Space policy of the European Union

The Space policy of the European Union is not currently agreed, though it was expected to be released before Summer 2007. Currently each member state pursues their own national space policy, though often co-ordinating through the independent European Space Agency (ESA). Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen has stated that even though the EU is "a world leader in the technology, it is being put on the defensive by the US and Russia and that it only has about a 10 year technological advantage on China and India, which are racing to catch up." [ [http://euobserver.com/9/23848 EU expected to unveil space policy before summer] euobserver.com] [ [http://euobserver.com/9/23883 EU to target satellite observation in space race] euobserver.com]

:See also: "Relationship between the EU and ESA"

A communication outlining the policy was released on 26 April 2007 which set out orientations for; [ [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/575&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en EU needs powerful space policy to face global challenges] europea.eu]

* Coordinating more effective civil space programmes between ESA, EU and their respective Member States to ensure value for money and eliminate unnecessary duplication, thus meeting shared European needs.
* Developing and exploiting European space applications such as GALILEO and GMES (Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security) and satellite communication applications.
* Preserving EU autonomous access to space.
* Increasing synergy between defence and civil space programmes and technologies and pursue, in particular, interoperability of civil/military systems.
* Ensuring that space policy is coherent with, and supports the EU's external relationships.

Galileo

The European Union has already started work on a project to create the Galileo positioning system, to break dependence on the US GPS system. This is in cooperation with ESA as well as other countries.

Kopernikus - GMES)

The Kopernikus or Global Monitoring for Environment and Security mission is a constellation of 25 satellites (to be 30 by 2014) providing environmental and security data from around the world. It should be able to detect detail information such as illegal deforestation and the requirements of a refugee camp.

ee also

* Galileo positioning system
* GMES
* International Space Station
* European Union
** European Commission
*** Enterprise and Industry Commissioner
* European Space Agency
** Guiana Space Centre
** Ariane 5
* EADS

External links

* [http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/space/themes/intro_space_en.html European Space Policy] ec.europa.eu
* [http://ec.europa.eu/comm/space/gmes/index_en.htm GMES] ec.europa.eu
* [http://www.gmes.info/ GMES website] gmes.info
* [http://esa.int/ European Space Agency] esa.int
* [http://www.espi.or.at/home/index.php European Space Policy Institute] espi.or.at

References