StuttgartGermany
University of Thessaloniki
University of Trento Italy
Vitrociset SpA
Italy
Vlaamse Ruimtevaart Industriëlen
Wallonia Space Logistics
Belgium
WDR - Westdeutscher Rundfunk Germany
World Meteorological Organization
Yuzhnoye SDO (Ukraine)

Belgium

Greece

Italy

Italy

Belgium

Switzerland

59

ANNEX 4

GLOSSARY

Aurora:  the  European  space  agency  programme  for  the  exploration  of  the  solar  system.  The
objective is to formulate and to implement a European long-term plan for the robotic and human
exploration  of  solar  system  bodies  holding  promise  for  traces  of  life.  The  Aurora  programme
aims  at  bringing  about  a  coherent  European  framework  for  exploration  and  to  progressively
develop a unified European approach; it is open to international co-operation.

CFSP: Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Concessionaire: Operator identified as in charge of the maintenance, operation and viability of
public owned infrastructure.

CSG  (Centre  Spatial  Guyanais):  Europe’s  spaceport  operated  by  Centre  National  d’Etudes
Spatiales  under  an  agreement  with  the  European  Space  Agency.  Strategic  facility  aimed  at
providing Europe with access to space with the optimal geographical conditions for launching.

Digital Divide: Inequality in the capability of access by broadband technology connectivity (i.e.
Internet services) to knowledge  society.  It is  measurable  in  terms  of  widespread  availability  of
the connection or in cost of the connection in comparison to a benchmark.

EGAS  (European  Guaranteed  Access  to  Space  programme):  Approved  by  ESA  Ministerial
Meeting and planned for 2005-2009, the programme provides short and medium term support for
the European launcher service both in French Guyane and in continental Europe, and stresses the
conditions required for its long-term stability.

European Space Agency (ESA): Intergovernmental Organisation constituted in 1975. Currently
composed  of  the  following  Member  States:  Austria,  Belgium,  Denmark,  Finland,  France,
Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the
United Kingdom.

ESDP: European Security and Defence Policy.

European Space Policy: In order to create a more secure framework for the benefit of space in
Europe,  the  EU  seeks  to  build  a  European  Space  Policy  which  is  demand  driven  and  supports
other EU policies.

European  Space  Programme  (ESP):  A  multi-annual  programme  to  develop  the  European
Space Policy.

ESTMP (European Space Technology Master Plan): This plan consolidates the overall process
for  space  R&D  through  a  joint  effort  involving  ESA,  the  European  Commission  and  industry,
and highlights a number of separate harmonised technology areas. The new ESTMP refers to all
the  institutional  actors,  describing  technology  activities  in  Europe,  strategies  and  funding

60

approaches,  readiness  level  and  relationship  with  European  partners,  including  a  database  of
technology activities.

EU  (European  Union):  Formed  by  the  following  twenty  five  Member  States  (as  of  1st  May
2004): Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

European  Union  Satellite  Centre  (EUSC):  Located  in  Torrejón  de  Ardoz  in  Spain,  it  is  the
direct successor of the Western European Union Satellite Centre.

Framework  Agreement:  A  formal  agreement  between  the  European  Community  and  the
European Space Agency, defining the principles and mechanisms of a reinforced co-operation on
space-related matters.

GALILEO: Europe’s  global  radionavigation satellite  system.  Joint  EU/ESA  project  composed
of  a  constellation  of  30  satellites  in  medium  Earth  orbit.  GALILEO  will  provide  users  with
highly accurate timing and positioning services.

GMES  (Global  Monitoring  for  the  Environment  and  Security):  GMES  is  a  joint  EU/ESA
initiative  combining  space  and  in-situ  observing  systems  to  support  EU’s  goals  regarding
sustainable  development  and  global  governance.Joint  undertaking:  Legal  entity  created  in
accordance  with  Article  171  of  the  European  Community  Treaty.  A  joint  undertaking  is
mandated for the efficient execution of research, technological development and demonstration
programmes.

Networks of centres: a cost efficient way to associate the various space national actors for the
implementation  of  European  activities  under  the  same  umbrella.  The  network  encourages
integration  and  improve  co-operation;  it  also  increases  specialisation  and  reduction  of  overall
costs.

PPP  (Public  Private  Partnership):  Structure  composed  of  representatives  from  the  public  and
private  sector  for  the  operation  of  infrastructure  and  the  provision  of  services.  This  structure
determines  that  the  responsibilities,  roles  and  risks  are  shared  between  the  public  and  private
sectors.

Shared competence: Field of competence that is shared between the EU and its Member States.

Supervisory Authority: Structure created by an EU Council Regulation aiming at managing the
public interest in a PPP type of project.

White Paper: White papers are documents containing proposals for EU action in a specific area.
While Green papers set out a range of ideas presented for public debate, White papers contain an
official set of proposals in specific policy areas and are used as vehicles for their development.

61