Space

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 Europes 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.