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Space Green Paper

Introduction

The aim of this Green Paper is to initiate a debate on the medium- and long-term future use of space for the benefit of Europe and on policy options available.

This debate is naturally incorporated in the discussions on the future of Europe at the next Intergovernmental Conference.

The contents of the Green Paper reflect the concerns of the European Commission, often shared by the European Space Agency (ESA). Notably, it presents a first reply to the request of the European Parliament in its Resolution on space.

A Necessary Debate

"Last Frontier..", "discovery of the Universe and its origins.", "..life on other planets..", "..first footsteps on the Moon..", ".space heroes.". Space represents to humanity an infinite, timeless source of dreams and striking reality.

In practice, space has for a long time been a source of progress and technological and commercial success of Europe. Space systems already play a notable role in numerous facets of the daily life of Europeans: satellite communications permit the exchange of messages with the furthermost regions of the Earth; each person can watch television programmes reflecting their own culture, thousands of kilometres from their country of origin; data from earth observation satellites are at the basis of weather forecasts.

Space technology can already make a marked contribution in saving human life thanks to search and rescue networks with global coverage, as well as providing monitoring infrastructure allowing efficient action during natural catastrophes.

In general, data and information from space systems are essential to the organisation and good functioning of a modern society.

The current situation and the prospects for the future of the European space sector are, however, worrying.

Space is, and will remain for a long time, a high-risk sector, of fragile economic viability, even if the potential of its application is ever increasing.

In these circumstances, the equilibrium of the economic model adopted for space development in Europe until now, associating a strong commercial element to support from public authorities, is markedly reduced, notably as a consequence of the difficulties of the communication market and the mounting capability of several regions of the world. It is today compromised.

At the same time, choices and continued major investments must continually be made in order to remain 'in the "hunt" technologically, whilst the difference in investment , in particular by comparison with the United States, worsens.

Finally, the situation for space in Europe reflects a situation not without certain ambiguities. This results in the first place from the more strategic, rather than commercial, nature of space, and the fundamental role played by the States. The positions taken, be it at national, intergovernmental or community level, can vary markedly, and national intervention in the industrial matrix, at a time when industry is moving towards a trans-national dimension, is heavy with consequence.

Any decision to become a space power is the result of a political will. For its part, Europe has much to gain - or to lose - according to its presence or absence from the field. To avoid that opportunities are lost, to provide counsel on decisions to be taken and actions to be made, a broad debate is necessary.

To support and organise this, the current document first of all reviews the fundamental issues which underpin the European space activity (Chapter 1); afterwards, it illustrates the considerable potential afforded to the benefit of the citizens and the policies of the Union (Chapter 2); it is completed by an examination of certain institutional and regulatory aspects, and of the organisational consequences to be drawn (Chapter 3).

The Green Paper process

The Green Paper is a new stage in the dynamic of the evolution of the European space sector. By this action, the Commission seeks to help increase awareness among the authorities, business and citizens on the strategic and political significance of these matters, which are too often limited to specialists.

This paper takes account of the shared thoughts of the European Commission and the European Space Agency* worked out within the Task Force on space set up in 2001 and continues their joint work on European space strategy and European space policy.

Without claiming to be exhaustive, the Green Paper is intended to raise those questions that appear to be the most important in determining the options to be chosen in the medium and long term. The response of interested parties to the questions raised will subsequently make it possible to draw up an action plan ("White Paper").